Latest booking statistics released by easyJet show that skiers are breaking the mould of the traditional Saturday  to Saturday ski holidays and are travelling throughout the week, attracted by the lower fares on mid-week flights.

In addition, accommodation sales through the easyJet ski portal show that skiers are looking for convenience and a  short airport-resort transfer time, with figures showing the following top ten destinations for easyJet skiers  this season:

1. Chamonix, France
2. Avoriaz, France
3. Meribel, France
4. Les Arcs 1800, France
5. Pas de la Casa, Andorra
6. Val d’Isere, France
7. Kitzbuhel, Austria
8. Innsbruck, Austria
9. Soll, Austria
10. Arinsal, Andorra

easyJet caught the mood of independent British skiers with the launch of their new ski accommodation booking  portal at the start of the 2010 ski season. The portal offers flexible accommodation and ski pack bookings and has  already allowed thousands of skiers to find accommodation to match the best value easyJet flights.

Charles Martin, easyJet’s Partnership Manager commented:

“France attracts over 50% of all British skiers, so its no surprise to see French resorts taking the top slots.  Chamonix and Avoriaz are real favorites with British skiers, thanks to the ease of access from Geneva with  transfer times of just over and hour, coupled with the wide availability of easyJet flights from across 13 UK  airports.”

Whilst the popular Austrian resorts of Kitzbühel and Söll are within easy reach of Innsbruck, between 30-90mins  transfer time, which is a relatively new route for the airline and is proving to be a success with independent  skiers.

The inclusion of the Andorran resorts of Pas de la Casa and Arinsal in the top ten is somewhat of a surprise.
Although further from the arrival airports, with transfer times from Barcelona of 3 hours, Andorra offers Brits  great value, with its tax-free resorts and lively après ski, while investment in lifts in recent years has brought  them up on a par with some of the top French resorts.”

With excellent snow conditions in European ski resorts this year, easyJet believes bookings will continue  throughout Easter as skiers take advantage of its unbeatable range of ski flights from 13 UK airports to 9  European ski airports, across 6 countries.

A quick search today on http://ski.easyjet.com will find you:

• 3 nights self catering in the 4 star Residence le Crets, Meribel Valley, France for £107pp, based on 4 sharing  (23rd March 3 nights) – Flights from Gatwick to Geneva from £51.98pp

• 3 nights self catering in the 3 star La Riviere, Chamonix, France for £87pp, based on 2 sharing (13th April 3  nights) – Flights from Gatwick to Geneva from £67.98pp

• 3 nights half-board in the 4 star Hotel Alpin Park, Innsbruck, Austria for £149pp, based on 2 sharing (23rd  March 3 nights) – Flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck from £48.98pp

Golfers can pay just one pound per hole to enjoy two rounds with an overnight stay thrown in for free thanks to Your Golf Travel.com

Once again Europe’s largest golf travel company is offering two rounds of golf and an overnight stay for just £36– the perfect deal to tempt golfers on to the fairways in winter months.

The unbelievable promotion gives golfers 36 holes for just one pound a hole and is available at Hertfordshire venues Manor of Groves and Shendish Manor, and Macdonald Hill Valley, in Shropshire.

The offer is valid until the end of March but availability is limited so anyone looking to grab a bargain should call 0800 043 6644 or visit www.yourgolftravel.com for more information.

Book to stay at Pine Cliffs Residence before 15 January 2010 for a stay between 15 May and 15 October 2010 and you will save 20% off the cost of your accommodation. To qualify for this offer you just need to pay 50% before 15 January 2010, and name changes are not allowed once the deposit has been paid.

All Pine Cliffs Residence apartments are fully air-conditioned/heated and feature a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, and dryer. Layouts range from two to three bedrooms and offer assorted views over the resort of the golf course, the superb garden areas or the surrounding mountains.

At the resort guests can escape from it all and unwind with a range of massages and body treatments from the à la carte menu at the Health Club, improve their swing on the landscaped driving range, take a round on the cliff-top nine-hole golf course, play a match on the newly-refurbished tennis courts, take a dip in one of five swimming pools or simply stroll along the beach, accessible by a discreet lift set back in the cliffs, which is unique to the resort. Pine Cliffs offers a wide variety of bars and restaurants to choose from and the resort’s restaurants all have special children’s tableware as well as healthier menu options. In three of the restaurants, the O’Grill, Corda Café and Jardim Colonial, a special dinner buffet is prepared for kids every evening.

Pine Cliffs Resort is just 25 minutes from Faro airport and flights are available with Aer Lingus from £40 return www.aerlingus.com flying from London Gatwick.

Several of Slovenia’s ski resorts have undergone developments for the 2009/2010 season, offering skiers and snowboarders new facilities and greater access to the country’s slopes.

The new ski piste linking Slovenia’s Kanin ski resort with the Italian resort of Sella Nevea will have its official opening on December 23rd 2009. This will create the first international ski area in the region, with a new aerial lift and ski run providing a wider choice of slopes for winter sports enthusiasts. A single lift pass will give skiers and snowboarders access to the pistes on both the Slovenian and Italian sides of the border. Daily lift passes for Kanin-Sella Nevea area start from €24 per adult and €15 per child.

December 23rd 2009 will also see the opening of a new gondola lift at Maribor Pohorje, Slovenia’s largest ski area, situated in the northeast of the country. The new lift will run from the foot to the summit of the Pohorje Mountain in six minutes, with a capacity of 1,000 people per hour. This is double the capacity of the previous lift.

One of Slovenia’s most famous resorts, Kranjska Gora, has recently opened a children’s outdoor play area. A new magic carpet lift has been installed to transport young skiers safely. The area is open to all children and is free of charge.

