Life Delights

would you believe the pound is fetching less than the euro at Travelex, one would guess there would be a lot of brilliant deals to be booked in snowboarding resorts this season as potential snowboarders remain in the UK to beat the crunch. Provisional figures merely publicized show that skiing towns are 81 percent booked across the Xmas time period. 13 percent higher than the equivalent time period in 2007.

One will have better luck in January which at the moment shows a 38 % booking level. The only signs of a recession is over the significant February ski vacation month which has 64 percent bookings, 5 % lower than last ski season. Reservation desks in the skiing resorts of Flegere, Hautacam, Alpe d Huez and Val Thorens have noted heavy inquiries during December boosted by the good early ski season snows. Tignes has better inquiries compared to last year, and Serre Chevalier had a superb Christmas as did Alps Chamonix.

There is substantial demand for bigger self catered chalets, 5 to 11 beds, as folk group-up to save. Evidence shows that do it yourself ski breaks are holding up well, perhaps pointing to the fact that keen skiers will not give up their ski trip to the mountains. Inquiries from the big tour operators are down on last year.