Travel & Holiday

The Travelski Express is set to roll with inclusive ski holidays to six resorts in the French Alps. Perhaps now is the time to take a ski holiday by train.

It is the growing worry as cases in the UK continue to rise. Morocco has banned flights to and from the UK and others with alpine countries watching our rising cases closely. Lateral flow tests are now needed for returning travellers, with the UK’s travel testing regime is set to stay in place into the New Year. UPDATED

The Austrian resort is aiming to be one of the safest resorts in the Alps in a post-pandemic ski world.

It is the move the US ski resorts have been waiting for and opens up the USA for international skiers and snowboarders this winter. UPDATED

That’s the claim from the Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report by the UK’s largest ski operator, Crystal Ski Holidays. PlanetSKI has been given a peak of it ahead of the main annual report in December. UPDATED

The government says it hopes PCR tests will not be needed by the end of the October half term break. The UK traffic light system has already gone. It means restrictions will largely be eased for vaccinated people wanting to take a mountain break. UPDATED

The UK’s largest ski tour operator has a simple message for next winter – REMEMBER THE FEELING: LET’S GET BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS. Who are we to disagree?

The announcement has been made by the government and other measures will be considered in the coming weeks. The government declared some weeks ago that the resorts would open this winter & some start later this month.

The optimism found after the government announced an easing of the travel rules in time for winter is continuing. Is it justified? Some operators advise people to book now as supply is limited. Are they right? UPDATED

Covid-19 and Brexit have turned traditional chalet holidays upside down. So Ski France has come up with a new concept, Contactless Catered Chalets, ready for the 2021/22 ski season.

It will come as a relief to the US ski industry and opens up the prospect of skiing next winter. We have reaction from ski areas in the USA. Canada has already lifted its restrictions with double vaccinated people allowed in without quarantine. UPDATED

It is the result of a country wide policy as Italy becomes the first European country to make it compulsory for all workers to have a Covid ‘green pass’. Cases remain low and stable, but the authorities have decide to be on the side of caution.

Ski companies report a sharp rise in bookings following the government announcement that PCR Tests and Traffic Light System will be axed. New rules come into force in October.
UPDATED

Cases are rising with the number of people in intensive care growing, though the figures remain relatively low compared to other European nations. Worries are growing as the ski season approaches with some resorts already open and others firing up lifts in the coming weeks. NEW

A Eurostar Ski Train will run every week this winter from London to Moutiers & Bourg St Maurice in France. Compagnie Des Alps, a major ski lift company, has chartered the train from Eurostar and tickets will only be for people heading on a package to its resorts.

An announcement is expected shortly and it will be welcome news for the snowsports and wider travel industry that has been hit hard by the restrictions. The traffic light system is also expected to go. If confirmed there will likely be a rise in ski holiday bookings. UPDATED

As many countries are easing restrictions Switzerland is tightening its rules and they will last into the ski season. There are fears that hospitals might be over-stretched, with some beginning to worry about what the winter may bring. UPDATED

A Eurostar Ski Train will run every week this winter from London to Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice in France. In an unusual twist Compagnie Des Alps, a major ski lift company for French resorts, has charted the train from Eurostar and tickets will only be for people heading on a package to its resorts.    UPDATED

It will have an impact on travel to the ski resorts this coming winter and could lead to a surge in bookings according to some. The precise details are somewhat less clear. So, what might we expect to happen?

The Austria Health Minister has submitted a proposal to restrict nightclubs and apres ski venues only to those who have been vaccinated. The measure could be in place next month as a handful of resorts are open in October.

Gone is the more traditional GB sticker, and in comes a UK one. GB number plates will still be valid within the EU as long as drivers display a UK sticker on the rear of their vehicle.

The company had been operating for more than two decades but says the double hit of Brexit and Covid-19 means its future is untenable. It joins a number of other operators that have been forced to call it a day. NEW

Italy lifts the 5-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Britain that was introduced back in June. Here on PlanetSKI we also look at current arrival rules in the main ski nations of Europe. Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly in the UK. UPDATED

It means people travelling from the three ski nations will not have to be jabbed to avoid quarantine. Austria, Norway & some others are on the green list, while the majority of ski nations are on the amber list. We look at which UK list the ski nations are on. UPDATED

Norway will accept the English and Welsh NHS COVID Pass from today, 12th August. It means fully vaccinated people will be able to enter Norway without quarantine required. Norway is on the UK’s ‘green list’ of countries. UPDATED

The UK’s largest ski operator, Crystal Ski Holidays, is running a 2 for 1 lift pass offer. Offer ends at midnight on 9th August 2021.

With some ski companies out of business and others cutting their offerings for next winter a handful are taking on new properties in the Alps. One such company is Ski France.

The Association of British Travel Agents has stepped up its campaign to try to allow labour mobility. It says there is a possible solution to the problem.