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?
Showing posts with label Alps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alps. Show all posts
Monday, 6 December 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Dear Santa, This Year I Would Like...
....25% off Christmas ski breaks and 20% off New Year getaways? Little Timmy, your wish is Lagrange's command!
With Christmas and the recession lurking round the corner (although probably not the same corner, as that could get quite crowded. We hear the recession needs lots of elbow room.), squeezing in a festive ski holiday and making sure there's more than a satsuma in everyone's stocking can seem like a real mission pas possible. Christmas wishlist versus crisp white slopes - tough decision, eh? No, not really. Here at Lagrange, we like to make sure you really can have your cake and eat it. Or, in this case, your holiday and your pressies. Ker-ching! Yes, until the end of next week (December 4th) we are offering discounts on Christmas and New Year bookings that even Scrooge himself would consider very generous indeed....
25% off Christmas week (December 18th - 26th):
With Christmas and the recession lurking round the corner (although probably not the same corner, as that could get quite crowded. We hear the recession needs lots of elbow room.), squeezing in a festive ski holiday and making sure there's more than a satsuma in everyone's stocking can seem like a real mission pas possible. Christmas wishlist versus crisp white slopes - tough decision, eh? No, not really. Here at Lagrange, we like to make sure you really can have your cake and eat it. Or, in this case, your holiday and your pressies. Ker-ching! Yes, until the end of next week (December 4th) we are offering discounts on Christmas and New Year bookings that even Scrooge himself would consider very generous indeed....
25% off Christmas week (December 18th - 26th):
- Champagny-en-Vanoise, 'Les Alpages de Champagny': 2 bedroom apartments sleeping up to 6 people
- Plagne 1800, 'Les Chalets d' Edelweiss': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 6 people and 2 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 7/8 people
- Agrentiere, 'Le Cristal d' Argentiere': 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 5 people
- Les Coches, 'Les Chalets de Wengen': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 6 people and 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 6 people
- Plagne Aspen, 'Residence Aspen': 1 bedroom sleeping 4 people, 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 5/6 and 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 7 people.
- Serre Chevalier, Le Hameau du Rocher Blanc': 1 bedroom apartment sleeping 4 people, 2 bedroom apartment sleeping 6 people
- Brides-les-Bains, 'Residence Cybele': studio sleeping 4 people
- La Toussuire, 'L' Ecrin des Sybelles': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 6 people
- Valloire, 'Les Chalets du Galibier': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 5/6 people and 1 bedroom split-level alcove apartments sleeping 6 people.
20% off New Year week (December 26th - January 2nd):
- Champagny-en-Vanoise, 'Les Alpages de Champagny': 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 6 people.
- Les Coches, 'Les Chalets de Wengen': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 6 people and 2 bedroom sleeping 6 people.
- Plagne Aspen, 'Residence Aspen': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 2 bedroom apartments sleeping 5/6 people and 2 beroom apartments sleeping 7 people.
- Brides-les-Bains, 'Residence Cybele': studios sleeping 4 people.
- La Toussuire, 'L' Ecrin des Sybelles': 1 bedroom apartments 4 people and 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 6 people.
- Valloire, 'Les Chalets du Galibier': 1 bedroom apartments sleeping 4 people, 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping 5/6 people and 1 bedroom split-level alcove apartments sleeping 6 people.
So there you have it, smashing ski offers for Christmas and New Year in resorts big and small throughout the French Alps. If this tickles your fancy, why not have a sneaky peek at www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk for more ideas and inspiration...?
Monday, 18 October 2010
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...
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...
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, 20 May 2010
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....
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....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
