Have a great summer.
Ski-concierge team.

Grand Motte, Tignes

The last two seasons I have skied in Tignes over the May Bank Holiday weekend and the conditions have been fantastic for the time of year. To get the most out of the conditions try and get on the slopes as early as possible, then finish skiing around 3pm and enjoy a cold beer in the sun. Unfortunately I have a wedding to attend so won’t be making the trip this year but for those who are planning to go have a great time!

We started off the day taking the Les Menuires chair lift and from the top we skied the nice wide blue run Boyes to the Sunny Express lift. The snow fall from the previous night has placed a nice layer of powder on the piste so the signs were good for fabulous skiing. At the top of Sunny Express there are plenty of options and we took the blue run Petits Creux down to the Becca lift. We then came down the red run named Becca. This run is ideal for anyone wanting to ski their first red run and to be honest I’ve been down steeper blue runs. The remainder of the morning session was spent going up the 3 Marches and down the 3 Marches blue, then heading for lunch in Les Menuires down the red Allamands which joins the blue runs Petits Creux and Menuires.

We ate lunch at the Les Hacienda restaurant located near Roc Des 3 Marches lift. We shared a pizza (the size of a planet destroying space station) and salad, very good value for money at only 21 euros including a beer and a vin chaud.

The afternoon was spent skiing the area between Les Menuires and Val Thorens. First we took the Roc Des 3 Marches lift then skied Petis Creux to the Bruyeres 1 & 2 bubble lift which took us to the Col de La Chambre (2850m). We then skied the long red run David Douillet red to the Mont de la Chambre lift. This takes you to the Col de la Chambre where then skied the even longer 4 Vents red back to the chalet.

After a slow start to the day the skiing certainly made up for it, with the conditions fantastic and predicted clouds never materialised. The forecast for the next few days is similar with blue skies in the morning clouding over in the afternoon, but we’ll keep you updated. The plan for tomorrow is to head towards Val Thorens so if you have any suggestions please tweet them by following skiconcierge.

1. Resort choice: Firstly you need to make sure you choose the right resort as some resorts are more catered to beginners than other. Ideally you should choose somewhere with several wide nursery slopes (preferably with direct access from the village) for the first few days and wide sweeping green and blue runs for later on in the week.

2. Gear: The most common question we get asked by beginners is ‘what should I take with me?’ For your first holiday we recommend borrowing as much from friends and relatives as you can as it can work out quite expensive to fully stock your wardrobe with all of the necessary skiing essentials. As a bare minimum you’ll need to pack a ski jacket, salopettes, gloves, thin jumpers (that can be layered up depending on the weather), thermals, ski socks, sunglasses, goggles, a hat and suncream. If you do want to take the plunge and buy your own gear, but don’t want to spend a fortune the several shops now offer deals on ski gear bundles, see here for an example.

Moving on to the equipment side of things you’ll need to hire skis or snowboard, boots and a helmet. You can either do this when you arrive in resort or you can save time and money by booking equipment online beforehand.

3. Lessons: As a beginner we’d strongly recommend signing up for lessons in your first week. This will speed up your progress and make your first skiing experience more enjoyable. Don’t let any more experienced friends convince you that they can teach you as what will inevitably happen is that they’ll give you a few pointers and then get bored of the nursery slopes and leave you to your own devices! Worse still they’ll try and take you on a slope that you’re blatantly not capable of skiing and it’ll all end in tears (I’m speaking from experience on this one, and yes Liz, 7 years on I’m still really sorry that I took you down that red run!).

If you have the time it’s also a really good idea to have a few lessons on an artificial slope in the UK before you go. This will make you feel more comfortable in the gear and will make those first few hours on the snow far less daunting.

4. Ski pass: As a beginner you’re better off waiting until you get to resort before deciding what ski pass to get. In most resorts the nursery slopes are free to use and your instructor will let you know from which day you’ll need to get a pass as you progress higher up the mountain. Also many ski resorts have different levels of passes which allow you to ski different parts of the mountain area and as a beginner the pass covering the smallest area usually provides you with enough runs for your first week.

And finally, just enjoy it! Do let us know if you’re a first time skier and have any other queries, we’re always happy to help!

Ellis Brigham at Milton Keynes is next door to the Xscape snowdome. This means you can double up a trip to get your kit with a session in the snowdome. In fact if you’re thinking about buying skis or a snowboard and you want to test on the ski slope they’ll give you your session price back if you go ahead and buy the equipment.

So, back to the boots. We were helped by a fantastic member of staff called Gordon. Gordon was extremely knowledgeable about all the boots, seemed to have a good idea of what would work best, and asked all the right questions.

