La Tania: A Top Option for Family Ski Holidays

There are a number of ski resorts in "Les Trois Vallées" ski area, and each has its own unique features. However, one of the best for families is La Tania, and it may be just what you are looking for if you are taking the kids along with you to the ski chalets. La Tania is one of the smaller, quaint resorts, and everything about it is geared up to making your holiday the perfect family ski break. Here are some of the main reasons why families should consider it for their getaway this year.

Skiing for All Abilities

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a pro skier, then you will have plenty to keep you busy when you stay here in one of the ski chalets. La Tania has a great selection of both on-piste and off-piste skiing options for the more advanced, so you won't have difficulty finding something to keep you challenged. However, you will also find a number of gentler options for anyone in your group who does not have as much experience, especially younger members of the party.

Peaceful Atmosphere

The resort benefits from a very peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for families looking for a somewhat quieter holiday. Many of the runs are lined with trees, giving it a sense of privacy that some of the other ski resorts lack. All in all it has a wonderful ambience both day and night, and you won't have to worry about being disturbed by too much noise and partying!

Top Activities

Even though the skiing is top notch, there are still plenty of other activities on offer to keep the kids happy if they want to try something different. Some of the most popular ones include snow shoeing, snow mobiles, dog sledding and even paragliding for the older members of the family. What the children will be able to do will depend on their age and abilities, but there is certainly plenty of choice on hand.

Easy Access to Other Resorts

While you pretty much have everything that you need within easy reach of your ski chalets, La Tania is part of the Les Trois Vallées ski area, meaning you will have excellent access to all of the other resorts as well. If you fancy a change of scenery, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

If you want to book a ski holiday this year that is family-friendly, has fantastic slopes and an outstanding selection of ski chalets, La Tania should be first on your list.

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How To Enjoy The Winter Season In Another Country

In comparison to summer, the winter season is not that appealing to some people. One primary reason could be the limited number of places to visit and outdoor activities to do especially when huge amount of snowfall happens. Sounds discouraging right? But the truth of the matter is there are a lot ways you can enjoy it even when you are in another country.

If you are with your children or younger relatives, you can try interesting, at the same time, educational activities with them any time of the day. While the sun is up, you can all engage to animal tracking. Get into the snow and find animal tracks. Take pictures of them. When you get home play a guessing game using your animal track photos. At night, take the young ones with you around a campfire and lead them into stargazing. If you can, name the stars you will spot in the winter season sky.

Should you be spending this time of the year with your friends in another country, there are thrilling activities in the outdoors that you can try. Sledding, skiing, skating and trekking are just a few of these al fresco actions which you can do in snow-covered hills and parks and frozen ponds of your choice. Just be sure that you wear the right gears before you slither in the snow. In fact, some locals and tourists take advantage of this season to earn extra money while enjoying themselves in the cool outdoor weather. Do you have skiing or skating skills to share and the patience to teach? If yes, you can find yourself a winter job in ski resorts. English-speaking students who happen to be vacationing in non-English speaking countries, gain extra money by simply having conversation in their mother tongue with a few interested locals.

Perhaps, you cannot stand the cold weather outside. There are other things which you can do to kill the boredom you feel. Search the web for the whereabouts of libraries and museums in the country where you are staying. As not much people stay off the snow-covered streets, this may be a great time for you to learn the country's culture. Be knowledgeable of its history by reading relevant books in the library. If you find yourself a people reason, you can ask a few natives you bump into to share anything about their traditions or help you learn basic expressions in their language. Are they not great ways to gain a new friend too?

Lastly, you can spend the winter season by learning new arts and crafts and seasonal dishes. Scout for short art classes which you can attend while vacationing in the country of your choice. Have you tasted local dishes which you wish to cook on your own when you get back to your country? Enroll in a cooking class or ask a local friend to invite you in her house and teach you how to cook one or a couple of them.

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Heading to Chamonix for a Ski Holiday

If you're ready for your winter holiday and want the chance to get away somewhere that offers a great variety of winter sport but doesn't feel like you are going an entire world away, then take the trip via Geneva to Chamonix. In Chamonix you have an excellent chance to get away to a place where active winter holidays are a part of the history of the place, at least since the rise of tourism in the 19th century.

