Exhibition and trials of off-road and mountain leisure vehicles
Val d’Isère reinvents the 4-wheel drive and off-road motor show created in 1984.
A new name, new organisation and a new concept are all planned for one of the main events of the alpine summer season.
Car manufacturers and retailers will be housed in a 9000sq m village on the wide plain of La Daille. The latest models will be displayed and numerous innovations presented.
Two test areas: one near the village for SUV vehicles and one at the top of Bellevarde for off-road vehicles.
France has pipped Switzerland to the post in a ranking of winter resorts according to holiday homes rental specialist Interhome. The accommodation provider saw Tignes take the number one resort slot for the winter season, up three places from last year and, knocking Nendaz in Switzerland off the top slot for the first time in a number of years.
Tignes experienced a 61% increase in bookings year-on-year. Madeleine Winship, Director, Interhome Ltd said: “Tignes is high up and offers glacier skiing – an added bonus in a season when snow conditions have been unpredictable.” Chatel in France has also seen an increase in bookings year-on-year. Overall, the accommodation specialist has recorded a 1% increase in winter bookings year-on-year while turnover has increased 2.5%. Booking durations have not changed : the majority still opting for the traditional one-week stay even though Interhome offers flexible stays from three to six nights at many properties. However, short breaks have increased for the company - 19.5% with most short break bookings for three and four nights. Chamonix emerged as the resort with the highest number of short break bookings – possibly because it is within such easy reach of Geneva. Val Thorens fared less well, despite it being the highest ski resort in Europe, probably because most apartments offer less flexibility with stays from Saturday to Saturday only, thus cutting off the short break market.
Courchevel has committed to the construction of an aquatic complex where sport, relaxing, and well-being will be the name of the game. Open winter and summer, the centre will perfectly complement the numerous existing activities.
The resort’s plans for its Grandes Combes site is reported to be both ambitious and innovative by Courchevel, bringing in yet-to-be-announced but reported to be unique new ideas and equipment .
Courchevel believes that the new complex will represent a major asset for the resort’s future development. Along with the new swimming pool the facility will have an indoor sports complex with a large hall, additional outdoor sports areas, conference area, media library, restaurants, shops and parking areas.
This is a preview of
Swimming Pool complex to be built in Courchevel
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We could talk forever about the development of sustainable tourism….
For several years the resort of Chamonix has been one of the places in the world today which has welcomed and stimulated these new ideas.
We could do the same. To engage willingly in a move towards« sustainable tourism », giving ourselves criteria for the choices for which we must afterwards assume responsibility , every day, regarding every project…
If we don’t do this, how can we decide between the urgency of seeing a rapid return on investments and the pressing need not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg?
This is a preview of
Chamonix goes Green, a note from the TO director
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The “Passportes du Soleil VTT” is first of all a convivial ‘rendez-vous’ for mountainbikers who want to ride for fun! It’s a moutain bike excursion based on the descovering of a territory landing over two countries. The lifts making this mountain circuit accessible.
Remember that the Passportes is :
- 3 circuits of 35, 50 and 75 km
- 7 resorts with simultaneous starts in France and Switzerland
- 13 ski-lifts
- 6000 metres of total vertical descent
- Different routes for cycling uphill on bikes for the more courageous,
- Optional downhill race tracks …
from Thursday 14 August 2008 to Friday 15 August 2008
The “Compagnie de Guides de Chamonix” was founded in 1821. Today its members number 150 professional guides and mountain leaders who accompany their clients in the Mont-Blanc Massif and indeed all over the world. Amongst the guides of the Compagnie are many great names and a large number of talented young guides.
Winter is well and trully over in Meribel and as the resort starts to gear
up for the summer season of biking, golfing, walking and much more, your
attention may be turning to next years ski holiday as lo-cost airlines
flight seats are released.
Jet2.com have seats from as little as £8.99 one way from Manchester,
Leeds, Newcastle, and new for this year Blackpool.
Looking to fly from the south? Snowjet.com released their seats over the
weekend, flying from Gatwick, Stansted and Bristol to Chambery from as
little as £24.99 one way.
Having spent the last few weeks in Australia setting things up, we are now proud to open the doors to Independent Summer. We still have a fair bit of tweaking to do on the website, but the summer operation will be worked on for the next few months so that we can have a detailed list of properties on the east coast of Australia should you want a nice hot getaway over the cold winter months.
Méribel offers a large number of marked walking paths, of varying length and difficulty.
Walks can be undertaken alone or with a guide, more details.
High mountain areas are open to adults and also to children from the age of 6, offering a whole range of sports such as mountaineering, climbing, canyoning, vie ferrate, more details.
To book summer and winter accommodation in Meribel, click here!
Permanent link to this post (67 words, estimated 16 secs reading time)
• THE JUNIOR BEAVERS
For children aged 6 to 12.
• MOUNTAIN GUIDE OFFICE - ROCK-CLIMBING TUITION
For children 8 to 12, and for teenagers (advanced).
• “JEUNESSE ET FAMILLE” leisure centre
For children aged 3 to 16.
Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 6pm.
• LE MERICLUB
From children aged 8 to 12.
Monday through Friday : 9am - 5.30 pm
• SPORT KIDS - Alain Falcoz
For children aged 8 to 17 years.
Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
For more details: contact Maison du Tourisme - 73550 Méribel
Tel/Fax 04 79 00 30 38 or visit: http://www.meribel.net/home.asp?id=256&saison=20082&langue=en
