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Resort News

PlanetSKI Postcard from Andermatt – We visit as Vail Resorts is Set to Takeover

In the first move of its kind Vail Resorts is set to run the Swiss resort of Andermatt. We reported on the news last month and have now visited Andermatt to see what’s in store and assess the resort’s history while enjoying some late season conditions.

Transforming Tignes – A Seismic Shift is Taking Place in the French Resort

Go to Val d’Isère for the 5-star experience, head to Tignes for the skiing.  It’s what we often hear about these two lift-linked French resorts.  But things are changing, and one property company is at the forefront of efforts to turn the ugly sister of Tignes into Cinderella. It’s expanding into other resorts too.

Skiing, Snowboarding & Sustainability

Much is talked about environmental initiatives and sustainability.  But is it even possible for ski resorts to be ‘green’? They are in pristine mountain environments, use large amounts of resources and that’s not even mentioning international travel. PlanetSKI examines the issues in the Ski Welt in Austria.

Glencoe Says Business Down 25% 

The operator of the Scottish ski area has told a newspaper that high fuel prices have played a part in reducing the number of skiers and snowboarders attending this season.

City & Ski on PlanetSKI’s French Road Trip

PlanetSKI is on the last stage of a mini road trip visiting three lesser-known ski areas in the Isère region of France. We’re combining a bit of sightseeing in the region’s capital, Grenoble, with skiing in the city’s local resort, Chamrousse.

Fear & Fun on PlanetSKI’s French Road Trip

We’re on a tour taking in three lesser-known ski resorts in the Isère region of France and the region’s capital city, Grenoble.  Stop two: Les 7 Laux in the Belledonne Massif.  Time to dig out the crampons, ropes and ice axes ready for a climbing and off-piste adventure.

Vail Resorts Takes Controlling Stake in Swiss Ski Resort of Andermatt

It is the first time a US resort operator has made such a move into Europe and it will be watched closely. Vail Resorts says it will invest in the resort and work with the local community.

PlanetSKI’s French Road Trip

PlanetSKI is on a mini road trip, visiting some of the lesser-known ski resorts in the Isère region on the edge of the southern French Alps. First up, Villard de Lans.  We discover some unexpectedly good late season skiing, a village with its place in history and some of the best food we’ve eaten in France – cooked by a Brit!

Masks Return to Ski Resorts in Austria in Certain Circumstances

They now need to be worn in all indoor public spaces including cable cars and gondolas. Alternatively people will need to show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test, the so-called 3G rule.

PlanetSKI Goes Back in Time in Alpbach

The resort in the Tirol is like a time capsule, but with a few modern twists.  We were only in the resort for 24-hours but would like to return for so much more. Check out our take on an historic resort in the Alps where time simply stands still.

UK’s First On Mountain Ski & Snowboard Festival Takes Place This Weekend

It’s called The Mighty Coe and you may not be surprised to learn that it takes place at Glencoe in Scotland.  There’s a packed programme and the great news is that there’s currently plenty of snow there. UPDATED

PlanetSKI Postcard from St Johann

It is the latest resort we have visited on our extended stay in the Tirol. We’re examining the secrets of the Tirol and why it is such a special part of the Alps. Step forward St Johann.

Seven of the Best Mountain Restaurants in Tirol

PlanetSKI is currently touring the Tirol in an extended trip. So we thought we’d ask the Tirol Tourist Office for a few recommendations for restaurants. Here is their response.

Thrills & Spills in the Tarentaise

What can you do in a 5-day flying visit to the two biggest ski areas in France?  An awful lot, and we don’t just mean skiing. The Paradiski and Les3Vallées in the Tarentaise have some of the best high-altitude slopes in the Alps and – as we discover – some of the best high-adrenalin activities.

Kings of Leon to Close Ischgl

The US rock band will play the last of the closing concerts in the Austrian resort. Ischgl is changing its traditional end of season musical offerings.

Alterra Invests for the Future

The US based ski resort company is spending $1 billion over the next 5 years for improvements to some of its resorts.  $344 will be spend for next season. Which resorts are set to benefit?

Travels & Tales From the Tirol

PlanetSKI is currently based in the Tirol, Austria.  Skiing as many resorts as we can – from the big international ones, to others you have probably never heard of. There are adventures a plenty along the way as we reflect why we rate this part of the Alps so highly.

Crystal’s Top Resorts For Late Season Skiing

The UK’s biggest ski tour operator has come up with its top 5 picks for March and April skiing and snowboarding.  Ready for one more trip to the slopes?

