World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator 2016

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World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator 2016

Ski-Lifts are delighted to announce that we have for the second year running collected the award for the World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator, at the World Ski Awards. These awards are voted for by members of the public and from industry insiders, so it really means a lot to us to have won this award.

To get this kind of industry recognition is absolutely fantastic. Twice in a row is mind boggling, but it’s testament to all of the hard work put in over the years by the guys at Ski-Lifts HQ in Morzine.

Our business has grown over the years, adapting to a changing market, changes have been made, ….and made again until the services we can offer are as comprehensive as you will find anywhere in the ski industry.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our loyal customers and clients for their ongoing support over the years, without your loyalty and you guys challenging us, perhaps we wouldn’t have developed the solutions which make us the best at what we do.

As with any tourism related business, and particularly at Ski-Lifts, we would be nothing without the people who continue to choose to use us winter in winter out so thank you all very much.

An added bonus to the award was being invited over to Kitzbuhel for the ceremony over the weekend. We had a nice ( if a little on the whiteout side ) ski, followed by lunch at the top of the Streif where we were so lucky to be joined by 1950 Hahnenkamm winner Fritz Huber. After that it was into the penguin suits and cocktail dresses for the gala dinner and ceremony. The rest as they say is…..( well it’s a little hazy to be honest, there was food, a trophy, plenty of fine wine, a speech and not a small amount of schnapps! )…..History.

Sore heads nursed, award safely on the mantelpiece in the office and back to work for us. The winter season is upon us and we have a lot of work to do to make sure we live up to our reputation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Ski Resorts in France with Short Transfer Times

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Ski Resorts in France with Short Transfer Times

France is Europe’s number one ski holiday destination with hundreds of different resorts ranging from picture postcard to purpose built and practical, and a whole host of something in between. If you know what kind of resort you want to visit, now it is time to think about how you want to get there?

Everybody likes to maximise their time in resort or on the slopes when they come on a ski holiday to France. Less time spent negotiating traffic and toll booths is often a critical factor in peoples holiday planning, often allowing for a hasty departure from work on a Friday to arrive in resort in good time for a nights sleep and be up for first lifts on a Saturday morning.

Other times its parents of a noisy and excited brood who don’t want the kids to sit on a transfer for hours on end, bored to tears before they’ve even had their first hot chocolate.

We have listed below some French resorts which have transfer times of less than 2 hours from destination airports. If you are thinking of a quick getaway, then look to some of these resorts.

NB – All routes have a price attached, based on 4 people travelling. All prices are per person for a return trip to specified airport although alternatives are available, prices are current and subject to change. * denotes no shared transfers available, these transfers are only private. Travel times are indicative and obviously vary with heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions.

Les Carroz – 1hr (Geneva) – £64.21
Chamonix – 1hr (Geneva) – £58.07
Megeve – 1hr (Geneva)* – £92.12
Samoens – 1hr (Geneva) – £64.21
La Grand Bornand – 1hr (Geneva)* – £69.79
La Clusaz – 1hr.30 (Geneva)* – £69.79

These resorts are within an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, that to me is hardly enough time to take in the mountain views as you are checking out the snowline, assessing resort conditions with your driver, looking for your first lift cables and all of the other associated habits of a ski transfer passenger.

Nice often gets overlooked as a ski airport what with its Cote D’Azur location and glamorous summer reputation but from here you can also get to the lovely Isola 2000 in just 1hr.

Argentiere – 1hr.10 (Geneva) – £58.07
Valmorel – 1hr.10 (Chambery)* – £166.88
Les Gets – 1hr.10 (Geneva) – £56.69
Valmenier – 1hr.15 (Chambery)* – £129.53
Morzine – 1hr.20 (Geneva) – £56.69
Les Menuires – 1hr.25 (Chambery)* – £165.50
Valloire – 1hr.25 (Chambery)* – £134.56
Flaine – 1hr.30 (Geneva) – £64.21
Chatel – 1hr.30 (Geneva) – £69.79
Courchevel – 1hr.30 (Chambery)* – £160.81
Meribel – 1hr.30 (Chambery)* – £160.81
St Martin De Belleville – 1hr.45 (Grenoble)* – £160.81
Alpe D’Huez – 1hr.45 (Grenoble)* – £125.00
Les Deux Alpes – 1hr.50 (Grenoble)* – £125.00

The above resorts range from 1hr to 2hrs transfer time from the airport, more than reasonable really. I suppose that , as with most things, its horses for courses and some people might prefer to have a longer transfer time to take in the stunning scenery en route. Some might have a special favourite resort which is only accessible after a 4 hr trek. I cannot speak for everybody’s tastes, but for those who want to get to town quickly, these are hard to beat.

