Ski Blog | France

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

Where Did I Park My Car?

Weather report by Mark Fielding of Huski, Bourg Saint Maurice.

I arrived in Bourg two weeks ago to tales of a disastrous early season last year. Calamitous accounts of “grass” and “walking” instead of skiing, such was the lack of snow.  Rest assured this year will not be the same. It hasn’t stopped snowing for three days now. Here in Bourg Saint Maurice (the gateway to the resorts of the Tarrantaise) cars are being buried, roads are being ploughed, trees are bending under the weight of fresh snow. And we’re only at 800 metres, so you can imagine what it is like further up the mountain.

Our Huski drivers are already delivering to early opening resorts of Tignes and Val d’isere and setting up routes across the Three Valleys. Their reports?

• Val d’Isere – white out, snowing.
• La Plagne – white out, snowing.
• Tignes – white out, snowing.
• Les Arcs – white out, snowing.
• Ste Foy – white out, snowing.

It’s like this all across the Alps.  Shops are selling out of snow chains. A metre of fresh sNow.  And with freezing temperatures and more snow forecast, the conditions going into Christmas and New Year are set to be some of the best in years.  Our Huskies are literally chomping at the bit for those lifts to open next weekend.

If the covering of snow in England has got you all hot under the collar about a last minute skiing holiday but last year has made you doubt the conditions, let me alleviate those fears with some photos.

SNOW IN THE THREE VALLEYS!

GUEST BLOG FROM ANDREA AT SNOW RETREAT

Snow Retreat are based in La Tania - part of the Three Valleys ski area.

Why ski the Three Valleys early season??

A mix of high altitude, tree lined and north facing pistes coupled with 2383 snow cannons covering over 50% of the ski area means that  whatever the weather the Three Valleys will have some of the best skiing in the alps.

In fact, the Three Valleys are so confident in their snow making ability that they actually guarantee that they will have the largest number of open or connected runs in Europe or they will refund any unused days during the validity of the ski pass. More details about the Three Valleys Guarantee can be found by clicking here. 

Looking for an early season deal?

Then Snow Retreat has some superb offers for you:

Early season special - 16th - 23rd Dec - £299 per person for 7 nights catered chalet

An early Christmas present from us -  23rd- 30th Dec - reduced price of £350 per person for 7 nights catered chalet in Chalet Pandora.

Exclusive for Altitude Holidays !! -

£100 reduction per person for New Year's week if booked before Nov 25th.

7 nights catered chalet was £750 per person, now £650.   

Enquire here with the offer code ALT25 to book.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE OFFERS AND SNOW RETREAT HERE.

GREAT FOOD IN MORZINE!

If this doesn't get you wanting to book your chalet holiday this year then nothing will! 

When it comes to creating incredible ski holidays, Alikats believe in a recipe with three key ingredients: fantastic skiing, beautiful chalet accommodation and extraordinarily good food!

Step into the world of their executive chef Kat and discover what makes the food at AliKats so special year after year.

You can see all the chalets that Alikats have here and they still have space at New Year in one of their chalets 

We are doing €150pp off for New Year's week in Ferme a Jules (ranked no. 1 on Trip Advisor for the whole of the Haute Savoie). Was €1150 Now €1000pp for the week - Click here to find out more.

TIGNES & VAL D’ISERE LIFT PASSES - THE 2017 ULTIMATE GUIDE

This is a guest blog by Becky from Ski Bonjour who run chalets in Tignes - check out their chalets by clicking here.

The Tignes & Val d’Isère lift passes are covered under the vast Espace Killy ski region which stretches from Tignes les Brévières right over to Le Fornet in Val d’Isère with an altitude range from 1550m to 3456m at the top of the Grande Motte cable car.  This ski region offers over 300km of piste with varied terrain which provides for both beginners and extreme skiers & boarders alike.

Your Val d’Isère and Tignes ski pass ‘Espace Killy’ will connect you to 154 slopes via 79 ski lifts which include chairlifts, gondolas, cable cars, funiculars, drag lifts and magic carpets.   Here’s some vital resort information:

Altitude:  1550m – 3456m
Number of slopes: 20

Easy: 68

Medium: 40

Difficult: 26

Total Number of runs:  154
Number of lifts:  79
Kms of piste:  300km
Hectares: 10,000
Glaciers: 2
Snow Cannons 900

The resorts of Tignes & Val d’Isère have created brand new apps so that you can check out the piste and ski lift openings, weather forecast and webcams at your finger tips.  Download them via your app store or visit www.valdisere.com or www.tignes.net.  You can also stay connected with free wifi hotspots thanks to the ski area and mountain restaurants – just look out for ‘Tignes neospot’ & ‘Val-free-wifi’ in your wifi settings.

Types of lift pass & deals

There is a ski pass that suits everyone for all ages, ability and pedestrians.  If you are planning to stay with Ski Bonjour, we can pre-order the Espace Killy passes for you so that they are ready for you to collect at the chalet so you don’t waste a moment on your first day of skiing.

Adult

The age considered to be adult is from age 14-64 inclusive.

Senior & Child

Children aged 5-13 and Seniors aged 65-74 are entitled to a discounted pass rate.

