Professional French Team ‘Skies’ Through Sydney

“The price for a ski holiday in France is less than that at upmarket resorts in the USA and Canada,” said Michael Bayart, Promotion Assistant, Ski France International, [pictured right promoting the interests of 101 French ski resorts] speaking at a press update in Sydney last week.

Ski France International is a 15 year old association that represents all 101 ski resorts in the French Alps.

London and Amsterdam are convenient gateways for Australian travellers as there are numerous flights on to Geneva.  Many resorts are located within an hour’s drive of this Swiss city, he said. 

Seven million sports enthusiasts took to the slopes of the French Alps in 2006. 

Some 1.8 million of these came from overseas including about 3000 Australians.

A series of presentations on leading ski resorts in the French Alps were made during the information-filled workshop coordinated by Sydney-based Five Star PR.

The town of Chamonix Mt-Blanc is situated at 1042m above sea level at the foot of the Mt-Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe (4807m).  

[Pictured left: France has a multitude of excellent ski fields]

Snow boarding, heli skiing, ice climbing, snow shoeing, para gliding and speed racing are among the winter activities offered. 

The ultimate challenge at Chamonix Mt-Blanc is glacier skiing on 3300m slopes!

Another upscale ski resort in the French Alps is gearing up for a major event.  Courchevel will host the Crystal Cup in January 2008 and Australian skiers are expected to participate in this event. 

Opened in 1946, Courchevel is known for its ski-in/ski-out accommodation, the continual maintenance and safety checks of its ski area, its ultra-modern ski lift system and the variety of its many ski runs.

Just an hour from Geneva International Airport and 40 mins from Chamonix, Megève is a very French mountain village with cobble stone streets.  Beyond are some 445 km of slopes. 

The upmarket resort has 200 boutique stores, many gourmet restaurants, piano bars, discos and a casino where guests can play roulette or black jack until the early hours.

Nestled at the foot of the Tarentaise Valley, Val d’Isère opened one of the first ski schools in the world. The venue of the 1992 Winter Olympics, Val d’Isère will host the World Ski Championships in 2009. 

The traditional surroundings of the village enhanced by a 12th century church create a cosy atmosphere.  The resort offers 89 ski lifts to 10,000 ha. of ski area and 300 km of groomed pistes that are suitable for every level of skier.

Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe (2300m), is located at the top of the 3 Valleys.  This is the largest linked ski area in the world with 600 km of ski runs and nearly 200 ski lifts.

Val Thorens is well known for its exceptional snow quality which is plentiful from November to May as well as its network of state-of-the-art ski lifts.

The massive resort offers a wide variety of accommodation, all located at the foot of the slopes, from 4-star deluxe to 2-star hotels and apartments to suit all budgets. 

All presenters emphasised that the French Alps offer more than snow because from July through September there are many activities including walking, cycling and attending various festivals.

[Pictured right: Autumn colours lure enthusiasts to explore the countryside.]

For many visitors a great thrill comes from teeing off on green fields that are back dropped by snow capped mountains of the French Alps.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor