Ski Holidays | Ski Resort Guides and Offers

Set in some of the world's most renowned ski and winter destinations, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts invites guests to experience the trappings of the season with a distinctive selection of winter getaway packages. Whether an ideal winter escape includes tearing through the powder of the Rockies or taking on the Swiss Alps, Fairmont's cool winter packages will keep snow lovers warm all season long.

Skiinfo.com is reporting large falls of fresh snow across the Alps this week, particularly in Austria. The big falls of up to 70cm (28 inches) in recent days have made the dozen or so European ski centres that have already opened for winter 2008-9 in to early powder havens for those lucky enough to be already out on the slopes. For the rest of the continent’s leading resorts, it means a big boost in anticipation of the coming winter.

The one thing Yukon can absolutely guarantee, year after year, is snow. Snow that covers the boreal forest, snow that coats the peaks in white, snow that melts beneath the ski, or flies from the snowmobile track, or flutters from the paws of a dog team. Snow: they’ve got it. And we’re not talking about that on-again, off-again stuff that is ice one day and water the next. No, we’re talking snow, the real stuff with the infinite variety of flakes.

Snow-lovers seeking a new challenger or career this winter could find just what they’re looking for in an extraordinary course being offered by one UK adventure sports operator in the New Year. Fife-based Peak Leaders has boldly ventured into the Far East with a 10-week programme in the Japanese resort of Myoko.

Ultimate-Ski.com - the ultimate guide to the best skiing and snowboarding destinations and the must-go-to website for skiers, boarders and snow sports enthusiasts, has just added Stuben am Arlberg in Austria – a landmark 100th resort in their independent resort reviews.

Alberta’s Rocky Mountain resorts have scooped six of the top eight awards for North America in the recently launched Hardy’s Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2009, including Best North American Ski Resort, awarded to Banff-Lake Louise.

While airlines are closing and tour operators are consolidating their charter flights this winter, Directski.com is one ski tour operator that is announcing an expansion in the number of flight seats being offered to skiers with the addition of two charter flights from Heathow and a 50% expansion in their flying capacity this winter.

The Slovak ski resort of Tatranska Lomnica is undergoing a dramatic 11 million euro face-lift in time for the 2008/9 ski season. The expansion includes the addition of a further 4.9kms of pistes, the creation of Slovakia's longest piste at 6.5km, a new 4 seat chairlift, new snowmaking equipment, a new kids school and ski area, new ski rental facilities, night skiing and a new apres ski bar.

There is a moment in every new couple’s holiday when things could go disastrously wrong. It’s the ‘holiday hiatus’ in which the words ‘I hate you’ will be murmured through gritted teeth, as each is obliged to enjoy their partners idea of their perfect holiday.

On October 16th at precisely 16.30 the deconstruction of Oslo’s most famous landmark and Norway’s number one tourist attraction will commence.

Take the plunge this winter and see why so many people take to the slopes. Book your holiday with Inghams from either the 17th or the 24th January 2009 and you can learn to ski for free.

The Switzerland Travel Centre has launched its 2008/09 skiing programme offering a wealth of options ranging from small, family-friendly destinations to ‘jet-set’ resorts such as Klosters.

France is ready for the new winter season with good early ski holiday sales reported by tour operators and hopes to replicate last year’s excellent figures. France will be hosting the World Alpine Ski Championship in Val d’Isère from 3 to 15 February and will benefit from an extensive media coverage giving an insight into the attractions of our resorts and ski domains.

Located amid some of the most stunning mountain scenery in Europe, the Tirol's mountain huts provide inexpensive, good quality and environmentally friendly places to stay. Not only are the surroundings supremely green, but the environmental management is both innovative and of the highest standards.

The wobbly economy might seem a good reason to put off skiing plans or to wait for last minute deals, but as Lucy Crisp discovers, it's actually made it more important than ever to book your break early.

Residents of the Japanese ski resort of Niseko woke today to the first sight of snow for the season – an overnight dusting on the peak of Mt Yotei, Powderlife Niseko Magazine has reported.

Low energy houses and renewable and solar installations in many of the Tirol's hotels and public buildings contribute to it being one of Europe's leading ‘green' destinations and one which adheres to the highest standards of environmental conservation. Here's a summary of some of the Tirol's greenest hotels.

Whistler Blackcomb received over 5 centimetres of snow in the alpine overnight making Whistlerites wonder if Mother Nature forgot a season. The first day of fall, Whistler Blackcomb mountain tops are covered with at least six centimetres of snow. With 65 days until the winter ski season and 79 days until the opening of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola on December 12, the countdown is on.

The Tirol is one of Europe’s leaders when it comes to low energy houses, renewable and solar installations. Many of these innovations are now being applied to tourist accommodation and infrastructure, including the completion of an innovative, solar powered T-bar ski lift and conveyor to take skiers at Brixon in the Austrian Tirol, opening in time for the winter 2008/9 ski season.

Star-studded St Moritz is made available to skiers at down to earth prices with specialist operator flexiski. But if you really want to match the style of top celebrities seen on the Swiss resort’s slopes, like Kate Moss, George Clooney, Hugh Grant and Rupert Everett, flexiski can also offer packages with an A-list price tag.

Over a million British guests are expected to flock to the ski slopes this winter. UK ski tour operator and online ski specialist Directski.com, give their recommendations as to the top ten ski holiday destinations, by category, for everyone from beginners to those looking for the greenest ski holiday this winter.

Whistler Blackcomb’s PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will officially open to the public December 12, 2008. This engineering marvel is set to become a new Canadian tourism icon, and will forever revolutionize the way visitors experience this four-season resort.

Skiing is a notoriously expensive hobby – however there are ways to cut down the cost.

For those skiers who seek out fresh snow on the first run of the day, imagine the satisfaction of being amongst the first on the mountain at the start of a new season. flexiski is offering short breaks at many of Europe’s top resorts during the ‘Premiere Neige’ (first snow) season, so that skiers can take advantage of the ultimate freshtracks adventure.

Following Inghams rebranding, the previous company-branded uniforms worn by Resort Managers and Representatives across almost 100 ski resorts worldwide, have been donated to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. The kit included ski jackets, pants, hats, polo shirts and fleeces.

Action Outdoors are leading the way to meet the demand for ski holidays at prices to match the economy – crunched. In January, the Ski Express coach direct from London to the French Alps, is just £99 return, plus the all inclusive package means you can avoid crippling in-resort costs like lift passes, ski hire, instruction and lunches.

Whistler Blackcomb's Peak to Peak Gondola is already winning awards and it hasn't even opened yet! Leading guidebook, Where to Ski and Snowboard, awarded the development at the resort in British Columbia, Canada, the accolade of 'Best North American Development in 2008' at the book's launch on Monday.

Canada remains a favourite for families looking for a great skiing or snowboarding holiday and there is still the opportunity to travel this season, with there even being some accommodation available for the February half term and Easter school holidays.

Ski Famille has long been known for the excellent value offered to families keen to hit the slopes. All holidays are in catered chalets with inclusive childcare and you can look forward to a consistently high level of service. In an effort to help even more families hit the slopes this winter they have two great offers in place for the opening weeks of the season.