Category: Ski Europe

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How come La Thuile is considered the Wild Side of the Mont Blanc.

La Thuile, the Wild Side of the Mont Blanc. Photo courtesy: La Thuile Tourism Office.

There are so many resorts linked to the Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco, but there are some, that are more related than others. Like Chamonix and Courmayeur, with the Mont Blanc just on its boundaries, and then La Thuile and La Rosière, with more panoramic views of the Monte Bianco or Mont Blanc.. And how come La Thuile is considered the Wild Side of the Mont Blanc?

La Thuile is home of the steepest slope in Italy, as well as the place with 13 km dedicated to beginner skiers. So, it caters to both sides of the spectrum.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

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Green light to modernise two lifts in Courmayeur Mont Blanc.

The boys waiting for the funicular of Val Veny to take us back to Courmayeur. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Courmayeur got the green light to go ahead with the replacement of two lifts: the Maison Vielle chairlift with a 16-seater cable car, and the Chécrouit cable that will be a 10-seater from the today’s old 6-seater. Both lifts will maintain the same route.

My youngest carrying his own skis with his ski strap waiting the Armani funicular to go to Plan Chécrouit in Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
My youngest carrying his own skis with his ski strap waiting the Armani funicular to go to Plan Chécrouit in Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Courmayeur Mont Blanc got the green light to modernise two of its lifts that were due for a long time. Maison Vielle and Chécrouit. 

The total cost of this refurbishment by Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie SPA will be of approximately 42 million euros. The City Council has unanimously approved three resolutions to allow these building works.

These are two very old lifts that needed to be upgraded, as they were susceptible to be stopped due to wind.

Continue reading “Green light to modernise two lifts in Courmayeur Mont Blanc.”

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Plan your holiday to Les Gets this winter

Grand Cry Tipis Zone Ludique. Valentin Du Crettet. Les Gets Tourisme. Plan your holiday to Les Gets this winter.

If you are looking for a great place where to go skiing with your family, Les Gets it is a great contender.

With easy access, as you can fly into Geneva, and you are only at 1 hour 20 minutes away from Les Gets.

Snowboarding in the expanse area of Les Gets. Photo: Keno. Les Gets Tourisme. Plan your ski holiday to Les Gets this winter.
Snowboarding in the expanse area of Les Gets. Photo: Keno. Les Gets Tourisme. Plan your ski holiday to Les Gets this winter.

Or drive from London taking the ferry or the Eurotunnel and then after passing Geneva, take the A40 and then the D902 to get there.

In a nutshell, Les Gets is one of the 12 resorts of Les Portes du Soleil, that are in two countries (France and Switzerland) and cover more than 600 km of pistes.

Snowshoeing at dusk or dawn. One of the guided activities you can pre-book now for your Les Gets trip. Photo: Max Coquard. Les Gets Tourisme. Plan your holiday to Les Gets this winter.
Snowshoeing at dusk or dawn. One of the guided activities you can pre-book now for your Les Gets trip. Photo: Max Coquard. Les Gets Tourisme. Plan your holiday to Les Gets this winter.

Les Gets ski area is opening on Saturday 21st December 2024 through April Sunday 6th, 2025. On 14th December the resort will open the terrain with enough snow to ski, all depending on snow conditions.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

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The Must-Read Guide to Pila, Aosta Valley

Skiing on top of Piste 2 in Pila, with inversion in the bottom. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. The Must-Read Guide to Pila, Aosta Valley

Why Visit – The Must-Read Guide to Pila, Aosta Valley

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Pila is a resort that I’ve got to know by chance. I’ve drove with my family to Ollomont, a tiny ski resort at the end of the road of the Valpelline Valley, north of Aosta for the first ski holiday of my little one that was three. (My eldest went once to ski in Portillo before!)

Nice and warm day in Pila, snow became corn snow overnight- still nice! Photo: The-Ski-Guru. The Must-Read Guide to Pila, Aosta Valley
Nice and warm day in Pila, snow became corn snow overnight- still nice! Photo: The-Ski-Guru. The Must-Read Guide to Pila, Aosta Valley

As the ski area of Ollomont was too small (even though at first, I’ve thought it was ideal), and it did not have ski instructor nor skis or boots for my little boys, I had to go elsewhere. Somebody told us to go either to Pila in Aosta, or Crévacol, by the Grand Saint Bernard Pass. We went to Aosta, and the next was history.

We have been going ever since there, even though now we do not stay at the bottom of the main cable car, but in our home in Morgex (30’ away).

My youngest learnt to ski there, and my two boys love the resort, so we keep on going back for more. Even though I am more nearby La Thuile and Courmayeur, we tend to go to Pila, as it is a very easy-to-deal with and family-friendly ski area.

