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20 Aug

Driving To France For Your Holidays

Driving To France ForYour Holidays Driving to France can offer freedom and flexibility, the ability to take lots of luggage, and the holiday starts as soon as you leave home. GET IN TOUCH Bookings & quotes Call one of our experts on020 3393 1218 We are open Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 17:30Saturday: 09:00-15:00Sunday: Closed A big company with a small company approach Alpine Elements and iGO SKI is the UK’s largest independent operator of exclusive catered ski chalets and hotels. Properties run exclusively by us, for our clients. We’re not an ‘agent’ selling other people’s holidays, so everything we do is run by us, by a team of brilliant staff with mountain air in their blood. Edit Template Freedom from airport rules and limitation​ For many, getting to the Alps usually starts with ‘how shall we get to the airport, were shall we park’ and so on. Then it’s the transfer from your car to the airport. Join the check-in queue (why is my desk always the farthest one away?). Fingers crossed that extra jumper won’t nudge the scales over the 20kg limit. Phew! Right, we’ve now got a couple of hours to kill, avoid buying more stuff, and maybe grab a bite at one of the chain restaurants. After a mad dash to the gate (no flight delays!), bags crammed into overhead lockers, we can settle in for the flight. If this rings bells, or tolls them, relax… there is an alternative: Drive there. The advantages of driving to the Alps make quite a compelling argument for avoiding the stress, the discomfort and the potential delays of flying; ranging from luggage to flexibility, and freedom to cost. Here are our favourite reasons for ticking that ‘Self-travel’ button when we book our holidays. FLEXIBILITY There’s no need to be glued to the tour operator’s schedule. You know when you can get into your chalet, just reverse back from that and plan your trip to arrive then. For many, the holiday starts as soon as you shut your front door; treat the trip as part of the holiday! SUPPLIES We all know that alpine resorts have limited supermarkets. Yes, they have the essentials, but often at a cost. With a car you can stop off at the big supermarket in the valley, before climbing to the resort. Stock up with gorgeous wins, beers, fresh fruit, vegetables and meat at sensible prices, and from a great range.  FREEDOM On the drive down, you can jump off the motorway, find a sleepy village and enjoy a terrific, relaxing meal. In resort, maybe you want to spend the day beside that hidden lake, to see the sunrise from your special viewpoint, or need to get another bottle of that rather nice Champagne? With your own transport you aren’t limited to bus times, cycling or walking. LUGGAGE The relief of not having to weigh every bag, leave things at home, and lug the luggage is very real! Kids toys can be taken, iPads, DVDs, that extra jumper, snorkel & flippers… For serious mountain bikers, you can take your own full-suspension DH beast (and spares, helmet, body armour, tyres etc.) with no worries. And, you can stop off at a supermarket on the way home to bring back French cheese, wines, spirits, merguez. My mouth is watering! TOP TIPS Stop-overs If you have the time, plan a stop-over. Fontainbleu, just off the A6 and South East of Paris, is a favourite of our family. The driver is rested, you are not tied to motorway food, the kids are able to expend some energy, everyone is relaxed, and looking forward to the Alps. Crossing the channel Dover to Dunkirk (2 hrs) is often cheaper, and less busy than Dover Calais (1hr 30 mins). If you are driving from the outside the South East, the ferry can be a welcome break. The Tunnel is much quicker, at 35mins, although (usually) a little more expensive. Sunday travellers If you are travelling back on a Sunday, remember that supermarkets (and wine warehouses!) are usually shut. Buy anything you want to take home before Sunday. Driving requirements Make sure you have the usual emergency equipment required by French law. (Spare headlight bulbs, warning triangle, hi-viz jackets for all occupants). Jackets MUST be within the passenger compartment, in the boot is not allowed. Make sure to pack your vehicle details (V5) and original insurance documents. Speed limits French speed limits have changed in the past few years, with not all signs being updated. In fact, some old ones have been removed and not replaced! Be aware of the current regulations, to avoid fines. SUGGESTED ROUTES Calais > Morzine Via A5: 504miles, 9hrs €150.51 (Tolls €59.20, Fuel €91.31)Reims, Troyes, Dijon, Geneva   Via A6: 546miles, 9hrsParis, Fontainbleu, Auxerre, Macon, Chatillon-en-Michaille   Example car: Audi A4, 2l 136bhp Diesel 2016   Estimated fuel price (May, 2020) €1.477/litre 

