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!

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!