The 3 Valleys closes for another season

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The 3 Valleys closes for another season

Posted on: April 28th, 2015 by SkiGB

The 2014/15 ski season is coming to an end, only Val Thorens is still left open. It has been another fun season and it was great to meet so many SkiGB.com readers!

There have been highs and lows this season, shall we start with the lows.

The start of the season took a little while until the snow arrived for some of the 3 valleys ski resorts, Meribel and Courchevel in particular. This meant many skiers headed up higher to Val Thorens to find snow.
Due to the changes in temperature and large dumps of snow some weeks were very dangerous off-piste. It was very sad to hear of several skiers and snowboarders getting caught up in High avalanches risks. It is a stark reminder that the mountains need respect.
Some of the resorts got blocked by rock falls so traveling to and from the resorts had some very long delays.

However, there haven’t been too many negatives.

Now, this leads me onto the good bits of this season. 🙂

I am not going to be able to list all of them here as there are too many but here are just a few.

Snow, boy did we have some great snow all over the 3 Valleys. When the big dumps came they came big!
This season we celebrated lots, Meribel hosting the Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals, Les Menuires reaching the grand old age of 50 years old and the many Courchevel international fireworks and parties put on by the resorts and local businesses, thank you all!
Almost all of the ski resorts had improvements on previous seasons, whether new ski lifts, new car parks, new bars (our favourite) or new pistes, the ski resorts have once again spent a lot of money ensuring the 3 valley ski resorts are the best in the world.
The resorts have also won some more awards, Val Thorens winning the Worlds Best Ski Resort for the second year in a row to name one of many.
We have some more Michelin stars arrive in the 3 Valleys making the area a place to visit just to eat!

We could go on and was very tempted to do so but you would probably get bored reading this especially if you didn’t make it out this season.

Next season will be here before you know it so now is a good time to start planning your trip

There are lots of changes planned for next season which we will write about soon so come back!
SkiGB.com will also be having a makeover throughout the summer where there will be new sections of the ski bringing lots of new functionality. We will be letting you know about this nearer the time.

Additionally, we will be on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook if you would like to join in with our discussions about the ski resorts of the 3 valleys.

4 Snowboarders caught in Avalanche in Orelle

Posted on: March 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Reports are coming in that 4 snowboarders have been caught up in an avalanche roughly 1 hour ago (11:30 local time) in the Orelle ski area.
Early reports are saying that there are no major injuries with one snowboarder with a minor injury. The rescue helicopter was use to locate and evacuate the snowboarders to safety.

The snowboarders were trapped by a rock but unfortunately one of the snowboarders got swept away. He was quickly found by pisteurs and has been taken to Grenoble Hospital for treatment.

Additionally to the four snowboarders being caught there was a second avalanche close by which involved a party of 4 skiers. One of the skiers had to be revived and is suffering with hypothermia. A Courchevel mountain guide who was near by came to help, sadly he too is in a serious condition and has also been taken to Grenoble Hospital for treatment. He is also in a serious condition.

Just a reminder that off-piste at the moment can be unsafe in areas due to the large amount of recent snow.

The area in question for this avalanche is in red below.

Please becareful out there!

Main Belleville road blocked by large Rock from landslide

Posted on: February 28th, 2015 by SkiGB

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 17:15 *
The authorities think the road will now be open at 17:30 both directions.

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 17:00 *
The RD117 road up from Moutiers to Les Menuires and Val Thorens is still currently shut. A diverted route is in place using the RD96 village road. This road is very thin in places so trucks and buses are not allowed.
The RD117 road is still due to open at 18:00 with priority traffic given to vehicles leaving resorts.
The buses from the connecting trains will also be given priority.
It is still recommended not to join the traffic to try and clmb the mountain road until tomorrow.
More information here or on our social media accounts once we know more.

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 12:00*

The very earliest that the road will be passable is 18:00 however there are many vehicles wishing to travel up and down the road so there will be a large delay.

The main road in the Belleville valley has been blocked by a landslide which includes a 50 tonnes bolder.

