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!

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...

Lagrange Holidays are back and blogging!

Lagrange Holidays are back and blogging indeed!

We were starting to feel sorry for Alison's solitary entry about her holiday in Samoens, and we thought it was high we stopped neglecting our blog and started to show it the love and affection it deserves. After all, how else will we be able to share our anecdotes about lazy weeks spent sipping vin rouge in the Alps or sunning in Sainte-Maxime? Not to mention tip-offs on great holiday deals and new residences, top tips for holiday makers to France and anything else that catches our eye.

This marks the start of Lagrange Holidays relaunching ourselves back into the blogosphere as your one-stop shop for all things Francophile. We're re-vamping our Twitter and Facebook accounts as well, so there really is no excuse for being out of the loop with Lagrange Holidays. Got that? Good. This also means keeping up to date and in touch with Lagrange has never been easier - just Tweet, blog or pop a post on our Wall! We welcome feedback (but keep it clean, we're sensitive souls here in Hammersmith), comments and questions from everyone, especially if it means we can help make your holiday with us that little bit better.

To get us started, we will be uploading a selection of our finest literary efforts to get you in the holiday mood....

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?