TRAVEL AND LUGGAGE - Getting to your resort

With many of the world's best ski and snowboard resorts only a few hours away and the increasing concern of the impact of avaition on the environment, flying is not the only option when considering your travel arrangements for your holiday.

• Flying
• Non-Flight Options
• Rail
• Coach
• Car
• Turning white into green

Flying

With flight times from the UK of between 1 and 2 hours to most of the European winter resort airports and the increasing number of low-cost flights on offer, flying remains the most popular travel option for British skiers and snowboarders.

Most people opting for a package holiday will fly to the nearest airport and be transfered to the resort by coach or minibus.

If you are travelling independently you will find low-cost carriers that fly to airports close to most of the major European winter sports resorts and there are also low-cost carriers flying to North America.

Independent travellers looking for the best deal could also consider a flight only deal.

However, remember to budget for transfers from the airport to your resort.  Most airports are a long way from the ski and snowboard resorts and transfers can be expensive or difficult if you are travelling to a less popular resort so make sure you plan this part of your journey in advance.

Non-Flight Options

If you are skiing or boarding in Europe you have the option to drive, or take a train or coach to your winter resort.

These non-flight options can be a good way of gaining extra time in the resort as travel can take place overnight.

Typically on a week-long package skiing and snowboarding holiday you would travel on the first and last Saturday of the week giving you 6 days on the slopes.

However, if you travel out by coach or train on Friday night and return the following Saturday evening you can enjoy 8 days of skiing and boarding.

Rail

Eurostar offer a direct service to the French Alps from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet or Ashford in Kent.

They offer overnight departures on Fridays or Saturdays to Moutiers for Three Valleys resorts such as Meribel or Val Thorens, to Aim la Plagne for La Plagne, and to Bourg St Maurice for resorts such as Les Arcs or Tignes.

Rail Europe's Snow Train is another popular travel option.

The Snow Train offers sleeping accommodation and a seperate sound-proofed bar and disco complete with dance floor.

The journey begins on Friday evening with a Eurostar journey from Ebbsfleet or Ashford to Paris Gare du Nord. 

Travellers then have to change at Paris Gare du Nord, catching the overnight Snow Train which arrives in the French Alps early on Saturday morning.

If you choose the overnight services offered by Eurostar or Rail Europe you will arrive in the French Alps very early the following morning - between 5.30am - 8.45 am depending on the service - so you will have to plan ahead as it is unlikely your accommodation will be ready for you.

Coach

You can travel to the Alps by coach with specialist tour operators or you can book your coach travel independently through the National Express Eurolines service.

Car

Many people drive to the Alps via Cross Channel ferry services or Eurotunnel. 

Driving can be an economical way of travelling if there are several people in your party.

It also means you are not restricted by baggage allowances and you can start and finish your skiing and snowboarding holiday at your own pace.

If you drive from the UK or intend hiring a car whilst you are away remember it snows in winter sports resorts!

Make sure your car is equipped with the necessary safety equipment such as snow chains, and make sure you know when and how to use them.

Make a note of where you park your car when you arrive in the mountains. 
Heavy snow will bury parked vehicles in a matter of hours so make sure you also buy a quality, non-abrasive motorist's snow shovel - available from the Origin Sports Shop.

Turning white into green...

As with all forms of tourism it can sometimes be difficult to balance our enjoyment of our natural surroundings with the impact visitor numbers has on the environment.

All of us should also think about the environmental effects of our holiday travel, and ski and snowboard resorts will be hit particularly hard by any rises in temperature brought about by global warming.

Before arranging your travel you might want to consider comparing the effects of different modes of travel using an online cabon emissions calculator and consider a donation to a recognised carbon offset charity such as Global Cool - for more on how to combat global warming visit sites such as  www.globalcool.org.