Resorts
Virgin to compete with Eurostar on London-Europe HS1 route?

Virgin to compete with Eurostar on London-Europe HS1 route?

This week has seen several reports that the Virgin Group is readying itself to order £500 million of trains as part of its bid to break Eurostar’s monopoly on cross-channel passenger services. ‘Project Bullet’ Under the codename Project Bullet, Virgin has been raising funds from investors so that they can services in 2029. It has been...
[Case Study] Les 3 Vallées by Train

[Case Study] Les 3 Vallées by Train

In December 2024, Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled by train from the UK to Courchevel in Les 3 Vallées in France in Switzerland. This is a pretty simple resort to travel to by train, with one change after Paris taking you to Moutiers – the access station for Les 3 Vallées. From here a 30-minute...
New Solar-Powered Floodlit Cross-Country Trail in Austria

New Solar-Powered Floodlit Cross-Country Trail in Austria

This is a great innovation for winter 2024/25 from Hochfilzen in the PillerseeTal Valley, Austria. This winter marks a milestone for eco-friendly winter sports activities with the opening of the region’s first solar-powered, floodlit cross-country skiing trail. The trail is powered by 50 solar panels, combined with battery storage, which means the new photovoltaic floodlights...
[Case Study] The New Eurostar 'Snow Train'

[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...
Travelski adds Chamonix and La Clusaz as train travel options

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...
[Case Study] The UK to French Alps by Luxury Splitter Van

[Case Study] The UK to French Alps by Luxury Splitter Van

At Easter 2024, Iain Martin, presenter of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, travelled from Brighton to Les 2 Alpes in a luxury splitter van. What is a splitter van? Firstly, let’s clarify what we are talking about here. A splitter van is like a minibus, but with much more storage and way more...
Hydrogen bus tested between Moûtiers and Courchevel

Hydrogen bus tested between Moûtiers and Courchevel

A hydrogen bus has been tested on the Moûtiers and Courchevel route in a attempt to find new methods of reducing the carbon footprint of travel to resort. Feedback from the driver was positive, who noted the ease of the automatic transmission and the uphill power, although for this initial test, there were only twenty...
[Case Study] UK to Verbier by Train

[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...
[Case Study] UK to Saalbach by train

[Case Study] UK to Saalbach by train

Phil Skone contacted Ski Flight Free to share his experience of travelling to Saalback in Austria by train earlier this year in January 2024.  UK-Brussels-Cologne-Munich Starting in Kenworth, we travelled to King’s Cross, then Eurostar to Brussels and Brussels to Cologne. We had time for a meal and tour of the area near the station....
[Case Study] Dachstein in Austria to the UK by train (via Amsterdam)

[Case Study] Dachstein in Austria to the UK by train (via Amsterdam)

If you’ve ever wondered how to take the train from the Austrian Alps to the UK via Amsterdam on the way back from a ski trip, then Neil Guthrie – co-creator of  the excellent map ‘The Alps – Skiing by Train‘ kindly put together this report for Ski Flight Free. —– The new best entry...
Huge cavern appears in Chamonix glacier

Huge cavern appears in Chamonix glacier

A huge cavern has formed in the upper part of the Glacier des Bossons in Chamonix. So large that it’s visible from the centre of Chamonix, the cave appeared last month in the upper part of the Bossons glacier. A old pocket of water or large crevasse? Located not far from the Grands Mulets refuge,...
[Case Study] London to Chamonix by train

[Case Study] London to Chamonix by train

In February 2024, Iain Martin, presenter of The Ski Podcast and founder of Ski Flight Free, travelled from London to Chamonix by train. “Chamonix is one of my favourite resorts and I’ve travelled there by train several times. It’s not quite as convenient as some resorts, as it typically requires two changes after Paris. However, the...