SKI SEASON tips

What will it be, views over the Med or a sea of summits? Dog sledding in the larch forests or meandering down a blue slope in the sunshine? A friendly old hamlet or MKII resort? Or how about all above the above?! The mountains and valleys of the Southern Alps promise a thousand treats to share. And the cherry on the cake? You’ll find all the space you need there…

Vialattea, the leading Italian-French international ski region, and one of Europe’s largest ski resorts, has announced a new commercial and promotional partnership agreement with Trenitalia, the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia has been named as the as the ‘Official Green Carrier’ of Vialattea, entering into a new partnership strategy with the international ski area, with a collaboration aimed at carrying out joint commercial activities in order to promote the services of both organisations.

Nestled within the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Montana offers an array of skiing and snowboarding options that cater to every winter enthusiast’s dreams. But what sets Montana apart is visitors won’t encounter those long lift lines that can dampen any ski trip.

With an international train station in the heart of the stunning alpine city, Innsbruck provides a unique opportunity for winter sports enthusiasts to travel by rail. Innsbruck Main Station (Hauptbahnhof) is a hub for major European rail routes, enabling visitors from London St Pancras to be in the Capital of the Alps in approximately 12 hours, depending on the route.

Vail Resorts, Inc has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland from CPI Property Group (“CPIPG”). Crans-Montana Mountain Resort spans over 1,400 meters (approximately 4,593 ft) of skiable vertical terrain, and 140 kilometers (approximately 87 mi) of trails. Accessible from five airports and by train, Crans-Montana Mountain Resort is located in the Valais canton of Switzerland, approximately two and a half hours from Geneva and less than four hours from Milan and Zurich. The resort is two and a half hours away from the company’s other owned and operated European resort in Andermatt-Sedrun.

The Association Les 3 Vallées announces today that, due to negative temperatures and significant early snowfall, Val Thorens will be open a week early with some select slopes skiable from November 18, 2023. These include the Funitel Péclet, the Cascade chairlift and all the magic carpets in the centre of the resort which will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Niseko Village, otherwise known as the “Aspen of the East,” is elated to unveil Niseko-yo in time for the 2023-2024 winter season. Among Hokkaido’s pristine powdery paradise, Niseko-yo offers a blend of gastronomy, nightlife, and other exceptional experiences.

Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300m, has again been named ‘Best Ski Resort in the World’ at the annual World Ski Awards, the only global initiative to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in ski tourism. 

Leo Trippi is thrilled to announce it has won World’s Best Ski Travel Agent at the World Ski Awards for an unprecedented tenth consecutive year. A multi-award-winning luxury travel company, Leo Trippi specialises in exceptional luxury ski holidays and tailor-made escapes. In celebration of retaining this title for the past decade, Leo Trippi is sharing its “10 Coolest Experiences”, commemorating 10 years at the top and looking ahead to the next 10. Oliver Corkhill, CEO at Leo Trippi & Co-Founder, Viadi Group comments:

As winter approaches, skiers and snowboarders eagerly head to the snow-clad mountains of Tohoku, exclaiming, “This is what we’ve been waiting for!” In recent years, snow enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Tohoku in pursuit of JAPOW.