The Magic Pass – the multi-area ski pass for 30 Swiss French resorts is on SALE now

Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets is one of the resorts in the Magic Pass.

The Magic Pass, this multi-area ski resort pass launched in the Swiss French regions last year – with 25 ski resorts of all sizes, attracted by the end of February 2018, 2.177 million skier-days which brought a 30% increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous season on the same date. In terms of turnover, an increase of 10% was achieved by the end of February compared to the season total from 2016/17.

Magic Pass is on sale for the 2nd year in the row with more ski areas, with some also usable for summer.
Magic Pass is on sale for the 2nd year in the row with more ski areas, with some also usable for summer.

These results were very encouraging, from very small resorts such as Rathvel, which got 220%, increase in visits, to larger resorts, such as Crans-Montana, that their numbers rose more than 30%.

This spirit of cooperation amongst ski areas has guaranteed an appreciable level of stability for the smaller, less well-known ski areas.

Now looking to the 2018-19 ski season, the Magic Mountains Cooperation is launching the MAGIC Pass with more ski areas- The new areas waiting to be discovered by pass holders are: the Espace Dent Blanche (Evolène – La Forclas – Arolla), the Vallée de Joux (L’Abbaye, – L’Orient – Le Brassus), and the Riviera (Les Pléiades- Rochers-de-Naye). In total, Magic Pass 2018/19 includes more than 30 ski areas of all shapes and sizes.

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IKON Pass announces three new partners and it has announced the different prices and passes for winter 2018-19

The IKON Pass extends into Europe. Ikon Pass to include Zermatt and Cervinia for the 2019/20 ski season.

SkiBig3, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Sugarbush Resort Join the Ikon Pass Community Available for Purchase March 6, 2018, Starting at $599

The Ikon Pass, North America’s newest season pass product for winter 2018-2019 announces SkiBig3 in Alberta, Canada, Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia, Canada and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont, as its newest partners, for a total of over 63,000 skiable acres of unique terrain at 26 premier mountain destinations in North America. The Ikon Pass will go on sale Tuesday, March 6, 2018 and will be available for purchase at www.ikonpass.com.

Lots of piste under one pass with the IKON pass - Photo by Unsplash - John Price.
Lots of piste under one pass with the IKON pass – Photo by Unsplash – John Price.

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Are you ready for the Mountain Gourmet Experience of 2018? Courmayeur Mont Blanc is waiting for you!

For the second year running, Jason Atherton (now 4 Michelin stars worldwide) and Claude Bosi (straight at 2 Michelin stars with his new venture, Bibendum), join inaugural genius Sat Bains (2 Michelin stars) for an incredible experience curated by Heston Blumenthal in Courmayeur, Mont Blanc, from 20 to 23 March.

Heston Blumental curates the Mountain Gourmet Experience 2018 in Courmayeur
Heston Blumental curates the Mountain Gourmet Experience 2018 in Courmayeur

The added twist is the unexpected presence of Marcus Wareing, who enjoyed the first 2 experiences so much, he has come back for more!

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Guests from the UK, Canada, Dubai, France and Ireland will converge on Courmayeur for 3 days of epicurean alchemy provided by the stellar chefs and their support team composed of 10 chefs from the UK.

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Grandvalira hosts the European Cup finals, the precursor to the 2019 World Cup finals

SOLDEU, ANDORRA - FEBRUARY 27: Lindsey Vonn of USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup WomenÕs Super-G on February 27, 2016 in Soldeu, Andorra. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

A total of 190 skiers from 25 countries will participate from 12 to 18 March

The World Cup slopes, Avet and Àliga, will once again be the stage for this competition, consisting of 8 trials in the technical and speed disciplines

350 volunteers will take part in this sporting event requiring all the technical and organisational rigour of a World Cup final.

Grandvalira is the largest resort under one lift ticket in Andorra. Photo courtesy Grandvalira.
Grandvalira is the largest resort under one lift ticket in Andorra. Photo courtesy Grandvalira.

Grandvalira officially announced today that the European Cup Finals for men’s and women’s alpine skiing will be held from 12 to 18 March on the Avet slope in Soldeu and the Àliga slope in El Tarter. The European Cup finals are the last trial before the 2019 World Cup finals, the largest sporting event in the history of Andorra. The event will consist of a total of 8 trials: two in technical disciplines on the Avet slope in Soldeu (slalom and giant slalom); and two in the speed disciplines on the Àliga slope in El Tarter (super-G and downhill).

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Why going to Brides-les-Bains could be a good choice for you, your family and your wallet, if wanting to go to Les Trois Vallées

The village of Brides-les-Bains- Photo Brides-les-Bains Tourism Office. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.

If you look at a ski map of Les Trois Vallées (3 Valleys of France)- the largest ski domaine you see in the middle of the map Meribel, which is known as the heart of Les Trois Vallées. This could be a great resort where to base yourself if you want to ski all over the three valleys. But maybe you should look a bit lower, at 600 meters, it is an easy way to get to, and is connected to all the rest of the three valleys. I am talking about Brides – les – Bains.

Sauna cabin at Brides-les-Bains- Photo by Brides-les-Bains Tourism Office.
Sauna cabin at Meribel- Photo courtesy of Brides-les-Bains Tourism Office.

Maybe not thought as much as a place to stay, but Brides -les -Bains is a town that is opened 11 months of an year, instead of only some months in winter and a couple in summer. Therefore, this makes a bigger population of all-year residents, and prices are much cheaper. They do not need to make in three months their year’s earnings. Rates are between 30 to 50% lower than at the high-altitude resorts in the Three Valleys.

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