A landslide has covered the main road up to ski resorts Les Menuires and Val Thorens with lots of rocks including the above mentioned huge bolder.

As you can see from the photos below the rock is so large it will take many hours (possibly days) to remove. Saturday is of course the main transfer day for tour operators and this landslide is far from ideal. The authorities are trying to move the rock as quick as possible however they don’t think the road will be open again until Sunday 1st March.

We will update this blog post as well as our Twitter, Facebook and Google+ pages to keep you up to date.

Road to Val Thorens blocked by Rock!

Posted on: February 27th, 2015 by SkiGB

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 17:15 *
The authorities think the road will now be open at 17:30 both directions.

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 12:00*

The very earliest that the road will be passable is 18:00 however there are many vehicles wishing to travel up and down the road so there will be a large delay.

* Update 28th Feb 2015 – 9am *

The authorities are still working on removing the large rock from blocking the road up to Val Thorens. They have informed us that this will take all day to do and the road is closed to all traffic.

It is advised to change your travel plans if you were planning on driving up or down the road until tomorrow.

Reports are coming in of a very large rock which has fallen on the main road to Val Thorens. It has broken up the road which will take a while to repair.

As you can see by the photo the rock is very large, it is thought to be as much as 50 tonnes in weight, we have been informed that no vehicles were hit by the rock.

Tomorrow of course is the main day of the week for transfers of holidaymakers which would see this road very busy, at the moment buses can not pass.

There is only one main road up to Val Thorens, however there are old village roads which loop the main road which will help divert traffic. These roads are quite thin so trucks and buses are unlikely to fit down them.

What’s new in Meribel and what’s planned?

Posted on: February 15th, 2015 by SkiGB

You may or may not, depending on how much of a skiing fan you are, know about the big changes that are afoot in the Trois Vallées. This huge area which includes the very best of the European ski resorts including Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens is the largest in the world but the last thing the powers that be want to do is rest on their laurels; they want to keep their place at the top of the tree, or mountain.

Meribel has brought even more fame to the area by being the first French ski resort ever to be chosen to host the Alpine World Cup Finals in 2015. This prestigious event which is what every professional skier aims to take part in during their long and gruelling season has put Meribel well and truly in the spotlight across the globe. Millions of viewers are expected to tune into Eurosport to see the often death defying exploits by virtuosos of the piste.

“Over €60m are being invested in the area between now and 2022”

One of the best known skiing areas of Meribel is Mottaret and it is here the biggest changes are being made. Over €60m are being invested in the area between now and 2022 and when completed its fair to say that the Trois Vallées will be leaving the rest of the world trailing even further behind.

So what are these big changes?

The first one is the creation of a new area dedicated to beginners which is directly adjacent to the resort itself. Over the next 2 years the Mont de Challe area right next to Meribel will be completely transformed with a brand new chairlift, a green piste for beginners, floodlighting and a sled zone.

Both the Table Verte and Arolles chairlifts will be disappearing from the landscape forever and be replaced by the very latest Combes chairlift which serves the entire area. This new lift will have a station mid way to allow beginners to disembark at the top of their new green run. The toboggan run is bound to be hugely successful as those who want their thrills in another way will be able to hurtle around the track without the edge of danger which is always present for the serious skier.

Night time skiing is coming to Meribel thanks to the planned floodlights, so Après-ski, for some anyway, in the resort may actually be skiing! The last change to Mont de Challe will be the creation of an entire new beginners zone that will be equipped with both a draglift and magic carpet lift.

“Night time skiing is coming to Meribel”

There are more major improvements planned for the Mottaret ski area which haven’t been revealed yet. Hervé Lenoire is the director of S3V, the premier ski lift company, and he has spoken about the €60m investment being made with understandable enthusiasm. Some of the planned changes we do know about is the modernisation and renovation of the Chalets Gondola which will take place in 2016/17. The replacement of the double Roc de Tougne draglifts with a new and much faster chairlift will also be taking place in time for the 2016/17 season.