Now we might have missed a few hidden gems here, I apologise in advance .Please feel free to share any secret spots you might have stumbled across.

I will follow up with a similar piece on other countries resorts soon, but for now, if you are going to France for your ski trip this year you could do much worse than to take a look at these resorts. Here at Ski-Lifts we look forward to helping you get to the slopes as quickly as YOU would like.

For now though let’s just take a moment to forget being back at work and think of the nice little ski trip you’ve got coming up in a few months.

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Ski-Lifts at the World Ski Awards

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Ski-Lifts at The World Ski Awards in Kitzbuhel

Last weekend we whisked ourselves off to Kitzbuhel to see if we had won a World Ski Award for Best Transfer Operator!

After much anticipation in the office, including numerous discussions about what to wear, we arrived in Munich on Friday afternoon ready for our transfer to Kitzbuhel. Met by a very swish Mercedes, (who were event sponsors) the drive made us all understand why our customers opt for executive transfers! 2 hours in leather seat luxury went in a flash and despite some dubious weather conditions we arrived at the very fancy ARosa Hotel in Kitzbuhel. Escorted to our rooms we settled in for an early night so we could maximise the breakfast buffet the next morning…

Waking up fresh faced we proceeded with several courses of waffles and other delightful goods ready for a tour of Kitzbuhel!
Peppi, our Kitzbuhel born and bred tour guide, lead us round town, giving us the full low down on the history of Kitzbuhel and what the tourist industry means to them. Plus one very detailed throw by throw account of what it’s like to ski the famous Hahnenkamm downhill course.

That afternoon the World Ski Awards laid on a little Apres Ski Party (despite the lack of Ski) which gave us the chance to enjoy some gluwein (a very tasty spiced hot wine-much like mulled wine) and a very jolly chap in some lieder hosen, playing guitar, keyboard and a large horn. Plus a go at the ‘nail game’. (Answers on a post card for the actual name of this game please we’d like to bring it to Morzine!)

After a quick refresh into our glad rags, we were ready to rub shoulders with anyone from Ski-Resort owners to tour operators and following a champagne reception we were off for dinner and the start of the awards! Anticipation grew course by course and eventually reaching our category we crossed all our fingers and toes!

The lovely Steve Ryder was our host and as he called our name as the winners we all jumped out of our seats in excitement!! A raucous gathering on stage, a quick handshake and photo op and that was it! We were crowned winners!
And what a weekend it was. It’s been a while since the team have had a chance to get together, winters are so busy for us all and it turned out to be a great pre-season gathering all topped off with us winning!

Big thanks to all that voted we couldn’t have done it without you!

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Things to expect on a Mountain Bike Holiday in Morzine

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Things to expect on a mountain bike holiday in Morzine

It’s been an epic summer here in Morzine, the weather has been incredible, we’ve got more bikers than ever exploring our terrain and you may be wondering what all the fuss was about, so we’ve teamed up with our friends at Riders Refuge to tell you all about what to expect on a mountain biking holiday with them and some super handy tips if it’s your first venture…!
So if you have never been on a mountain bike holiday before, here’s a little guide to what to expect on a catered chalet holiday with Riders Refuge.

Mountain Biking in Morzine

Morzine is the perfect place to come for a mountain bike holiday it is part of a huge area known as the Portes Du Soliel and it is linked by 26 chairlifts which will take you and your bike up into the mountains.
There is every type of mountain biking available right here with plenty of trails which are graded according to the level of difficulty, green being the easiest to the hardest which is graded black. Make sure you pick up a free map so you can plan your route. Whatever type of mountain biking you prefer be it downhill, cross country, trail riding, single track, gravity enduro….. it’s all available to you on Morzine’s doorstep.

Morzine is only a short drive from Geneva Airport and most of our guests travel here by plane, we include transfers with all our catered holidays and we will organise this for you so we ensure you get to resort as quick as possible, it only takes about 70 minutes. Some of our guests prefer to drive and we have parking at all our chalets. So if your thing is repeated adrenaline runs down the Pleney mainline or more of a big day out in the mountains riding some amazing single track it’s all here in the Portes Du Soleil for you to take advantage of.

