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| You are probably aware, as of early November, our dollar is in the midst of a free-fall, compliments of the sub-prime debacle causing much uncertainly in the financial markets. So averaging rates over the past two months, I used these exchanges: $1.42/Euro & CHF 1.19/$. As in years past, all quotes will be at the day’s current exchange. Some ideas for how to handle Euro-shock: stay in a four or three star instead of a higher rated hotel; choose apartment accommodations (they’re ever-improving in Europrean resorts) over hotels; select a lesser know resort; or go in a lower season. |
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Even with the weak dollar, it’s even more important to have valid destination comparisons to show, in spite of higher air, the dollar, etc., Europe is still better value for the money. These packages include air, taxes & fuel surcharges, transfers, noted over nights, 5/6 day ski passes, and indicated meals:
| Week of |
Accommodation / Resort |
Size of Ski Area |
Est Adult Price / Meals |
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| Dec 26 |
Telluride / The Terraces (4*, 7 nts)
Davos / Hotel Meierhof (4*, 7 nts) |
16 lifts / 1,700 acres
50 lifts / 200 miles |
$ 3,545 / no meals
$ 2,970 / breakfast & dinner |
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| Feb 1 |
Whistler / Westin (5*,7 nts)
Kitzbuhel / Hotel Tennerof (5*,8 nts) |
33 lifts / 8,171 acres
56 lifts / 90 miles |
$ 3,095 / no meals
$ 3,680 / breakfast & dinner |
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| Boarding a plane lately one knows flying costs have increased due to fuel surcharge add-ons. Swiss’s currently is nearly $300.00; if oil keeps going up so will add-ons. More positively, there’s new service to Zurich from Philadelphia on US Air, Geneva now has a new Newark flight on Qatar Airways, Lufthansa/United added service from Dulles to Zurich, and the Swiss/Lufthansa/United interface is now totally integrated. The terrific Zurich Airport was rated best in Europe three years in a row and third best in the world by Condé Nast Traveler. |
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 This past March I skied Zermatt for the first time since all the private lift companies merged about three years ago – the results are just terrific! The lift systems are now fully integrated and well thought out with all three mountains now more easily reached from each. The new lifts make the flow of skiers much more efficient and affording the skier greater enjoyment.
For the first time, we’ve arranged to include round trip bus transfers from Geneva to the French resorts. Starting in December you will get to Zermatt and Saas Fee faster from Zurich: the opening of the new 22 mile long Lotschberg Tunnel will cut travel time to each by 3¼ and 3 hours respectively.
Chamonix, Klosters/Davos (each for a third year) and Grindelwald kept ski passes at last year’s levels. All European passes are still a bargain compared to the West where Aspen’s per diem tops out at $86.00 while St Anton and Zermatt are $59.00 with skiing terrain more than 15/20 times larger than Aspen.
Kitzbuhel now has snow making on all of its first and foremost ‘Ski Safari.’ For boarders, Saas Fee has become their premier resort. All the resorts, as in the US, are constantly upgrading their lift systems. |
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As you go through the web site, you may notice these seven hotels, the Angela, Julen, Mirabeau, Zermatterhof, zum Storchen, Kulm, and Beau-Rivage Palace, now have a ‘S’ or ‘superior’ ranking after their hotel rating. This new designation was initiated in 2007 by the Austrian and Swiss hotel associations.
The following hotels have offered us special rates: Allodis in Meribel, Angela in Lech, Chabichou in Courchevel, Regina in Grindelwald, and Mirabeau in Zermatt. As their 150th year begins, Lausanne’s Beau-Rivage Palace received Gault-Millau’s 2007 Hotel of the Year award.
A note on early January and Easter: The Russians, in increasing numbers, are coming to many resorts for their Orthodox Christmas. Easter is on March 23rd so that month will be crowded – word to the wise, book early!
Some better hotel values: Three stars: Les Sorbiers, Rustico, Europe, and Languard; four stars: Dr Otto Murr, Julen, Mirabeau, Montjola, Meierhof, Fletschhorn, and Allalin; and five stars: Kulm, Tennerhof and Zermatterhof.
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Jacqueline Frankel and Nina Pinsky continue to assist with their knowledgeable talents. I’m a member of expert advisory board of the
on-line magazine Forbes Traveler
and maintain ASTA membership as well as being an Austrian and Swiss specialist.
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