Snow Artist Simon Beck visits Val Thorens

Posted on: February 8th, 2015 by SkiGB

Renowned snow artist Simon Beck paid a visit to Val Thorens on Saturday and created one of his master pieces on the side of one of one of the pistes.

Simon Beck is an English man who spends a lot of his time in the Alps creating many different types of snow art. This week he created a rose in Val Thorens for all to enjoy.

Simon makes his art by using snow-shoes and walks out the design in the snow, often you can only see the whole of the picture from a distance so it must be hard to not to make a mess!

Simon started work on this creation at 8am and finished around 2pm and is about 100m in diameter.

Hopefully nobody wanted to land their plane in Val Thorens because the Val Thorens airfield was the location!

Simon Beck art in Val Thorens Simon Beck

If you would like to know more about Simon here is his Facebook Page.

Val Thorens restaurant gets its first Michelin Star

Posted on: February 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Yesterday the new list of Michelin Star restaurants got published and Val Thorens has something to celebrate!

The Epicurean has been award it’s first Michelin Star!

We would like to congratulate all involved!

It’s not easy getting a Michelin Star, if you would like to know all the winners for the 3 Valleys head over to our 3 Valleys Michelin Star post.

3 Valleys Restaurants get Michelin Stars

Posted on: February 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Michelin Star awarded restaurants are considered the best restaurants in the world. Starting with the first star ranging up to three stars for the best of the best. If you are not aware of Michelin Stars they are the restaurant equivalent of the hotel star ratings system.

To get a single Michelin Star you have to be an amazing chef, and be a little lucky too! Each year the judges incognito visit the restaurants that either already have a star or are looking to get one to check the quality of their dishes. If the quality of the food isn’t good enough on that visit, tough! This ensures the chefs have to produce this high quality food all the time.

So you can see Michelin Stars are hard to get. To get one star is extremely good, two stars you are in the top few percentage of chefs in the world and three stars you are basically a god in the kitchen.

There are only 609 chefs in the world who have a star for 2015 which is 1 less than 2014. If you have been awarded with a star you might only get to keep it for one year, if the food isn’t up to scratch on the next visit by the judges they can take the star away again.

The 3 Valleys is very fortunate to have some Michelin Stars already and as of yesterday our local restaurants have plenty to be proud of!

After they collect all the judges results they produce a directory of all the restaurants that have a Michelin Star, this is the first time anyone is told who has a star for the coming year. This includes the chefs!

2015’s directory has just been announced and here are the results for the 3 Valleys:

La Bouitte in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville picked up its third star! There were only two new three star chefs in the world!
The Ekrin in Meribel secured its first star.
The Epicurean in Val Thorens also picked up its first star.

Sadly the restaurant Le Strato in Courchevel loses two stars but we are sure they will get them back as the place is great!

Well done to all!

Meribel restaurant gets its first Michelin Star

Posted on: February 3rd, 2015 by SkiGB

Yesterday the new list of Michelin Star restaurants got published and Meribel has something to celebrate!

The Ekrin has been award it’s first Michelin Star!

We would like to congratulate all involved!

It’s not easy getting a Michelin Star, if you would like to know all the winners for the 3 Valleys head over to our 3 Valleys Michelin Star post.

Avalanche Risk Increases with more deaths

Posted on: February 2nd, 2015 by SkiGB

With the recent large snow fall over the Alps it has put a lot smiles on a lot of skiers, however with such a large amount of snow falling in such a sort time frame there is sadly a high risk of avalanches.

At the time of writing this (2nd February) there have been 49 deaths due to avalanches in the Alps this season. This might sound a lot, well that is because it is a lot!
It’s only the start of February and there have been 49 deaths, this is far more than recent years.

On the 31st January there were 8 fatalities in 4 separate avalanches.

So why are we seeing so many avalanches and more importantly why are we seeing so many deaths?

When the large amount of snow fell the snow it didn’t have a good anchor for it to join too. When nice fluffy snow crystals fall onto compressed snow or no snow at all they don’t tend to connect well. Imagine trying to tongue and groove a basketball with a hedgehog, it’s just not going to work!

