One, Two, Three...Ski!

As you may or may not know (and if not, why not? Hmm? Hmm?!), our 2011/2012 ski bookings are now open. Obviously, the very keen and the very organised amongst you have already managed to get your grubby mitts on your mountain getaway but we suspect that most skiers out there are still mulling over the where, the when and the 'how much?!' for next year's foray on the slopes, especially if you are tied to holidays outside term time dates. If this is all ringing a bell, then deliberate no longer because help is at hand and that hand is being outstretched by Lagrange. Intrigued? Of course you are....

Perfectly timed to catch the best of the season's snow fall (fingers crossed) and almost two months after the Christmas holidays, the February half term week is the ideal time to grab your nearest and dearest, bundle up the layers and hit the slopes. However, it seems that everyone else in Europe has got wise to this, meaning that the period can be over-priced and over-crowded. Not so this season. The UK half term week for 2012 (11th February) is a whole week before the busiest holiday week in France and across Europe, which means that accommodation prices are scandalously low. And we mean scandalously. If they were a Victorian table leg, they would need to be covered up, tout suite...But we digress.

Thanks to this miracle in modern school holiday planning, Lagrange can proudly boast that our half term accommodation prices are between a 'hey that's pretty good' £100 and a 'wow, seriously? no way!' £400 LESS than the equivalent week in 2011 (19th February). And we have a great range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets so you can really make the most of these savings so there really is no excuse not to book that all-important breath of fresh air. For those you who need a little bit of inspiration, why not have a gander at some of our personal favorites....?

If you like to avoid the crowds and want to sample an authentic slice of mountain life, why not make your way to the pretty Savoyard village of Samoens for your half term trip? Nestled in the Grand Massif and just a hop, skip and a jump from Geneva airport, Samoens is perfect for families and beginners. A two bedroom apartment for six people in Les Fermes de Samoens is £1125 for the 2012 half term, a whopping £295 cheaper than in 2011!

Maybe you'd prefer the luxury of accommodation with ski-in/ski-out access and a nice, big snowy playground, head to Plagne 1800 in the heart of the La Plagne ski domaine. This year, the half term week in a 2 bedroom apartment in Les Chalets Edelweiss will set you back £1880, not too bad when you compare it to last year's price of £2295...Plus, our very own marketing gal Rebecca visited Plagne 1800 last year and she declared it to be pretty darn fab.

Or, if you still need to be budget-conscious this year, why not head to Brides-les-Bains in the Meribal Valley? One bedroom alcove apartments in the Residence Cybele are just £776 for the 2012 half term week, an impressive £288 less than our 2011 price and perfect for anyone with champagne tastes but a lemonade budget this winter! Plus, Brides-les-Bains is perfectly placed for those of you hoping to ski the Three Valleys (or some of the Three Valleys, a week isn't infinite after all) but avoid the crowds and high prices of bigger name resorts.

Finally, for something a little bit different this winter, Lagrange will be offering a brand new residence in lovely Les Gets, 'Les Fermes Emiguy'. This will be the 42nd addition to our Lagrange Prestige rosta and a two bedroom apartment for six people will set you and your friends and/or family back a mere £1390 for the February half term week. We're really excited about having this brand spanking new residence as part of our ski 2012 programme, so make sure you shake a leg and think fast if the idea of half term (or Christmas or New Year or Easter or mid-March...) in Les Gets appeals to you, because we have feeling that this one could prove to be mighty popular!

Now you have some all important vacation inspiration and we have hopefully whetted your appetite for the forthcoming ski season, so make sure you keep an ear to the ground and your eyes peeled for news on super early booking discounts for select residences and resorts...! And, as always, we're just a click (www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk) or a call (020 7371 6111) away!

Let The Train Take The Strain This Winter...

This winter, why not forgo the airport chaos, busy roads and general lack of decorum that accompanies travel by air and sea and let the train take the strain off your journey to the Alps. Here at Lagrange, we not only like to travel in style but we also like to try and keep our messy carbon footprint to a minimum, so what better way to combine the two than winding your way through France to the mountains? A chance to appreciate the French countryside after breezing through a 30 minute check-in on the Eurostar versus being elbow to elbow with strangers in what can only be described as an airborne bus? Erm, we think we'll take the former please.