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16 Aug

The Best Way to Beat Stress: A Short Ski Break

The Best Way to Beat Stress A Short Ski Break The Alps The time that you spend out skiing is likely to be something that makes you feel wonderful, but it isn’t. GET IN TOUCH Bookings & quotes Call one of our experts on020 3393 1218 We are open Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 17:30Saturday: 09:00-15:00Sunday: Closed A big company with a small company approach Alpine Elements and iGO SKI is the UK’s largest independent operator of exclusive catered ski chalets and hotels. Properties run exclusively by us, for our clients. We’re not an ‘agent’ selling other people’s holidays, so everything we do is run by us, by a team of brilliant staff with mountain air in their blood. Edit Template Stress is one of the main enemies of our health Finding the way to get rid of stress is something that is highly recommended. Sadly, it is something that many people live with without ever finding a way of dealing with it effectively. However, if you like winter sports a short weekend break in the Alps may be the best way to relax and forget about everything. There are some great reasons for believing that going skiing could be your perfect way of beating stress. AN EASY TRIP One of the difficult things about short weekend breaks is that you can end up spending more time travelling than doing fun stuff in the place you go to. Long trips with lots of transport issues and transfers can make a journey more stressful than staying at home would have been. Thankfully, the top ski resorts in the French Alps are a lot simpler to get to than many people initially believe. Places like Chamonix, Les Gets, La Tania and Val d’Isere can be reached in just a few hours and with no hassle at all. For example, a short flight to Geneva Airport is typically followed by a transfer of a couple of hours or so. In this way, even if you leave the country after work on Friday afternoon you will still be in your chosen resort in time to order a glass of French wine before last orders at the bar on the same day. Why drive all day through huge queues of traffic or sit uncomfortably on a marathon bus or train journey? The simplicity of the Alps as a destination for ski weekends makes it a fine choice for anyone who is feeling stressed and wants a smooth and care-free break. IDYLLIC LOCATION Is there anything in the world better for letting your stress melt away than an idyllic, snowy town nestled high in the Alps? The first sight of the resort you are going to stay in is likely to take your breath away, as many of these classy ski bases are simply picture perfect. Some of the best French ski resorts have been around for a long time and offer a quaint, authentic atmosphere for visitors to soak up. The stylish chalets and beautiful restaurants dotted around the place make these towns an absolute delight to spend time in. This sort of idyllic location is perfect for feeling at one with nature and forgetting about your worries back home. If your boss has been putting you under pressure or you have a huge new project to sort out then you will be amazed at how quickly it fades into the background once you look at the stunning Alpine vistas around you. It is amazing how quickly first time visitors to this region are won over by it. It really is love at first sight for many people who travel across here for short ski breaks. FOCUS ON SOMETHING ENJOYABLE BUT CHALLENGING Is there anything in the world better for letting your stress melt away than an idyllic, snowy town nestled high in the Alps? The first sight of the resort you are going to stay in is likely to take your breath away, as many of these classy ski bases are simply picture perfect. Some of the best French ski resorts have been around for a long time and offer a quaint, authentic atmosphere for visitors to soak up. The stylish chalets and beautiful restaurants dotted around the place make these towns an absolute delight to spend time in. This sort of idyllic location is perfect for feeling at one with nature and forgetting about your worries back home. If your boss has been putting you under pressure or you have a huge new project to sort out then you will be amazed at how quickly it fades into the background once you look at the stunning Alpine vistas around you. It is amazing how quickly first time visitors to this region are won over by it. It really is love at first sight for many people who travel across here for short ski breaks. FEELING FANTASTIC The time that you spend out skiing is likely to be something that makes you feel wonderful, but it isn’t the only thing that is going to leave you with a warm glow. Ski weekends like this are about having the time of your life eating, drinking and doing whatever makes you feel good. The top quality resorts that you can choose from in this region offer you plenty of opportunities for relaxing and feeling a world away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Great restaurants and bars are easy to find and you can have a lot of fun mixing with other tourists in them. In addition, these are great spots to head to with a bunch of fun-loving friends. You can all stay together in lovely accommodation and head out to ski, eat and drink together. Ski weekend like this are definitely among the best ways of bonding with a group of friends and just thinking about the good things in life for a couple of enjoyable days. If you need to reduce the amount of stress in your life then why