Throw in a change of temperature and some wind and you have a very unstable layer.

From what we have read most of the avalanches were started by skiers or snowboarders themselves. I’m sure anyone reading this who skis off-piste has seen a stunning untracked slope which would be the best vertical you would have ever skied. But for safety have decided not to ski it. Sadly it looks like some of the deaths were due to just that, but the draw of the powder was just too much or they simply didn’t think it was dangerous.

Other avalanches look to have been started by a group of skiers, it is often the case that the first couple of the group down are OK but others in the group were just too much for the slab and set off the avalanche.

It’s quite dangerous off-piste at the moment all across the Alps.

In Meribel a 35 year old man is currently missing who was last seen near the top of the Olympic chair lift. The rescue team are still looking for him, we hope he doesn’t join the statistics and is found safe and sound.

We have spoken to local mountain guides and rescue services and they are strongly recommending not to go off piste.

Be safe out there!

PS: Sadly since starting this post we have heard of two further avalanches in Tignes close to the piste which were started by off piste skiers. We are not sure if anyone has been caught up in them.

Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals in Meribel 2015

Posted on: February 1st, 2015 by SkiGB

Whether your idea of fun is hurtling down the mountain side at break neck speeds or not there are few sporting events quite as thrilling as watching the experts at work. TV coverage is all very well to but to experience the buzz that cuts through the frozen air like a hot knife through butter you need to be there in person. If you planning on getting off the couch and onto the piste the Alpine Ski World Cup finals at Meribel are just around the corner.

Between the 18^thand 22nd of March 2015 the elite members of the skiing world will take to Meribel’s competitive Roc de Fer slope to thrill viewers across the globe with their daring exploits. This will be the first time this prestigious event has ever been held in Meribel and this premier French resort has gone all out to make it a week to remember. It is the biggest event to take place on these pristine slopes since the 1992 Winter Olympics at Albertville. It is also the first time a French resort has been given the honour of hosting the World Cup Finals, making Meribel THE place to become March.

The World Cup Finals is the culmination of the highly competitive ski season and is the one everyone wants to win. The top 25 skiers who have excelled in each of the 4 disciplines will be taking part in one final competition hoping to lift the highly coveted crystal globes. Competitors from 20 countries will be taking part in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and Super-G and after one of the most exciting seasons is recent times competition has never been so fierce, or the field so open.

Considered to the blue ribbon event, the downhill will start near the summit of Roc de Fer with the other disciplines starting from progressively lower points. Every competitor will cross the finish line at la Chaudanne, slap bang in the centre of the resort and those lucky enough to secure a prime spot will experience both the elation and the disappointment as each competitor checks their times on completion. This is also the best view point to catch the best of the action for the team and slalom events where there will be both giant screens and grandstands.

If you want to see the best of the downhill and the Super-G then you want to head for the Cherferie tunnel which is the point where the piste on the Roc de Fer crosses over the Gelinotte piste. This viewpoint allows you to get close to the action and see part of the course. Meribel have also said there will be giant TV screens at this point, commentary via loud speakers and a bar to give you Après–ski par excellence.

The programme kicks off on Wednesday the 18^th March with both the men and the women’s downhill. The next day is dedicated to the Super-G for both sexes and the team events take place on Friday 20^th. The weekend is taken up with the men’s giant slalom on the Saturday and the last day, Sunday 22^nd, sees the men’s slalom and women’s giant slalom bring the event to a close.

If you want to combine your winter break with the World Cup Finals then the good news is that although there are an extra 70,000 visitors expected (the resort has predicted) the competition will have little impact on recreational skiing. The Roc de Fer actually only accounts for a very small amount of the actually ski area on offer at Meribel and thanks to its enviable position at the heart of Les Trois Vallées there is still more than enough space to partake in your favourite sport.

