Ski Blog | Bed and Breakfast
Independent Ski and Snowboard Hire
Altitude's ski rental partner Skimium are one of the largest ski providers in Europe. But despite their size and market leading prices, they maintain a personal touch. And by booking with the code ALTIT17 you can save a massive 60%!
The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport!
skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...
SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:
A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.
An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.
Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.
Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.
Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.
A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.
A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.
THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:
Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:
Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet
A Technical Charter:
A selection of the most reputable brands
Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)
Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated)
The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size
A Customer Services Charter:
A friendly and personalised service
Expert advice
A product range dedicated to Women
Your kids treated like little Champions
Comfort for the duration of the rental period
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES:
Today:
Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.
Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.
You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.
Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.
Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.
Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.
When you get there:
With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.
Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.
Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!
For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions
Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon
Reserve your skis online !
Skimium, the exclusive ski hire partner of Altitude Holidays. Save over 50% off ski hire this winter
WHO ARE WE?
Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon
The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport!
skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...
SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:
· A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.
· An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.
· Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.
· Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.
· Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.
· A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.
· A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.
THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:
Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:
· Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet
A Technical Charter:
· A selection of the most reputable brands
· Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)
· Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated)
· The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size
A Customer Services Charter:
· A friendly and personalised service
· Expert advice
· A product range dedicated to Women
· Your kids treated like little Champions
· Comfort for the duration of the rental period
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES:
Today:
· Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.
· Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.
· You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.
· Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.
· Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.
· Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.
When you get there:
· With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.
· Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.
· Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!
For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions
Start saving now with Altitude Holidays and Skimium!
Is Chamonix the perfect ski town?
Chamonix has been synoymous with skiing and snowboarding since the early 1900's and the first ever Winter Olympics - held in Chamonix in 1924 - put it firmly on the map as a premier winter sports destination. More than 90 years on, it still has a place in most skiers 'top 10'. But unlike some of the other mega resorts, Chamonix has kept a charm and sense of history, not to mention more accommodation options than almost any other ski resort. ranging from small self catering apartments up to 5* hotels.
The reason for this is the unique layout of the town, the Chamonix Valley encompasses 16 little hamlets and villages with a variety of accommodation unmathced by most other ski areas.
Earlier this season we visited and stayed in Vallorcine, lying to the east of Chamonix town close to Switzerland, Vallorcine is a pretty hamlet with some excellent restaurants, and direct access to one of the main 5 Chamonix ski areas - Le Tour. Crucially there is also a train station with direct access to the town, so staying here and skiing the multiple Chamonix areas without a car is perfecrtly possible, though personally we enjoyed the flexibility of a rental car, and saved the train for one atmospheric ride to town.
We stayed at the 5* Vallorcine Residence and Spa. Perhaps a surprising find in a small hamlet, this impressive property combines apartment accommodation with a large spa complex with indoor pool, gym, massage and other spa services and a stunning ice rink lying in the brooding shadow of Le Tour.
Although there is no restaurant on site there are several excellent options within a 5 minute walk. Breakfast can be DIY in your apartment with fresh bread and croissants from the excellent on site bakery, who also offer a good value breakfast buffet. An on site ski hire shop is well stocked and friendly staff will arrange liftpasses and anythng else you need.
Snow conditions were best described as 'variable' but one of the beauty's of Chamonix is even when there is a lack of snow the sheer size, variety and layout of the ski areas means good snow can always be found somewhere, and boredom is never an issue as each area has its own distinct character. We skiied Brevent and Les Grand Montets over a 3 night stay and despite sunny skies more in keeping with Easter than Christmas skiing, we still had a great time with a mix of cruising pistes and more challenging terrain. Chamonix has a reputation as an 'experts resort' but really that's due to the extensive off-piste, for which you must have a guide, rather than the variety or marked pistes which offer plenty of options for intermediates.
Driving Home for Christmas
'So I sing for you
Though you can't hear me
When I get through
And feel you near me
I am driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas
With a thousand memories'
Chris Rea once sang!!
I wasn’t singing as we boarded the Eurotunnel and set out on our journey to the Alps but I was very excited! The early snow reports had been good and although the Alps aren’t strictly home I have spent 12 of the last 14 Christmases in the snow and they certainly have a thousand (and more) memories!
So trying not to jump up and down in the driver’s seat, we were soon cruising down the empty French motorway to our stop over for the night.
Booked only a couple of days before through one of the large hotel booking sites, we had struck lucky with La Maison Rouge in Noeux les Mines. A perfect stopping point if you are driving to or from the Alps, just an hour from Calais and minutes from the A26. And it’s not just a great location - the hotel is welcoming, has a lovely restaurant, fabulous food and a bar to sit in and relax after dinner.
With probably the largest Christmas baubles I have ever seen and a lingerie cupboard (sadly locked – and yes we did try the door! 
), a comfortable bed and a great choice for breakfast what more could you want? However we were soon on the way again and had just an easy seven hour drive to The Alps to go.
Er……except it wasn’t that easy as it rained the whole way and made the journey an hour or two longer than expected – lots of spray and an extra couple of rest stops didn’t dampen the excitement and we were soon driving up the hill into Les Carroz with snow on the ground and more forecast. Excited and some more memories to make!
I have driven this route lots of times and although this wasn’t the easiest of journeys I would really recommend driving as an option. It is much easier to drive on French motorways than in the UK, the volume of traffic is far less, lots of service areas and several places to break up the journey – treat it as part of the holiday and enjoy it!