And, if the idea of travelling in style wasn't enough to tempt you to swap your boarding pass for your railcard then you may be very interested to hear that Lagrange are now offering fixed rate train tickets between London and Bourg-St-Maurice, Mountiers and Chamonix throughout the season. With civilised departure and arrival times, as well the chance to stretch your legs between the Eurostar and the TGV in Paris, travelling to the Alps by train may take a little longer than flying but is far more relaxing.

Ticket prices start from just £120 for a child return and £150 for an adult return between London and Bourg-St-Maurice, which is frankly scandalous. However, if you feel like you need a teeny bit more convincing, don't just take our word for it. Instead, why not check out this article by Neil English, as he recounts his recent journey to the Alps by train. Oh, and he also stayed in some of our fabulous apartments in Plagne 1800. But, like we said, don't just take our word for it...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1335906/Skiing-holidays-train-The-Snow-Express-rails.html

For more information on train packages and accommodation, why not call 020 7371 6111 and see if we can't sweet talk you out of the Ryan Air check-in queue and into the Eurostar buffet car?

Secret Skiing, or How I Learnt To Stop Queueing and Avoid The Crowds This Winter.

As the days get shorter and knitwear grows ever more appealing, there has never been a better time to book that all-important winter ski break. However, by the time you do manage to sneak off to the slopes, it can seem like the world and his wife have all had the same idea, and your idyllic break is shared by thousands of others.

If this sounds all too familiar, then panic no more because help is at hand! Yes, Lagrange have been busy selecting hidden gems, unexplored slopes and lesser-known slopes as ideas and inspiration for alternatives to big name resorts to help you avoid crowded slopes, endless queues for the ski lifts and hopefully give you a little bit more elbow room around the fondue pot.

So, in no particular order (as Lagrange does not believe in playing 'favourites' between our snowy playgrounds), here are ten of France's best kept ski secrets...

• Cauterets - The French Pyrenees are the ideal alternative to crowded Alpine resorts, as well as offering excellent value for money on accommodation and lift pass prices. Perfect for nervous beginners or those who simply prefer gentle slopes and relaxed skiing, Cauterets offers ideal skiing conditions set against a traditional mountain village backdrop.
• Champagney-en-Vanoise - Offering quick and easy access to the wider La Plagne ski domain via cable car and excellent cross-country skiing in the spectacular Vanoise National Park, Champagney should be the first port of call for all skiers hoping to have an authentic 'mountain' experience this season.
• Chatel - Nestled in the Portes du Soleil ski area, Chatel boasts excellent skiing whilst still retaining a village resort atmosphere, and is ideal for any intermediate skiers hoping to try more challenging slopes without the people traffic usually found in larger resorts. Because, frankly, no one wants to spend their ski holidays being shoved aside by thousands of French teenagers or British university students.
• Les Saisies - A haven for anyone still finding their 'snow legs', Les Saisies offers dramatic views and gentle tree-lined slopes, as well as boasting an impressive 80km of Olympic cross-country slopes for those who are feeling that little bit more adventurous this winter.
• La Toussuire - Both family and expert skier-friendly, plus the added benefit of awe-inspiring views, the slopes of La Toussuire rival those of big name resorts in the Three Valleys. Offering an enormous ski area for keen snow bunnies to explore, La Toussuire is an excellent alternative to the huge crowds and high prices that accompany more well-known resorts such as Tignes and Val Thorens.
• Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise - A real hidden Alpine gem, Sainte-Foy is the youngest ski resort in the French Alps and is celebrating its twentieth birthday this year. Also boasting excellent off-piste opportunities, any skiers hoping to truly escape the crowds and explore a relatively untouched corner of the French Alps will not be disappointed.
• Saint-Gervais - A veritable hotbed for French ski tourism, Saint-Gervais offers impressive views across the Mont-Blanc mountain range and an authentic nineteenth-century spa town atmosphere. This resort is ideal for any skiers hoping to experience an authentic French-style ski holiday this winter.
• Saint-Lary - A great destination for groups made up of mixed ages and abilities, as Saint-Lary offers some of the best skiing opportunities in the French Pyrenees. This picturesque resorts slopes offer something for everyone - from challenging slopes for adventurous intermediate skiers to gentle runs to ease in even the most nervous of beginners.
• Samoens - Those seeking chocolate box villages and a traditional Alpine atmosphere should head to Samoens, a beautifully preserved resort tucked in the heart of the Grand Massif ski domain. Samoens is classified as a 'Monument Historique', and is ideal for beginners and family groups. Plus, anyone heading to Samoens in December will find the festive spirit positively contagious, thanks to the Christmas markets and free-flowing vin chaud on offer in the resort.
• Valloire - Linked to Valmenier and part of the wider Galibier/Thabor ski area, Valloire is a charming family resort with slopes to suit skiers of all abilities whilst still offering a traditional mountain village atmosphere. The resort is also home to an international ice and snow sculpture festival every January, providing entertainment for skiers and non-skiers alike.