Key Stats

85 Million potential viewers
10 live TV broadcast on Eurosport international, ORF, ZDF, RAI Sport, NTV Plus, RTV Slovénie, SRF, SVT 1, RSI, Eurosport Asie
9 World Cups in one week
25 of the best men and ladies athletes from each discipline
70 000 spectators expected throughout the week
400 volunteers
300 media accreditations

The Full Programme

Wednesday 18th : Descent Ladies & Men
Thursday 19th : Super-G Ladies & Men
Friday 20th : Team event
Saturday 21st : Slalom Ladies / Giant Slalom Men
Sunday 22nd : Slalom Men / Giant Slalom Ladies

The Slope

Name of the course : “Roc de Fer” downhill
Orientation : the top part faces East ; middle part East-North/East ; final part East
Starting gate : « Sous le Petit Col », altitude 2150m
Finish line : Plateau de la Chaudanne, altitude 1432m
Vertical drop : 718m
Length : 2355m
Slope : maximum inclination 58% ; minimum inclination 7% ; average slope 30%
Access : the lower part of the course is accessible using 2 chairlifts: Plan de l’Homme (capacity : 2400 pers/hr) and Roc de Fer (1500 pers/hr) and the start of the downhill by the Olympic Express (1500 pers/hr). Above the Super G start, a 50 m tunnel allows tourists and spectators a safe circulation
Start area: « Sous le Petit Col », 200m North and below the top station of the Olympic Express chairlift
Finish area: Chaudanne plateau. Around the racers’ finish area, separate easily accessible positions have been prepared for the press, radio and TV commentators as well as for the public

How to Save Money When Going on a Ski Holiday

Posted on: January 19th, 2015 by SkiGB

Skiing can be one of the most liberating, adrenalin fused holidays you will go on. As you take your leap of faith from the top of the slope, your destiny is in your hands. One wrong twist of the skis or an unknown object in your path and it can turn messy quick.

But for the hardened ski junkie, this is what it’s all about: that surge of adrenalin and the excitement of what might happen. That feeling of relief mixed with achievement and power when you have reached the bottom, making you feel like you could conquer anything.

The dazzling beauty of your surroundings is also a big draw. The crisp white sheets of snow, reflecting the sun off the glorious mountain ranges, is like something off of a Christmas card. Once you experience all this, you usually become a ski lover for life. No other holiday will ever compare. But how do you get your snow fix without breaking the bank?

Ski holidays are traditionally pretty expensive, with so many things to factor in. It’s not just about booking a plane ticket and a room. You need equipment, ski passes, insurance and lessons to name just a few.

Don’t let your dream of a ski holiday fade just yet though, there are ways to cut the expenses and make it a lot more affordable.

Choose a DIY Trip over a Ski Package

It can be a little more hassle to put together your own ski trip, but it will definitely save you some money in the long run. A package deal will not make saving pennies a priority and tend to offer you expensive accommodation, plus plenty of add ons you don’t really need. Organising your own trip will take a bit of time, but you can search for the cheapest rooms and the cheapest air fare.

Try our self catering ski apartment page, it has 10,000’s of apartments to choose from!

Which Areas are Cheapest to Ski?

Where you choose as your ski destination will have a huge impact on how much you spend. If you are not too fussy about this, you can get some really good deals.

Eastern European destinations like Poland, Bulgaria and Romania offer some great bargains. Livigno in Italy, Spain and Andorra are superb value for money. Slovakia and Slovenia are also on the map of worthy but economical places to have your ski time.

When to Ski?

Christmas, New Year and school holidays should be avoided like the plague if you want a ski bargain. They are the most expensive times and the most overcrowded, no better way to kill your pocket and your relaxed ski vibe.

Aim to go in the early season (before Christmas) or the later season (mid to late March). The main reason for these times being cheaper is that snow conditions can be more un-settled, therefore more of a risk. Make sure you do your homework though, and choose a resort that is higher up, or quite far North, then conditions become less of a risk.

We recommend also the first couple of weeks in January for the 3 Valleys as the pistes are empty and like this year there is often a good dump of snow!

How to Get to the Resort?

