Can your family take the Easter Challenge? - Nendaz, Switzerland

The Easter programme for families in Nendaz kicks off on Sunday, 4 April with the competition for the Easter Challenge Cup. Perhaps not quite as serious as it sounds, it involves a family race on the Greppon Blanc run, followed by a BBQ up the mountain and then an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon. The winning family lifts the Trophy.

Nendaz is one of only a few Swiss resorts which has been awarded the Family Assured badge. It is well deserved given the activities that are routinely organised for children. The play area at the top of Tracouet is superbly well equipped with the snow-tubes being the most popular item in the snow park. They will be working morning and afternoon right through to 18 April.

There is also the Luge Adventure every Thursday afternoon which draws parents as well as children to the Tortin-Siviez run. Don't worry about getting hold of a sled. Two of Nendaz's top sports shops rent out good sleds for young children.

And off the mountain, children can practise on the ice rink in the middle of the resort in the afternoons when it is open to the public.

To get more of an idea on what is on offer see: http://www.secretalps.com/open_secret/news.htm The apartment is available too.

Easter waterslide - Nendaz, Switzerland

On Easter Monday (5 April 2010) skiers and non-skiers can enjoy watching the brave or the foolhardy try to water ski over the pool of water which is created at the top of Tracouet, in Haute Nendaz. If you have the technique, you slide right over the pond. If you don't, you get pretty wet to the amusement of everyone else.

Nendaz, an accredited Family Friendly resort, organises an excellent family day on Easter Sunday. It starts with a ski race, followed by a BBQ lunch and then a hunt for Easter eggs.

All details on: http://www.secretalps.com/open_secret/news.htm

Summer in Reberty Village - Three Valleys - Les Menuires - Reberty Village, France

I love the fact that the majority of English people are not keen visitors of the French Alps other than when it is below zero degrees and there is plenty of snow. Well, the Powder has gone, bring on the Shine!

The Alps are not only a winter playground, and surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, the Belleville Valley is one of the best places in the Alps to visit during the summer.

Are you a family looking for an activity holiday somewhere different?
Do you love mountain biking?
Breathe in the pure fresh air whilst taking a walk up the mountain and experiencing breathtaking views?
Care to experience some extreme fun? (Paragliding, kayaking, quad-biking, via ferrata, rock climbing)
Simply want to relax in a beautiful, peaceful environment and soak it all in?...

Then Reberty is the place for you! Reberty Village in Summer is simpy beautiful. It is situated at 2000m about 1 mile away from Les Menuires and not far from Val Thorens. There is an abondance of summer activities available for adults and children and the local tourist office offers a Multiloisirs Card which is the perfect purchase if you are a family looking to do lots of different activities. The card costs 38 Euros per week (Adult) and 27 Euros per week for children aged 3-6 years old.

Top ski area - from where the champions come - Morgins, Switzerland

Morgins is in the Portes du Soleil, the largest linked ski area in the world
Suitable for all standards of skier, we are proud that Didier Defago - the Olympic Men's downhill champion was raised, and still lives in Morgins.

You don't have to be a champion to ski there, the top ski schools, soon have beginners improving, as the more advanced skiers ski seamlessly from Switzerland to France and back.

Come and see what a real ski area is like.

Do you rember Les2Alpes ? - Les Deux Alpes, France

Maybe you were a beginner at LES 2 ALPES and now holiday in other ski resorts. Ever thought of returning and exploring the rest of the terrain?

- 2300m of vertical descent;
- guaranteed snow on the 3600m high glacier;
- 431 hectares of prepared runs and 700 hectares off-piste;
- easy links to the paradise of La Grave;
- new fast 8 person chairlift;
- new restaurant at the foot of the glacier;
- 2 snowboard parks which host the annual Mondial du
- Mondial du Ski end October – start November – test out all the latest equipment
- Resort starts to open from November until May, one of the longest seasons in the Alps
- Paragliding, ice-climbing, snow-shoeing, cross country skiing
- Authentic mountain villages in stunning surroundings, eg Venosc which is linked to Les 2 Alpes in 7 minutes by a 6 person gondola and which stands at the edge of the Ecrins National Park

If you thought you knew LES 2 ALPES, think again; you will be amazed at how much more terrain you can now cover as an intermediate or expert skier.

And for beginners, experience the majesty of the high peaks as you access the glacier of Mont de Lans with its consistent green and blue runs. There are free lifts for you in the town and English speaking ski and snowboard schools offering small group sizes and private lessons at very affordable prices.

La Giettaz: A Charming Back-Door to Megève and the Evasion Mont Blanc - Megeve - La Giettaz, France

La Giettaz is a beautiful rustic village that is rightly proud of its traditional mountain lifestyle. Surrounded by fabulous Alpine scenery, visitors here cannot fail to be charmed by the relaxed pace of life and friendly locals: you are staying in a real village, not a resort.

