Italian Alps Ski Weeks March 2015

Courmayeur and Champoluc Italy

     Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while! That about sums up Skiman and this year’s European Alps extravaganza. He came upon a deal that exceeds his wildest expectations. We think you will agree. These beautiful ski weeks are very tasty morsels indeed! 

   This is a special Alps journey for us, being our 20th Anniversary Tour to Europe. We hoped to put together something spectacular to fit the occasion and we have done exactly that. With the help of Skiman’s good friend of 20 years, John Frasca, V.P. of  Ski.com, we have organized two ski weeks this March to the two biggest ski mountains in Italy. Mt. Blanc and Monte Rosa. We are offering both ski weeks for our least expensive price in over a decade. We are also offering a great post-trip: 8 night stay in Greece, with four nights in Athens and a 4 night Greek Island Cruise. We are offering YOU a chance to join us for what will surely be a exceptional time in these beautiful places.

WEEK ONE: COURMAYEUR (Mt. Blanc) ≈ March 7-15

WEEK TWO: CHAMPOLUC(Monte Rosa) ≈ March 14-22

Post trip 8 nights Athens and Greek Island Cruise ≈ March 22-30

Both ski weeks include:

Air from the East Coast

7 nights lodging in 3 or 4 star hotels

 Full breakfast and a 4 course dinner daily

All transfers private charter coaches

All this for $1199*

*Air taxes and fuel charges of @$595 not included and subject to change until time of final payment 

*Lift passes (@ $45 a day) not included

*If your domestic connection flights to your home city do not mesh with the return arrival into JFK at the end of the tour and necessitates a hotel night in JFK airport hotel, this is NOT included and is your responsibility. See air notes at end of page for details.

 

We highly recommend TRIP INSURANCE and we offer it.  Details HERE

Why Skiman LOVES SKIING THE ALPS!  Read it HERE

Check out a few pics from last year’s Italian Alps fest to get a taste of what YOU can experience skiing in Italy.  Italy 2014 photo gallery

 

 

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 First Ski Week: March 7-15: from $1,199

Visit our Courmayeur/ Mt. Blanc PHOTO GALLERY

Check out a few pics from last year’s Italian Alps fest to get a taste of what YOU can experience skiing in Italy..  ITALY 2014 PHOTO GALLERY

 

CLICK HERE for the logistics and pricing page for all the pricing and deposit data and other financials.

 

Courmayeur  sits at the base of the massive Mt. Blanc, the tallest mountain in Europe. Over the years, we have done many tours to this region. Going back is an easy decision. Courmie, in a word, is spectacular. The village showcases a quarter mile long pedestrian walkway lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. It is the most upscale ski village in Italy. The skiing is wonderful for all levels of skiing, with miles and miles of perfectly groomed slopes and thousands of acres of some truly fine backcountry skiing for the expert. New this year is a state-of-the-art tram lift that goes to the top of the famous Mirror d’ Glace run, a glacial run of 13 miles between Italy and France. Arriving at the top of this new lift (which rotates 360 degrees while moving) will put you close to the top of Mt. Blanc. Gone are the three old lifts that were needed to arrive.      

   You can backcountry ski (with our guided groups) or do a short bus ride to ski neighboring La Thuile, a fab resort connected to the French resort, La Rossiere. Non-skiing activities are plentiful. Have a scenic lunch at the top of the aforementioned new lift or visit ancient castles in the Aosta Valley. Shop until you drop. Courmie is supurb and the price is as well.

Courmayeur Hotels: We are offering a three star and a four star hotel for this ski week. Both are very nice properties, well-located and well-run.

Hotel Courmayeur (3 star) This hotel is a lovely property located right on the edge of the pedestrian walkway. It is family-run and offers excellent rooms with a full breakfast and dinner. The pedestrian walkway is right next door. $1,199 double occ., add $249 single upgrade.* **

Hotel Gran Baita (4 star) RECOMMENDED PROPERTY. It costs more than the three star hotel, but it is worth it. Alessandro is a friend of Skiman’s and owns numerous hotels in the region. We stayed at an Alessandro property 3 years ago for our La Thuile tour. It was one of the best hotels we have ever used. Alessandro’s hotels are spectacular and his staffs are first rate. The Hotel Gran Baita is Allesandro’s newest addition. Located just above the village in a villa-like setting, the Gran Baita is first class. From the indoor/outdoor swimming pool to the full-service spa, it is the best of the best. We encourage you to stay at the Gran Baita. 

