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Travel & Holiday

New Overnight Sleeper Train to the French Alps from Holland

The Dutch travel operator Sunweb Group and overnight train operator European Sleeper have announced plans to launch a new night train from the Netherlands. It should give another option for UK skiers who like train travel to the mountains.

Summer Skiing Opens on Whistler/Blackcomb Glacier

It’s the first time the glacier has opened in the Canadian resort since 2019. There were fears that skiing and snowboarding in the summer might be over forever.  However there are restrictions and worries for the future of glacier riding.

Now it’s the Turn of New Zealand as More Snow Falls

There have been huge falls of snow in Australia so far this season, but less so in New Zealand. Not any more as up to 1m has fallen in places. It comes as things get back to normal after Covid-19 with hopes high for a bumper ski season ahead. UPDATED

Another Alpine Glacier Resort Calls Off Summer Skiing

The Molltaler glacier in Austria has announced it will not open this year.  Earlier this month Val d’Isere said its glacier will remain shut.

More Ski Resorts in Australia Open as New Zealand Also Sees Snow

Resorts in Australia re open with record breaking falls of snow. In New Zealand some snow is now falling as its resorts prepare for the start of the ski season. The last two seasons have been severely disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions and hopes are high for this winter. UPDATED

Direct Ski Flight to Salt Lake City Re-introduced for Next Winter

PlanetSKI understands Delta Airlines will be running the service five days per week giving access to a host of resorts in Utah.  It should give significant boost to the ski areas and open up the resorts to UK skiers and snowboarders.

Australian Resorts Open Early as Heavy Snow Falls

Perisher in New South Wales has fired up its lifts, plus Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, and Mount Buller in Victoria. It bodes well for the ski season that sees the borders open to international travellers for the first time since the pandemic. UPDATED

2022 London Ski & Snowboard Festival is Cancelled

The event was due to take place in October but has been called off due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.  The organisers claim it will go ahead in 2023. The National Snow Show in Birmingham remains set to go ahead. UPDATED

Les2Alpes Is Open for Glacier Skiing & Snowboarding

The French resort fired up some lifts on its glacier last weekend. It’s the first time the resort has opened so early for summer skiing and snowboarding. So, what is summer glacier skiing & snowboarding like?

Summer in the Tirol

Winter is fast becoming a distant memory as our attentions at PlanetSKI turn to summer in the mountains. First up we look at what is on offer in one of our favourite winter destinations and where we were based for part of last winter: The Tirol in Austria.

Hiking the Hahnenkamm

It is possible to walk down the Hahnenkamm downhill course on a summer holiday. PlanetSKI did it a few years back and it’s since become a popular attraction, with savings now on offer for this year. 

Record Numbers of Skier Visits in USA

The bounce back from the pandemic was better than hoped for and came during a poor season for snowfall. Resorts claim it bodes well for the future, despite some concerns.

Face Masks No Longer Required on Flights & Airports in the EU

From next Monday, May 16th, the guidance will go.  It puts air travel into line with other modes of public transport across Europe and will impact those heading to mountain destinations this summer. UPDATED

It’s a Wrap! PlanetSKI Ends the Season of 2021/22 in Val Thorens

The resort closed at the weekend, and we were there for The Grande Derniere ski race and more. We also assess VT’s winter with skier visits back to pre-pandemic levels. It was a fabulous way to end the season.

Three Ski Areas in Colorado Remain Open

More snow is falling in Colorado and one resort claims it now has the best conditions of the season.  Snow is also falling across the globe in Australia as resorts prepare to open next month. UPDATED

PlanetSKI Set for its Final Ski of the Season

We’re in Val Thorens in France for its closing weekend – La Grande Derniere. We were in resort for its opening back in November when there were worries about Covid-19. Now things are back to near normal and we’ll be looking at how the winter went. UPDATED

New Zealand Re-Opens Borders – Skiing this Summer Now On for International Visitors

From this month international visitors are now able to enter the country if they’re vaccinated and Covid-negative. Summer skiing awaits.

