How to travel by train from the UK to Austria and #SkiFlightFree
If you’ve wondered how to travel by train from the UK to Austria, this blog post should answer almost all of your questions. Austria is great for train travel as there are fast connections from major European cities and overnight options, plus many resorts have a station in the town itself. Map of train routes...
Research: What is the carbon footprint of a ski holiday?
In 2022, I looked at the carbon footprint of a ski holiday, based on some research by French ski resorts. The original research attempted to detail the carbon cost of a day’s skiing, and the differences your choices can make to the final figure. I’ve now updated these figures, to make it more specific to...
The New European Sleeper Ski Train to Austria & Italy: Your Questions Answered
The new European Sleeper Ski Train to Innsbruck in Austria and Bolzano in Italy (and onward to Venice) is a very exciting development for lovers of train travel and skiers looking for new ways to Ski Flight Free this winter. Iain Martin, host of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, spoke to...
New rail map to French ski resorts
This new map is a fantastic way to work out the route by train to your favourite French ski resort. Click on the map to see the largest version. It was created by David Cooper and Daniel Elkan from the excellent Snowcarbon, on behalf of France Montagnes. Travelling by train instead of flying is the...
[Case Study] UK to Crans Montana by train
In September 2024, Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled by train from the UK to Crans Montana in Switzerland. This is one of the best ski resorts to travel to by train, as the funicular from Sierre means you can get off the train and be in resort little more than 15 minutes later. London-Paris...
[Case Study] The New Eurostar ‘Snow Train’
On 16 December 2023, I was invited to trial the new Eurostar Snow Train service by Inghams Ski, who are offering ski holidays packaged with train travel and transfers using the new service. This is a very significant step from Eurostar, having cancelled the previously successful service in 2020. So what was the new train...
New European Sleeper opens up train travel for skiers to Austria and Italy
The new European Sleeper train service will open up Austria and the Italian Dolomites for UK skiers and snowboarders who want to travel by train. The company has been operating a night train from Brussels to Prague via Amsterdam and Berlin since May 2023. Overnight from Brussels to Innsbruck and Bolzano This winter, they are...
[Case Study] UK to Corsica by train and ferry
So this is nothing to do with ‘skiing’ flight free (unless you are thinking about discovering one of Corsica’s ski resorts this winter), but regular readers will recall that I have taken the Flight Free Challenge for 2024…and that means summer family holidays as well. Brighton to Corsica by train and ferry That meant that...
Travelski adds Chamonix and La Clusaz as train travel options
Tour operator Travelski have released details of their train travel options for this winter, adding Chamonix and La Clusaz as new destinations. Travelski Express train-inclusive packages go on sale on 08 July, using the Eurostar Ski Train service to travel from London on Saturday mornings and returning the following Sunday. 8 nights’ accommodation and 7...
Petition for London-Geneva train service
A petition to launch a direct train service between London and Geneva launched last month has almost reached 5000 signatories. It was started by Nadine McCormick on Change.org and once the 5000 threshold was passed it will be sent to the Swiss railway company SBB. London to Geneva by train in 5+ hours It’s estimated...
[Case Study] How to take a bike overseas…without flying!
Although Ski Flight Free is a resource for skiers, I thought I’d share my experience of travelling by train to Nice last summer. I’m hugely aware of the carbon cost of air travel and have significantly cut down on the number of flights I take in the last few years (and have pledged not to...
[Case Study] UK to Verbier by Train
In March 2024, Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled by train from the UK to Verbier in Switzerland. Because of the seamless integration at the final stop, Le Chable, before going up to Verbier, this is one of the easiest ski resorts to travel to by train. Brighton-London-Paris I live in Brighton, so it was...