Getting your bike to the Alps

Many of our guests bring their own bike, you can include your bike when booking your flight some airlines charge extra for this for example easy jet charge is £35 each way. You need to make sure your bike is packed in either a bike box or bike bag and make sure you pack it well, pipe insulation is perfect for fitting round you frame, forks etc. Make sure you protect your rear mech and forks well so that they are not damaged in transit, most of our guests arrive with their bikes as they packed it but occasionally we have seen some bike bags or boxes damaged, the most common issue is a bent rear mech. Once you arrive at your accommodation you will be met by your chalet host, shown to your room and more importantly the bike store and your holiday has properly begun. All our chalets have secure bike stores with tools and workstands so you can prep and maintain your bike at the chalet, we also have washdown areas for you to clean your bike after a day on the trails. Don’t worry if you prefer to hire a bike there are many bike shops in Morzine where you can rent bikes and many different brands and specs of bike are available. We are happy to assist you with this.

Our Package

Our chalets offer breakfast which will fuel you for a day’s riding, afternoon tea is there for your return which consists of a freshly baked cake plus fresh bread with a selection of jam, there is always tea, coffee, cordials, cookies and fresh fruit for your help yourself to when you choose. Dinner is three courses of delicious home cooked food and we do a barbeque one night a week, let us know at the time of booking about dietary requirements and we can provide for that too. Our chalet hosts have a Wednesday off which allows you to sample one of Morzines restaurants of which there is many to choose from and we are happy to make recommendations and bookings for you.

Typical Morzine Summer Weather for Mountain Biking?

Although this summer we have had heat wave here in Morzine with temperatures reaching 40°C and lots of dry dusty trails the weather in the alps can be very changeable. The temperature difference between the valley floor and high up in the mountains can sometimes be as much as 10°C. We recommend you bring a small back pack to take with you on your ride.
Useful items in your back pack

Wind/water proof Jacket
Spare inner tube
Multi tool
pump
Spare Mech hanger
small 1st aid kit – antiseptic wipes, plasters, asprin, bandage
Sunscreen (even on a cloudy day)
Museli/chocolate bar

Depending on the weather conditions you may need other items to keep you warm and dry. The sun is pretty strong at altitude and it can be deceiving if there is a cool breeze so sunscreen is important.

What to wear
You will need a helmet for all riding in the alps and if you are doing more downhill then a full face helmet is recommended plus elbow and knee pads. Many people choose to wear neck braces and full body amour but there are a range of different trails here and you should always ride within your capabilities and wear what protection you are comfortable with.
Riding tops and shorts are personal preference but we would recommend a technical base layer to keep you comfortable and so you can enjoy your day and not be too cold or too hot when going up the chair lifts, doing an extra bit of climbing or nailing that descent. A good pair of riding shoes will also be beneficial when riding in the alps. Even on cross country rides you can come across some downhill so it is important that you plan your route and take what protection you think is appropriate for your ride.

Useful Checklist

Mountain bike with at least 100m of front suspension. We recommend a full suspension mountain bike.
Good downhill tyres of at least 2.35 if this fits your frame. Maxis Highroller 2 are a good choice for coming to Morzine
Spare inner tubes, downhill tubes are best.
Spare brake pads. At least one full set.
A backpack. One with a water reservoir is useful.
Your usual riding spares as mentioned above to go in your backpack.
Waterproof jacket.
Usual summer riding clothes
Helmet and goggles
Riding Gloves
Bike Sunglasses
Swimwear
Body armour. We recommend at least elbow and knee pads for riding in the Portes Du Soleil.

We hope that has whet your appetite for a mountain biking trip next summer.

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Chasing the snow – summer skiing in Europe

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Chasing the Snow – Summer Skiing and Glacier Skiing in Europe

Summer skiing. You have to go high (over 2500m at least) but glacier skiing is definitely worth a trip, with resorts offering more and more each year.

You may think that’s it for skiing after the winter season ends and fear the price tags for jet-setting to Australia, New Zealand or South America may be too much to stomach. Fear not, here is a rundown of the places you can catch some snow closer to home this summer!

This sort of holiday – summer skiing – is great if you missed out on the traditional winter season and the beauty of all of these resorts is that you can combine a summer and a winter holiday, with most offering a package price that gives you access to the whole mountain with other terrains for mountain biking and hiking available lower down. It’s a great idea for active holidays or folks that want to mix up their activities between the snow and the lower peaks.