First up the usuals, foot measurements, volume test and then the first boot try. First off was the Salomon Mission RS8 at £220. The Salomon Mission RS8 is a mid level boot with a moderate flex. It has a reasonable volume, so a good option for those with wider feet. It’s a comfortable option so good for those that don’t spend much time every year skiing (1 week maybe) and don’t have the time to bed boots in.

Salomon Mission RS8 ski boot - £230

Second up was Atomic Hawx 100 at £285. These are a higher range boots, being suitable for intermediates to experts. This boot uses a more flexible plastic on the forefoot than most other boots, this is supposed to increase comfort and reduce strain in this higher range boot. I think it would be a really good option for those intermediates wanting to buy a boot that will not need to be upgraded in several years time.

Atomic Hawx 100 ski boot - £285

Third up was the Fischer Soma Progressor 100 at £280. This is a performance boot with a narrower fit than the Salomon or Atomic. I think this is the very reason why Dave immediately didn’t get on with this boot. This is probably a good option for intermediates with less wide feet looking for progressive boots that will last as harder terrain is explored.

Fischer Soma Progressor 100 ski boot - £280

Other boots tried on included the Salomon Impact 8 cs and the Lange Blaster 9.

After what was probably a good 2 hours in Ellis Brigham trying on the different options, and after much help from Gordon, the boot that was decided upon was the Atomic Hawx 100. This was down to comfort as well as the level allowing it to be used as a progressive boot for many years to come. Of course everyone will fit a ski boot entirely differently, these opinions are based on Dave’s own personal fit experience. If you are buying ski boots get down to a good ski shop, like Ellis Brigham, and get trying some ski boots on.

As for Ellis Brigham, we were extremely impressed with the service, mostly thanks to Gordon. No doubt will be back again soon for our next piece of kit.

Meribel skiing holidays can be great for families as they offer stunning scenery, variety of runs and plenty of nursery slopes for beginners and younger skiers.

Children booked into a ski school will learn from English speaking instructors and nannies will escort them to and from the slopes and supervise over lunchtimes. There are also fun activities such as sledging, snowman building and woodland walks. Adult ski schools will run at a similar time meaning that you could opt for free afternoons to spend together exploring the Alpine towns.

Meribel have introduced the Magnestick system this year. The Magnestick is a vest with a metallic back protection in, this is worn over the ski jacket. A magnet also exists in three of the chairlifts in Meribel so when a child sits on these lifts it is automatically activated and ensures the child stays “stuck” to the seat. It automatically releases on arrival. Chairlifts equipped with this system are Combes, Arolles and Chatelet.

Magnestick system in action

For the younger child there are crèches (with a garden full of snow!) open from 9am – 5:30pm for babies aged from four-months, allowing Mum and Dad to have a full day on the slopes or a drop-in crèche during the evenings.

If you want to take your family skiing to Meribel then we recommend Mark Warner. Mark Warner has over 25-years experience in organising family ski holidays and introducing children to skiing. This year there are money-saving offers including free child places, discounted child-share deals and free ski and boot rental for children. Have a look at the Mark Warner ski holidays to Meribel here.

If you do opt to take your children skiing for the first time here are five top tips help keep little ones safe and for you to have a stress-free time.

• Cooler temperatures can cause batteries to run out more quickly so remember to pack spares
• Remember to keep moisturiser and lip balms handy, flavoured balms are great for kids
• A few thin layers are better then one think jumper. Vests, cotton polo necks and fleeces are lightweight and comfortable to wear under a thicker jacket
• Remember to pack essentials like spare pairs of gloves and hats, in case they get lost en route to the slopes!
• Sunlight is strong so it is vital to use high SPF on any exposed areas such as the nose during skiing and for children to wear protective sunglasses

Following on from the success of Pierre & Vacances’ popular ‘sunshine guarantee’ insurance policy this summer, the European accommodation specialist is now offering a ‘snow guarantee’ on all winter ski holidays. The ski insurance policy allows holidaymakers the option of cancelling their ski holiday free of charge if snow weather conditions in resort are insufficient.

Cancellation applies if a lack or excess of snow entails the closure of over two thirds of the ski lifts normally in service, for a minimum of two consecutive days. A refund can be claimed within the five days preceding the departure date. The insurance policy is being offered in association with Europ Assistance, to offer a full refund on Pierre & Vacances ski holidays booked between the 19th December 2009 and the 10th April 2010. The policy, starting from €30 per booking, is applicable to all ski holidays booked at ‘Pierre & Vacances’ or ‘Maeva’ branded properties this winter.