That said, the snow facilities are fantastic: the village has direct access to the Evasion Mont Blanc and its 445km of pistes. Moreover, the Espace Diamant and the Massif des Aravis domains are both only as little as 15 minutes' drive away. Experienced snowheads and newbies alike will love the dramatic scenery: the 360-degree panorama from the top of the local chair lift, taking in Mont Blanc, the Massif des Aravis and south towards Albertville, really has to be seen to be believed. Beginners are well-looked-after by the local ESF office (which offers some of the best-value lessons in the area), and there are creche facilities at the foot of the piste for your kids. And thanks to the slightly off-the-beaten-piste location, even in high season you can expect quiet pistes and very little queuing. How often do you find that in the French Alps?

Après-ski options include a delightful selection of local restaurants and bars in the centre of the village, serving traditional mountain cuisine, again at some of the best-value prices in the area. The glitz and glamour of Megève, or the family-friendly fun of La Clusaz, are both easily reached by car, and a trip to either of these becomes all the more of a treat when you know you are returning to the secluded beauty of La Giettaz!

Heli ski at Easter: only for the fearless - Nendaz, Switzerland

Does this photo make you quiver with excitement or shake with fear? This is an idea only for a)the brave b)the expert and c)those with deep pockets.

The well established Swiss mountain guide company, Montagne Loisirs, is organising an Easter week like no other. On offer is a helicopter ride to various summits of the 4 Valleys every day and the idea is that you are guided back to Haute Nendaz by one of their experts in the course of a day's exhilarating ski touring. This is the kind of week which is readily available in the wilds of Canada or the US but not so common in Europe.

You will need all the safety equipment which Montagne Loisirs can also arrange through one of their partners in Nendaz, such as Neige Aventure. And of course, the company will provide full briefing, instruction and advice before take-off.

NO SMOKING IN VALAIS - Nendaz, Switzerland

The whole of Valais has quietly turned all public places into no smoking areas. That means that restaurants and bars on the slopes and in the resorts are now all smoke-free.

This is the first season of the new regime and so far it has been as expected: non-smokers are happy with the clean air indoors while smokers huddle round patio heaters outside.

More info on: http://www.secretalps.com/open_secret/news.htm

Kids ski passes to 18 years of age at Les Aillons !! - Les Aillons-Margeriaz - Le Chatelard, France

Les Aillons ski resort in the Massif des Bauges above Lake Annecy - has made its already ridiculously good value kids pass even better. Its 79 euro for 6 days and covers nearby Margeriaz and you count for this great deal if you are 18 or under. If you have 4 kids aged 12-18 you will save approximately 500 euro on lift passes over the bigger resorts!! Adult passes are 95 euro for both resorts. I've just returned from a 3 day jolly last weekend with 6 gents and we got 20cm of power on Friday night on top of the 105cm already fallen this season. Les Aillons Sport decked us out with skis and boots for £49, all waxed and edges prepped. A days ski was just 14 euro at Les Aillons with 40km of piste to entertain us! This resort is low and tree lined but with so much snow in the Alps this year you need not go higher where you pay more money. 900m- 1400m Les Aillons and 1400-1900 at Margriaz. One of the blacks runs at Aillons is regarded as one of the most difficult in France. March will be top value if you can getaway and you know you want to..... www.lesaillons.com

Wilder Kaiser/Brixental ski area - Kitzbühel - Westendorf, Austria

Comprising the resorts of Going and Ellmau, Scheffau, Soll, Hopfgarten, Brixen, Westendorf and Kelschau.
Going and Ellmau are family friendly resorts and are good for beginners with several short easy runs in the village.
Sheffau village is located 1 km away from the lift and is very quiet. The gondola gives access to some easy blue runs, great for less confident skiers.
Soll is a pretty village with a reputation for good nightlife. This takes place mostly in 2 or 3 overcrowded pubs. It attracts a percentage of heavy drinking male groups. The skiing in the village is good for beginners for the first 2 days. Above the village the skiing consists mostly of red runs and is not really suitable for beginners or less confident skiers.
Hofgarten is a good access point into the ski area and has easy linke to Kelschau, Brixen and Westendorf. It is not suitable for beginners,
Brixen village is spread out and mostly a Dutch enclave. It does offer great access to Westendorf and the main areas in Soll and Scheffau. Again, not good for beginners.
Westendorf is without a doubt the best ski area of this region. It has several runs of varying difficulty back into the village, it is less busy and has the best snow conditions along with Kelschau. It is one of those few ski resorts that has something for everyone. Long blues, blacks and off piste.
Kelschau is a tiny resort which can only be reached by a limited ski and post bus service from Hopfgarten. It has old slow lifts, almost a throwback to the seventies. However, it is worth the trip over as it is uncrowded, it is great for intermediates and the snow conditions are superior.
Hochsoll and Hochbrixen are usually the busiest ski areas.