Friday 7 November 2014

Why taking to the piste should be top of your bucket list

It's not all about the skiing...

If you haven’t been skiing before, but always wondered what all the fuss was about, you need to check out our top inspirational reasons as to why it should be at the top of your bucket list…

Ever heard of Après Ski?

Just imagine being at home in the UK, dining in the cosiest of restaurants; or sitting in your local country pub next to the open fire; the atmosphere of that last night out with friends before breaking up for the festive period. Now add a sprinkling of snow & like minded new found friends - this is Après Ski.

It’s possibly one of the main reasons skiers continue to visit the slopes time and time again. Forget about the 3 hours of perfecting your snow plough and parallel turns, the aching legs from trying to stay upright on the button lift or the continuous line of 4 year old French children, effortlessly gliding past you - whether you’re a competitive or beginner skier, you’ll be able to hang up your skis at any outdoor bar on the slopes and enjoy your well-deserved beverage with many other fellow skiers - and then depending how much you’re enjoying yourself – party the night away.

The spectacular picture postcard setting is the first thing that hits you when you arrive at any ski resort. Many of the resorts are made up of historic, dimly lit, wooden lodges and cobbled streets, lined with pizzerias and bars, from which you can see panoramic views of the mountain ranges.




If it's adrenaline you’re looking for then this might possibly be one of the most extreme sports you can easily give a go. The rush of the slopes is what all skiers love and have in common; you can’t beat the exhilarating feeling of being able to ski past someone in the blink of an eye. Even if you’re a beginner, once you are confident to explore the more open slopes, you'll feel like you’re going ten times faster than you actually are! Ski lessons are optional with most ski companies, but with Club Med Ski Holidays, they are included in the price!

When we say ‘ski’ it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all about the skiing. Nearly all ski resorts offer a range of snow sports you can take part in from snowboarding and tubing to snowmobiles and husky sledding (dependant on where you visit). If you go on Club Med Ski Holidays or Mark Warner Ski Holidays, you may even find spas to relax and regenerate in. Most resorts offer a wide range of beauty treatments and many accommodations come with an outdoor Jacuzzi. If you visit, this is a must – it’s quite a memorable and surreal experience, sitting in an outdoor hot tub, surrounded by the sparkling snow and slopes!

Another aspect that makes ski stand out from your average package sun holiday is the accommodation and cuisine. On Mark Warner Ski Holidays, you will stay in a catered chalet and enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea (cakes!) and 3 course evening dinner with wine. Club Med Ski Holidays are all Inclusive - you can pretty much eat and drink what you like from morning until midnight.

As you can tell, a skiing break is completely different to the ‘norm’ and once you’ve tried it you will always want to return to the slopes.

Travel Club Elite
0121 213 0012

Thursday 6 November 2014

Visit the Largest Ski Area in the World with Mark Warner Ski

Date: Wednesday 5th November 2014
Subject: Skiing in Les 3 Vallees, La Plagne


Are you a skiing enthusiast? If so, then heading to Les 3 Vallées should definitely be on the top of your to-do list. I have just returned from a brilliant week staying at Mark Warner Chalet Loden in Meribel.

'...this was by far my favourite skiing trip I have experienced...'

The outbound trip was smooth, as we decided to take the British Airways charter flight option from Gatwick to Grenoble. Within 30 minutes of landing, we were off the plane and on the coach for a 2hr 30min journey to the stunningly beautiful French Alps.

Mark Warner were excellent hosts in every way; lift pass collection and ski hire took place at the chalet, so no time was wasted going into the village to collect them, for what was promising to be an enthralling week of skiing.

Les 3 Vallees offers stunning views and excellent ski conditions
Les 3 Vallées has the largest and most varied ski area in the world, catering for all abilities - from complete novice to expert skier - so you should never be short of challenging runs! We were very lucky to have 10cms of snowfall on our first night, so our inaugural dinner was full of excited chat towards what our first day on the slopes would entail.

No trip to Meribel would be complete without a visit to the iconic Folie Douce for a little bit of après ski. Table top dancing is optional but encouraged. If that isn’t enough for you, then you can round off your day at the Rond Point, a local club, where you can sample some tasty apple flavoured vodka.


The week was simply incredible; the chalet hosts were superb, the catering was the best I have ever had & this was by far my favourite skiing trip I have experienced. Would I go again? You bet - I’m already bookedM again for next year!

Travel Club Elite
0121 213 0012

Mark Warner Ski Holidays include:
- Flights & resort transfers
- Accommodation
- Welcome drinks & canapes
- Breakfast, Afternoon tea, 3 course dinner with wine
- Mark Warner Ski Lift pass collection service
- Childcare available at extra cost