Alpine Motorcycle Museum Rises from the Ashes

In January 2021 the Top of the Mountain Motorcycle Museum in Hochgurgl burnt to the ground. Hundreds of irreplaceable vintage bikes were destroyed. It was feared the museum was gone forever, but that didn’t take account of the determination of co-founder Attila Schieber. He’s given a private tour of the refurbished museum to PlanetSKI.

April Skiing in Isère

There is little better than late spring skiing, in our humble opinion.  The days are long, the lifts are open late and the sun is strong.  And in the French ski region Isère big dumps of snow in April are pretty common too. 

The ‘Ultimate’ Guide to Off-Piste Routes in Val d’Isère

A new book, detailing more than 200 off-piste routes in Val d’Isere is being launched in the resort next month and all the money raised will go to charity.

Eat, Drink, Ski for Less in Aosta

If there is a better ski region for fabulous food and drink at low prices, we have yet to find it.   Welcome to the Valle d’Aosta in the Italian Alps.

Verbier: ‘Just For One Day’

It is an absolute favourite resort of ours at PlanetSKI and is just over an hour’s drive from our current winter base in Aosta, Italy.  Perfect for a day trip.

Ischgl Shakes Things Up with New Spring Concerts + More

The Austrian resort is changing its end of season musical offerings. Instead of a single huge concert on the final weekend in May there will be four concerts starting in April. First up is Simply Red.

PlanetSKI Explores Passo Tonale

It’s an Italian resort perhaps not so well-known with UK skiers. Which is why PlanetSKI’s Ian Davis visited Passo Tonale with Crystal Ski Holidays. He also dropped in to the neighbouring resort of Madonna di Campiglio. UPDATED

Union Flag in the Snow Welcomes Brits Back to Les Arcs

The flag is a physical sign of welcome to British skiers and snowboarders following the decision of the French government to lift the ban on non-essential travel from the UK. NEW

Verbier Voted World’s Best Ski Resort

The Swiss resort has been voted the World’s Best Ski Resort at the annual World Ski Awards. Val Thorens has picked up the gong for the best resort in France. Read on for more winners. UPDATED

Snow Returns to the Scottish Highlands

It’s not enough yet to allow for extensive skiing and snowboarding but resorts in Scotland are opening some slopes. They hope they’ll soon be able to open up more terrain.  UPDATED

Italy Makes Insurance Compulsory for All Skiers & Snowboarders

Slope users will need to take out 3rd party liability insurance. The penalty for not doing so will be a fine up to €150 and the withdrawal of the ski pass.

Isère Pilots Marked Trails For Ski Touring

The French region is trialling 33 signed and secured ski touring routes in 12 ski areas this winter.  The idea is to make touring more accessible and safe as it continues to grow in popularity.

Glencoe to Host UK’s First On Mountain Ski & Snowboard Festival

The Mighty Coe will take place at Glencoe Mountain in Scotland on the weekend of 26th and 27th March. Skiers & snowboarders will be able to test next season’s kit as well as take part in a full programme of events.

Crucial Winter Ahead For Scottish Ski Industry

This season will be pivotal to the recovery and future of the nation’s ski industry, according to Snowsport Scotland. After two years effectively lost to the Covid-19 pandemic, they’re hoping for a bumper year.

‘Fastest Gondola in the World’ Opens in Les3Vallees

The La Masse lift in Les Menuires is not all about speed. It opens up a superb skiing area to many more people with a host of attractions. PlanetSKI was at its official opening at the weekend.

UK Travel Ban Hits French Resorts Hard

PlanetSKI reports from Les3Vallees on the impact as some resorts may see 40% of their business wiped out. The French government has promised some compensation, but not for UK companies and likely not for many seasonal and part-time workers. NEW

Switzerland Increases Restrictions as Cases Rise

There will not be closure of restaurants, bars and events, as had been forecast by some. Instead there are further restrictions mainly targeting the unvaccinated. Its intensive beds are more than 80% occupied.

Further Easing of Restrictions in Austria

Unlike many other countries in Europe covid-19 cases are falling in Austria with restrictions easing. It follows a national lockdown, but there are growing concerns about the omicron variant as ski resorts open for Xmas. UPDATED

More Austria Ski Resorts Reopen as National Lockdown is Lifted

They open after the national lockdown in the country ends. Restrictions remain in place with some of the provinces having their own tougher regional rules.  NEW

Arc1950 Opens for the Winter Season

VIP SKI is opening a flagship property in the resort for this season, Bear Lodge. With heavy snow falling and superb early season conditions we have asked the VIP SKI’s Gareth Crump to update us from the resort.

Win a Ski Trip Around the World

In book form that is. We have three copies of ‘Ultimate Skiing Adventures’ by our gear and equipment editor, Alf Alderson, to be won in a competition. All you have to do is answer one simple question.

