| With all the technological advancement of the | | | | guaranteed snow of ski resorts close to |
| modern age, billed to make life easier, one | | | | Geneva, (Chamonix and Morzine-Avoriaz), give |
| can't help but wonder why people seem to be | | | | weekend skiers the peace of mind to book |
| working harder than ever? Time is indeed a | | | | early. 4 and a half hours to resort: A |
| premium nowadays, making demands on leisure | | | | Gatwick or Luton to Geneve flight at 20.10 |
| time and the cost of a short break heftier | | | | allows the keen London worker to leave the |
| than ever before. However weekend ski breaks | | | | office at between 5.30 and 6pm to get a 6.30 |
| are becoming the latest trend among the white | | | | train before check in closes at 7.30. The |
| collar community. This insatiable demand is | | | | half hour check-in and the 1 and a half hour |
| driving the cost of scheduled airfares | | | | flight, followed by a one hour transfer to |
| through the roof. City boys and girls are | | | | resorts such as Chamonix, Flaine, Les Gets or |
| paying through the nose for their three day | | | | Morzine mean that he or she can catch last |
| respite - three days of skiing that can cost | | | | orders at the Budha bar in Morzine or the |
| far more than a full two week ski holiday in | | | | famous Bdn bar in Chamonix! What can often |
| high season! Indeed the so called "budget | | | | turn out to be just a 4 and a half hour trip |
| airlines" have made skiing more accessible to | | | | door to door, makes weekend ski breaks |
| "those with no time", not so much in their | | | | comparable with a drive to Cornwall, and thus |
| low fares, as their regular schedules of up | | | | all the more attractive to city folk. But |
| to 10 flights a day.. Let's not forget the | | | | where to go? Chamonix offers high altitude |
| quick turn around, online booking, "speedy | | | | skiing just 1 hour from Geneva. With all its |
| check-in" and all to a premium ski | | | | slopes above 2000 metres, and as the home to |
| destination such as Geneva which is within an | | | | Europe's highest mountain - it offers snow |
| hour of a snow covered slope. Their schedules | | | | sure climes from December to May so you don't |
| consist of early morning or late evening | | | | have to book your weekend ski breaks at |
| flights to fit in around your prior work | | | | expensive last minute prices. Chamonix also |
| commitments, a fast turnaround and generous | | | | offers one of the most vibrant and eclectic |
| hand baggage policies which make them even | | | | cafe cultures in the alps, and with over 148 |
| more convenient for weekend ski breaks. | | | | bars and 200 shops not to mention some of the |
| Unlike the more traditional weekly ski | | | | best non-ski attractions in the alps, |
| holiday which seems to get cheaper with time | | | | Chamonix allows the time conscious skier to |
| as over committed Tour Operators sell off | | | | pack maximum action into their precious |
| seats at knock down prices - the weekends | | | | weekend ski breaks. Morzine and Les Gets are |
| work in a different way, and unfortunately | | | | also within the desired one hour dash of |
| scheduled airfares get more expensive with | | | | Geneve; and as part of the vast Portes du |
| time. This is perhaps due to a number of | | | | Soleil it offers an unrivalled variety of |
| reasons that drive demand; whether it is the | | | | skiing and a truly charming "chocolate box |
| uncertainty of snow, the popularity of DIY | | | | resort" with boutique shopping, lovely |
| ski holidays or the premiums paid by business | | | | restaurants and beautiful chalet-style |
| class. One can't help thinking that it is the | | | | architecture. |
| sheer time saving advantages of weekend ski | | | | |
| breaks that drive these costs skyward. | | | | Shaun Parker has been an avid skier for many |
| However it needn't be so expensive. Forward | | | | years. He shares his knowledge to help advise |
| planning allows weekend skiers to make use of | | | | people off on their ski holidays. |
| buying cheaper flights far in advance. The | | | | |