Skiing in Norway: PlanetSKI reports from Narvik, inside the Arctic Circle

We expected some fabulous skiing, but the area has far more to offer than simply sliding around on snow. In our latest adventures we’re climbing aboard the Arctic Train to Riksgransen, snow mobiling in Sweden & visiting the fascinating Polar Park.

International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism Published

It looks at the winter of 2020/21 – a ski season we’d all rather forget with the impact of Covid-19. The 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism has just been unveiled during the opening conference of Mountain Planet International Exhibition in Grenoble.

PlanetSKI Reports from Narvik  – One of the Most Northerly Resorts in Europe, Deep in the Arctic Circle

We expected some fabulous skiing and stunning scenery, but the area in Norway has far more to offer than simply sliding around on snow. Arctic train rides, snowmobiling, historical WW2 sites, meeting polar animals and much more. It is a unique winter experience.

A Last Blast in Les2Alpes

It’s a final spring fling on the slopes for PlanetSKI’s Chief Reporter.  A couple of days in the resort that has the highest skiing in France seems as good a place as any to end the season. Even better if there’s some powder skiing to be had.

PlanetSKI Heads to the Arctic Circle

We’re about to ski in one of the most northerly ski resorts in Europe, Narvik in northern Norway. It is worth a visit for the flight alone.

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.

Skiers Urged to Check Covid Entry Requirements

Tens of thousands of people are still arriving at UK airports without the required Covid test certification for their destination country. Many ski countries do not require a negative test for vaccinated travellers but do for unvaccinated. UPDATED

Ski Trips Hit by Travel Disruption

PlanetSKI reporters have had mixed experiences travelling to Geneva and Zurich. Delays & cancellations at airports and the Port of Dover have impacted people and organisations going skiing this Easter. The travel problems are set to continue this week. UPDATED

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.

Airport Travel Problems Continue

Airlines operating from the UK are continuing to experience problems as the Easter ski break continues and the winter ski season draws to a close. This weekend the travel problems look set to continue and one school’s ski trip has been disrupted. UPDATED

Off-Piste Delights in St Anton

PlanetSKI reporter George Eykyn was in St Anton in March 2020 when Covid struck. His off piste course ended, the resort shut and he returned suffering from the symptoms of Covid-19. Now he’s returned to finish what he had started – the ‘Black’ class in the Arlberg Ski School.

Italy Lifts More Internal Covid-19 Restrictions But Travel Rules Apply

Green passes are not needed for ski lifts, mountain restaurants and other facilities.  A Covid vaccination certificate, recovery certificate or negative test result is needed for travellers entering Italy.

EU Asks Border Police Not to Stamp Passports of British People With Residency

Some UK people in the alpine nations with residency have been having their passports stamped as they go in and out of EU countries.

UK Ski Operator Has Offers for Next Season

Absolutely Snow is turning its attention to next season as this one draws to a close.  It has four special offers including securing a holiday for 2022/23 for just £1.

Searching for Skiing

The ski operator allChalets reports a growing interest in skiing as travel rules and local Covid-19 restrictions ease. It also claims the Beijing Winter Olympics has provided a boost. It has been crunching the numbers.

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.

Fancy a Late Season Ski Trip to the Alps?

If so you are not the only one as Intersport Rentals is seeing bookings surge for Easter. Skiers & Snowboarders can finally hit the slopes with few Covid-19 restrictions in place. With a late Easter the season is set to go out with a bang. UPDATED

Easter Skiing in Tignes

A new hotel in Tignes, Voulez Vous, has offers in place for the Easter holidays with some complimentary upgrades thrown in.

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.

All UK Travel Rules Scrapped

The remaining Covid travel restrictions are gone. The passenger locator form and tests for the unvaccinated are not needed. It has been welcomed by skiers returing this weekend & those heading out over the rest of the season. UPDATED

French Ski Resorts Return to ‘Normal’ as Covid Rules Go

The vaccine pass and the requirement to wear masks indoors are being dropped in France from this Monday. It’s good news for the ski resorts as they go into the last six weeks or so of their season.