Knowing Morningstar skiers as we do, we anticipate this is where the majority of the group will stay. $1,499 double occupancy, add $479 for single occupancy.* **
*Notes single occupancy: If you desire a same-sex room mate, let us know. We will attempt to find a roommate for you and save you the single occupancy upgrade,  but we do not guarantee it.
**The single occupancy upgrade for the Gran Baita is much higher than the single occupancy upgrade at the Hotel Courmayeur. The Gran Baita does not have any small rooms for single persons. All rooms are large double rooms, resulting in the higher cost. If you want single occupancy and budget is a concern, then the Hotel Courmayeur is the more affordable option.

FOR THE EXPERTS: BACKCOUNTRY SKIING IN COURMIE and CHAMPOLUC SKI WEEKS

The off-trail, backcountry skiing in the European Alps is as good as it gets. You can ski just about anywhere, but to do so safely requires the services of an Alpine Guide. If you are an expert, you HAVE TO DO THIS with Skiman! It is the primary reason Skiman cannot get enough of European skiing. We will offer daily backcountry skiing. We will offer heli ski days as well! We have skied with guides in Europe for the past 20 years and the experience has redefined skiing for Skiman. There is no where in America that offers lift-serviced backcountry like what  the Alps serves up, and the guides share the best places while keeping you safe. If you are an expert skier, skiing with us in the backcountry of Italy will not disappoint.

Doing both ski weeks: We have many of our skier friends that want to save  money and stay for both ski weeks. If you have the resources and the time, this is a great idea. You have to pay to fly over to Europe and back, so the longer you stay, the more value you are getting out of your ticket. You save money on the second ski week. Take $79 off the second ski week cost, since there is no air component needed. You also save a bundle by not having to pay the air taxes for that second week. Contact us for the details.

CLICK HERE for the logistics and pricing page for all the pricing and deposit data and other financials.

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Second Ski Week March 14-22:

Champoluc on Monte Rosa , $1,199

Visit our Monte Rosa / Champoluc PHOTO GALLERY gallery 

Check out a few pics from last year’s Italian Alps fest to get a taste of what YOU can experience skiing in Italy..  ITALY 2014 PHOTO GALLERY

Click for details:  8 night Greek Island Cruise/ Athens visit after the second ski week.

The second-largest ski mountain in Italy is Monte Rosa.  The skiing is superb and the ski villages are quaint and welcoming. We have done ski weeks to Gressoney and Alagna before and loved the skiing on Monte Rosa. The snow quality is almost always good and the surrounding scenery is spectacular, replete with huge glaciers.  We are now offering  a week’s stay in the charming village of Champoluc. From this beautiful village, we will be able to access the entire Monte Rosa ski complex by lift.  We have found a family-owned and run rustic three star hotel in the middle of Champoluc and are excited to go. Imagine yourself staying in a quaint Italian ski village with everything within walking distance at the bargain price of the decade!

   While skiing on a glacier last March near the Matterhorn, Skiman was across from Champoluc and could see the village and the massive terrain of Monte Rosa. That vision cemented his desire to go there for a ski week. The dream was born and he cannot wait to make it happen. 

$1,199 double occupancy, add $249 for single occupancy.*

*Notes single occupancy: If you desire a same-sex roommate, let us know. We will attempt to find a mate for you and save you the single occupancy upgrade but do not guarantee success in the endeavor. 

CLICK HERE for pricing, deposits, cancellation, and financials page.

 

 

Air: IT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

For those doing the ski week(s) without the Greece post-trip, we are flying with Emerites Air:  New planes, great service, AND TWO FREE BAGS, which saves money for those taking skis.  It is the best international air deal we have gotten in over a decade. PLEASE NOTE THIS: The Emerite Air flights return into JFK late on the return, not getting in to JFK until 7pm. Unless you are able to get a flight back to your home city that does not leave JFK until very late, you will probably have to spend the night at a JFK airport area hotel and fly back to your home gateway city the following day. If you require this added hotel night, this cost is your responsibility and is not included in our tour price.

