Delayed, Not Derailed: Why SNCF Got It Right
If you’ve travelled much, you’ll know that not everything goes to plan. Sometimes flights are delayed or cancelled; sometimes traffic accidents can clog up the roads and, very occasionally, trains also have their issues! In my experience, you are much less likely to experience delays than if you travel by plane or car. However, on...
Why I’m taking the Flight Free Challenge in 2026
Since I founded Ski Flight Free in 2019, I have cut down on my flights considerably in an effort to reduce my carbon footprint. Flight Free in 2024 and 2025 For the last two years, I have gone slightly further committed to the ‘Flight Free Challenge’ – created by Anna Hughes of Flight Free UK...
Case Study: UK to Isola 2000 via Nice by train & bus
In February 2026, Iain travelled from the UK to the ski resort of Isola 2000 in the Alpes Maritimes. He travelled on the overnight ‘train de nuit’ from Paris to Nice, stayed one day in Nice and then went on to Isola the following day. As Iain went on to Les 3 Vallees after his...
Case Study: London to Courchevel by train
Iain from The Ski Podcast travelled out to Courchevel by train in January 2026. Brighton to London My journey started in Brighton on the 06:00, arriving into London St Pancras at 07:20. This is significantly later than the recommended arrival time from Eurostar, but in my experience there is no need to arrive so early...
Case Study: UK to St Anton, Austria by train
In December 2025, Iain travelled from the UK to St Anton in the Arlberg region of Tirol, Austria. London St Pancras-Gare du Nord (11:31 GMT – 14:49 CET) I started my journey in Brighton, arriving at Eurostar check in at St Pancras at 10:50 for the 11:31 departure. This is later than the recommended arrival...
The Travelski Express Night Train to the French Alps is back!
This winter 2025/26 a new night snow train will be running from Paris to Bourg Saint Maurice in France. French tour operator Travelski have announced that the new train service will operate from 19 December 2025 through to 20 March 2026. The train will leave Paris Gare d’Austerlitz on Friday evenings and depart from Bourg...
Case Study: The UK to Embrun, France by overnight train…and bus
Antonia Simpson, a regular listener to The Ski Podcast, recently contacted us to share her story of travelling by train to the southern French Alps. On a dull September day, a £35 Eurostar offer seemed too good to waste, particularly when I realised I could carry on to the Southern French Alps for less than...
Taking the train at half-term is (a lot!) cheaper than flying
Not booked your half-term ski holiday yet? Maybe this is the year to take the train. Easyjet still have plenty of flights for half-term week out of Gatwick. The only catch is that they are VERY expensive. You can save around £100 by choosing to leave the UK very early or very late. You could...
Case Study: London to Serre Chevalier Briancon by ferry and train
Neil Guthrie – creator of ‘The Alps – Skiing by Train’ map – recently sent us this update on his flight free journey from London to Briancon (to ski Serre Chevalier): Every year thousands of winter sports holidays begin with a train ride from London Victoria or Clapham Junction heading south towards Sussex. For most,...
Protect Our Winters UK’s ‘Clean Miles’ campaign
Ski Flight Free is proud to support Protect Our Winters UK’s ‘Clean Miles’ campaign, a movement to make low-carbon travel the easiest way to reach the outdoors. Transport is responsible for around a third of global emissions and is the biggest part of outdoor sports’ carbon footprint. The Issue We love the outdoors, but too...
The Man in Seat 61: Will Eurostar will ever have competition?
Mark Smith – The Man in Seat 61 – thinks it’s possible that Eurostar will have competition, but it will take time. I spoke to the train travel expert in Episode 233 of The Ski Podcast. After news of bids to compete on the cross-channel line from Virgin Trains, Gemini and Evolyn, I wondered what...
Case Study: UK to St Gervais Le Fayet by train and bus
In August 2025, Iain travelled from the UK to Saint Gervais Le Fayet in France. Iain was in the region to take part in the OCC Ultra Marathon in Chamonix, but preferred to stay in the much better value Le Fayet. London St Pancras-Gare du Nord I started my journey in Brighton, arriving at Eurostar...