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16 Aug

A Perfect Corporate Weekend

A Perfect CorporateWeekend Organising a corporate weekend can be hard work, as it involves a lot of planning to get it just right. In this blog, we give you tips on how to get the right weekend for you and your company. GET IN TOUCH Bookings & quotes Call one of our experts on020 3393 1218 We are open Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 17:30Saturday: 09:00-15:00Sunday: Closed A big company with a small company approach Alpine Elements and iGO SKI is the UK’s largest independent operator of exclusive catered ski chalets and hotels. Properties run exclusively by us, for our clients. We’re not an ‘agent’ selling other people’s holidays, so everything we do is run by us, by a team of brilliant staff with mountain air in their blood. Edit Template How to Organize the Perfect Corporate Weekend Organising a corporate weekend can be hard work, as it involves a lot of planning to get it just right.   If you want to sort out the perfect weekend for clients or for your team then the prestigious ski resort at Les Gets is a great option. Here, you will find everything that you need for an event that works wonders for your business. GET A BESPOKE BREAK ARRANGED There is no magic formula that works for every single company looking to get away to Les Gets. Instead, you should look to arrange a bespoke package that covers everything that you need.   This could mean getting out on the slopes at the right time of day (you need to have handy luggage for a quick packing), going to a certain restaurant or making sure that you go the extra mile for your guests. The more effort that gets put into making the occasion go smoothly the better your chances are of getting what you want out of it. Of course, you don’t have to spend a lot of time doing this all on your own. You can get a corporate ski weekend expert to set it all up perfectly for you if you just tell them what you need. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DATES A big advantage to choosing Les Gets as your destination is that it is easy to get to from the UK. This means that it is possible to head off for short ski breaks that don’t involve too much travelling.   Generally speaking, ski weekends are excellent for allowing everyone to fit the event into their schedule. Getting a few people from different jobs to all go away during the week can be very difficult to arrange. If you decide on a weekend break the next decision to make is around the exact dates. It would be very disappointing if you arranged a fantastic corporate weekend only to find out that some of the most important guests couldn’t make it for one reason or another. CHOOSE THE ACCOMMODATION WISELY The right accommodation choice is vital in any trip away from home, and even more so when you are looking for a corporate ski weekend that gives you commercial benefits. Thankfully, Les Gets is a bustling resort with a wide range of high class accommodation choices.   For instance, you could all stay in a wonderfully authentic chalet like the highly rated Chalet Yeti. This type of accommodation gives you a wonderfully cosy base that is also in an enviable position in the town. If you prefer to get everyone staying in a hotel then there are plenty of excellent options well worth taking a look at. For example, the stylish Hotel Le Boomerang is located very close the ski lifts and offer a fantastic place to stay. If you know where you are going to be skiing or eating then you might want to choose your chalet or hotel close to this place. The less travelling you need to do each day the more time you will have to do the important stuff that you want to get done.   Wherever you choose to stay, you will want everyone to be comfortable and at ease. This is why you should put some time and effort into getting the accommodation choice right. ORGANISE INTERESTING ACTIVITIES Les Gets is a destination that is renowned across the world for the top class skiing that it offers. If you are looking to go away on corporate ski weekends then everyone that you invite is going to have a lot of fun out on the huge ski area here. However, there are many other interesting activities that can be enjoyed here away from the snow. The fact that this is such a lively resort filled with bars and restaurants means that there are many great meeting places across the town. You can also arrange interesting activities at your hotel or chalet if you prefer. In particular, a classy ski chalet can offer the perfect spot to carry out some interesting activities that keep everyone entertained. GET SOME BUSINESS DONE We all have different reasons for getting away on corporate ski weekends to somewhere special like Les Gets. Some companies do this to reward their staff for a great year while others do it to treat potential new clients to a great break as a way of showing their style and willingness to go the extra mile.   Whatever your reasons are for getting away like this, you will probably be looking to get some sort of business done at some point. Maybe it will just be a brief presentation to your team thanking them for their hard work and giving them new targets for the next year.   Otherwise, you might see this as the chance to find get a tough customer to finally sign on the dotted line. Either way, this is a great opportunity to mix business with pleasure by getting some work done while everyone enjoys themselves in Les Gets. When you are looking for the ideal corporate weekend break it is worth checking out Les Gets. Take

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