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Christmas Ski Holiday for Young Travellers
By: Sarah Manners, Mon Jan 30th, 2006
Have you always dreamt of a white Christmas but thought
skiing in Europe was only for investment bankers, movie
stars and royalty? Many youth travel specialists offer great
skiing package that will allow independent travellers to
join the jet set and experience the magic of Christmas in
the Austrian Alps.
White Christmas
The 7 night Ski Hopfgarten Xmas package, which departs from
London on the 23 December, costs R3 280 per person on a B&B
basis. In addition you need to add on your ski pass (R1 350)
and equipment hire (from R375). If you are a beginner, then
ski or snowboarding lessons are strongly recommended, and
these cost from R750. Anybody purchasing a ski package will
also receive the following discount options from Snowscape:
10% discount on shop purchases, 15% on clothing hire, first
lesson free and 20% on extra lessons booked. Add in your
flights to London from R3825 (ex Jhb, student and youth fare
excl airport taxes) and you are looking at around R9000 for
your most memorable Xmas ever!
On the Slopes
The idyllic Austrian village of Hopfgarten lies at the foot
of the Hohe Salve Mountain, which rises to a peak of 1829m.
It is everything you'd expect a ski resort in the heart of
the Austrian Tyrol to be: traditional fairy-tale wooden
chalets cluster around a twin-turreted church, snow-laden
fir trees nestle beneath the impressive Austrian Alps.
Youth travel specialists have been taking skiers to
Hopfgarten for over 20 years and now with a large investment
by the Ski Welt region, Hopfgarten and its neighbouring
villages are part of one of the largest network of
artificial snow making machines in Europe - ensuring the
best possible snow conditions over all 250km of piste.
Hopfgarten is great for all levels of skiers and
snowboarders and the friendly and informal atmosphere of the
village makes it the perfect destination for young
travellers. In addition, if racing down a mountain is not
enough to get your adrenaline pumping then you can try some
of the optional excursions on offer which include
tobogganing, sleigh rides, tandem paragliding or ice skating
on a frozen alpine lake. And after an energetic day on the
slopes the fun really starts with the town's infamous
nightlife offerings.
About the author:
STA Travel is the world's
largest travel company catering specifically to the needs of
students and young people. STA and Contiki Holidays are
offering a 7 night ski package to South African travellers
this Christmas.
Trip
Advisor Reviews
-- Traveler Reviews
& Opinions
(Click to
see review that you are interested in..)
Review of
Hotel Baren,
Wilderswil, Switzerland
Great
traditional swiss hotel
... it and returned for a winter holiday with ... may prefer
the high moutain resorts with runs back to the resorts
although all the major ski resorts are easlily accessed via
a short ...
Review of
Town and Country Motor Inn,
Shelburne, New Hampshire
Not
too bad, good value.
... many attractions both summer and winter with ski
resorts, golf hiking ... stay here for 10 days, ski a
different ... The wait times here make ski lines or Disney
World lines look like ...
Review of
Antons on the Lake Country Inn,
Warwick,
New York
Antons
is quality with a capital Q
... will be back during the winter to take advantage of the
close location to the ski resorts in the area. My favorite
part of the getaway was the bonfire that Matt the ...
Review of
Grand Summit Resort Hotel at Mount Snow,
Mount
Snow, Vermont
NOT
the best of Vermont
... spent lots of time at ski resorts, winter and summer.
... restaurants. Mid and Northern Vermont resorts present a
much more European feel. You may pay a bit more, but you
will be ...
Review of
Falls Creek Ski Lifts,
Falls
Creek, Victoria, Australia
Some
good, some bad
... Creek is apparently a favorite ski spot for Australians,
but it does not nearly compare with big resorts I've visited
... courses). Staff working at the ski lifts are not
helpful, so beginners ...
Review of
Oasis Beach Hotel,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
excellent
value
... at one of the entrances, Ski Dubai is ... frankly I have
stayed in lesser 5 star resorts. I would go back but perhaps
during our winter when the weather is less oppressive.
Review of
Golden Arrow Hotel,
Lake
Placid, New York
The
Best place to stay
... some small town motels and resorts, but of ...
Adirondacks shines, than in the winter when it transforms
into the winter sports capital of the NorthEast with
Skiing/Snowboarding, snowmobiling, skating, bobsledding, ski
...
Review of
Point Au Roche Lodge,
Plattsburgh, New York
Wonderful
B&B
... away from Montreal and local ski resorts and very ...
been too busy to start. I can't wait to return in the winter
for some skiing and a chance to use the fireplace
Review of
Oak n' Spruce Resort,
South
Lee, Massachusetts
Great
Place For Children
... this resort frequently during the winter months for
skiing as it is close to may ski resorts. What people people
aren't saying in thier reviews of the ownership is that you
also ...
Review of
Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort,
Bel
Ombre, Mauritius
Simply fabulous
... the guy that cant water ski, but never ... cloudy) days,
but its there winter and even ... to see how many other
resorts managers respond to peoples comments on tripadvisor!
We look forward ...
Review of
Ridge Top Village at Shawnee,
Shawnee
on Delaware, Pennsylvania
Love
the Shawnee Village
... in many of the Poconos resorts and this ... enjoys. We
spend the last winter snowboarding at the Shawnee Mountains.
We love the Shawnee Ski area since it is very family
oriented and ...
Review of
Alyeska Prince Hotel,
Girdwood,
Alaska
Great
Stay
... It reminded me of most ski resorts in New Hampshire or
Maine - a great resort in the winter and an ... sit and take
off their ski boots and the dark paneling does ...
Review of
Black Bear Cottages,
Big Bear
Lake, California
Back
Again for the 2nd Time and Even Better Than the First
... and Palm Springs in the winter. We love to ski, so we
... are very convenient to both ski resorts and in fact they
are just down the road from one of the ...
Review of
L'Auberge Saint-Pierre,
Quebec
City, Quebec, Canada
Outstanding
service
... behind at one of the ski resorts, and researching ...
take, and particular precautions for winter driving -
appreciated ... on our return from the ski slopes or from
walking around town. We were particularly ...
Review of
Lake Salem Inn Bed and Breakfast,
Derby,
Vermont
Beautiful
home, wonderful hosts
... It's also close to several ski resorts and although I
wasn't there in the winter I can imagine it would be
heavenly! This is my idea of a 5 star accomodation. I ...
Review of
L'Hotel du Vieux Quebec,
Quebec
City, Quebec, Canada
Terrific
Hotel at a terrific price
... my son during his school winter break. We ... stayed at
one of the ski resorts but I wanted my son and I to get a
taste of the Quebec culture and there ...
Review of
Park City, Utah
Becoming
a tourist trap
... the success of its three ski resorts, and things ...
cases treble their prices in winter. Everyone seems ... the
prices. Each season the ski resorts import more and more
people from Mexico and ...
Review of
Hotel Cavalieri,
Sestriere, Piedmont, Italy
best
ski school
we booked this easter ski break at the ... to visit where
the 2006 winter olympics had ... rent the lockers at the ski
hire shop...well ... pay out, the hotel's free ski bus did
...
Review of
Falkensteiner Hotel Lido Ehrenburgerhof,
Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Relaxing
break in stunning suroundings
... and 2pm to 9pm in winter. The club ... by the play area.
In winter you can hire ski equipment and the hotel is very
close to some excellent ski resorts. In summer ...
Review of
Royal West Indies Resort,
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
RWI:
Low Key Resort
... was like in the other resorts. Beaches was ... only to
get away from winter for a ... we were buckling up our ski
boots to get back on the mountain in our hometown.
Review of
Alta Ski Area,
Alta,
Utah
Not
for famlilies
... way to get to the ski school/day care for the kids was
to walk a half mile. We waited for the restriction to be
lifted a few more hours. The ski ...
Review of
Hotel Perun,
Bansko,
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
A
great value holiday.
... for the Skiing season. The ski area was ... I've seen in
other european resorts, they're really ... there!! (Quite
odd for a winter hol - not ... again, this was our first
winter holiday with ...
Review of
Trapp Family Lodge,
Stowe,
Vermont
Trapps
give a tranquil getaway
... get, granted, particularly in summer. Winter ski
enthusiasts, especially cross country as opposed to down
hill skiers get miles of ski trails well .."non-existent,
well, like most resorts, availability depends on..
Review of
Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch,
Avon,
Colorado
Spring
skiing at Bachelor Gulch
... are nice, even in the winter, due to heated water.
Probably the most useful service is the ski valet. The
gentlemen who man the ski valet make this hotel truly ski in
...
Review of
Great Divide Ski Area,
Helena,
Montana
Best
Skiing Found Anywhere
... the local Community Great Divide Ski Area offering ...
beginner. Advanced Expert skiers can ski with novice ...
Divide is a family owned ski area. Owners ... was found at
the old ski club run ...
Review of
Steele Hill Resorts,
Sanbornton, New Hampshire
My
family and I had an amazing weekend
... is typical New England. It's winter Frost Heaves ... a
comedy show in the resorts restaurant. It ... better the
resort sells discounted ski tickets. I liked this place so
much I made reservations ...
Review of
Tahoe Seasons Resort,
Lake
Tahoe, California
You'll
love Tahoe
... slopes and no way to ski back down ... used to but was
fantastic! Ski's and all ... car and see the other resorts
around Lake Tahoe! In the winter, you must have a ...
Review of
Cortina Inn & Resort,
Killington, Vermont
Quaint
throwback, nice for families
... we normally head west to ski; I had forgotten the local
ski areas that don't have big base resorts and villages ...
before had been a mid winter break week; packed hotel, and
...
Review of
Meadow Lake Resort,
Columbia
Falls, Montana
Nice
Resort
... We have visited many timeshare resorts over the ...
every day if you don't ski. We took ... go back sometime to
golf and drive thru Glacier as it is closed during the
winter.
Review of
Golden Tulip Bucuti Beach Resort,
Oranjestad, Aruba, Caribbean
About
as good as it gets
... it's open to the tireless winter trade winds ... keep
the resulting throngs of ski jets, banana ... balconies.
Too, the proliferation of ski jets, banana ... absolutely
one of the best resorts around for ...