Don’t always think you have to fly into the major airport closest to your chosen ski resort. Many resorts will have two or three airports within a three hour drive. It’s very likely you might find a better deal flying into one of these.

For the 3 valleys there are 4 international airports within (or very close too) 2 hours: Geneva, Grenoble, Lyon and Chambery.

Travelling to the 3 Valleys by plane

If you can be flexible about when you fly – this will sometimes save a great deal. Weekdays, usually at the start of the week, tend to offer the best savings.

Where to Stay?

If you want to save some much needed cash then self-catering is the way to go. Even after factoring in food as well, it will usually be the cheaper option.

Do remember to book early as the cheaper options will sell out first. You might also get a discount for booking early; make sure you check out any deals your potential resort might offer.

If you do self-cater, remember to stock up on goods before you hit your resort. Prices at the on-site hypermarkets can be painstakingly high and undo all that thrifty planning you have just done.

Some great information on where to buy your food before heading up the mountain can be found on our:

Travelling to the 3 Valleys by Car page

Other options are finding a hostel, UCPA or using Airbnb if you don’t mind sharing. Some hostels in France offer full holidays with all the ski arrangements made from tuition to ski passes, all at a fraction of the price.

So a ski holiday doesn’t have to suck you dry every year, leaving you no cash for anything else. With a little planning and choosing the right area, transport, accommodation option and time of year, it can be an affordable getaway without scrimping on any of the fun.

British Pounds exchange rate better than last year

Posted on: January 17th, 2015 by SkiGB

Sometimes the British skier lucks in, “What are you kidding!” i hear you say. No really we do sometimes get somethings our way, take now for example. At the moment the currency exchange rate between the British pound and the Euro is 9% up compared to this time last year.

£500 gets you £37 more!

This means if you change £500 you will get an extra £37 or €48. Obviously if you going skiing in a non-Euro country like Switzerland then this exchange rate does not apply. In fact the British pound compared with the Swiss Franc is worse off compared to last year (£80 worse off when converting £500) so it does make sense to ski in a Euro country like France at the moment.

Val Thorens being not only Frances highest ski resort but also Europe’s is a resort high on the skiers ‘places to ski’ this season. Not only due to the exchange rate but Val Thorens has also just had a large dump of snow, more than many other resorts, making it a perfect time to ski.

To help reduce costs even further staying in a self catering apartment can save a family of four hundreds of pounds. Here is a link to show you the savings you can have on self catering apartments in Val Thorens.

Will the return trip be as bad?

Posted on: January 2nd, 2015 by SkiGB

And so the week for the holiday makers who had to endure the transfer from hell getting to the resorts is coming to an end and we are all sure the thought of the return journey is playing on their minds.

A lot can happen in the Alps in a week from completely different snow conditions to the organisation of traffic management, we don’t think a repeat of a week ago will happen tomorrow.

That said several tour operators have made the decision to leave the ski resorts earlier to be out of sync with other traffic on the roads and hopefully not get caught up with any jams that may arise.

This is a good idea and very sensible, this weekend the traffic will mainly be going down the mountain road instead of climbing up as per last weekend. It is much more difficult to drive on snow/ice going down than up and more accidents happen in this direction.

However the snow level isn’t too low so the snow on the roads should only affect high resorts like Val Thorens.

The only negative we can see is that the guests will have to get up earlier to leave the resort and wait around in the airports for longer time for their flights.

We think you might as well stay up and not go to bed at all and keep the bar man company. 🙂

Snow Hampers Skiers in Busy Week

Posted on: December 28th, 2014 by SkiGB

This weekend 27th and 28th of December is one if not THE busiest weekend for many ski resorts. So many thousands of cars are trying to make their way up the mountain roads to the ski resorts.

This year however Mother Nature has decided to dump best part of a metre of snow at exactly the time these cars are in the area.

Mountain roads are generally a single lane road which wiggle their way up the hill and don’t have many places to overtake.

This weekend 15,000 vehicles are trying to get up to ski resorts like Val Thorens, Meribel and Tignes but due to amount of snow that has fallen in such a short amount of time the roads are completely jammed.

