“We are very lucky to have Matthew Lightner back in Oregon.” That’s the refrain I said to myself course after exquisite course at ōkta, Chef Lightner’s fine dining restaurant in McMinnville, Oregon, in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country.
21.11.2023 - 13:16 / breakingtravelnews.com / Val Thorens
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.
This is the 8th time in 11 years it has won which reflects the passion that consumers have for Val Thorens given they’re actively involved in the selection process.
Verbier and Kitzbühel are the other destinations to have awarded this accolade in the past decade, too. In addition, Val Thorens has been awarded ‘Best Ski Resort in France’ 10 times.
Val Thorens wins so often as it has a loyal and enthusiastic clientele, guaranteed snow, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a “Live United” philosophy which makes the Savoyard resort unique.
Every year, 216 destinations from 26 counties apply and try to win awards in various categories. More than 2.3 million people - both consumers and ski industry professionals – then vote online for their favorite resort.
Vincent Lalanne, director of Val Thorens Tourist Office, says, “This award represents the hard work of all resort staff whom I would like to salute for their involvement, teamwork and imagination. We’re very proud to win again and I would like to thank our customers from all over the world for their unfailing support. We’re dedicated to delivering excellence and continually developing the resort to ensure a fantastic holiday experience for everyone.”
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This season, Val Thorens will open early on November 18, 2023 due to the signifiant early snowfall.
The resort celebrated its 50th anniversary last season. It opened the €40 million Le Board sports, wellness and business centre which is a marquee new development right in the heart of the village. Other major investments include two new state-of-the art lifts linking Val Thorens with Orelle which are now in operation in both winter and summer. Last season, a Perspex tunnel was built so that foot passengers even avoid getting their feet wet as they travel between the resorts.
Val Thorens is part of Les 3 Vallées, the largest interconnected ski area in the world with 600 km of pistes and 162 lifts.
“We are very lucky to have Matthew Lightner back in Oregon.” That’s the refrain I said to myself course after exquisite course at ōkta, Chef Lightner’s fine dining restaurant in McMinnville, Oregon, in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country.
It’s now cheaper and more convenient to hit the slopes this ski season at a popular Colorado resort. Amtrak announced the return of the Amtrak Winter Park Express, which provides seasonal service between Denver's Union Station (DEN) and the based of Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado. «This 'ski train' is another example of Amtrak's commitment to enhancing the travel experience for riders across the country, bringing travelers to exciting destinations safety, affordably, and sustainably,» Eliot Hamlisch, Amtrak's CMO, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. Ski enthusiasts looking to utilize the special route will have a choice of 40 round trips this ski season. The train will operate every weekend (on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) from Jan. 12, 2024 through March 31, 2024. There will be special routes on holidays such as service on Jan. 15, 2024 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and Feb. 19, 2024 (Presidents’ Day). The train will also operate on two Thursdays: March 14, 2024, and March 21, 2024. (Travelers should visit amtrak.com for the most current schedule and updates.) A one-way trip, which takes approximately two hours, departs Denver at 7:00 am and leaves Winter Park Resort at 4:30 pm local time. This means skiers can maximize their time on the slopes. Families can save money as children aged two to 12 are eligible for 50 percent off tickets. There are additional discounts for senior citizens and members of the military. Passengers also have the opportunity to carry on their skis, and the trains have special storage areas on board.
By far the favourite European ski destination, France consistently welcomes around a third of British skiers who are drawn by the convenience of a winter sports break in our near-neighbour country. Along with offering good no-fly travel options, skiers have a huge choice of wide-open slopes, lifts zigzagging across dramatic mountains and modern accommodation.
In November, 2023, Time Out magazine named Mexico City as the #1 city in the world for culture. In the 1990s and early 2000s Mexico City, was known for smog, sprawl, and street crime, and was not usually near the top of the list of cities most international tourists wanted to visit. But, over the last ten to fifteen years, local government officials and private sector entrepreneurs have worked to spark a new wave of urban renewal and transformed the way Mexico City is seen around the world. In 2016, The New York Times listed Mexico City as its number one recommended destination to visit. While urban planners, architects, and police have all played big roles in Mexico City’s evolution, a new group of globally renowned chefs has also helped catalyze Mexico City’s transformation, and also helped boost Mexico’s soft power by elevating Mexico’s gastronomy to be more universally regarded as one of the most complex and tasty cuisines on the planet.
The Athens – Attica online travel guide by GNTO includes the best attractions of the capital, the activities, but also useful travel tips.
All INSTO members are committed to assessing the impact of tourism in 11 mandatory areas spanning economic, environmental and socio-economic dimensions. This commitment aligns with the new Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST) framework UNWTO is developing, which goes beyond broad indicators such as GDP.
30 hotels from the European brand are now using Mews to power their hotel and restaurant operations.
Connections to the most coveted Mediterranean destinations from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.
The camping season is designed to be inclusive, welcoming both residents and tourists to immerse themselves in the beauty of Bahrain’s natural landscapes.
This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Chloe Jade, an influencer who has been documenting her travels around the world on Instagram . It has been edited for length and clarity.
World Ski Awards – the only global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in ski tourism – has revealed the winners of its 11th annual programme.
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.