You want to go skiing but how do you decide which is the best way to get there? Nowadays some ‘cheap’ airlines are not so cheap anymore especially when travelling with skis and snowboards and all your gear. The bonus with flying is that it is direct and now there are more airlines operating to and from smaller airports which are not so far from ski resorts at the other end, making the whole process a little shorter. That said, flying can be stressful with the possibility of delays, strikes and massive overcrowding at check-in.

The Snow Train approaching Bourg Saint Maurice

A more leisurely option if you have the time would be to drive. To get to the Northern French Alps for example can be really quick, maybe eight or nine hours if you go non-stop and share the driving. Do remember though, that in most European countries you must pay tolls on motorways and this can dramatically increase the price of what might otherwise be a relatively cheap journey, if say shared between four people. To offset your driving costs search for cheap ski clothing in end of season sales before you go. Also be sure to invest in some winter tyres and/or a set of (exact fit) snow chains so that you are not caught out once closer to resort. There is nothing worse than getting stuck only fifteen minutes away from your chalet and sliding around on slicks on a mountain road puts you and others at huge risk, not to mention your car.

Train travel is making a comeback. It used to be one of the only ways to get up to some Austrian ski resorts but now you can come all the way from the UK in one go and only a few hours. With the Eurostar you are in Paris within a couple of hours and then from there it’s up to you which way you go and mountains you choose. It’s easy enough to book direct through train companies like SNCF in France but just to make it even easier there is a new place to shop for better fares at SnowCarbon.co.uk. Conscious of the effect that travelling all that way, as the next suggests SnowCarbon aim to provide travel to Europe via train in order to cut down carbon emissions.

Daniel Elkan, one of the two founders of SnowCarbon.co.uk explained: “Rail travel means a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared to flying. It gives skiers a more relaxing and enjoyable journey. Door-to-door, if you are travelling from close to London, it takes little longer than flying.” We think trains are the new planes!

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