After last year's slow-starting European ski season, snow lovers are crossing their fingers while planning their attack on the continent's most popular and challenging mountain resorts. To get a sneak peek at European ski deals available this winter, here's an early look at some of the package deals that will be made available to the public on September 1, 2007. All of these package deals are available through SkiEurope (tel. 800/333-5533; www.ski-europe.com), the leading provider of overseas ski travel trips.
A trip to Innsbruck, Austria starts at $650 (airport security fees and departure taxes increase this amount by almost $300). Innsbruck is an old Olympic city known for high pistes and great downhill runs. The ski center has several mountains with 200-plus trails covering over 300 miles of terrain. The air-inclusive trip takes place from January 10 to January 17, 2010 departing out of New York City. Six nights' accommodations are at the Hotel Tautermann, a small chalet hotel located in the old section of town surrounded by small alleyways and side streets filled with restaurants and shops. The hotel's full breakfast is included in the price of the package.
For the same week of travel from January 10 to January 17, 2007, a package to Chamonix, France costs approximately $989 (with taxes and fees adding another $300). Also departing out of New York, this package includes airfare, transportation from the Geneva airport to Chamonix, six nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, and all local hotel and service taxes. Accommodations while skiing the infamous Mont Blanc, are at the Pointe Isabelle, a tourist class small hotel owned by the great grand children of the two people (yes, one was named Isabelle) who discovered a famous peak on the mountain. The 39-room hotel serves an American breakfast. Almost all of the rooms have private balconies overlooking the mountainside. There are ski rental shops across the street from the hotel and the ski school is just a five minute walk. A six-day ski pass to all Mont Blanc ski areas costs $135.
Billed as the capital of German winter sports, Garmisch is a fairly large cosmopolitan city with summer hiking and diverse winter activities. From January 17 to January 24, 2007, Ski Europe offers a six-day package for approximately $939 (with an additional $300 in mandatory fees and taxes). Close to the Austrian border, Garmisch hosted the winter fourth Winter Olympics way back in 1936. Transportation to and from the Geneva airport via a first-class motor coach is included in the price of the package. The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten is a classic winter getaway hotel. Located in the German Alps, the 54-room hotel has a dark red mahogany dining room and lobby. Nearby, there are Bavarian castles, sleigh rides, cross-country ski trails, and several indoor activities like German Beer Halls to keep you busy. The hotel also has a sun room and a locally-applauded restaurant that serves full German breakfasts, which are included in your package price. The mountains are known for having some of Europe's highest vertical drops reachable by a standard chair lifts. A six-day lift ticket is available for Garmisch resorts for $222.
Look for other early season deals to be announced soon, including Salzburg for $850 and Interlaken for $919. You can sign up for Ski Europe's excellent newsletter at their website. Also, early booking New Year's ski deals should be posted shortly. Look for a seven-night Christmas trip to Zermatt to be available for slightly north of $1,600 per person.
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