| Taking your family on a ski holiday this season | | | | Freeski and the Mondial du Snowboard during the half |
| needn't be expensive and stressful. With travel | | | | term week to celebrate the start of the season. |
| insiders predicting low availability and high prices during | | | | The Italian resorts of Passo Stelvio and Val Senales |
| the February 2009 half term, the October school | | | | expect to be open, as do Folgefon and Galdhopiggen |
| holiday is looking more and more attractive. | | | | in Norway. |
| According to leading online European snow report | | | | For those snow-seekers hoping to head further |
| provider, skiinfo, nearly 20 European ski resorts will | | | | afield, the United States (including Colorado and |
| be open in time for the October half term. In | | | | Vermont) and Canada (including Whistler and Banff) |
| contrast to the massively popular February holiday - | | | | are all worth checking out as ski areas often open |
| and this year most schools will be off during the | | | | mid to late October. You could just catch the end of |
| same single week - availability is high, prices are low, | | | | the ski seasons in New Zealand and Chile too. |
| and last minute bookings are a possibility. | | | | In addition to cheaper prices and quieter resorts, |
| Austria is expected to have eight ski areas open: | | | | taking your ski holiday early may bring further |
| Solden, the Stubai glacier near Innsbruck, the Pitztal | | | | benefits. Many European areas run festival weekends |
| Glacier, the Kaunertal glacier, the Hintertux glacier, | | | | with special events and parties marking the beginning |
| Tux, the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and the Dachstein | | | | of the new season. You and your family will also |
| Glacier. Solden will host the beginning of the Northern | | | | have something to look forward to once autumn |
| Hemisphere's Ski World Cup during this period. | | | | starts to creep in. |
| Zermatt, Saas Fee and Glacier 3000 in Switzerland all | | | | In preparation for a half term ski getaway, it's worth |
| expect to be open by the end of October. As well | | | | regularly checking with travel companies for early bird |
| as skiing and snowboarding, Glacier 3000 also | | | | deals and the skiinfo website for updates on resort |
| features the high adrenaline Alpine Coaster downhill | | | | conditions. Also consider pre-booking a meet and |
| roller coaster ride with its ten turns, six waves and | | | | greet airport car parking service which will make the |
| three jumps along a one kilometre track. | | | | journey with children and winter sports gear an |
| Options in France are limited to the glacier at Tignes | | | | altogether smoother and less stressful experience. |
| and Les Deux Alpes - which will host the Mondial du | | | | |