Swiss Voters Back its Covid-19 Certificate

The referendum was held on Sunday as cases rise sharply. Switzerland has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe. It is the second vote in the last 4-months on Covid19 measures. UPDATED

Inghams Highlights Switzerland

Inghams has recently launched its Covid-19 Online Hub to guide customers through the various and complex rules. Here it looks at the situation in Switzerland.

Austrian Prosecutor Ends Covid-19 Case Against Ischgl

The Innsbruck state prosecutor has concluded its 18-month probe into criminal liability for the outbreak in the ski resort. There will be no charges for the authorities in Ischgl. There are accusations of a ‘cover up’ from some interested parties.

France Extends Pass Sanitaire Requirement to Ski Lifts

It is no great surprise and it brings France into line with Austria and Italy. There have been further changes to mask wearing rules with more requirements. UPDATED

Jackson Hole Prepares to Open

The iconic US resort that is a firm favourite of PlanetSKI is firing up its lifts in time for Thanksgiving Day on Thursday. Here we look at the resort and what the season may hold in store. NEW

Bavaria Cancels Xmas Markets

Ski resorts in the German alpine state were preparing to open in the next few weeks and are watching developments closely as Covid-19 spreads. The government says by the end of this winter everyone in Germany will either be ‘vaccinated, recovered or dead’.NEW

Austria Goes into Lockdown but Skiing Can Continue

Two more resorts have re-opened as others consider their position. Skiing has been classed as a ‘recreation outdoor’ activity but many resorts have chosen to remain closed. They are planning to open on December 13th after lockdown is lifted. UPDATED

Ischgl Cancels Traditional Opening Concert as Covid Cases in Austria Soar

New rules have come into place across Austria this week with unvaccinated people ordered into lockdown. Ischgl will open for skiing as planned at the end of November but the concert is off.

More Ski Resorts Open in Europe and North America

Verbier in Switzerland and Hochgurgl in Austria opened last weekend. In North America Vail & Breckenridge in the USA have opened some slopes with three resorts around Banff in Canada also now open. Check out the opening day videos…UPDATED

Fancy Some Free Ski Lessons?

Chamonix in France is offering two to six day free group ski lessons. They are on offer from January 1st 2022 except for the February school holidays.

The Isère Region Looks Forward to Winter

Skiing starts at 800m and heads up to 3,600m. The spectacular mountain resorts and the people of Isère in France are waiting to share their region with visitors again. Much of its skiing is perhaps not familiar to UK visitors – yet.

What’s New in SalzburgerLand in Austria for This Season

In SalzburgerLand resorts have taken advantage of the pandemic pause to invest in improved ski facilities, plus launch new and refurbished hotels.

How About Heading to Jackson Hole this Winter?

The iconic US resort is due to open at the end of November in time for the Thanksgiving Weekend.  Things are looking pretty good with the first snow already falling. Time for a bucket list ski trip across The Pond?

Val Thorens Looks Forward to Winter

It is usually the first resort to open its full area in France and often the last one to close. The highest resort in the Alps has a wealth on offer for this coming season in the post-pandemic ski world.

US Ski Areas Open Weeks Early After Heavy Snow in California

Three resorts in California have fired up some lifts after more than half a metre has fallen. There has been snowfall across some other ski states with another resort in Colorado opening at the weekend. UPDATED

Time to Ski in Norway?

With the realistic prospect of post-pandemic skiing this winter many are looking to take a bucket list trip or ski somewhere entirely different. Perhaps Norway is worth a look. We think so.

More Ski Resorts Now Open in the Alps

More resorts opened in Austria and Switzerland at the weekend. 19 resorts in the Alps are now offering some skiing and snowboarding. The start of the ski season of 2021/22 continues. UPDATED

Austria Assures for Next Season

It is stressing its Covid-19 precautions, the attractions of its snow and mountain regions plus the additional extras offered by a ski holiday in the Austrian Alps. It is all part of a multi-million euro marketing campaign, ‘Winter Love’. UPDATED

Tignes is First Resort to Open in France

Skiing and snowboarding have started in Tignes. In Italy Cervinia has also begun its winter season this weekend with more resorts opening in Austria. 14 resorts in the Alps have some glacier slopes open with skiing starting in the USA too. UPDATED

First Resorts in USA Open

Wolf Creek is first out of the blocks and opened on Saturday 16th. On Sunday Arapahoe Basin followed suit. Loveland and Keystone in Colorado have also been snow making but say they will open later in the month. UPDATED

Nevis Range Improvements Begin

Work on the 4m project has begun at the Scottish resort. It hopes to secure its future for generations to come.

Snow report

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