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.

Austrian Ski Resorts Welcome Relaxation of Covid Restrictions

It is the last major alpine county to do so and the move brings it more into line with Switzerland, France and Italy. PlanetSKI reports from the Tirol on the welcome change and how hopes are rising for a good end to the season. UPDATED

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?

The PlanetSKI Snow Report

The clear weather and blue sky is back in the Alps after the sand from the Sahara passes. There’s precious little snow in the forecast with temperatures remaining mild. We report from the Austrian Alps and on recent conditions in Scotland. UPDATED

Aosta: Is it the Best Mountain Base in the Alps?

It’s an historic Roman city with a ski lift direct to the resort of Pila and a variety of fabulous resorts on its doorstep. PlanetSKI has been based there for 6-weeks this winter. Check out our full & updated feature article.

PlanetSKI Takes on The Legendary 8

It’s a new route through the Dolomitisuperski area in Italy in the Val Gardena section. We’ve skied the area’s Sella Ronda many a time, but not the ‘Legendary 8’. Time to put that right and assess its legendary credentials.

Italy Scraps Covid Tests for Vaccinated Travellers on Tuesday 

It’s the last major European ski nation to require visitors from the UK to take pre-travel Covid-19 tests.  PlanetSKI reacts from the ski slopes of Italy as the news is widely welcomed. UPDATED

French Ski Resorts Reported to be ‘Back to Normal’

Bookings are almost at pre-pandemic levels according to a new report.  PlanetSKI has been on the slopes of France and can report it has been busy over the February holiday period. UPDATED

Luxury Ski Treats Without Breaking the Bank

After two pandemic-affected years many of us are prepared to stretch the budget to treat ourselves or someone else to something special on our ski trip. But luxury doesn’t always have to mean 5-star prices.  Here’s our choice of treats in the Austrian Tirol.

Austria Eases Covid Entry Rules

People arriving to ski will just need proof of double vaccination or recovery or a negative test when entering Austria. It has been widely welcomed in the snowsports world, and will give a boost to the second half of the season and spring skiing. NEW

Skiing & Snowboarding is Back with Surging Interest for Spring

Resorts and Tour Operators report growing interest as Covid rules ease. A new report backs up the situation for France. EasyJet has put on an extra 50,000 additional seats on flights departing to ski destinations. UPDATED

Late Season Bookings Rise as Ski Nations Ease Covid Rules

If you want to get away later in the season now is perhaps the time to book. Easter is nearly sold out in some places. We look at the easing of restrictions, the reality of skiing under current rules & growing pressure on holidays.

7 Days in Les Menuires

It is one of the best locations to access the mighty 3 Valleys ski area and comes in at good value too. We look at the area, day by day, as our reporter hit the slopes earlier this winter for the first time since Covid-19 struck.

A Week in Les Menuires: Day 6.

It is one of the best locations to access the mighty 3 Valleys ski area and comes in at good value too. We look at the area, day by day, as our reporter hit the slopes earlier this winter for the first time since Covid-19 struck. See here for the latest from Day Six. UPDATED

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

France and Switzerland Ease Some Covid-19 Restrictions

France loosened some rules on Wednesday with Switzerland easing some of its restrictions on Thursday, plus outlining a path to end all measures. We report from the slopes of the two alpine nations and assess the likely impact on skiing for the rest of the winter. NEW

Austria to Ease Covid-19 Rules Further

The Austrian government has announced it will take more steps to ease restrictions gradually in February. Some relaxation has already taken place, making it easier for skiers and snowboarders to travel from the UK. UPDATED

Prices go Downhill in Some European Ski Resorts

Prices have fallen in two thirds of the ski areas surveyed for the latest Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report.  So, which resorts offer best value?

First Travelski Express Departs

After Covid-19 delays the new holiday inclusive rail service to the French Alps is finally heading to France. So, what’s on offer?

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