Chamonix is rightly famous for its skiing but where to stay - as usual there is a bewildering range of choice. If you’re looking for some of the best chalets in Chamonix then you might try Chalet 1802
Nice website with endless compliments from satisfied customers. If you can’t find what you’re looking for then take a look in
Time and time again the same names appear at the head of an exclusive London list - luxury boutique hotels in Knightsbridge.
Parkes Hotel - winner of Trip Advisor’s best boutique hotel in
The Knightsbridge - it’s really more of a funky b&b than a boutique but charming none the less.
Jumeirah Lowndes, little sister to big brother the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, still ab fab after all these years as befits a hotel which backs onto Harvey Nichols.
Plus the Franklin due to re-open in 2008 following an expensive re-furb.
Think of YSE as in the top rank of mid-range chalet operators. It’s not as posh as Descent or Scott Dunn: it’s more on a par with VIP, with less emphasis on interior design, and more emphasis on the nosh.
Life is busy enough without having to deal with queues and traffic jams on the mountains. Here are four of the best spots in Europe to avoid the ski crowds. In fact 4 of the best resorts in Europe full stop, and child friendly resorts too.
Despite being popular with the rich and famous for over half a century, Cortina’s slopes can be surprisingly quiet. That’s because many of those who visit this gorgeous mountain town are more interested in shopping, dining, drinking and promenading along the piazzas in fur coats and jewellery than hitting the slopes.
Head out of town to the distant pistes of Cinque Torri, or up to the high level Ra Valles area, and you’re unlikely to be rubbing shoulders with anyone much, least of all the jet set in town.
cortina.dolomiti.org
Le Pré is an “outlier” of Les Arcs, so you wouldn’t expect it to be devoid of skiers – which to be frank it isn’t. However, it’s nowhere near as busy as you might expect since most people tend to remain closer to the main resort.
Not only that, but the black run off the top of L’Aiguille Rouge (3,225m) provides an exciting and very varied journey down to Le Pré with (arguably) the longest “vert” in Europe (2,000m), some great off-piste options to the side, and a couple of nice little bars and restaurants to greet you at the end.
lesarcs.com
Leogang is a satellite of the big Saalbach-Hinterglemm ski area, but quieter and more attractive than the main resort to the west. The slopes are also tranquil and have some of the best snow conditions in the area, although there’s not a great deal for expert skiers. Intermediates and beginners will enjoy the options however, especially as they don’t have to worry too much about other skiers careening past them.
Another big advantage of Leogang is that it tends to be cheaper than Saalbach-Hinterglemm – so that’s quiet slopes, good snow and value-for-money – what more do you need?
leogang-saalfelden.at
For skiers looking to wear themselves out during the day on empty pistes and even emptier off-piste, Monterosa is a good bet – in fact ensure that you are worn out because the area’s attractive little villages have very little happening after the lifts close.
This relatively unknown corner of Switzerland is best suited to more advanced skiers looking to explore the excellent backcountry options (you can also heliski here), but if you prefer less demanding ski holidays Monterosa is still a good place to chill out and simply enjoy the superb mountain scenery.
monterosa-ski.com
Oh la la! It’s one of the few occasions when the French have brazenly imitated the British. Starting January 1, many French museums and monuments will test a new admission policy: They’ll be free.
But don’t expect to waltz up to the Louvre with an empty wallet — at least not initially; most of the eligible attractions are small (and yet it’s a start). In Paris, the free museums will include Cluny’s medieval goodies and Guimet’s Asian art, where admission is usually $10 a pop. Those aren’t normally on the first-time visitor’s wish list, but they will please true fans of antiquities. And in a lesser concession, the esteemed Musée d’Orsay, stuffed with impressionist wonders, and the Centre Pompidou, famous for modern art, will now be open free of charge for one evening a week to visitors aged 18 to 25.
The ultimate goal, of course, is to spread culture to the general public. After six months, the French government will decide whether to continue or expand the plan.
London long ago made free admission a priority, and the gift continues to reward the public. It’s estimated that some 30 million additional visits were made after the government eliminated admission fees starting in 2001 at major attractions like the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, and a great many more.
Take a look at this Gridskipper piece
http://gridskipper.com/travel/london/london-restaurants-under-a-tenner-317113.php