However you’re planning to get to the slopes this season, I wish you a safe, easy journey and plenty of the white stuff when you arrive.
It’s looking good so far!
END OF SEASON REVIEW - 30 April 2012
So most resorts are now closed for the winter and nearly all still have snow - what a season it has been!! Arguably the best in living memory!
How was this possible when the press who always love a negative story were writing doom and gloom stories about no snow at the beginning of December?
Fortunately the weather doesn’t read the press and nor do we! We ignored them and got on with skiing and organising holidays across the Alps and were lucky enough to get in plenty of skiing ourselves.
We here at Altitude skied Courchevel, Le Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens, Morillon), Morzine & Avoriaz in France and in Italy the Monterosa (Champuloc, Alagna & Gressoney) and all in amazing snow conditions from the powder of Courchevel at Christmas through to the spring snow in April!
The snow was amazing we had some great adventures including a very scary 50m abseil, watching friends jump off snow covered roofs and of course skiing some great runs both on and off piste!
Whilst we should remember the good times we can’t forget the sad news through the season the coach accident carrying children back from a ski holiday, the tragic loss of life in the Belgian coach accident, Sheffield Ski village burning down, the sad loss of life in accidents through the season all reminders that we should make the most of every minute we have on the slopes!
Hope you had some magical moments on the slopes this last winter – have a great summer!
And if you have snow withdrawl symptoms you can always check out our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts!
SKIING IN THE MONTEROSA, ITALY - 26 – 28 MARCH 2012
Destination Italy – we packed up the car and left France for a three day break in Champoluc part of the Monterosa ski area in Italy.
I had skied there several years before for just a weekend and have been keen to get back ever since. Now was an opportunity to return with a couple of mates who were as keen as me to ski the area made up of Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna which is a self proclaimed ‘Freeride Paradise’
So with180km of piste and 37 lifts and skiing at a maximum height of 3275 metres we were excited to be skiing somewhere we didn’t really know with so much potential.
Through the Mont Blanc tunnel and into Italy we were soon winding our way up alongside a river but as we got nearer there was still no sign of snow even in this one of the best seasons in living memory! We arrived in Champoluc which is at 1570 metres and there was no snow anywhere to be seen – we had just come from Les Carroz which is at 1150 metres where you can ski back to the resort!
A little concerned we checked into the small B&B ‘Le Vieux Rascard’ we had booked online to a very warm friendly Italian welcome, sorted out our kit and headed towards the lifts.
Once up and on the way it was apparent that there was plenty of snow higher up! We headed towards Alagna and found some great spring snow,the pisteswere empty, no queues for the lifts and the snow typically spring like – this was great! We managed to find our way back across the valleys to Champoluc for an après ski beer, shower and out for something to eat.
The resort is mainly centered around one main street with all the shops, bars and restaurants off this. It was empty! No one around! I know it’s getting to the end of the season but it’s still only March –there’s the best part of a month to go yet! Where is everyone?
On our second day we headed to Gressoney and explored the slopes here in the middle valley of the Monterosa. We found some amazing off piste with perfect spring snow conditions, a lovely little restaurant with the most amazing collection of old ski and mountaineering paraphernalia I have ever seen. That evening we found a pizzeria and a local bar for a couple of beers that had a little more life than we had found the night before.
And all too soon it was our last day and we headed to the highest point of the ski area today the Punta Indren at 3275m - there is a telecabine that takes you to a the highest point and some off piste skiing. Lacking in local knowledge we had to be careful where went and following tracks is a recipe for disaster so we skirted round areas, watched other skiers and made our own way down finding some more fresh tracks in some spring snow! Half way down has to be the most up market refuge in the Alps!! Great Italian pasta and service once more! By the time we got to the bottom the temperature was rising and the pistemap was showing 16 degrees at the end of the day! Very warm!
Thick viscous hot chocolates, strong Italian coffees at mountain restaurants, cold apres ski beers in the setting Italian sun, warm friendly Italian service this short trip was leaving us wanting more and more!
We loved the skiing here and want to come back when there is a load of fresh snow to get even more from the off piste, there are some great flattering runs across the area and would be suitable for all levels of skiers and boarders.
Off the slopes we loved the service and friendliness at the B&B, in the restaurants and the bars. We are intrigued as to why it was so quiet in the evenings and whilst we aren’t looking for a different nightclub each night a bit more atmosphere in the bars would have been good – oh well we’ll have to come back at a busier time to compare! That’s a shame!
You can see photos of our trip on our Facebook page here.
GITES DE GERS - JUMPING OFF A ROOF! 19th JANUARY 2012
I love the Gites du Gers – it’s a great little restaurant that is on the edge of a lake that I have only ever seen frozen.
Set at the bottom of the Gers bowls which is one of my favourite places to ski when there is fresh snow – just amazing off piste skiing! Or if off piste skiing is not your thing then take the blue Cascades run from the top of Flaine – a 14km run all the way down to Sixt, a stunning run through trees, past frozen waterfalls! Beautiful.
Half way down you can pick up a phone and call the restaurant who send someone to come and tow you up to the restaurant behind a ski do!
I have been taken up to the Gers lift (a very long and in places steep drag lift!) in the back of a converted piste basher, I have seen a helicopter pick people up, I have even stayed the night there and often you can see Chamois’ grazing on the slopes above it.
It’s a tranquil beautiful place unless you have friends like me who will disturb the peace by jumping off a nearby chalet roof – see the video here!