Obergurgl: high altitude and high tradition in Austria

Obergurgl has experienced rapid growth in recent years, making it one of Austria’s favourite ski resorts.

This is a high altitude resort with a charming upmarket selection of accommodation – more so than most of its high-altitude rivals in the other Alpine countries.

The new lift system means that queues are an unusual sight on the ski slopes.

Although the majority of available accommodation is made up of hotels, The Oxford Ski Company looks forward to releasing details of a great new chalet in this resort very soon!

The Oxford Ski Team Returns from the Alps

A 5 day trip was organised last week to Megeve, Verbier, Saas Fee and Zermatt for some of the Oxford Ski Team. This was a chance for the team to go and visit the chalets in resort and get a feel for the resorts themselves.

It was a great trip where we saw some lovely chalets. And here is how it went ………

Tuesday started with a trip to Megeve to see hotels and possible new properties there.

On Wednesday half of the team visited Verbier – a beautiful and traditional resort which has lots of summer and winter trade. During our time there we saw properties such as Nyumba, Fontanet and The Lodge.

Thursday started off with a visit to Saas Fee in the morning to see Chalet Chloe, a great chalet located close to the town centre. The afternoon took us to Zermatt; a resort that we have all fallen in love with. The resort was bustling with mountain bikers, walkers and those just enjoying the beautiful weather and the view of the Matterhorn. Whilst in Zermatt we were able to see chalets such as Chalet Grace, Les Anges, Chalet Maurice, Zermatt Loft and Chalet Zaphir plus some great hotels such as the Firefly, Hotel Post and Hotel Focus.

Two of the sales team were then fortunate enough to spend a few days in Verbier, taking advantage of the wonderfully efficient Swiss rail network, to make the two and a half hour journey across the Rhone valley. Whilst in Verbier we were able to view Chalets Kernow, Sagittaire, Bella Coola, Victoria I and also the exciting new development which is Number 14 (pictured above).

All of the resorts that we visited were extremely pretty and very in keeping with Swiss Tradition and we are all looking forward to sending our guests there in the near future.

If you need any further information on the chalets mentioned or any other chalets on our website please call us now on +44 (0) 1865 398130 to avoid disappointment.

“Ski in” properties, in the centre of Courchevel 1650

If convenience is what you are after, then look no further than the Portetta Lofts in Courchevel 1650:-

• Located at the foot of the slopes, so you can ski right back to your accommodation
• 2 minute walk to the main lift, taking you up into the vast ski area
• Usually rented on a B&B basis, but half board can be added
• Use of the hotel spa facilities
• Nursery slopes located just in front of the accommodation
• Large sun terrace to enjoy an après ski drink

For information on these properties, and others like them, contact us at the Oxford Ski Company website, or on +44 (0) 1865 398130.

Tour de France sampling the summer sun in the mountains

The Times feature 20 best summer mountain retreats

The Times Travel section (Saturday 3rd July 2010) last weekend featured Annabelle Thorpe’s article on the 20 best summer mountain retreats, two of which we are proud to include in Oxford Ski‘s luxury portfolio!

As the article rightly states, as the “largest and highest summer skiing area in Europe”, Zermatt offers skiers the rare opportunity for glacier skiing in the height of summer! Twenty-five kilometres of pistes and eight ski lifts remain open all summer, with the Klein Matterhorn cable car soaring up a sheer mountain face to a lung bursting 3820m (12,530ft).

Located at the very centre of Zermatt, nestled within the imposing Alpine mountains and with the Matterhorn in sight, the views from your suite in Hotel Firefly will take your breath away. This modern, family-run hotel combines traditional design with twenty-first century comfort – with stylish furniture, rustic Alpine materials (including native wood and stone set against glass & metal) and offbeat accessories.

Also featured, The – eponymous – Lodge Verbier – popular with discerning travellers & ‘Virgin brand’ enthusiasts throughout the year! More commonly booked for spa breaks and outdoor pursuits other than skiing in the summer months, this exclusive retreat truly epitomises luxury.

Contact us at The Oxford Ski Company website, or by telephone on +44 (0) 1865 398130 for ideas and availability for these – and other – properties, for winter or summer stays.

Oxford Ski Team return from the Alps

Oxford Ski sales team hit St. Moritz

The Oxford Ski Company sales team have been in St Moritz this week, inspecting new and existing chalets and hotels for next season’s portfolio.

For information on the resort, the world-famous Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, or ski trips to Switzerland, visit the Oxford Ski website, or call us for a chat  on +44 (0) 1865 398130 about your options!

More news on the team’s adventures and findings to follow…

The Haute Route – Chamonix to Zermatt on foot or by ski

The Haute Route, (also known as The High Route or Mountaineers’ Route) is the name given to a route (with several variations) undertaken on foot or by ski touring between Chamonix, France, and Zermatt, Switzerland.

First charted as a summer mountaineering route by members of the Alpine Club in the mid 19th century, the route takes around 12+ days walking (or 7+ days skiing) the 180 km from Chamonix valley, home of the Mont Blanc Massif (pictured, top), to Zermatt, and the majestic Matterhorn (pictured above, bottom). In May 2008 Lionel Bonnel and Stéphane Brosse, members of the Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne, set the record in 21 hours and 11 minutes.

The route was originally walked by members of an English club, however it was first successfully undertaken on skis by a French party in 1911.

Technically, haute route has now become a generic description for any of the many multi-day alpine hut-to-hut tours.

Interested in visiting this region?  Take a look at some of Oxford Ski’s luxury chalets in Chamonix, Verbier, & Zermatt.

For the full article, see Wikipedia.

Early Season Visit to Verbier

Having just returned from a long weekend in Verbier I can categorically say that the resort is up and running and has a solid snow base to build another great season on. Although the recent snowfall has provided enough to ski on in most areas of the four valleys it has not been able to match the epic levels experienced at the beginning of last season. Consequently there are still some chalets available for the Christmas week. These chalets offer excellent levels of service and great value at substantially reduced prices (up to 40% off in some cases!!).

Pierre Avoi, (sleeps 12 +2), Verbier. 26,500 CHF (reduced from 46,500 CHF)

Amadouvier, (sleeps 10 +2), Verbier 19,200 (CHF reduced from 32000 CHF)

Focus on Val D’Isere