Tignes / Val d’Isère Days Adult (Age 14 to 64) Child / Senior (age 5-13 or 65-74)
Espace Killy (whole area)

6 Day Pass

Adult -  €278.00

Child / Senior - €222.50
 

Under 5s & Over 74s!

The biggest perk is when you’re up to 4 years old or 75+ as you will get a free pass!  Proof of age will be required and a photo may be requested.

Family Pass

A family pass offers a child rate to all family members for 6 or 7 days only.  There must be at least one/two adults and two/three (or more) children either school age or up to the age of 21 if they are students in full time education.  Everyone must be from the same family and proof of age and student identification may be required.

Family Pass Days 2 adults and 2 children (both age 5-13) 2 adults and 2 children (age 5-13 and 14-17) 2 adults and 2 children (both age 14-17) 2 adults and 3 children (all age 5-13)
Espace Killy family pass
6
€890.00
€890.00
€890.00
€1112.50
 

Pedestrians

There’s also pedestrian passes available to purchase in resort for those wishing to make the most of the mountains without skiing.

Tignes only lift pass

The lift pass ticket system seems to have changed this year in that you can only get the local area pass in resort with either a day or half day option.

Days Adult (Age 14 to 64) Child / Senior (age 5-13 or 65-74)
Tignes only
1/2 day
€38.50 /  €31.00
1 day
€47.00 / €38.00

What’s included?

Free swimming and ice skating!

The Espace Killy lift pass allows you free access to the swimming pool of the Aquacentre Le Lagon in Tignes or at the Centre Aquasportif in Val d’Isère.

It also includes free ice skating in Tignes or Val d’Isère including the loan of skates.

Terms & conditions apply and access is allowed for each valid day of your ski pass (6 day ski pass = 6 days access to the swimming pool and ice rink).  Your lift pass must be valid for 2 to 15 days.

Carré Neige

You can add an optional piste insurance to your Espace Killy ski pass which is known as Carré Neige (this is recommended in addition to your holiday insurance).   Information about the insurance and what Carré Neige covers can be found here.

Rate per day €2.80
8 to 15 days €22.40
Family rate per person per day* €2.50
Family rate per person from 8 to 15 days* €20.00

*Rate available if all the family members subscribe to the insurance Carré Neige.

Free Bus

There is also a free ski bus which runs throughout the day and into the evening.  There are two main bus routes in resort.  Firstly, in Val d’Isère there is a circular loop connecting La Daille through Val d’Isère to Le Fornet and back.  Secondly in Tignes there is a bus loop from Les Boisses, through Tignes le Lac to Val Claret and back and a Le Lavachet loop round Tignes le Lac.  It’s a great service giving a good connection between the villages at both resorts.  Guests staying in Tignes les Brévières can access this bus route via the pedestrian chairlift to Le Boisses.

Freestyle & Snowparks

The ski region benefits from two snow parks as well as three boardercross courses for beginners and experts.  The Val park is at the foot of the Marmots chair and has a great range of kickers and 25 rails with lines for different standards.  There is a popular half pipe and airbag located in Val Claret

LES ANGLES - OFF THE SLOPES [VIDEO]

The Pyrenees is rich in history and around Les Angles there is plenty of sites that are attractions in their own right which makes it a great ski resort for those who want a bit more than skiing or a mixed group with non skiers in the group.

Rich discussing with Greg from the ESF what you can do in the area off the slopes.

LES ANGLES - THE SKIING [VIDEO]

Les Angles as a ski resort is suitable for all levels of skiers.

Greg from the ESF explains why and how easy it is to progress in this resort from a beginner up to intermediate skier and what advanced skiers can expect.

FONT ROMEU - A SIT SKI EXPERIENCE [VIDEO]

Font Romeu may be small but they have loads of great ideas and one thing they do regularly is have an ‘open day’ for their sit skis. 

These are usually for those who are disabled and unable to ski but here in Font Romeu they also use them to help get others who may want to ski with families but can’t or don't want to ski - for example grand parents who want to ski with their familes.

 It is all staffed by incredibly enthusiastic volunteers and is great to see.  We were fortunate to have a go and it was superb!

In this video Susie explains a bit more to Rich about it.

FONT ROMEU - PERFECT FOR FAMILIES [VIDEO]

Font Romeu is ideal for families and beginners  – there very few steep slopes here so there is no danger of finding yourself on a difficult run with people (big or small) who can’t ski it.

The ESF offer a fantastic area for children from just 2 and a half years old – offering anything from a 2 hour lesson to full day care where they combine skiing with indoor activities and can even feed the little ones so Mum & Dad can head off and ski themselves.

As a progression from this there are two lifts that are free of charge as you progress.

Rich talks to Joelle from the ESF about the options.

THE SECRET NATURAL HOT BATHS - SHHHH DON’T TELL ANYONE!  [VIDEO]

This one is a bit of a secret and you won’t find any leaflets in the tourist office about it but if you are in the area and in any way like a little adventure ask a friendly local about the natural baths of Meren. 

It’s just outside Ax, you’ll need a car as it’s a ten minute drive and then a ten minute walk but it leads to some fabulous natural hot baths in the middle of the woods.

It’s a bit of an adventure but one that is well worth it - just make sure you don't tell anyone else about it!