Keep reading >>

So, here are some of the major summer skiing resorts and (estimated) lift opening dates for each year – they can vary based on climate and weather, but over the years we’ve noticed from the last 10 years are covered the date ranges we’ve added here for summer skiing thus far. Take a look start planning your glacier skiing trip!

Tignes Glacier Skiing

End of June/Beginning of July to August each year
There is 20km worth of slopes up on the Grand Motte glacier, they even have a terrain park and around 12 lifts running in the summer, take the funicular train from Val Claret to get access. Or why not try out Acroland on the lake, if you fancy hurtling down a ramp into the icy waters (on your choice of bike, skis or even just your stomach!)

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Ski-Lifts offer private transfers to Tignes from Geneva & all surrounding airports throughout the summer!

Book Tignes transfers now >>

Hintertux Glacier Skiing

From Mid May through to October
Here you will find 60km of varied pistes, the park is still open with a huge superpipe, plus rails and boxes, plus access to some freeride terrain. Hintertux even offers a tour inside the glacier (Nature Ice Palace) with ice chambers and deeper into the caves with stalagmites and stalactites to see.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Reach Hintertux from Innsbruck & other airports with Ski-Lifts this summer!

Book Hintertux transfers now >>

Saas Fee Glacier Skiing

End-of-June to mid-September
It is worth a visit simply for the incredible view to be seen from the top of the revolving restaurant. Saas Fee’s Allalin Glacier may be one of the more expensive summer ski stops but the pistes certainly don’t disappoint, neither will the impressive summer snow conditions at a massive 3,600m. During the summer ski season, you’ll see plenty of ski teams race training as the conditions here are second to none. And for the rest of us – the glacier offers 20km of slopes, suitable for all skier and snowboarder levels.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

We offer airport transfers all through the summer, that includes to Saas Fee from Sion & other surrounding airports.

Book Saas Fee transfers now >>

Les Deux Alpes Glacier Skiing

June to the beginning of September
Les Deux Alpes also boasts a height 3,600m and the lifts are open from 7 am till 12.30 to ensure the snow conditions are good. They have 17 lifts open made up mainly of drag lifts and a couple of chair lifts. The terrain is more focused on beginner-intermediate levels with mostly blue runs available however their snow park remains open and it is one of the best.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made. You can read our guide to summer skiing in Les Deux Alpes too, for more info.

Head over to Les Deux Alpes for summer skiing from Grenoble, Geneva & other surrounding airports.

Book Les Deux Alpes transfers now >>

Stubai Glacier Skiing

Start of May to the start of July
Stubai in Austria is known for glacier skiing. Stubai has a massive 62km of runs open until July, one of which is 10km long! There is a good range of challenging pistes including one black run and the lift prices are also very reasonable considering the slopes are open all day. A little lower down there is also ice grotto and kids playground. It’s a high one – over 3,600km above sea level – but obviously, well worth the trip.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Book ski transfers from Innsbruck now >>

Zermatt Glacier Skiing

May – November
Zermatt’s glacier – Theodul – reaches 3,883m with 21km of groomed slopes and plenty to do for freestyle skiers and boarders in the Snowpark -which offers a half pipe, boxes and rails. The view of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains is worth the trip and it is also a popular place for ski race training.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Ski-Lifts provide transfers from Milan Malpensa, Geneva Airport to Zermatt & other surrounding airports to Zermatt throughout the summer.

Book Zermatt airport transfers now >>

Cervinia Glacier Skiing

July to the start of September
Breil Cervinia, on the Plateau Rosa Glacier, reaches 3,480 and offers great conditions for summer skiers. It is one of the biggest summer skiing areas as it also grants access to Zermatt’s pistes. The ‘Indianpark’ (freestyle Snowpark) is also considered one of the best parks in the Alps.

Prices vary between day passes and multiple day passes with bulk savings usually to be made.

Book your transfer from Turin to Cervinia & other surrounding airports throughout the summer with Ski-Lifts!

Book your Cervinia transfer now >>

So, as you can see, Europe has an immense set of glaciers to choose from when it comes to chasing the snow for summer skiing.

Get yourself out to the Alps this summer where you can ride the pistes or park in the mornings, before enjoying an afternoon of alpine activities (and there is a lot to offer, just check out our previous blog entries and summer pages to see how much you can do!).

And of course, Ski-Lifts are here to get you to any of these places with our transfers throughout the summer.

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