THE SNOW on many European resorts is superb, with Tignes in France and Obergurgl in Austria enjoying some of the best snow depths in Europe – and low cost airline easyJet says this the time to plan a superb value ski holiday.
Curiously Ryanair is also in the middle of a huge campaign to shift thousands of flights to skiers – with £29 one way fares into Venice (Treviso), Cuneo, Turin, Grenoble and Lourdes and many other destinations.
In fact the abundance to flights into airports near the ski slopes is seen by some as evidence that ski package operators may have trumped the D-I-Y holiday merchants this winter. Ski packages are so cheap that it is hard to undercut prices with your own package.
Andy Perrin at Ski Esprit says: “Operators are following the lesson of the High Street, and delivering superb value. We’re selling holidays at £350- £400 per week with flights, accommodation, door-to-door transfers, full cooked breakfast, four/five course dinners with wine and coffee.
“Cheap flights are an easy come-on.
“But £29 flights usually cost a lot more on your credit card statement – and by the time you pay for everything else, you will have spent more than £350 in many cases.”
Naturally easyJet general manager David Osborne sees it differently.
He promises: “Direct flights throughout the day into Geneva, every day, and the ability to package a holiday to suit your budget means you can avoid jetset locations to enjoy some of the best snow conditions in 25 years.”
Easyjet has 47 daily flights ex-UK into Geneva with midweek one way fares from £30.99, for resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland.
Other services for skiers go into Grenoble, (for Tignes, Alpe d’Huez and Val D’Isere) and Innsbruck (Innsbruck/ Kaprun).
Ryanair, the other leading budget airline Easyjet recommends you take lessons at your local indoor ski school before you go – to avoid expensive lessons on arrival.
Call Esprit Ski (01252 618 300).
