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Budget |
If you know your way around, speak Italian, French or German and own your own ski gear, then booking accommodation direct can save you money. But ski packages start at phenomenally low prices with offers in Andorra and Bulgaria starting as low as £89 for late book, self-catering 7-night packages if you scout around this month. Bear in mind before you book a cheap hotel that any additional costs for aprés ski and meals out will vary hugely from country to country (Bulgaria and Andorra the cheapest, Switzerland and France the more pricey) and from resort to resort – tax-free Livigno: budget, chic Corvina really not.
Flights, Trains, Cars: Search & Book 
Hotels, Chalets, Packages: Search & Book |
Hotels & Hostels |
In Kitzbühel, close to the Kitzbüheler ski slope, ski school, cross-country ski trail and indoor pool complex you’ll find the Haselsberger Hotel and its helpful hosts. Double rooms from £40 half-board. Maurachfeld 4, Tel : +43 5356 62866 www.haselsberger.com
La Thuile, Italy: Hostel Valdigne Mont Blanc in Arpy, 8km from la Thuile, 15km from Courmayeur offers B&B from £10 in rooms with 8+ beds, and B&B in en-suite rooms with 4 or 8 beds at £14. www.ostellodiarpy.it
Livigno, Italy: Hotel Piccolo Tibet, attractive – with a bit more charm for your Euro than most. Close to bars and restaurants, and 300m from ski school and drag lifts. Tel +39 (0)342 970092
Morzine: Hotel Igloo is cheap, handily located 300m from the tourist office, and the ski school and nursery slopes, and close to the gondola. Fairly basic, but friendly – and all rooms have balconies. Tel: +33 (0)4 50 79 15 05
Bansko, Bulgaria: Stay at Hotel Yulen , Hotel Chicho Tzane or Michel's House at £11/ £28 / £66 for 1 / 3 / 6 nights (from 23 Dec- 10 April). Reservations through www.banskotravel.com
Chamonix: La Vagabond – The Vaga - offers funky bunking in an old, oak-beamed Alpine inn with a renowned party atmosphere. Check out the VagaBED™ options: BED Bunker £10* (shared shower & WC); BREAKie Bunker £13 with breakfast; DEMI Bunker £21 half-board. Bunkers sleep 4 or 6 people, three have balconies facing Mont-Blanc, plus small charge for bed linen.
B&B single / double room rates range from £18-£31 per person. Well-equipped with heated mountain equipment storage locker, laundry and kitchen. Restaurant, bar, and terrace all popular with locals and visitors in search, they say, of fresh funky beats, good drinking and great grub. All prices based on Euros and subject to change. |
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Grindelwald, Switzerland: Youth hostels aren’t just for, well, youths. Save your CHF for skiing and boarding on the Swiss Alps by staying with 5 friends at Grindelwald Youth Hostel (equidistant from Geneva and Zurich). Membership cards valid for a year can be bought online or bought to cover the duration of your stay. Rates: from £14 per person / per night B&B (6 bed room) and cheaper for children. Weid 12, 3818 Grindelwald. Tel +41 (0)33 853 10 09, www.youthhostel.ch/grindelwald. Not valid Xmas or New Year.
And Davos doesn’t have to be expensive for hostellers. The promising-sounding but faintly misleading, Davos Youthpalace has great midweek offers (Sunday-Friday) for half-board with 5-day ski pass for Davos / Klosters from £205 per person sharing 6-bed room with shower & WC. Children 13+ £171, and younger are cheaper (not valid 24.12.05-08.1.06) Horlaubenstr. 27, 7260 Davos. Tel +41 (0)81 410 19 20, www.youthhostel.ch/davos
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| Advice |
On 17th December, GB Airways began scheduled flights to Innsbruck five times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and twice on Sundays. All-inclusive return fares start at £79. For more details visit www.ba.com or call 0870 850 9 850.
For information on French Youth Hostels ski and snowboard packages, see www.skitheedge.co.uk.
The Kitzbühel official tourism board site includes an accommodation service. Fill out an online form specifying your dates, budget and other details and it will be published in their electronic inquiry database for 48 hrs allowing local hoteliers with vacancies to contact you direct. |
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Ski Packages |
Live in the North? Directski’s introductory rates for packages from Manchester to Salzburg, and Geneva for French resorts are a bargain.
Take a week’s self-catering holiday from Manchester to Méribel for £199 per person (based on four sharing) at the Cybèle apartments. Prices include return flights, transfers and in-resort representative service. Reservations: www.directski.com,
Freephone 0800 587 0945
New USA destinations from Directski are also good; a week’s self-catering at Killington next March, staying at the Pinnacle Condos will cost from £579 in per person (based on four sharing) & includes return Saturday flights from Heathrow or Manchester to Boston and transfers also Directski.
And there’s nowhere cheaper than Bulgaria. Try a week’s half-board stay at the three-star Hotel Panorama in Pamporovo – 300m from the lifts – costs from £269 per person (twin share) in January and February (£399 for Feb 11 departure), inclusive of return Saturday flights from Gatwick and transfers.
Find catered and self-catered chalet offers over at chaletfinder.co.uk.
Many have hot-tubs, ski-in / ski-out access and are available for short breaks.
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FACTBOX
Online search & booking coming soon.
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