New web site helps European skiers find deals

October 29, 12:46 PMEuropean Travel ExaminerAndrew Hood

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A new page helps Europe-bound skiers navigate for the best travel deals
AP

“Snowcarbon” is a new independent website about train travel to ski resorts. It explains exactly how to book rail journeys, how to get the best fares, and which resorts are easiest to reach by train.

The site, http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk, has been developed by two respected travel journalists. With a clean, simple design, snowcarbon features 30 resorts across Europe, from Andorra to Austria, including France, Italy and Switzerland, all of which can be conveniently reached by train. 

snowcarbon features independent resort reviews written by leading ski journalists, a sophisticated Resort Finder and unique email alerts that send users an email reminder on the day that lowest fares are available for their journey.

The site aims to encourage skiers and snowboarders to abandon increasingly expensive and stressful journeys by air in favor of far more enjoyable, low-carbon journeys by train. The environmental benefits are huge: the carbon footprint of a trip by plane to a ski resort is typically 8-10 times greater than the equivalent rail journey.

Many resorts have mainline railway stations – including St Moritz in Switzerland, St Anton in Austria and Chamonix in France – so the transfer from train to ski accommodation takes only a few minutes. Some resorts can be reached directly from London without a change of train, including Tignes, Meribel and Courchevel. 

Surveys suggest that skiers and snowboarders are keen to take the train, but don’t have the necessary information or encouragement. A survey in 2005 by the Ski Club of Great Britain found that 68% of its members would prefer to travel to resorts by train. 

If more skiers chose the train, the environmental benefits would be significant. According to a study by the Agence De l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (a French government agency) and environmental ski charity Mountain Riders, 73% of a typical ski resort’s carbon footprint is made up by the journeys of tourists take to get there.

Door-to-door journey comparison: London to Sauze d'Oulx, Italy

Flight: 10hrs. Leave home 3am, arrive resort 1pm (typical charter flight from Gatwick)
Train: 11hrs 30mins. Leave home 7.30am, arrive resort 7pm

Fare comparison: London to Sauze d'Oulx, Italy*

Flight: £217 (including train to Gatwick, minibus transfer to resort, luggage charges)
Train: £178 (including private taxi transfer to resort, Metro fare in Paris)

* booked 5 weeks in advance, including skis carriage

Other features on snowcarbon include:

- How to change trains in Paris 
- Private taxis that meet you on the platform can be pre-booked using a simple email form 
- Guide on how to get the lowest fares (from £99 return) 
- Guide on eating in Paris, including the famous restaurant, Le Train Bleu at Gare de Lyon 
- Information about on-board restaurant dining (many European trains boast freshly-prepared gourmet meals) 
- Guide to UK tour operators that feature rail-inclusive packages and give non-flight discounts 
- Information and links for booking accommodation independently 

For more information, visit http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk