As ski holidays become less predictable, some new patterns are emerging: Austria Tourism A great start, rain in January, the warmest February on record and then storm cycles that brought the brown mountains back to life: the 2023/2024 ski season will go down in history as strange for forecasters. As winter nears its end, the … Read more
A relic from another era: Jackson’s Romantic Bridge It’s not the Alps. That much becomes clear as I drive down Main Street in North Conway. Here, amid picket fences, small churches, cafes and general quirkiness, New Hampshire has already shown its beautiful face and flavor for yesterday: the antique tracks of the Conway Scenic Railroad … Read more
Marianna enjoyed one quick black run (usually three, but the rest were closed) and eight reds – some a bit short – Marianna Hunt “Here is the ski boot room,” our immaculately coiffed hotelier proudly exclaimed. I looked around. To be precise, it was a parking lot-cum-construction site with no indication as to whether you … Read more
Banff is the province of Alberta in Canada, high in the Canadian Rocky Mountains What can be a bit confusing for first-time visitors to Banff, which is located in the province of Alberta in Canada, is that there are no slopes in Banff itself. The name refers both to the lively town where most people … Read more
Skip the slopes and head to the hot tub in Chamonix More people than ever are looking for the benefits of a holiday in the snow – the gentle silence, the immersion in winter nature, the magical sights – without the intense, adrenaline-packed and environmentally damaging aspects of traditional slopes. The non-ski holiday is officially … Read more
Mayrhofen has been welcoming British skiers and snowboarders for over 100 years Mayrhofen has the chameleon quality that is the strength of so many Austrian resorts – it will be what visitors want it to be, and a very successful one at that. It can rock, it can rap, it can be the king of … Read more
In the 1960s, the ultra-modern mid-century developments of Les Menuires came as a shock to many – Getty Les Menuires has never been backward in coming forward – as I was told with refreshing candor during my visit “…you either love it or hate it.” And this year, the Marmite of the French Alps is … Read more
Critics worry that American influence will ruin the charm of Europe’s ski resorts – Switzerland Tourism/Silvano Zeiter Will skiers in the Alps start bartering soon? pichets for pitchers, or flipping burgers on the 4th of July, instead of sipping onion soup on the 14th? The recent announcement that US conglomerate Vail Resorts had purchased the … Read more