Half-term is time to slope away

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10 April 2012

For parents wondering how to entertain the children over the half-term holiday, it's not too late to plan a last-minute trip to the slopes.

The school break looms next week and traditionally is the busiest time of the year in both the Alps and North America, but there is still some availability if you shop around - although less than in recent years.

After the problems last season, caused by the economic downturn and the dramatic fall in the value of sterling against the euro, tour operators slashed capacity for ski holidays by more than 30 per cent. One consequence is a shortage of high season bargains.

Families who've travelled in the past over half-term know that not only must they contend with high package prices but also with lift queues and overcrowded pistes in big name resorts.

The plus side is that current conditions in the French Alps are excellent and almost everywhere else has snow cover that is satisfactory to good.

Conditions in the Austrian Tyrol have improved and much of Switzerland has benefited from a fresh snowfall in recent days.

Andorra, which has suffered from a series of poor seasons, is skiing well at present.

The week ahead promises to be bitterly cold and snowy with a welcome top-up of up to 30cm - which is quite an incentive to head for the slopes.

A spot-check of tour operators this week by specialist ski travel agent Ski Solutions (www.skisolutions.com, 020 7471 7747) shows that most specialist chalet operators are now full, while not all those that do have beds have the flights to go with them.

Its pick of what is left includes the four-star Holiday Club Resort in the surprisingly good Åre in Sweden. £989pp (adult or child) half board in a twin room, including return Heathrow-Östersund (60-minute transfer) flights. Departs 14 February.

Crystal Ski (www.crystalski.co.uk, 0871 231 2256) has double rooms in the Rabbit Ears Motel in Steamboat, Colorado (Steamboat ski area is a free bus ride away) for £999pp (adult or child) including return Heathrow- Denver scheduled fights and transfers. Departs 23 February.

Erna Low (www.ernalow.co.uk, 0845 863 0525) still has a one-bedroom apartment in Résidence Les Adrets in Isola 2000, France.

It sleeps a maximum of four at £1,194 for the apartment (£299pp), including return Eurotunnel crossings for one vehicle. Departs 13 February.

Esprit (www.espritski.com, 01252 618 300,) has Chalet Aravis in Les Arcs with swimming pool and sauna for £1,199 per adult, £719.40 per child aged two-four years, £1,019.15 per child aged five-10 years. Half board in two twin rooms with free ski hosting three days a week and one night free baby listening. The price includes return Stansted-Geneva flights, departing 14 February.

Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk, 020 8780 4447) has a deluxe family room (sleeps up to four) at the four-star Diana Parc Spa Hotel in Arinsal, Andorra, from £973.63pp (£3,894.50 for a family of four) including flights from Gatwick to Toulouse and transfers. The hotel has a spa, games rooms, bowling and a fitness room. Departs 14 February.

Inntravel (www.inntravel.co.uk, 01653 617000) has rooms at the four-star Inntalerhof hotel in Mösern, Austria, which is best for cross-country skiers but has downhill skiing as well.

The cost of £1,118 per adult, £515 per child sharing a room (up to two can share) with two adults includes full board, return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers. Departs 13 February.

Klosters Chalets (www.klosters-ski-chalets.com, 0041 793 572 038) has ultra-luxurious Chalet Maldeghem with a professional chef, open bar, chauffeur, private gym and hot tub. The price has been reduced by 15 per cent to £1,693pp half-board based on taking the whole chalet for 10 (children have their own rooms), not including travel. From 14 February.

Le Ski (www.leski.com, 01484 548996) has one ensuite bedroom available at Chalet Michele in La Tania, at £1,299pp including Gatwick-Chambéry flights and transfers.

Under four-year-olds get 20 per cent off, five-12-year-olds 15 per cent off. Departs 14 February.

Ski Beat (www.skibeat.co.uk, 01243 780 405) has a few rooms available in La Plagne but it has sold out of flights.

All remaining half-term rooms have been reduced by £150pp. Chalet Laponia has views across the valley, sleeps up to nine, costs £719pp half board (children pay £50 less and have their own rooms). From 13 February.

Ski Independence (www.ski-i.com, 0131 243 8097) has availability in privately owned apartments in Courchevel 1850. The cost of £457pp based on two sharing a studio can be reduced to £283pp when four share and includes Dover-Calais ferry crossings. Departs 13 February.

Ski Verbier (www.skiverbier.com, 020 7401 1101) has a few rooms available in its boutique hotels Les Rois Mages and the Mont Gelé in Verbier.

Hotel Les Rois Mages has reduced half term prices from £2,250pp to £2,050pp B&B for a twin or double room (adults or children). The price includes afternoon tea and canapés, and complimentary children's supper, but no travel. From 14 February.

Supertravel (www.supertravel.co.uk, 020 7962 1369) has one room available (sleeps three maximum) in Chalet Seeberger, St Anton with BOSE Sound Dock reduced from £1,461pp to £1,200pp, not including flights. From 14 February.

Prices quoted are for seven nights. Felice Hardy is co-editor of specialist ski website www.welove2ski.com

Half-term is time to slope away

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