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!
Showing posts with label family ski holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family ski holiday. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Thursday, 12 August 2010
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...
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!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Summer in the Alps.
For all of you who thought the Alps were an exclusively winter destination, think again! The mountains make the ideal location for a summer holiday, as Nadia found when she visited Morzine and Les Gets...
When I think of mountains and more specifically the Alps the first image that comes to mind is that of a tanned Italian ski instructor safely carrying me down from the slopes at the end of a treacherous fall… maybe not the first image that comes to your mind but it certainly does in mine and tends to linger for a while…
For the purposes of this exercise however one must steer away from exciting Italians and consider that in truth the word association most likely to conjure up the word “snow” is either “mountains” or “Alps”. Does anyone immediately think of verdant and lush alpine meadows blossoming with summer wild flowers? Of course not. We are creatures of habit and our brain works fastest along those well travelled connections in complete defiance of the laws of reason. Arriving in June in Morzine and then Les Gets (which is a resort town in the Portes du Soleil) under a baking hot sun derailed all previous trains of thought with the effectiveness of a cow chewing the cud in the middle of a busy rail crossing.
My preconceived ideas about what a winter resort in the summer month would be were rerouted in an entirely new way. Surely all the inhabitants would have retired for some much earned rest after the frantic pace of having to serve, please and entertain thousands of winter visitors. There must be, I thought, such a thing as “summernation” in July and August when those popular alpine resorts close the shutters and recover from this year’s madness to prepare for the coming onslaught.
Not one bit of it. The winter months, albeit very exciting especially for those of us who can’t get enough of the white stuff and have not lost the childish excitement and sense of wonder that snow brings about, are almost bland compared to the extraordinary explosion of greenery, flowers, sun and activity which are the true mark of summer in an alpine resort. It quickly became apparent from the smiles and excited chatter of everyone around me, the delighted shouts and waves from children taking a ride in the mini-train around the town centre, the sounds of splashing from nearby pools, the murmur of conversations from the tables outside local cafes that what was to me a revelation was a much enjoyed everyday reality to everyone who had sampled the resort’s summer delights. Just as the mountains all around us had awaked so had the town, its visitors and its inhabitants.
Winter is a rather serious affair which cannot be undertaken without some preparation, it is full of equipment to buy or rent, clothes to be chosen carefully, slopes which need to be followed etc. Summer by contrast is a liberating experience with the license to do as one pleases whether it be a gentle walk through gently slopping trails alongside cool mountain rivers or a breathtaking mountain bike ride at top speed amidst clouds of dust. Anything seems possible and the bewildering array of summer activities available do nothing to disabuse you of that first impression.
A list of what is possible certainly far outweighs a list of what is not. As well as all the activities you can easily imagine being available such as walking and hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, mountain biking, horse riding etc. there are a lot of activities which you would not immediately think of but which are, in retrospect, rather logical to find in such a rich and diverse environment. Fishing and angling in mountain lakes, adventure parks set in the middle of fragrant pine forests, paragliding from mountain tops even golf, of all sports, all find themselves at home in those majestic surroundings. Rather cunningly all the infrastructure which is essential to any skiing endeavour converts very easily to its new summer task. Bikes are attached to ski lifts which take you up to various trails and paths as they did with your skis in winter. Horse-drawn sleights turn into carriages for nostalgic tours of the old bourgs. Old activities are given new twists such as Afghan walking, hydrospeeding (not for the faint hearted and something you really will have to look up), summer sledging, grass scooters etc.
There seems to be a determined effort to ensure that every single possibility has been explored and that no one feels left out as almost all activities are available for all ages apart from the very young (think newborn). Families feel especially welcome with a charter and a label “Famille Plus Montagne” which aims at providing appropriate services specifically for families everywhere. Discovering those resorts in summer was a truly exhilarating experience. I thought I knew the Alps, I now realise that I had only seen a small proportion of what those amazing mountains can offer.
Next time, I am taking the troops with me!
When I think of mountains and more specifically the Alps the first image that comes to mind is that of a tanned Italian ski instructor safely carrying me down from the slopes at the end of a treacherous fall… maybe not the first image that comes to your mind but it certainly does in mine and tends to linger for a while…
For the purposes of this exercise however one must steer away from exciting Italians and consider that in truth the word association most likely to conjure up the word “snow” is either “mountains” or “Alps”. Does anyone immediately think of verdant and lush alpine meadows blossoming with summer wild flowers? Of course not. We are creatures of habit and our brain works fastest along those well travelled connections in complete defiance of the laws of reason. Arriving in June in Morzine and then Les Gets (which is a resort town in the Portes du Soleil) under a baking hot sun derailed all previous trains of thought with the effectiveness of a cow chewing the cud in the middle of a busy rail crossing.
My preconceived ideas about what a winter resort in the summer month would be were rerouted in an entirely new way. Surely all the inhabitants would have retired for some much earned rest after the frantic pace of having to serve, please and entertain thousands of winter visitors. There must be, I thought, such a thing as “summernation” in July and August when those popular alpine resorts close the shutters and recover from this year’s madness to prepare for the coming onslaught.
Not one bit of it. The winter months, albeit very exciting especially for those of us who can’t get enough of the white stuff and have not lost the childish excitement and sense of wonder that snow brings about, are almost bland compared to the extraordinary explosion of greenery, flowers, sun and activity which are the true mark of summer in an alpine resort. It quickly became apparent from the smiles and excited chatter of everyone around me, the delighted shouts and waves from children taking a ride in the mini-train around the town centre, the sounds of splashing from nearby pools, the murmur of conversations from the tables outside local cafes that what was to me a revelation was a much enjoyed everyday reality to everyone who had sampled the resort’s summer delights. Just as the mountains all around us had awaked so had the town, its visitors and its inhabitants.
