easyJet Inflight January 2008

Piste-side properties

COMPILED BY CHRIS SHIPLEY

We check out the market for slope-side chalets, on a budget of €300,000. Here are five of Europe’s best offers…

1 | Kirchdorf
Tyrol, Austria
You’re unlikely to find a chalet in the Tyrol on this kind of budget, but a ground floor apartment close to the internationally renowned resort of Kitzbühel is well within your reach. The relatively modest 121m2 living space is more than compensated for by the consistently awesome skiing on your doorstep. €262,000 www.alps.realestate-dreams.com

2 | Bansko
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Bulgarian ski resorts like Bansko are developing rapidly into viable alternatives to western European resorts. Winner of the International Property Awards 2006 ‘Best Bulgarian Development’, The Orchard is a new apartment complex designed by Barbara Holzer. It boasts a shared ice rink, cinema and spa. €34,500—€273,000 www.bulgariandreams.com

3 | Morgins
Portes du Soleil, Switzerland
Morgins is one of 13 villages that make up the Portes du Soleil region along the Swiss-French border. Interconnected lift systems give you access to 650km of piste, so you can ski here for over a week without doing the same run twice. Retire in the evening to this ground floor apartment with an open plan kitchen and dining area, two bathrooms and two bedrooms. €291,000 www.chaletsdirect.com

4 | Gressan
Aosta Valley, Italy
This detatched stone and timber farmhouse has been recently renovated, and features two bedrooms and a mezzanine over three floors, and planned improvements should provide another four-room living space. As it’s less than an hour from Turin airport, you can hit the slopes a mere two hours after landing. €299,000 www.casa-alpina-italianskiproperty.co.uk

5 | Bran
Brasov, Romania
Get the best value for money in Romania with this palatial chalet. There are five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a panoramic terrace with astonishing mountain views, a sauna, and a jacuzzi. There’s enough space to holiday with your extended family; something you’ll be doing on a regular basis if you snap this up. The resort of Poiana Brasov is a few minutes away. €270,000 www.romanianpropertiesltd.co.uk

Ski lift passes

Whether you’re on a budget, or money’s no object, there’s a lift pass for you. We compare deals on six-day passes across Europe’s resorts…

VERBIER ¤173 Valais, Switzerland Although not the cheapest lift pass in Europe, after a week’s skiing in Verbier, you’ll realise why many pro skiers and celebs return here year after year. www.skichaletsverbier.co.uk

ŠPINDLERUV MLÝN ¤119 Trutnov, Czech Republic One of the Czech Republic’s most popular skiing destinations and great value for money. www.skiareal.cz/cenikuk.asp

CHAMONIX ¤225 Haute-Savoie, France Covering 500 miles of piste across an incredible 13 resorts, the Mont-Blanc Unlimited pass is the most expensive in Europe. www.chamonix.com

PEJO ¤110 Trento, Italy Pejo sits in a beautiful alpine valley in Italy’s largest National Park and is just 90 minutes from Venice airport. www.ski.it

STUBAI GLACIER ¤165 South Tyrol, Austria The Innsbruck Glacier pass gives access to four resorts. Unrivalled off-piste runs, mogul fields and spectacular vistas mean you’ll get your money’s worth. www.ifyouski.com

WHAT
WORD OF MOUTH What’s everyone talking about this month? News, gossip and trends from our European correspondents.	RELATIVE VALUES Which are the best ski chalet bargains and how much will a ski pass cost you this season?
BOOK AHEAD The Nice Carnival promises a spectacle for the eyes and the imagination.	TASTEBUDS Five new foods to tempt your tastebuds in the new year.
CALENDAR Music, art, dance… which events to look out for on your travels this month.	MUST-HAVES How to look cool, ski safe and keep warm on the slopes.
CINEMA SCENE The small Romanian film that was a big hit at Cannes, the Coen brothers back on form, and more releases.	STYLE FILE Our selection of wonderful winter clothes will make you the coolest cat on the après-ski scene.
WHO
FACE TO FACE Celebrity chef Bill Granger talks cookbooks, food markets and why Amsterdam and Barcelona are high on his travel list.	FIRST PERSON How to offend Valencian barmen and how a little wax in your ear can work wonders for a good night’s sleep.
SOUNDBITES French DJ David Guetta talks Ibiza clubs and entrepreneur Greta Corke introduces her energy electricity gadget.	THE BIG DEBATE Do big city-based events make financial sense?
PROPERTY SHORTS Ex-music Producer Larry Levene explains the lure of Switzerland, plus our expert property tips.	PROPERTY FOCUS Three couples try their luck with new lives abroad: in Chamonix, Costa Calida and Marrakesh.
PROFILE Three students discuss the allure of studying for an MBA.
WHERE
BOOK AHEAD A snapshot of Madeira, your next destination stop.	OFF-PISTE SKI With expert guides and a little local knowledge, there’s a world of fresh powder waiting.
PICTURE THIS Morocco’s stunning Atlas Mountains have an irresistible appeal for adventurers.	MOROCCO ESCAPE The town of Mirleft is an oasis of perfect surfing, local berber culture and the ideal escape for some winter sun.
RESORT ROUND-UP Showcasing easyJet’s network of ski resorts.	SOFIA AFTERHOURS The capital comes alive when the sun goes down.
CITY FOCUS Serre Chevalier in the heart of France’s ski resort country provides stunning nightlife.	WORTHY ADVENTURES Take part in a volunteer holiday for an experience to remember.
TOP THREE The best gondola views include the panoramas over Gibraltar and the Matterhorn.	EASTERN PROMISES How Romania and Bulgaria have adapted a year after their admission into the EU.