In fact, if you are a winter sports enthusiast and want to spend much of your time outdoors, then there are few better choices than going from Geneva to Chamonix, [which is the quickest way to get to this valley in the south-eastern part of France]. Chamonix offers some of the highest mountains west of Russia and, in 1924, the first Winter Olympics were held there. Today, you can breeze into the town and take one of the world's highest lifts to the top of the mountains and ski or snowboard your way back down. Of, if you are very adventurous you can try heli-skiing.

Skiing There is no denying that one of the main reasons that people go from Geneva to Chamonix is for the skiing. It has three extended ski areas that offer skiers 108 kilometres of pistes over 69 individual pistes with 10 black, 20 red, 28 blue and 8 green for your skiing pleasure. With the variety of resorts in the area, you have a great choice of places to stay while you spend your days on the slopes. If you are just learning to ski, you can take group or private lessons, or, if you are one of the brave ones who are always looking for something a bit more exciting read on...

Hel-iskiing If you are an old hand at skiing the normal pistes and have even come from Geneva to Chamonix to do the non-regulated areas that are beyond the ski slopes (going off-piste without expert knowledge is not recommended), then you can always take advantage of the opportunity to try out heli-skiing while you are in Chamonix.

When you book your heli-skiing, a guide will go with you and direct you as you ascend over the peaks in a helicopter. Once you are at the appropriate place, you leap from the helicopter and ski or snowboard back down the stunning, snow-covered slopes. Heli-skiing is not for the faint of heart, and there are inherent risks that come with jumping out of any helicopter, naturally! But the thrill of getting to ski down the powder-soft, virgin snow offers an allure that makes Chamonix one of the best places in south eastern France to do so.

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Tyrol, Austria - Tourist Information and Holidays

Tyrol is placed in the South West side of Austria, being easily accessible for tourists from all over Europe. As Austria invested massively in tourism, you can reach this location by plane, with your personal car, or even by train. With so many resorts and winter locations, there is no wonder that tens of thousands of tourists rush to Tyrol immediately after the first snow.

Another important advantage of this region is the length of the winter season. Unlike other regions that benefit of snow for a few months a year, the winter season lasts for six months or even more in Tyrol.

The climate is an alpine one, being defended against strong winds and attractive for tourists. During the winter season, the average temperature is situated between -4 and -23 degrees Celsius, and during the summer, the temperatures barely reach 15 degrees Celsius.

The main attractions in Tyrol are the Dekanatspfarrkirche Church, which was built between 1723 and 1728, the Central Market in St. Johann, which displays the interesting architecture of the passed centuries, and Cafe Rainer, which offers a pleasant atmosphere for almost a century now. This makes Tyrol a great destination not only for the fans of winter sports, but also for history passionate that want to visit interesting objectives.

However, the winter sports remain the main attraction in Tyrol, as this area offers numerous possibilities to spend free time. During the summer, tourists could hike around the area, and the summer sports and the interior sports can also be practiced in those resorts.

The closest airport is Salzburg, situated at 60 kilometers from Tyrol. This province is considered as the best when it comes to skiing in Austria, and this fame is consolidated by the fact that Innsbruck hosted the Winter Olympics twice since now.

Located in the middle of Europe, Tyrol has an interesting history, as it was claimed and disputed many times by French, German and Bavarian kings. For this reason, the area has many tourists' objectives, which are also interesting for tourists. If you are interested about those objectives, it is a good idea to find accommodation in Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, as the majorities of objectives, as well as the skiing facilities are easily accessible from here. Don't worry about guidance, as the locals are friendly and supportive with the tourists, being ready to help them with any question. It is a good idea to come here for at least two weeks, as you won't be disappointed about the large number of options offered by this Austrian destination.

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What to Expect From a Ski Holiday in La Tania

So you've arrived at your chalet. La Tania and all its delights await you. What can you expect when you are settled in and you are ready to explore the resort itself?