Winter is a rather serious affair which cannot be undertaken without some preparation, it is full of equipment to buy or rent, clothes to be chosen carefully, slopes which need to be followed etc. Summer by contrast is a liberating experience with the license to do as one pleases whether it be a gentle walk through gently slopping trails alongside cool mountain rivers or a breathtaking mountain bike ride at top speed amidst clouds of dust. Anything seems possible and the bewildering array of summer activities available do nothing to disabuse you of that first impression.
A list of what is possible certainly far outweighs a list of what is not. As well as all the activities you can easily imagine being available such as walking and hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, mountain biking, horse riding etc. there are a lot of activities which you would not immediately think of but which are, in retrospect, rather logical to find in such a rich and diverse environment. Fishing and angling in mountain lakes, adventure parks set in the middle of fragrant pine forests, paragliding from mountain tops even golf, of all sports, all find themselves at home in those majestic surroundings. Rather cunningly all the infrastructure which is essential to any skiing endeavour converts very easily to its new summer task. Bikes are attached to ski lifts which take you up to various trails and paths as they did with your skis in winter. Horse-drawn sleights turn into carriages for nostalgic tours of the old bourgs. Old activities are given new twists such as Afghan walking, hydrospeeding (not for the faint hearted and something you really will have to look up), summer sledging, grass scooters etc.
There seems to be a determined effort to ensure that every single possibility has been explored and that no one feels left out as almost all activities are available for all ages apart from the very young (think newborn). Families feel especially welcome with a charter and a label “Famille Plus Montagne” which aims at providing appropriate services specifically for families everywhere. Discovering those resorts in summer was a truly exhilarating experience. I thought I knew the Alps, I now realise that I had only seen a small proportion of what those amazing mountains can offer.
Next time, I am taking the troops with me!
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Alison's Family Ski Holiday by Train
Seven hours on a train with a toddler may not seem like everyone’s idea of the perfect start to a holiday but tootling to the French Alps by train for a family ski holiday is actually great fun.
Armed with at least ten bags of varying sizes between us, from change bag and toddler day sack overflowing with toy aeroplanes, books and other distractions, to travel cot and our own clothes for a week’s ski holiday, stuffed inside a tiny suitcase, my husband and I set off to St Pancras like intrepid explorers.
A stop-over in Paris was the perfect opportunity to recharge our batteries after the first relatively short stage of our journey. We even walked from the Gare du Nord to our hotel in the Marais along the Canal Saint Martin, there may even have been whistling while we walked, at least for the first five minutes anyway. Paris’ potentially surly waiters were charmed by our one year old and we had service with a smile at a local brasserie.
At the Gare du Lyon the next morning, boarding our TGV, I prayed that our carriage would be full of friendly child-loving faces. In fact, the carriage wasn’t even full, allowing us to spread out. A table made the perfect runway for the toy aeroplanes and the ever changing scenery enchanted our little traveller. Nappy changes were manageable as the TGV had baby changing facilities, and the buffet car kept everyone quiet for a least 20 minutes. There was even the opportunity for some Anglo-French interaction between two distinctly non-verbal toddlers as a French family sat in the seats behind ours.
Arriving in Cluses and counting our myriad of bags (yes, we still had them all), we felt virtuous and green in a good way, rather than airsick and green in a bad way. And a week later, after enjoying the fresh mountain air in the village of Samoens; think chocolate box chalets, skiing, sunny café terraces, botanic gardens and walks along the river – yes, we were sad to leave our little chalet at Les Fermes de Samoens, but excited about riding the train home!
Would we do it again? Definitely, anyone for boules in Marseille?
Armed with at least ten bags of varying sizes between us, from change bag and toddler day sack overflowing with toy aeroplanes, books and other distractions, to travel cot and our own clothes for a week’s ski holiday, stuffed inside a tiny suitcase, my husband and I set off to St Pancras like intrepid explorers.
A stop-over in Paris was the perfect opportunity to recharge our batteries after the first relatively short stage of our journey. We even walked from the Gare du Nord to our hotel in the Marais along the Canal Saint Martin, there may even have been whistling while we walked, at least for the first five minutes anyway. Paris’ potentially surly waiters were charmed by our one year old and we had service with a smile at a local brasserie.
At the Gare du Lyon the next morning, boarding our TGV, I prayed that our carriage would be full of friendly child-loving faces. In fact, the carriage wasn’t even full, allowing us to spread out. A table made the perfect runway for the toy aeroplanes and the ever changing scenery enchanted our little traveller. Nappy changes were manageable as the TGV had baby changing facilities, and the buffet car kept everyone quiet for a least 20 minutes. There was even the opportunity for some Anglo-French interaction between two distinctly non-verbal toddlers as a French family sat in the seats behind ours.
Arriving in Cluses and counting our myriad of bags (yes, we still had them all), we felt virtuous and green in a good way, rather than airsick and green in a bad way. And a week later, after enjoying the fresh mountain air in the village of Samoens; think chocolate box chalets, skiing, sunny café terraces, botanic gardens and walks along the river – yes, we were sad to leave our little chalet at Les Fermes de Samoens, but excited about riding the train home!
Would we do it again? Definitely, anyone for boules in Marseille?
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