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Ski News

Brand New Super-Tarentaise Gondola Plans Released

By David Froom | Published: April 1, 2011
A new lift development costing almost 200 million Euros and linking the major ski areas of the Tarentaise was unveiled yesterday to widespread excitement among the ski industry. The new gondola, named the “Super-Tarentaise” will start in Le Praz (Courchevel 1300) and cross the Bozel Valley to La Plagne, before rising above the Bellecote Glacier, over to Les Arcs and finally liaising with Tignes via the spectacular Aiguille Rouge peak. The journey time between Courchevel and Tignes will be just under an hour, thanks to the revolutionary new technology being used in the construction, which will give the gondola a top speed of 50kph between stations.
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Fresh Snow Across the Alps

By David Froom | Published: February 16, 2011

It’s been a while. According to an old pal who still lives in Chamonix and posted on facebook this morning, it’s been 36 days. Some resorts might even claim a longer drought, but what we do know is that the worst is over and that there is fresh snowfall in most major resorts right now. The whole ski industry has been nervously checking weather forecasts, looking to the sky and I’ve seen a few videos of snow dances being performed in various resorts since the New Year. Happily, I’m glad to be able to say the Guardian’s article yesterday, predicting the possible end to the entire season in mid-February is nothing short of a scaremongering fabrication. Even if it didn’t snow again between now and Easter, all major resorts have excellent infrastructures in place to ensure that the vast majority of their pistes remain open all season long thanks to their numerous snow cannons and creative use of piste bashers. Read More »

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Eurostar to the Alps on sale this morning

By David Froom | Published: July 13, 2010
Although a majority of our clients tend to book a package with flights and transfers included, a growing number now make their own travel arrangements to the Alps and the direct Eurostar services to the Tarentaise are always very popular indeed. This year there will be the usual two direct services, one leaving London St Pancras on Friday evenings, arriving in the Alps early on Saturday morning, and one leaving on Saturday mornings which arrives on Saturday afternoon. Sadly the Snow Train via Paris, with its famous disco carriage, will not be running this year.

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BA cabin crew strike

By David Froom | Published: March 12, 2010

We are extremely disappointed that Unite, the union that represents the majority of British Airways (BA) cabin crew, has announced that it intends to take strike action.

We are currently considering our response to this strike threat and what action we will need to take to minimise disruption. All our flights are operating normally at the moment.

We will be updating this page with further details as soon as it is available.

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Industrial action on both sides of the Channel

By David Froom | Published: February 24, 2010

We are aware that there is an air traffic control strike currently taking place in France which began yesterday (23rd February) and is scheduled to finish on Saturday 27th February. At this moment we have received no information from any of our tour operators or airlines about how this action may affect any holidays due to depart on Saturday or Sunday.

We are also aware that British Airways staff may strike at some stage over the Easter break. As yet we have received no notification of the dates on which such action is likely to take place and how this action may affect our customers.

At the moment we would like to reassure all customers that any information we receive from tour operators and airlines will be passed to you as soon as we receive it. We would advise that you do not make any alternative travel arrangements unless you are advised that any action is likely to affect your holiday. Unless otherwise advised, please proceed to your departure airport and check in as normal.

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BA industrial action 22nd December to 2nd January

By David Froom | Published: December 14, 2009

Just a very quick post for anyone who thinks they may be affected by the industrial action at BA that has been announced this afternoon. If you missed the news, BA cabin crew have voted to go on strike from 22nd December until 2nd January in a move that is widely thought will bring chaos to anyone travelling with BA over that period. Only around 5% of our customers booked to travel during that period are booked on BA flights, and all of those are charter flights. We do not yet have any information from any tour operators and as such our advice to anyone booked onto a BA charter flight is not to panic and wait until we recieve further information. As soon as information reaches us it will be forwarded to all bookings that are affected.

If you have booked a chalet with us, travelling independently to the Alps with BA, then we recommend that you contact BA with regard to your travel plans. We’re betting it will all be fine.

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New chairlift in La Plagne

By David Froom | Published: November 3, 2009

Plagne 1800 has a new chairlift out of the village: the new Melezes chairlift which runs from the ESF meeting point to Plagne Centre. This then connects to another new chairlift – the Bergerie, arriving at 2184m just above Plagne Villages, which gives access to Plagne Centre and Plagne Bellecote, making Plagne 1800 a much more convenient option for beginners.

La Plagne 1800 - aerial shot with new chairlifts. Photo from www.laplagne.co.uk

La Plagne 1800 - aerial shot with new chairlifts. Photo from www.laplagne.co.uk

For more info checkout our La Plagne resort details or see our collection of La Plagne Chalets.

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South West London – The centre of the UK ski industry

By David Froom | Published: October 21, 2009

For those in the know, South West London has always been the heart of the UK ski industry. Obviously none of the big resorts are located here; in fact you’d be hard pushed to spot a single snowflake over winter. However a large majority of UK ski tour operators, ski specialist agents (of which Interactive Resorts are the largest) and organisations such as Natives and the Ski Club of Great Britain are based within a few miles of one another. Needless to say the social scene is thriving, with hundreds of ex seasonaires concentrated in such a radius. Opportunities to gather and reminisce about seasons past, debate the merits of one resort over another and just enjoy being part of what we think is a very cool niche industry are many and varied. Read More »

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Snow is falling – Bring on the new season!

By David Froom | Published: October 7, 2009

The first snows of the new season have begun to fall across the Northern hemisphere and one resort in North America has already opened for the winter season. Read More »

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The Tour hits the mountains

By David Froom | Published: July 16, 2009

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Alps are a little quiet during the long summer months, locals just whiling away the lazy days waiting for the new snowfall and the hustle and bustle of winter to kick in again in November. But you’d be wrong… Read More »

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