For those doing the ski week(s) and the Greece post-trip,  we are flying with Alitalia Airlines. Emerites could not get us to/from Greece. Alitalia could for a great price. The only down side is Alitalia allows only one bag, so there will be a fee for skis. It is what it is. PLEASE NOTE THIS: The Emerite Air flights return into JFK late on the return, not getting in to JFK until 7pm. Unless you are able to get a flight back to your home city that does not leave JFK until very late, you will probably have to spend the night at a JFK airport area hotel and fly back to your home gateway city the following day.  If you require this added hotel night, this cost is your responsibility and is not included in our tour price. 

Air has become problematic these past few years. It is the biggest challenge we face putting affordable trips together. This year, Skiman and Frasca from Ski.com pulled off an amazing deal, and this is the primary reason the 2015 Europann ski weeks are such a fabulous price. To get our group air deal, we have to jump through a few hoops.  All of our Emerites and Alitalia flights ORIGINATE in New York’s JFK airport. Everyone needs to get to JFK to get these flights. 

Getting to/from JFK: Options:

A. We can arrange connecting flights for you. It would be just like the past years, where we booked your air from your gateway city for you. You just have to pay the added cost for the flights.  

B. You can arrange your own air to/from JFK.

C. You can use your miles to get to/from JFK.  

Bottom line: Think of this trip like a cruise. You have to get yourself to the port of departure. We can help with that or you can do it on your own.  We are doing it this way  to save  everyone  hundreds of dollars in air costs. We got a crazy good price on our air with Emerites and Alitalia and this is the way it has to work to take advantage of the bargain tickets. 

DON’T WANT TO FLY THRU JFK?  If for whatever reason you do not want to fly through JFK and want us to book a ticket with another airline, we are happy to do so. We simply will mesh your arrival and departure times with our group Emerites and Alitalia air times. We are happy to do this for you from ANY city, but be advised: It will cost more than the air we have obtained with our special group price. 

Can I use miles and get my own air? Yes you can. But keep in mind that the savings will not be as much as you might think. The cost of the packages without our air component is reduced by $79. Depending on your miles program, you might not have to pay the air taxes and fuel surchages of @$600, but then again you might. It is a complicated equation that only you can decide upon. 

Can you upgrade to Business Class? We can book business class for you for an additional cost, but you cannot use miles from any airline to upgrade due to the special contracted deal we have brokered with our airlines. Ask us for a quote.

Air taxes and fuel surcharges: ALL airlines are now charging fuel surcharges and air taxes. These are substantial and subject to change up to the time of final payment. We do not include these in our base price because we do not know exactly what they will be at the time of final payment in January.  We guesstimate that these charges will be @$600 per person. You must factor this cost in when doing the math on your tour. 

Doing both ski weeks: We have many of our skier friends that want to save a lot of money and stay for both ski weeks. If you have the resources and the time, this is a great idea. You have to pay to fly over to Europe and back, so the longer you stay there, the more value you are getting out of your ticket. And you save money on the second ski week. You take $79 off the second ski week since there is no air component needed, and you also save a bundle by not having to pay the air taxes for the second ski week.

What you must do now  to get in on this amazing journey

WE HAVE SPACE FOR ONLY 40 FOR EACH WEEK, RESERVATIONS  FIRST-DEPOSITED, FIRST-SERVED. You must deposit by November 28, BUT it is recommended you deposit ASAP. REMEMBER that our space if very limited and if you wait it could be too late. We need to get your U.S. gateway city air locked in  asap as well. We want to reserve the air for you so we can hold it  and lock in the price. We can hold the air for you with no deposit.

So: 1- Decide how many segments you are doing. Ski week only? Both ski weeks? Greece as well?

2- Let us get your air set up.

 Trip insurance? Get it!  Go HERE for details.

 CLICK HERE  for the logistics and pricing page for all the pricing and deposit data and other financials.

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