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Clever ski companies in Europe are taking a leaf out of the book of cruise lines, and offering not one luxury hotel base for skiers, but a different Alpine experience every night. Accompanied by an experienced instructor/guide, guests ski, or occasionally drive and ski, to the next resort, stopping for a gourmet dining experience along the way.

These well-planned ski safaris combine some of the best resorts in Switzerland, Italy and France and the emphasis is as much on the local gastronomic experiences as the skiing itself.

Imagine spending a long weekend enjoying the powder and pistes of Villars-sur-Ollon in Switzerland, Courmayer in Italy’s Aosta Valley, and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France’s first winter Olympics site. Not only will you get to ski some of the best pistes in the Alps, participants are also assured of the best luxury hotels each night in this skiing mecca while getting to sample the typical gourmet specialities of Switzerland, Italy and France.

Quite how easy it is in practice to ski on a stomach full of handmade ravioli and rich chocolate mousse at lunchtime, I’m not sure. One thing however is for certain; guests will have to take it easy on the French wine and myrtle grappa if they are to reach their overnight stop safely!

On the positive side, alternating the rich fare which this region is famous for with some calorie-burning exercise has to be the only way to enjoy it all and not pile on the pounds. Ski safaris seem to have hit an excellent balance between exercise and indulgence and when planned around a series of luxury hotels, this idea is sure to take off.

by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels

One of the more bizarre travel stories of the past week was in the Daily Telegraph, which reported that Chechnya was to market itself as a ‘Swiss-style’ ski resort to attract Russian and foreign tourists.

As the Telegraph’s Moscow correspondent, Andrew Osborn, observed:

“If the plan succeeds, it will be one of the most radical makeovers in the history of global tourism. The southern Russian republic is better known for suicide bombings, kidnappings and two brutal wars than for après ski parties and designer ski wear.”

The President of the troubled region, Ramzan Kadyrov, said he thought the small mountainous republic had huge tourism potential. He and his advisers have earmarked a scenic area called the Argun Gorge for a large ski resort to include a luxury hotel, mid-priced chalets and a spa complex.

“We have a good climate and wonderful scenery,” said Mr Kadyrov. “We have places that, when equipped with the necessary infrastructure, will be in no way inferior to Swiss resorts.”

Russian tourism experts believe Chechnya does have potential, but say personal safety issues mean the bold plan is ahead of its time. That’s a view echoed by the Foreign Office in London. It advises against all travel to Chechnya, saying terrorism and kidnapping remain a serious threat.

by Andy Moreton