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The Must-Read Guide to Morgex, the Heart of the Valdigne

View towards the Monte Bianco, Tête du Grand Monte, Tête des Jeunes, and Tête des Vieux from Morgex. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Why am I making a guide of Morgex? Because this place is such a well-kept secret. Morgex is the place where all savvy Milanese, Torinese and Genovese buy their second home. It is the spot where I have my second home and where we go year-round, around six times a year! A great spot for all your year-round outdoor adventures!

Chatelard- the turret overlooking the valley of Morgex. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Chatelard- the turret overlooking the valley of Morgex. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

In winter, is a strategic place where to go and ski in different resorts. You have Courmayeur in 10’, La Thuile in 20’ and the parking lot of Pila in Aosta in 30’. If you want, you can stretch it to Cervinia in 1h14’. Amazing cross country is just above in Arpy and many more further afield… like Val Ferret, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame and Cogne.

In summer, you have amazing hiking trails from Morgex to all over – for all kinds of fitness; also mountain biking, road biking, rafting in the Dora Baltea river, amongst many other things!

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Reasons Why Morzine Resort is Loved by Brits

Morzine photo by The-Ski-Guru. Reasons Why Morzine Resort is Loved by Brits

Winter is a great time when you can make the most of the holiday season and spend quality time with your family and friends. Many people prefer to head to some of the popular ski resorts in Europe and North America where they can have fun and enjoy skiing and snowboarding activities. Even if you are not much into skiing and snowboarding many people would want to explore these ski resorts and enjoy apres ski and other non-skiing activities.

Morzine ski area, a grand expanse for all kind of skiers. Reasons Why Morzine Resort is Loved by Brits.
Morzine ski area, a grand expanse for all kind of skiers. Photo: Pixabay. Reasons Why Morzine Resort is Loved by Brits.

If you are in the UK, you can browse from a list of many ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland that offer you the best deals. Morzine, however, has remained one of the most obvious choices as most Brits prefer it to any other ski resort in the French Alps. Hence, you can always look for excellent Morzine ski holidays plans that allow you to make the most of your time and money.

Here are 7 reasons why most British skiers prefer Morzine over any other ski resort.

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Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

Le Tour - L'Alpage de Balme. OT Vallée de Chamonix. Photo: Salome Abrial. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

Imagine yourself leaving your office on a Friday evening, gliding down snow covered slopes for the next two days and returning to your desk on Monday morning with a grin as wide as the mountains.

This unbeatable travel experience is none other than a weekend skiing trip, but it requires a lot of work and rushing around to make this type of a trip a huge success.

Mégève. Photo: Green/Pixabay. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip
Mégève. Photo: Green/Pixabay. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

From choosing the perfect place to ski carefully and slopes that suit your style of skiing to resort owners willing to take bookings for just two nights, and that too during the peak rush days of the week,there are few ski resorts that are ready to oblige.

So here are a few resorts that not only cater to skiers who only have weekends to spare, but across a broad range of skiing tastes and abilities as well.

Our pick of best resorts to spend your ski weekends at – 

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Austria removes UK from Virus Variant List

The Flexenbahn has connected all the Arlberg region. Photo: Ski Arlberg- Lech Zürs Tourismus. Austria removes UK from Virus Variant List

Austria removes UK from Virus Variant List

Skiing in Austria just got a little easier!

 

Photo: Austria National Tourist Office
Hiking tour at the Sonnenplateau Mieming- © Österreich Werbung, Photographer: Robert Maybach Photo: Austria National Tourist Office

Good news for British holidaymakers: From 24 January, the UK is no longer classified as a virus variant region in Austria. Double-jabbed or recovered travellers can enter the country with a PCR test (valid 72 hours) OR proof of a booster jab (received at least 120 days after the second shot). Proof of recovery (within the past 180 days) also counts as a booster. Please find more info on the new entry rules here.

The new entry rules in a nutshell (update shortly)
Austria shortens validity of vaccination on 1 February

When in Austria, gaining “2-G” status is essential to enter hotels, restaurants, ski lifts etc. From 1 February, two-dose vaccinations are only valid for 180 days in Austria, after that a booster is needed. The third jab remains valid for 270 days from day one. Proof of recovery is also valid for 180 days. BioNtech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca (except Covishield), Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Novavax – including mix and match vaccines – are currently recognised in Austria.Travellers can show their vaccination status using the NHS app, the EU Digital Covid Certificate (Green Pass) or a printed equivalent in English or German.

Everything you need to know about Austria’s Covid rules
Rules for children and teenagers

• Children under the age of 12 do not need proof of vaccination/recovery or a PCR test (exception: in Vienna mandatory testing applies from the age of 6)
• Teenagers (12 or over and born on or after 1 September 2006) who are not yet fully jabbed can use the  Holiday Ninja Pass both to enter Austria and to maintain “2-G” status
• For teenagers born before 1 September 2006, the same rules as for adults apply.

PCR tests are available for both locals and visitors free of charge in Austria.

More information about winter holidays with teenagers

Start planning your next trip!