Ski resorts are very well equipped for clearing snow off roads and the staff can do it in their sleep, they are that good. The problem is if you stick thousands of cars on the same bit of tarmac they just can’t clear it.

But THE main problem why we have all these cars stuck around Albertville, Moutiers and up mountain roads is the drivers themselves. Every time there is snow of the mountain roads you will need to use snow chains except if you have a big 4×4 (and we have seen many BMW X5 and Land Cruisers have to put on chains too on some days).

Drivers often leave it too late to put on their snow chains, if they have them at all (it’s actually against French law not to have snow chains). What happens is they drive up as far as they can thinking they will make it all the way and get stuck. As it is a single lane they have little choice and have to start putting on the snow chains there and therefore hold up the hundreds of cars behind.

Another problem is that it is often the first time people have tried to put on snow chains, believe me some of them are a nightmare to put on!

It is also very often the case that it is dark when drivers tackle the mountain roads as they have more than likely travelled far, now they have to fit snow chains which they don’t know how to do in the dark!

With all this snow around the place the temperature is most likely quite cold so if you are outside of your car you will need to wear some gloves. Fortunately you have packed your thick ski gloves!

Now try putting on snow chains you don’t know how they work, in the dark, with snow falling getting in your eyes, in below freezing temperatures wearing thick ski gloves! Oh and whilst holding a torch (if you have one) in your mouth as there are not any road lights on these roads so you won’t be able to see without one.

It is easy pointing out the obvious if you live and work in a ski resort and see this day in day out, but come on people a little thought needed here!

I started writing this post to report on the state of the roads at the moment but it has kind of changed direction to point out what we all can do to stop this happening again in the future. There has been other unusual events happening at the same time which would not have helped, there was a fire in a tunnel around Chambery and Alberville as well as crashes by buses, which is rare and would have stopped traffic passing but that aside we can all help.

Things Skiers driving to a ski resort can do to help the traffic:

Practise putting on your snow chains at home before you leave.
Make sure you have a good torch, a head touch is ideal.
Thin gloves will help instead of thick ski gloves.
Don’t wait until it is too late to put the chains on, do it in one of the snow chain lay-bys.
Make sure you have food and water as well as warm clothing (available not in suitcase).
Fill up you car with fuel before going up the mountain (see saving money when skiing tips), you don’t want to run out of fuel whilst sitting in traffic.
Pack lots of common sense and don’t forget to use plenty! 🙂

If you would like to know the latest traffic report for this weekend follow us on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter as we post the latest info from the resorts.

Monarch Launch New Ski Route!

Posted on: December 15th, 2014 by SkiGB

Monarch have announced that they will start a new winter ski programme to help us skiers get out to the Alps. The new route will start on the 27th December and will continue until 11th April 2015 flying to Lyon from Gatwick Airport.

This will provide another option for you to get out to the main 3 Valleys ski resorts of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens as well as all the other smaller resorts in the ski area.

Lyon is more or less about 2 hours drive from the resorts so quite handy really.

What is also very good news is that the flight leaves Gatwick at 7:10am so you could get an afternoon extra on the slopes.

Prices start from £29.99 one way and they are already for sale!

Here is a link to their site to help you alone the way: http://www.monarch.co.uk/offers/flights/new-destinations-w14

Val Thorens’ New Club Med Hotel opens it’s doors

Posted on: December 15th, 2014 by SkiGB

Whenever a large investment arrives in Val Thorens it is always a big deal, the last 18 months we have seen a very large investment from Club Med by replacing their flagship hotel. Sitting directly behind the old hotel Club Med have installed a very modern hotel which has just opened for the first time.

If you have read our blog about the New Club Med hotel in Val Thorens then you already know a little bit about this, if you have not read it head over and have a look.

Well this new hotel is now open for business and Club Med have produced this video to show it off. It does looks nice in the video and we can back this up by saying it is very nice as we have popped in ourselves to have a look around.

