First tracks BAROMETER Good day for, bad day for…
by night. That’s the Brits (www.
the-brits.com), what’s not to love? Be there, 18 to 25 March.
Courchevel 1650 poshes up Neighbouring resort to swanky 1850 raises its game and appeal
Courchevel 1650 offers a more down to earth and affordable option than 1850 up the road, yet still provides access to the extensive Trois Vallées ski area. over the last 10 years, however,
there have been upgrades to make it more attractive. For example, buildings now have stone and wood cladding, and the resort has built a series of covered escalators to make travelling to the base lift station easier from accommodation below. the accommodation itself has also been upgraded. the Portetta
hotel has been revamped into a four-star ski-in/ski-out boutique pad including loft apartments. this season it has added an outdoor slope-side bar, Fire & ice (above left), with flaming torches around the large terrace and a central fire pit. then there’s the resort’s first
five-star designer hotel, the manali (top right) located just above the gondola. it comes with all the trappings, including a luxury spa and swimming pool. less typically, it has decorative influences from the himalayas, where the hill town
of manali is located, including two large elephants on the terrace. it’s not just hotels that are upping
their game. Chalet operator le ski, which has been in the resort for 30 years, is now offering an extra level of comfort in five contemporary chalet apartments. “with gadgets galore, endless pool (bottom right) and hot tub, these fabulous new chalets are typical of the way 1650 has developed over the last decade,” says md nick morgan. the chalets are all in the new scalottas lodge and include one for just two people.
Extra time in Engelberg A new 11pm shuttle bus from Zurich airport to the Swiss resort links with BA and Swiss flights from London. Register at www.
engelberg.ch, cost CHF 75.
New coach operator to the Alps
SkiShuttle.co.uk takes you direct to resort from £98 return, baggage and equipment included, with eight days on the slopes.
when in dubai… go skiing? never one to miss a snowy opportunity, while passing
Wearing a helmet pays off Essential Travel is offering skiers and boarders willing to wear a helmet 15 per cent off insurance, after 75 per cent of wintersports customers said a discount could persuade them into head protection. Plus, anyone buying a policy gets 10 per cent off a helmet at Ellis Brigham. Find out more,
including why a helmet is a good idea, at
www.essentialtravel.co.uk.
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through dubai, Ft visited the middle east’s first indoor slopes. there’s a chairlift to the top of the 60m slope, a giant airbag for freestylers to practise their jumps and even a mid-mountain café. here you can have the surreal experience of drinking hot chocolate as you sit “outside” under a heated lamp while it’s 40ºC in the real outdoors. how to top that? Go up the burj khalifa in downtown dubai. it’s the world’s highest building and at the top you are rewarded with stunning views of the city’s skyscrapers, a man-made island and the desert in the distance where you can enjoy another novel activity, sandboarding.
Bad backs for parents Forget skiing with toddlers between your knees – try a £20 ski harness with reins from
www.littleterra.co.uk. And visit the ski safety advice page while you’re there.
Music while you ride Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes (
www.simonmoyes.co.uk) reports a rise in injuries caused by collisions, and implicates headphone use.
What are you loving this season? Join the debate at
www.facebook.com/ metrosnow
www.metrosnow.co.uk getting to resort for less
Freestyle ski and snowboard competitions to watch by day, parties by day and
Larging it in Laax
THE
words CourChevel and dubai henry druCe, other stories Catherine weakley photography adrian myers
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