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Travel & Holiday

OCTOBER SKI DEALS FOR WINTER 2022/23

★ Book by 30th October for 15% Discount for ski gear from Intersport
★ 20% discount on accommodation with Travelski Express
★ Up to £200 of Crystalski holidays
★ Discount with Intersport for ski/snowboard hire UPDATED

The Tirol Prepares for Winter

A handful of glaciers ski areas are already open and the region in Austria is looking forward to the coming ski season. We look at what’s on offer this autumn plus see what’s new in the Tirol for this winter.

VIP SKI Offers Free Ski Guiding in Val d’Isere

VIP SKI is now offering free ski guiding to guests staying at the seven Hameau de Bellevarde chalets in Val d’Isère during the 2022/23 winter season.

Collapse of Sterling Set to Have Implications in Some Ski Countries for Next Winter

In some resorts prices will likely be higher next season as the pound continues to fall. It will be most sharply felt in US and Swiss resorts, but less so in Canada and much of the Alps. It comes as rising energy prices may raise the cost of lift tickets. UPDATED

Glacier Ski Areas in Austria Are Opening

Hintertux and Soelden already have slopes open with others making final preparations after the temperatures have dropped and fresh snow has arrived. The winter of 2022/23 is around the corner with significant snow forecast for this week. UPDATED

Travelski Express Confirms Xmas Timetable

Xmas falls on a Sunday with New Year’s Eve on a Saturday. So the timings of the service have altered.

Japan Drops Entry Restrictions in Time for Ski Season

Skiers & snowboarders will be able to visit the country without a visa, and will no longer need to go through a travel agency, from 11th October. The cap on daily arrivals is also to be lifted. 

Full Details of National Snow Show Unveiled

The UK’s only national ski & snowboard show is set to kick off in just over three weeks. It takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on October 15th and 16th. We have the full details of what’s on offer. UPDATED

OVO Network Launches Winter 2022-23 with 11 New Chalets

Chalet Rental Specialist, OVO Network, now has over 300 high end chalets and apartments in over 30 ski resorts across the French Alps.

See What’s New in Morzine For the Coming Season

The French resort that is situated in the heart of the Portes du Soleil is a firm favourite with British skiers and snowboarders. Check out what is on offer for next season.

Crystal Ski Heads to Bosnia & Herzegovina

The area offers budget ski breaks that are around £200 cheaper than other comparable resorts. TUI Airways is also launching the only non-stop flights from London Gatwick to Sarajevo International Airport as a new flight route for the ski season.

Zermatt Re-Opens for Skiing and Snowboarding

The Swiss resort that is normally open year-round closed its  glacier ski area this summer. It was a symbol of the impact of climate change. Val Senales in Italy has also re-opened with Soelden in Austria set to fire up some lifts on its glacier at the weekend. UPDATED

Ski France Expands Offering of ‘Contactless Chalets’

Following the successful launch of Ski France’s Contactless Chalets in winter 2021/2022, Ski France has announced the expansion of its existing range with five new Contactless Chalets. NEW

Inghams Launches Holidays for Next Winter

Inghams has unveiled its Winter 22/23 Ski Holidays with 44 new properties across 25 ski resorts in Italy, Switzerland, Canada, France, Lapland and Austria. NEW

What’s New in Verbier for Next Winter?

Verbier was voted the best ski resort in the world at the 2021 World Ski Awards.  PlanetSKI has asked the Swiss resort to update us on its new offerings and developments for next season. NEW

New Resorts + Saturday Morning Departure for Travel Ski Express

Val Thorens, Courchevel and La Rosiere are added to the ski packages by train to France with a daytime outward bound journey rather than a night one. There is growing interest in travelling by train to the Alps.

Japan May Further Relax Covid Border Restrictions Ahead of Ski Season

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told local TV the cap on daily entries could be lifted in the “not so distant future”.  It comes as ski companies look forward to the winter and entry made easier.

PlanetSKI Is Back In The Mountains

We’ve ended our trip to hike some paths in the mountain ranges and ridges on the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland. We’ve taken to the water too. Check out our updated final report and lookback to the visit. UPDATED

High Energy Prices Threaten Ski Resorts Next Winter

With energy prices soaring there are concerns that some resorts may not fully open with implications for the local economies. In France resort officials have met the government with warnings that some resorts may not open. Across the Alps resorts are looking to reduce energy use and considering how to pay for it. UPDATED

New Survey Shows Lunchtime Is When Most Injuries Occur

The survey comes from New Zealand and shows that 30% of all injuries on the slopes happen around lunchtime. Tiredness and busy slopes are cited as the reason.

September Summer Action in the Tirol

There’s a classic car rally in Kitzbuhel and the Ischgl E-Bike World Cup. Summer in the mountains ain’t over yet. Not by a long way.

Jet2.com Unveils its 2023/24 Winter Flights to the Alps

It flies to seven destinations: Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Lyon, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Turin. In a special offer ski carriage is £1 return in order to entice people to book early for the season after next.

New Overnight Ski Train From Holland to Austria

The German tourism business TUI has introduced the TUI Ski Express in cooperation with GreenCityTrip. Next winter there is also an overnight train from Holland to the French Alps.

Japan Ski Season Set To Go Ahead As Covid Travel Rules Eased

Independent travellers are set to be able to enter the country from next month.  Currently people have to be part of a guided tour with flights included. Ski operators and resorts have welcomed the move.

The National Snow Show Ups the Apres Ski

The UK’s only national ski & snowboard show is raising the apres ski bar with live DJ sets + mountain inspired food and drinks. Customer feedback from last year says people want a party vibe. PlanetSKI has some free tickets for readers. UPDATED

Will Japan’s Borders Reopen for 2022/23 Ski Season?

Japan’s borders remain closed to independent tourists despite hopes that restrictions would be eased by now. One of the UK’s leading operators to Japan, Mabey Ski, remains poised. NEW

More People Head To Mountains This Summer to Keep Cool

More and more people in France are choosing the mountains for their holidays this summer as temperatures soar. That’s according to The National Association of Mountain Mayors. UPDATED

Heavy Snow & Rain in Australian Ski Resorts

20cm has fallen in some resorts with resorts in New South Wales seeing the best of it. However the latest storm is expected to bring heavy rain and some resorts have closed their lifts. UPDATED

Zermatt Suspends Summer Skiing as Glacier Melts

It is the latest resort to call off summer skiing as the warm summer temperatures take their toll.  Hintertux in Austria is now the only on summer ski resort in the Alps open to the general public.

Great Salt Lake in Utah at Lowest Level Ever Recorded

The largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere has reached its lowest level since records began. The lake is claimed to have a significant impact on the quality of winter snow in Utah.

Single Lift Pass for All Resorts in Andorra

The resorts of Pal and Arinsal are to be incorporated into the Grandvalira lift pass which covers all the other main ski areas in Andorra.

Italian Resort Suspends Summer Skiing as Glacier Melts

Passo Stelvio is the latest summer ski resort to close as warm temperatures take their toll. Some question how many more years glacier skiing in Europe will be able to continue. The freezing level in Switzerland is currently over 5,000m – higher than any alpine peak. UPDATED

Heatwave Takes Its Toll on Mountains of Europe

The current heatwave has accelerated the melting of the glaciers with summer skiing and snowboarding currently badly affected. Some glaciers resorts have closed their slopes, but the mountains are offering some respite from the heat and a wealth of great activities. UPDATED

Further Snow Falls Down Under

The ski seasons in Australia and New Zealand are well underway with a great start to winter and more snow is now falling. UPDATED

Skiing & Snowboarding Underway in South America

The main ski areas in Argentina and Chile are now open for their 2022 season. There have been some decent conditions so far and for some it’s the first time they have been open since 2019 as Covid-19 spread.

Air Travel Disruptions Could Extend Into Next Winter & Beyond

That’s the claim from the boss of Heathrow airport as flights continue to be cancelled with some passengers experiencing long delays. The Government has urged action from the travel industry but is criticised for offering little practical support. UPDATED

Winter Tourism Rebounds in the Tirol in Austria After Troubled Times

After Covid-19 the governor of the Austrian state proclaims ‘tourism is back’. The state is heavily reliant on the tourist industry and it faced a challenging winter in 2021/22. UPDATED

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.

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