| iers looking forward to their annual holiday are more | | | | resort. Nothing is more tedious for vacationers than |
| than likely busy poring over information on the | | | | to get off a plane and have to face a several hour |
| numerous ski resort destinations available to them. | | | | ride to the resort. Not so in Kaprun. |
| Some of them just want confirmation that the resort | | | | With global warming and the environment a world |
| they loved last year is still the best place to go. | | | | wide concern, many skiers are beginning to make |
| Others like to change things up every year, | | | | going green a criteria for their choice of ski |
| experiencing new ski challenges and collecting new | | | | vacationers. If that is a concern, Les Arcs in France |
| stories to relate to their friends back home. Either | | | | should be on your list of ski destinations, and is one |
| way, the choices are abundant and depend mostly | | | | of the best places for a French ski holiday |
| on what the skier is comfortable with, whether it is a | | | | Take the Eurostar to Bourg-St-Maurice. From there it |
| familiar resort or new ground. | | | | is a short hop to Les Arcs. The management is |
| If the annual ski holiday includes beginners, Andorra, | | | | actively committed to maintaining preservation of the |
| nestled in the Pyrenees, is a great choice. The | | | | environment. At the same time the facilities are first |
| interconnected resorts of Arinsal, Pal and Arcalis offer | | | | rate, including accommodations for the youngest |
| something for everyone. All three cater to beginner | | | | family members. Les Arcs has been awarded Famille |
| skiers and provide kindergarten facilities for the | | | | plus Montagne certification. Four star living quarters |
| youngest family members not quite ready to don | | | | are the norm, and the restaurants and shops are |
| skis and take the plunge down the bunny slopes. | | | | among the best in the French Alps. |
| Arinsal and Pal are actually now a single resort linked | | | | If the apres ski experience is what makes your |
| by cable car. One ski pass allows skiers to venture | | | | holiday, then you may want to check out the Italian |
| onto either set of slopes. In effect, wherever you | | | | resort of Livigno or Austria's Bad Gastien. Livigno is |
| are staying at the resort, you can ski from your | | | | just across the border from St. Moritz in the Italian |
| backyard right onto the slopes. Snowboarders will | | | | Alps and through some quirk in geography enjoys tax |
| also feel quite comfortable whether they are | | | | free status. It offers excellent skiing because of its |
| beginners or experienced. Arcalis is about 20 | | | | altitude. With 81 bars, restaurants and nightclubs, the |
| kilometers by car from Pal and Arinsal but close | | | | apres ski possibilities are almost endless. Restaurants |
| enough to be considered part of the three-resort | | | | feature French, Italian, U.S. and traditional cuisine as |
| area. A fourth resort, Pas de la Casa, is also close by | | | | well as the ubiquitous fast food. In other words, |
| but tends to be much more crowded. However, it | | | | something for everyone's taste. Bad Gastien is |
| does offer very good value if that is the major | | | | actually one of the grand spa resorts that just |
| criteria in selecting a resort. With its numerous cafes, | | | | happens to be located in the midst of one of |
| restaurants, happy hours and discos, Pas de la Casa | | | | Austria's largest ski areas. The skiing is excellent, and |
| tends to attract livelier young adult crowd. | | | | the apres ski scene is more sophisticated than many |
| For strictly family vacations Kaprun resort in Austria is | | | | deluxe resorts with its famous thermal spa and lively |
| a good bet. With its beginner to expert slopes, | | | | nightlife. |
| myriad accommodations to fit every budget, | | | | If you are looking for the perfect ski weekend, don't |
| restaurants and cafes, checking into Kaprun is the | | | | overlook Lillehammer in Norway. The site of a Winter |
| start of a great family holiday. Hotels and restaurants | | | | Olympic, Lillehammer is a short hop from the airport. |
| are noted for their child friendliness. Besides the skiing | | | | The hotel accommodations are first rate and off |
| vacationers can snowboard, snowshoe, swim, play | | | | slope activities include sleigh rides, tobogganing and |
| tennis and squash, ice skate, bowl and take a sleigh | | | | ice skating. |
| ride. Of the 59 runs, 31 are for beginners, and nine | | | | Regardless of where you choose to spend your ski |
| are expert runs. | | | | holidays, the choices are as varied as the splendid |
| Shops abound for those who want to take a break | | | | terrain. Take your family, take your spouse, go with |
| from other activities. You can even arrange to tour | | | | friends. Whatever you do you will have a memorable |
| the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. One of the most welcome | | | | experience with a European ski holiday. |
| features is the short hop from the airport to the | | | | |