The ‘Snow Guarantee’ is just another reason to book your winter ski holiday with Pierre & Vacances, as the company has also recently extended its ‘Eurobuster’ deal to offer at least 15 per cent off all ski holidays on all dates throughout the winter, including Christmas, New Year and the school half term holidays. The deal can also be combined with any other Pierre & Vacances offer currently available to lead to savings of up to 32 percent.For more information and to take advantage of the offer, please visit:

The ‘snow guarantee’ comes hot on the heels of the summer ‘sunshine guarantee’ which offered to reimburse sun lovers if their holiday to France was interrupted by more than four days of rain in one week.

For more information and further terms and conditions for the Snow Guarantee, please visit: http://www.pv-holidays.com/hu_ski_services_snow_guarantee.php

Skipower.co.uk Hotel Gelinotte

Nestled in pine trees and just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Val D’Isere, the hotel has just been completely renovated. With views overlooking the town centre, the chalet-hotel is ideal for those looking to get away for a relaxing break before the hectic festive season starts (facilities include a sauna).

The offer is only available to previous Ski Power guests and is subject to availability. Offer applies only to the week commencing 5 December and includes seven nights’ catered chalet-hotel accommodation (daily breakfast and a five-course evening meal six days a week).

Flights (departing Gatwick) and transfers are extra and can be added from just £154 pp. Alternatively trains to Bourg St Maurice including Eurostar can cost from as little as £140 pp, visit Rail Europe for further information.

Plus, all Ski Power guests pre-booking a week’s ski hire 48 hours before their holiday starts will only pay 37.50€, for the entire week – allowing a saving of 50% per person.

The good news is that it has beein snowing already in the Espace Killy region, and if we have as good a start to the season as last year then you’ll be laughing even that early on in the ski season. Visit the Ski Power website for more information on the hotel and phone Ski Power on 01737 30 60 29 to take up the offer.

©Virtualboy

French ski resorts are well-practised in catering to family holidays, with a whole host of activities on offer to keep youngsters entertained.  The”Famille Plus” label is given to resorts that offer much more than just the traditional snowball fight, toboggan rides and traditional skiing… nowadays it’s all about offering activities and services across the board, at the same time providing inspiration for their parents and ensuring happy families all round!

The “Famille Plus” label: a guarantee of efficient, friendly service . Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, this label is awarded to tourist sites and those working in the tourist industry for their considerable efforts in co-ordinating an extensive range of activities, reduced prices and services specifically targeted to children.

These resorts have 6 unique selling points

1. A friendly, personalised welcome for families
2. Entertainment specifically geared to visitors of all ages
3. Tailored prices for children and adults
4. Individual and family-based activities for youngsters and adults
5. Nearby medical facilities in the event of minor illness or injury
6. Supervision and tuition by professionally qualified staff
Resorts which have been given the “Famille Plus” classification

Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon, the jewels of the Vercors (Isère).

Superbly situated on the high plateaux of the Vercors mountain range, where visitors can enjoy limitless Nordic and downhill skiing, this “traditional town/high-altitude mountain resort” combination offers younger visitors a number of dedicated facilities including a toboggan run with full safety features, a kids’ centre (for children aged 3 to 12 with a full schedule of activities) in Corrençon, and a kids’ village in Villard.

Vaujany, at the heart of the Oisans (Isère)

©Virtualboy

Situated at an altitude of 1,250m, this discreet village linked via a fast cable car to the huge ski area of Alpe d’Huez, boasts an “aquatic centre” (with a swimming pool, slide etc), organises “fairytale” evenings, and offers reduced rates for skiing and free admission to its three museums (heritage, Hydrelec, fauna).

Combloux, a pretty village close to Megève (Haute-Savoie)

Linked to the Megève ski area, and built in the same, well-preserved architectural style, this quiet village resort, with its superb views of the west-facing slopes of Mont Blanc, has long championed activities for children, with options that include horse-drawn sleigh treks, farm visits and tastings.

La Clusaz, with its decor of beautiful chalets (Haute-Savoie)

Nestled amid the superb landscapes of the Massif des Aravis, this charming resort offers a wide range of facilities and an extensive programme of activities specifically geared to children. One particular example is the Christmas “Pestacles” festival.

Samoëns, the pearl of the Grand Massif (Haute-Savoie)

Situated in the Haut-Giffre, Samoëns is unique in being the only ski resort which is officially classified as a “town or village of art and history”. With its traditional village feel and wonderful regional heritage (e.g. farm visits), it is the perfect family destination. Not forgetting the superb skiing opportunities in the nearby Flaine, les Carroz and Morillon ski areas, which can be accessed using the reasonably priced “Pack Famille” ski pass.