For skiers and snowboarders looking for an adrenalin thrill a new snow park has been created at the Cerkno Resort in northwest Slovenia. The Cerkno Snow Park is aimed at snowboarders and acrobatic skiers and snowboarding and freestyle skiing instructors will available to teach beginners.

Slovenia has over 280 kilometres of ski runs offering downhill skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and cross-country skiing. Also available in selected ski resorts are snowmobile excursions, dogsled rides and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

At present the Slovenian mountains are enjoying regular snowfall with more predicted throughout the season.

We have teamed up in 2010 with a great Sports Association which promotes the love of sailing and the sea, combining sport with fun and a respect for nature and all which is beautiful.

Affiliated with the International Association Assonautica. A great Venetian experience.

Families wishing for a white Christmas can still enjoy a winter wonderland holiday with The Adventure Company.

February half term is a great time for a snow trip, with cross-country skiing, dog sledding and snowshoeing.

Bulgaria, Slovakia and Andorra are all alpine destinations with thick blankets of snow guaranteed – making them perfect winter playgrounds.

The following trips still have availability for February 2010 but, as with all school holidays, families are advised to book early for the best deals on flights.

Bulgarian Winter Experience, February 13 – 20
An action packed centre-based week surrounded by Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains. Staying in the village of Chepelare, which boasts the longest ski run in the country, holidaymakers will have the opportunity to test it out with some downhill and cross-country skiing. A snowshoeing expedition through the forest in search of deer, foxes and wild boar is just one of the highlights of the trip.

The trip costs from £869 for adults and from £789 for children. These prices include flights, accommodation, transport, activities on the itinerary and some meals (seven breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners).

For full trip details visit http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/trip-details.aspx?productid=77149

Teenage Slovakian Snow Adventure, February 14 – 21
Slovakia is one of Europe’s most mountainous countries and the Tatras Mountains provide the ideal location for a centre based activity week. Learning how to dog sled and handling a team of between two and six dogs is an exciting part of the trip. Travellers will learn how to mush their team and navigate the snow-covered tracks. Also included in the itinerary are skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, swimming in thermal pools and dinner with a Slovak family.

The trip costs £899 per person. These prices include flights, accommodations, transport, activities on the itinerary and some meals (seven breakfasts and two lunches).

For full trip details visit http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/trip-details.aspx?productid=48910

Winter Activity Week, Andorra, February 14 – 21
Igloos are a vital component of mountain survival and travellers will be taught how to make their own during this trip. There will be the opportunity to speed through the snow-covered forest on both snowmobile and dog sled, before trying out the oldest form of mountain transport – snowshoe.

The trip costs from £1,069 for both adults and children. The price includes flights, accommodation, transport, activities on the itinerary and some meals (seven breakfasts and six dinners).

For full trip details visit http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/trip-details.aspx?productid=33013

For more information about all The Adventure Company’s trips and for reservations visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk or call 0845 609 0890.

9th – 12th September 2010
The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is one of the world’s premier three-star three-day events.  Cross Country is on two days and set in the magnificent grounds of Blenheim Palace. The horse trials offer a fabulous opportunity to see some of the world’s finest riders and their horses compete against one another in a truly spectacular venue.

http://www.blenheim-horse.co.uk

Taking place over May bank holiday weekend, Blenheim Palace’s hugely popular jousting tournament returns as gallant Knights and their mighty steeds battle for glory.

The weekend will be packed with action and entertainment including falconry displays and knights charging in the traditional tilt and battling on foot with the mighty mace.

http://www.blenheimpalace.com

As skiers become more adventurous, the demand for courses offering the chance to improve off-piste skills rises. Every week of this winter season, adventure holiday specialist Ski Freshtracks (www.skifreshtracks.co.uk) offers off piste ski courses in the French resort of Chamonix.

Skiers with little experience of skiing off piste can join an ‘Aspirers Powder Practice’ week, while those with more off piste experience under their feet can opt for one of the ‘Expert Powder Experience’ weeks.

All courses are graded by standard to ensure skiers are always in small groups of the same ability and groups are lead by fully qualified mountain guides (UIAGM) to find the best of the off piste in the area.

“The mountains guides we work with have been involved with Ski Freshtracks holidays for many years”, says Caroline Boileau, General Manager of Ski Freshtracks. “They know what our holiday makers want from their off piste week and we choose guides for their knowledge and expertise. Many of our skiers return year after year to ski with their favourite guide knowing that they will be in a small group of like-minded skiers.”

Course only price £390 including a mountain guide, use of a mini bus for private transfers around the Mont Blanc valley, and a Ski Club leader on every holiday. Courses with accommodation also included, from £995.

For those looking for a Christmas get away there are still places on the ‘Christmas Cracker’ in Chamonix. For intermediate to advanced off piste skiers the course runs from 19-26 December. Course only cost – £390.

Visit www.skifreshtracks.co.uk for full details and for bookings call 0845 45 807 84

A new target has become a smash hit for golfers using the practice range at Dewstow Golf Club.

The latest addition gives members and visitors a chance to bash a banger – and prove that Tiger Woods is not the only golfer who can wreck a car.

The idea of using a car for target practice has already been used successfully at a golf range in the United States and Steve Truman, the golf pro at Dewstow thought he would put an old Fiesta to use on the golf range near Caerwent.

“It has already proved to be a popular target,” he said. “For some reason people seem to enjoy demolition so we are giving them the chance to flatten the Fiesta.

“With the layout of the range you can also emulate Tiger by driving into a tree.”

The car will be moved to different areas and distances on the range and the scrap heap challenge will continue until it is destroyed.

So if you fancy making a real mark on your next practice session this is your chance.

For more information and images please contact

John Harris

Dewstow Golf Club

Caerwent

Monmouthshire

NP26 5AH

info@dewstow.co.uk

www.dewstow.co.uk