So, instead of battling the crowds in the Three Valleys this season, why not chose somewhere off the beaten track and head to one of France's hidden gems for your winter ski break? Go on, break the habits of a lifetime this winter, and you might, nay WILL, be pleasantly surprised...

To ski or not to ski, that is the question...

Now then. Let's have some time out from all this talk of summer and sea and sun and frivolity, and instead turn our attention to the future. And by future, we of course mean SKI.



Ah, ski. Some very organised people out there in the bloggisphere will no doubt be feeling rather pleased with yourselves, as it looks like you have been quick off the mark, and have already booked those all important Christmas, New Year or half term ski holidays. However, we know that for every forward planner, there are at least two last-minute-rs who will now be starting to think about skiing. Maybe. Some times after Christmas perhaps? Definitely before the end of the season, anyway.



Or perhaps you have decided, "yes, we SHALL ski this season" and now it's simply a matter or where, when and how much to spend. Do you avoid the crowds and go outside the school holidays? Or, do you bite the bullet, hedge your bets and embrace the hustle and bustle that is February on the Alps? If this sounds like an inevitability, then we at Lagrange have come up with some perfect packages to make planning a February half-term ski break just that little bit more bearable...

• 'Le Roc Belle Face', Arc1600:

If you're looking for a family skiing holiday that offers both excellent skiing conditions and a friendly atmosphere, then look no further than Arc1600. Keen skiers can enjoy an impressive 200km of slopes, whilst avoiding the crowds attracted to the higher areas of the Les Arcs domaine. Le Roc Belle Face has ski-in/ski-out access, as well as an on-site sauna and steam room to soothe aching limbs after a long day on the slopes. This February half-term, for a mere £779pp, you lucky people can get a two bedroom apartment, 6-day Les Arcs lift passes, ski hire AND a return Dover to Calais ferry crossing. Are we good to you, or are we good to you?!

• 'Les Chalets de Wengen', Les Coches:

For those looking for somewhere with a real 'moutain' feel, Les Coches is perfect. Nestled in the village resort of La Plagne, Les Coches offers 225km of ski slopes - ideal for exploring the Alps without having to share the experience with thousands of others! Our Lagrange Prestige residence, Les Chalets de Wengen , is just 250m from the slopes and this half-term we have one bedroom alcove/mezzanine apartments plus 6-day La Plagen lift passes, ski hire and ferry crossing for just £654pp! Maddness...

• 'Le Pic de L' Ours', Font Romeu:

If you're desperate to spend February half-term gliding elegantly down various mountains, but find the idea of crowds and high Alpine prices slightly daunting, then why not think outside the box and head to the French Pyrenees? Beginners, families and anyone just looking to relax will find the Pyrenees perfection personified, as the resorts are quieter and smaller but no less welcoming. Le Pic de L' Ours in Font Romeu is located just 20m from the gondola offering direct access to the slopes, and has an indoor pool on-site for those who still feel energetic enough for a few lengths...As if all that wasn't enough, this half-term just £449pp will get you a one bedroom alcove/two bedroom apartment plus 6-day Font Romeu lift passes, ski hire and a return ferry crossing. Ridiculous.

So, what are you waiting for...? Give us a call, or check out our lovely website for tantilising photos of where you could be spending your half-term this ski season...

http://www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/index.php?reinit=1

NOTE: All offers are early booking offers and are valid until 30/09, so hurry if you want to snap up a half-term break at bargain prices! All advertised prices are based on a package for a family of four, compromising two adults and two children aged between 7-11 years, and all include (deep breath): return Sea France Dover to Calais ferry crossing, 6-day "Classic" adult ski hire and 6-day "Junior" ski hire (skis, poles and boots), 6-day lift passes and all accommodation is self-catering for a week 19/02/2011 - 26/02/2011. Phew!