The snow is falling, many resorts have opened their ski areas weeks early and, for most Britons, the winter ski season is just about to begin. Today the UK’s number one ski holiday company, Crystal Ski, launches preview edition of its ski and snowboarding brochure for 2010/11.

As part of Crystal’s commitment to offer skiers the best value holidays next season we are delighted to continue with Crystal Ski PLUS. Crystal Ski Plus packages include flights, transfers, local lift pass, ski/board hire or ski carriage, self-catering and in-resort service from £389 per person for a five night stay, ideal for beginner skiers, skiers on a budget or skiers who can’t get enough of skiing! Valid for departures during non-peak times to the top resorts including Les Arcs and La Plagne in the Paradiski.

We offer one new ski resort — the small and charming village of IGLS in Austria, just 5km from the city of Innsbruck. The ski area is suitable for beginners and intermediates. Advanced skiers can also explore eight other ski areas totalling 295km of piste, all within reach by free ski bus. It’s an ideal location for parties with non-skiers who can easily reach the historical city of Innsbruck by tram in 30 minutes and enjoy its charming medieval centre with shops and museums.

Also new for next season is the SKI HOST service, available to our French club hotel guests in Courchevel, Morzine, Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. A resident ski expert will be on-hand offering free five-day ski or board escorting service to beat the queues, find the best runs and provide inside information.

Crystal Ski is also introducing ‘FREESKI GROMCAMPS’ in selected European resorts. These camps are for all ages and standards of skiers, from first time freestylers to pro riders, expertly taught by the UK’s top riders & coaches including Pat Sharples, a former England freestyle ski team captain.

Special early booking offers for 2010/11:

Free childcare offer — saving of £220
Book before 31 May 2010 and receive free all-day child care worth £220 for the duration of your ski holiday. The offer is valid for Pepi Penguin and Whizz Kids Clubs for children between the ages of 6 months to 11 years in selected accommodation in Alpe d’Huez, Morzine, Les Deux Alpes (France), Kitzbühel (Austria) and Claviere (Italy).

2 for 1 lift pass offer – saving up to £202
Book your Crystal ski holiday to selected accommodation in Alpe d’Huez, Flaine, Morzine, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes, Val d’Isere (France); Kitzbühel (Austria); Cervinia or Claviere (Italy) before 31 May 2010, and get two-for-one lift pass saving in Alpe d’Huez, for example, up to £202.

As always Crystal Ski features lots of special offers for all sorts of holidays:

Hundreds of free children places on every departure date.
Free lift passes and ski equipment for children in over 60 resorts if an adult pre-books the same.

Extended three day ski escorting in 49 resorts.

The best ever group discounts with up to 1 in 4 free.

Christmas and New Year’s departure dates 2010

With Christmas and New Year falling on a Saturday in 2010, using Crystal customer feedback, we have opted to run the Christmas and New Year schedule as follows:

French and Swiss resorts departures:
Monday 13, 20 and 27 December (7 nights)
Monday 3 January (5 nights Crystal Ski Plus for £389 per person in the two-star Hameau du Sauget Apartments in La Plagne, France, including return flights from Gatwick, transfers, local lift pass, ski/board hire or ski carriage).

Austrian resort departures:
Tuesday 14, 21 and 28 December (7 nights)
Tuesday 4 January (4 nights self catering for £229 per person in the three-star Rauris Apartments in Rauris, Austria, including return flights from Gatwick or Luton to Salzburg and transfers).

After this, all departures will revert to a Saturday as normal.

All other countries have departures on the Sunday, which will remain.

Lead-in price: £319 per person based on six sharing on a week’s self catering at the Christiania Residence Apartments in Alpe d’Huez, France, departing on 13th Dec from Gatwick including airport transfers.