Review of
Hotel Yllas Saaga,
Lapland,
Finland
Magical
destination - so much to do (expensive but worth it
... lit up by the nearby ski slope. It ... him somewhere in
Lapland! Other resorts might be ... course, this only
applies to winter holidays!!) Hint - Book direct, not
through an agent. We booked ...
Review of
Wilder Farm Inn B&B,
Waitsfield, Vermont
Best
place to stay in Vermont, hands down.
... and I have taken one winter trip per year out of the
laughable "slopes" of Ohio skiing to go up to New England
and ski the big mountains. Every year we try ...
Review of
Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins,
Banff,
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Storm
Mountain in Winter
... Rockies Hikes) and once this winter. The lodge is
beutiful in the winter. With the ... have skied) and the
Sunshine Ski are near ... at both of the Fairmount resorts
and this easily ...
Review of
Zephyr Mountain Lodge,
Winter
Park, Colorado
Could
not be better location...
... mountain to every grade of ski trail. Zephyr ... 4.00pm.
We did want to ski on the ... we travel home in our ski
gear! Great - 10 hours on the plane in ski clothes ...
Review of
Grand Summit Resort Hotel,
West
Dover, Vermont
An
excellent choice
... the Grand Summit for a ski vacation. We've been there
twice in the past (once in winter and once ... surprising,
because most east coast ski resorts hire very young staff
(as does ...
Review of
Hotelli Levitunturi,
Lapland,
Finland
Levitunturi
Hotel - pretty good
... from this hotel in Finland's winter sports resort ... in
France or at Stateside ski resorts. (Levi has ... not really
recommend if apres-ski is a big part of your winter hol).
Spa ...
Review of
River Street Inn,
Truckee,
California
River
Street Inn Truckee Tops
... riding. On one rainy, non-ski day we ... assured of snow
at the resorts.) Yippee powder ... usually 8am, the majority
of winter guests are ... to access a number of ski resorts.
The ...
Review of
Starr Crest Resort,
Sevierville, Tennessee
Reviews Incredible Stay
... a cabin at Starr Crest Resorts for our ... projects. If
going in the winter definatly check ... snowing and I got to
ski. There are also some hidden stores away from the main
...
Review of
Winter Park Resort,
Winter
Park, Colorado
ski/snowboard
winter park...
... snowboard, but decided to take ski lesson for ...
Overall I enjoyed learning to ski here. West ... the shops
away from the ski area and ... of the lesson at the ski
area. Don't ...
Review of
Minerals Hotel,
Vernon,
New Jersey
Great
Find
... got stranded at Mountain Creek ski area during an early
winter storm. Minerals is a brand new hotel with incredible
amenities. The hotel is located right next to the ski
resort, you ...
Review of
Sundown Mountain,
Dubuque,
Iowa
Great
midwest ski resort
I have been to ski resorts all over the world and consider
my hometown ski resort of ... nothing compared to Colorado
or resorts in California (Squaw) friendly staff make this
place a ...
Review of
Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park,
Taylor
Ridge, Illinois
Small,
but nothing else around
Small ski resort across the river from the Quad Cities. Okay
ski runs and ... compared to other bigger midwest ski
resorts. If you ... the Quad Cities in the winter I would
suggest ...
Review of
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort,
Whistler,
British Columbia, Canada
Amazing
Trip, Loved the Fairmont
... whistler for the past 10 winter and stayed in many
resorts but the Fairmont was far better then them. I was
very happy with the Fairmont and its ski in ski out ...
Review of
Sleepy Forest Cottages,
Big Bear
Lake, California
Great
place to stay near Meadow Park and Ski Resorts
... while staying here. In the winter they are a few minutes
drive from the ski areas, winter tubing,and the alpine
slides. In the summer you have the lake, and nearby alpine
...
Review of
Premier Resorts Sun Valley - Warm Springs,
Ketchum,
Idaho
Showing
Its Age
... August 2005. Found the staff very helpful, but the
accomodations pretty rundown. Nothing special about it,
although it is very close to a ski lift if you're looking
for a winter rental.
Review of
Mountain Club On Loon,
Lincoln,
New Hampshire
My
kids love The Mountain Club and the White Mountains
... of the most family friendly resorts we stayed ... us to
use during the winter - we all love to ski and the hotel
sits directly at the base of the mountain. Staff was ...
Review of Wolf Creek Ski Resort,
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Great
weekend ski resort
... know it's no I-70 skiing and we still usually take at
least
one trip a year to
breck or vail, but if you're just looking to hit the slopes
for a ...
Review of Great Divide Lodge,
Breckenridge, Colorado
Average
ski hotel in Breckenridge
... we were just exhausted from skiing! The lobby is really
nice and the fireplace warmed you up
immediately.
The walk to town was actually a bit slippery but I'm sure
the bus ...
Review of Northstar at Tahoe Ski Area,
Truckee, California
Northstar
ski resort attracts alot of beginners to intermediates
... is beginner to expert skiing or boarding, as well as
snowboard park features, Northstar is for you.
Within
minutes of the north shore of Lake Tahoe and Truckee as
well, it's convenient.
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