CLICK for the latest review and information about the Club Med Sensations Hotel

Check out the video below for yourself, we have also put a link to their site if you want to find out more.

Save Time on Arrival on your Ski Holiday

Posted on: December 12th, 2014 by SkiGB

WOW how exciting it is!

The ski holiday is almost upon you, you have had to wait months and months until you get your chance to stand on the snow for the first time this season. To feel the crunch of the crisp white snow under your feet, there really isn’t a better sound is there?!

Have you got your new ski gear?

Does the new helmet match the rest of the suit and are you fully covered with ski insurance. Yes Great!

When you only have a short amount of time on holiday it is important not to waste any moment of your ski holiday. Most skiers from the UK only get one or two weeks if lucky per season, so about 7 days a year, minus the travelling time that really only gives you 6 days skiing.

Then you get to the resort, whether the ski resort is in the 3 Valleys or elsewhere the procedure upon arriving in the ski resort is the same.

Head down to ski shop and join the queue to hire your skis or snowboard (lets hope they have the right equipment in stock for you!).
Then join the long queue outside the lift office to buy your ski lift pass so you don’t waste any time in the morning (after all it’s what everyone is going to do!).
If you have travelled by car you might need to buy a car park ticket as most ski resorts don’t allow you to park on the roads. You won’t be alone there either so join that queue too!

After all that you might have the chance to get something to eat after your long journey!

WOW not the best way to start your very important ski holiday is it?

The world has changed (shock!) and all those painful jobs can be organised before leaving the UK online, and it couldn’t be easier! Not only can you book everything online right NOW but by booking online you will make sure the correct pair of skis or type of snowboard is sitting there waiting for you when you arrive.

We are going to make it even easier here too by collecting all the links you need for each of the 3 Valleys Ski resorts.

Starting with Courchevel
To book each of the items you need here are the links:
Courchevel Ski or Snowboard Rental
Courchevel Ski Lift Pass
Courchevel Car Park booking
Courchevel Apartments to Rent
Courchevel Ski Insurance

Meribel Information

To make your holiday in Meribel or Mottaret completely organised:

Meribel Ski or Snowboard Rental
Meribel Ski Lift Pass
Meribel Car Park booking (as Meribel is spread out easier to start at main site)
Meribel Apartments to Rent
Meribel Ski Insurance

Finally Val Thorens

It’s really easy to make your ski holiday in Val Thorens Organised:

Val Thorens Ski or Snowboard Rental
Val Thorens Ski Lift Pass
Val Thorens Car Park booking
Val Thorens Apartments to Rent
Val Thorens Ski Insurance

Now you can rest and relax knowing that you will be the smug person on the coach travelling to the ski resort who has everything organised! 🙂

Val Thorens Wins best Ski Resort in France

Posted on: November 23rd, 2014 by SkiGB

Congratulations to our 3 Valleys and Meribel neighbours Val Thorens for winning two of the biggest ski resort awards for the second year in a row!

For the second year running ski resort Val Thorens has won Best Ski Resort in France and Best Ski Resort in the World.

Every year the ski industry awards ski resorts accolades for doing well. It could be that they promote the sports well or they invest and maintain their patch of the Alps the best. In fact there are many criterias to be judged on.

For a French ski resort to win the best ski resort in France is obviously the one they want to win. So quite rightly they are very happy to win it twice in a row.

But to win the big one, the best ski resort in the World and to win once again twice in two years must be something they have only dreamt of.

From all of us here at SkiGB.com congratulations Val Thorens!!

Val Thorens Wins World Best Ski Award AGAIN!

Posted on: November 23rd, 2014 by SkiGB

For the second year running ski resort Val Thorens has won Best Ski Resort in France and Best Ski Resort in the World.

For a French ski resort to win the best ski resort in France is obviously the one they want to win. So quite rightly they are very happy to win it twice in a row.

But to win the big one, the best ski resort in the World and to win once again twice in two years must be something they have only dreamed of.

From all of us here at SkiGB.com congratulations Val Thorens!!

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