Les Menuires, at the heart of the 3 Vallées (Savoie)

One of the four main resorts in the huge 3 Vallées ski area, Les Menuires has made significant steps to halt its urbanisation, which now offers a more practical feel for visitors and an extensive range of après-ski activities. The resort also organises an impressive calendar of shows and events, such as Carnival Week, the Boule de Notes festival etc.

Serre-Chevalier, a leading Alpine ski area

This major resort in the Southern Alps consists of three urbanised sites in the Guisane valley (as well as plenty of picturesque villages nearby), with links to the listed town of Briançon, the “Cité Vauban”. Facilities for kids here include the inexpensive Piou-Piou clubs in Chantemerle and Villeneuve, the Jardin des Neiges in Le Monêtier, as well as specially designated and safe “beginners’ areas” located throughout the ski area, both in the valley and in the surrounding mountains.

Orcières 1850, in the sunny Hautes-Alpes

With its remodelled ski area (making it easier for families to get around), igloo village, where youngsters can experience traditional “Eskimo adventures” (including a magical night “under the ice”), and an extensive and fully equipped sports complex featuring an ice skating rink, swimming pool, spa etc, Orcières 1850 in the Champsaur Valley is an ever-popular winter destination for kids.

Massif du Sancy: Super-Besse/Mont-Dore, the jewels of the Auvergne

Both resorts offer good leisure facilities for youngsters, including a ski rink (each with their own appearance and style), a safe and secure area for toddlers, hiking paths that are suitable for pushchairs, plus discounts on “Pack Famille” ski passes.

Saint-Lary-Soulan, an attractive resort in the Pyrenees

Nestled in an unspoilt valley, this small town full character comes to life in winter as visitors flock to the high ski slopes above the town (Soulan, Plat d’Adet). The Maison de l’Ours (Bear Centre) and the “Spa and Well-Being” complex are popular alternative options for children and parents alike after a day or two on the slopes!

Other new ideas and initiatives in the Savoie and Mont Blanc areas

- Le Monde de Vardachou, a snowshoe trek for kids, following the trail of the little squirrel, Vardachou, in Arêches-Beaufort (Savoie).
- Le Territoire du Grand Cry in Les Gets (Portes du Soleil), with its re-creation of an Indian village (suitable for children aged 5-12).
- Toboggan runs for specific age groups (2 to 6, 6+), in Châtel (Portes du Soleil).
- Build your own igloo in Megève (Pays du Mont Blanc)

• Take a pre-paid Currency card

Pre-paid plastic works like a pay as you go mobile phone. You top up with euros or dollars before you go away and then use it just like any other debit or credit card. Caxton FX guarantees the best exchange rates- which means they always beat bigger brands such as Marks and Spencer, Travelex and the Post Office, giving you the best deal. Purchases in shops and restaurants are also free of hidden charges and commission. Visit www.caxtonfxcard.com for more details.

• Avoid peak season

Christmas, Easter and half term (mid February) are the most popular dates to be on the slopes. January and March – April is the best time to go if you’re looking for a cheap deal.

• Book at the last minute

If you’re travelling in a smaller group, it is advisable to book your holiday right at the last minute as the later you leave it, the cheaper it becomes and most resorts usually have room. This is most advisable for smaller numbers – if you’re a party of 10+ there is obviously less chance of securing the desired resort and accommodation.

• Catered accommodation is cheaper

Staying in catered accommodation means you won’t spend a fortune in expensive restaurants and shops.

• Be forward thinking

Make sure you book your ski pass and ski hire online before going abroad as many websites offer great deals such as 2 for 1 ski hire and online discounts.

• Go somewhere different

Steer clear of the big locations in European skiing – Val D’Isere, Courchevel, Meribel, St Anton, Verbier, Courmayer.  Try a different location, Bulgaria for example, which is an up and coming hot destination.

• Buy a local SIM card

Using your English mobile can cost up to 10 times the price you would pay in the UK. Instead, buy a local SIM card before you leave for your holiday so local and international calls are more reasonable.

• Dynamic Currency Conversion

If you’re given the option to pay in local currency or sterling, always choose the local currency. This is a new process called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). The retailer or ATM invites you to pay in sterling and then does the exchange rate at an unfavourable rate, which costs you money. During last year’s ski season, Caxton FX research shows that around £30,000 was wasted at just five of the most popular ski resorts in Europe through DCC.

Caxton FX was founded in 2001 as an FX (foreign exchange) broker, offering bank-beating rates for large transactions – they now exchange millions on a daily basis. The success of the company has been based on one simple principle: Value and Service. This principle has been carried through to the launch of the Caxton FX Euro and Dollar Card, bringing genuine savings to travellers.