Learning how to ski

This area is ideal for all manner of skiers. If you are going to strap your skis on for the first time you will be glad to know there are several ski schools that can teach you how to ski properly. They have classes for both adults and children, and they can also provide private lessons if you prefer one-on-one attention.

Take part in cross country skiing

The resort also promises a full 26km of challenging and spectacular cross country tracks to follow if you prefer this activity to regular skiing. You can go across country all the way to Courchevel if you wish, before heading back to your chalet. La Tania shuttle buses are waiting to give you a lift if you cannot make it there and back!

A purpose built resort

There are apartments in the main part of the resort, but many will choose to stay in a chalet. La Tania boasts a pleasant green forest to house the chalets, yet you are still close to the slopes when you are ready to go skiing. Everything is on your doorstep.

Explore the snowpark

This is another feature that the resort has installed for the enjoyment of families. You can also explore the Red Indian Park together and stay safe in the Evolution Zones. These zones are put together to ensure novice skiers and children of all ages can be safe and enjoy themselves at all times - the perfect introduction to a skiing holiday.

Is it noisy at night?

If you are planning a skiing holiday with your family you want to know you can return to peace and quiet in your chalet. La Tania can offer just this, since it is not the noisiest destination you could choose. Other areas in the Three Valleys region, such as Meribel, offer far more in the way of entertainment at night. This means you can enjoy a day on the slopes with your children and get back to your chalet to settle them down for a good night's sleep without any disturbance at night.

Are there other things to do except skiing?

Even the most hardened of skiers will want some time off from the slopes. There are some shops in town and plenty of walks to go on in the local area. There are also eight restaurants in total, offering a chance to sample some local dishes. Some have good views of the slopes so you can watch the world go by while you eat and relax.

In short, La Tania is an excellent choice for a family skiing holiday. But it is also ideal for adult skiers who want something a little more demanding and don't like the noisy entertainment at nights.

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School Ski Trips With Doorstep Glacier Skiing - A Reality?

Based in Folgarida, which has an excellent snow record due to its high glacier altitude of 1600 feet, doorstep hotels directly overlook the ski slope. The hotels are so close that pupils can walk out of the back door and onto the snow piste within thirty seconds. This fantastic geographical location has several excellent benefits, but most notably for safeguarding. No more delays in travel and queues at the lift.

The local ski school even pick up the pupils directly from the hotels' reception, delivering them back for a hot lunch later that day. Over the week this convenience of doorstep skiing is not only one less thing for the teachers to worry about, but it also adds considerably more time on the snow. This gives superior value for money for those pupils on school ski trips.

Folgarida 1300, Folgarida 1400 and Marilleva make up this skiing resort. With their 26 modern ski lifts, 62 kilometres of groomed pistes over 32 runs, and night skiing illumination, this ski area is a true paradise for school ski trips with both skiers and snowboarders. It is also possible to extend the ski pass to 180km at a supplement. The ski lift, ski school and other amenities are all centred around a town square, making the resort a natural choice for discerning schools. The resorts are some of the best in Europe for schools to visit. Snow sure pistes will challenge any school group and when the skiing stops there is extensive apres-ski on the doorstep.

When coupled with the resort, the quality of hotel is all important. The ideal hotel will be close to the slopes, have a large enough room to host discos and games sessions and yet be close enough to any central areas where apres-ski activities are hosted.

All too often 'doorstep skiing' hotels are publicised by unscrupulous tour operators as being literally on the slopes, and schools are bitterly disappointed when it's obvious that these descriptions do not match their given promises. It's imperitive that with today's innovative technology such as Google Earth that schools check these promises from often large, multi-staffed companies desperate to book up their quotas of beds irrespective of suitability for the schools concerned.

True doorstep skiing hotels can offer unlimited benefits to the informed school; quicker access to slopes, less queues and no transport issues. With Folgarida's unique selection of doorstep skiing hotels the resort offers outstanding opportunities, but only with a reputable tour operator that is small enough to offer you the bespoke package you deserve.

School Ski Trip During Termtime: 'Mission Impossible'?   Where the World's Best Racers Go to Ski   Choosing La Tania for Your Next Ski Holiday   The Cost Of A Winter Holiday   The Cost Of A Winter Holiday