Skiing

Italy’s most northernly region, South Tyrol (also known as Sudtirol) is one of the country’s most enticing area for winter sports fans.  Its home to the world’s largest fully interconnected ski area, the Dolomiti Superski (1200km) and the world’s second largest interconnected ski area around the Sella Ronda (500km), skiers and boarders can feel that they can ski forever from one cosy village to another, always with the spectacular pale limestone and sedimentary rock cliff formation of the Dolomites towering dramatically above.

A ski break in Les Contamines-Montjoie is a road less travelled by popular winter holiday operators and skiers alike.  I have to admit it is a break on the quiet side unlike the après-ski resorts around Mont Blanc i.e. Chamonix but don’t let this put you off.  Les Contamines has its own charm, first it has the white stuff in abundance along with its 120km of serene piste and rolling hills of untouched powder.  Little known of this charming resort even though it is only an hour’s drive from Geneva, the Swiss capital to Mont Blanc.

If the only footprint you want to leave on your holiday is in the snow then let the train take the strain as you head off on your winter break. Independent research by Eurostar found that travelling from London to Paris by train rather than plane cuts your CO2 emissions by a staggering 90 per cent. Also the views, drinks, internet coverage and luggage allowance are all far superior on trains. Above all there’s just something enduringly romantic about using the train.