 

You can search for your own accommodation in the snow for your next ski holiday through our Accommodation Search tab. Or if looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check Il Coure della Valdigne review here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using, you can always write me a private message if interested to info@the-ski-guru.com

 

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.
Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

You can book directly through Airbnb  through this link

Or check Booking.com on this link.

 

If you have some questions, contact us at info@the-ski-guru.com for more information.

If you want to take your family skiing and you don’t know where to start, read here. And search for your ski transfers from all airports to the Mountains here. And for those that are like me, that are lazy to cook, you can get your food, even gourmet mountain food delivered to your home with Huski.

If renting equipment (skis or snowboards)  check our agreement with Skiset– you can get up to 50% off ski or snowboard rental rates. I have been using them for years every year when I go to America  and Europe and they are great!

Shop for the Alpine Look with The-Ski-Guru HOME 

Already selling some alpine design items for your house. #bringthemountainshome with The-Ski-Guru HOME and put a smile in your face. These are hand-paintings done by me, applied to cushion covers, coasters and mugs.

Cushions, paintings and homewares from The-Ski-Guru HOME. To see the shop go here.
Cushions, paintings and homewares from The-Ski-Guru HOME. To see the shop go here.Featured Image: Ozzy at home after a long trip from London to Morgex in the Italian Alps. Getting an European Passport for your Pet to travel to Europe? Not for everyone! 

Featured Image: The Flexenbahn has connected all the Arlberg region. Photo: Ski Arlberg- Lech Zürs Tourismus. Austria removes UK from Virus Variant List

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Travelski is cancelling all guests from the UK from 17th December to 7th January

Photo: Travelski. Travelski is cancelling all guests from the UK from 17th December to 7th January

Travelski is cancelling all guests from the UK from 17th December to 7th January

 

Following this morning’s announcement from the French Government, effectively stopping all non-essential travel from the UK into France, Travelski are having to cancel all guests arriving from the UK (covering the period 17th December to 7thJanuary). This also includes the first two rotations of the Travelski Express on 26th December and 1st January. All clients booked are being contacted by e-mail and offered a full refund, or a chance to rebook their ski holiday for later in the season.

 

As there is currently no end date for these restrictions later holidays may also be affected. In that event we would then take similar proactive steps for guests booked on these, contacting them directly, closer to their departure.

 

Guests can rest assured that the situation is being closely monitored and we will be operating our full range of ski holidays, including the Travelski Express, as soon as restrictions allow us to do so in a safe manner.

 

Any guests departing during the period 17th December to 7th January who have not received an e-mail can contact us using the e-mail address support.clients@travelski.com

 

Start planning your next trip!

 

You can search for your own accommodation in the snow for your next ski holiday through our Accommodation Search tab. Or if looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check Il Coure della Valdigne review here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using, you can always write me a private message if interested to info@the-ski-guru.com

 

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.
Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

You can book directly through Airbnb  through this link

Or check Booking.com on this link.

 

If you have some questions, contact us at info@the-ski-guru.com for more information.

If you want to take your family skiing and you don’t know where to start, read here. And search for your ski transfers from all airports to the Mountains here. And for those that are like me, that are lazy to cook, you can get your food, even gourmet mountain food delivered to your home with Huski.

If renting equipment (skis or snowboards)  check our agreement with Skiset– you can get up to 50% off ski or snowboard rental rates. I have been using them for years every year when I go to America  and Europe and they are great!

Shop for the Alpine Look with The-Ski-Guru HOME 

Already selling some alpine design items for your house. #bringthemountainshome with The-Ski-Guru HOME and put a smile in your face. These are hand-paintings done by me, applied to cushion covers, coasters and mugs.

Cushions, paintings and homewares from The-Ski-Guru HOME. To see the shop go here.
Cushions, paintings and homewares from The-Ski-Guru HOME. To see the shop go here.Featured Image: Ozzy at home after a long trip from London to Morgex in the Italian Alps. Getting an European Passport for your Pet to travel to Europe? Not for everyone!

Featured Image: Photo: Travelski. Travelski is cancelling all guests from the UK from 17th December to 7th January

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Quarantine Rules Removed in Switzerland as of 4 December

Quarantine Rules Removed in Switzerland as of 4 December

Great news! The quarantine rules will be removed in Switzerland starting 4th December.
 
It was rather unfortunate timing the arrival of the new Covid variant Omicron. This when the first snow fall in Switzerland and resorts were starting to open!
 
Switzerland Tourism just shared the news that the Swiss Federal Council has announced today that these measures have been lifted.
 
All countries will be removed from the quarantine list. This means, per Saturday 4th December, entry into Switzerland will be possible without quarantine.
 
There will be a stricter regime in place.
 
Vaccinated and recovered travellers will have to present a negative PCR test before entry. They will have to carry a second test (PCR or antigen) between day 4 and 7. The test results will be reported to the Cantonal authorities.
 
More details can be found here. 

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