Top 'end of season' ski parties
End of season ski parties have become an annual tradition for the leading ski resorts. New and innovative festivals are frequently popping up, creating competition between resorts as to who has the best end of season parties.
International music artists, unique winter wonderland festivals and mountain top ski and snowboarding have all set new standards as far as end of season parties are concerned. Online ski holiday specialist and top independent UK ski tour operator Directski.com has come up with its definitive list of the very best end of season ski parties for 2011.
Avoriaz, France: Festival de Concert Sauvages
From the 2 – 9 April 2011, the popular French ski resort of Avoriaz will hold it’s first ever Festival de Concert Sauvages (Great Outdoors Music Festival). The unique ‘ski-music’ festival will bring in some of the top up-and-coming international and French headliners to front 20 'secret' gigs at undisclosed, ski-to mountain side locations, all accessible with the ski lift pass. Portes du Soleil ski passes double as the entrance tickets to the concerts. SMS text messages will then announce the location of these secret gigs shortly before the live events take place.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the 4* Les Balcons du Soleil departing on the 2nd April for £239pp (was £439), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick, £269pp from Manchester (was £620), saving £200pp, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Mayrhofen, Austria: Snowbombing 2011
From the 4 – 9 April 2011, the Austrian ski resort of the Mayrhofen Valley is once again laying the gauntlet down for ‘the greatest show on snow’ with its Snowbombing 2011 event. Top skiing and snowboarding combined with incredible line-ups with such live artists as The Prodigy, Fat Boy Slim, Pendulum and Example, from a sky high igloo rave, to an open-air gathering in forest, from a secret backcountry bash, to Austria’s biggest fancy dress street party. Quite simply, Snowbombing tears up the rulebook and dares to dance somewhere different.
Meribel, France: The 2011 Altitude Festival
From 26th March – 1st April 2011, the French ski resort of Meribel will be holding its annual ‘Altitude Festival’ as part of its season closure. One of the most unique winter festivals, Altitude will be held across a variety of different venues offering live stand up comedy (with a line up still to be confirmed), live music & DJs, slope style events, big air competitions, snowball fights, giant slalom races and even three legged races!
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at Le Grand Chalet in Meribel, France, departing on the 26th March for £219pp (was £419), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick and Manchester, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Tignes, France: 2011 European X-Games Competition
From 16th March – 18th March 2011, the French ski resort of Tignes will be hosting the second annual European Winter X-Games snowboard and ski competition. The event comes right off the heels of the January 2011 Winter X-Games in Aspen, Colorado, which was broadcast live in 8 countries and distributed to over 160 countries and territories. The Tignes European X-Games is the first version of the world renowned X-Games competition to be held outside of the US, and with more than 125 athletes from all over the world ready to compete in Snowboard and Skiing, the event has the capacity to be a big one.
Directski.com has a week’s half board stay at the 4* Village Montana Apartments in the French resort of Tignes departing on the 12th March for £519pp (was £719), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick and Manchester, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Arinsal, Andorra: The Big Snow Festival 2011
From 13th – 20th March 2011, the Andorran ski resort of Arinsal will be buzzing with the end of season party atmosphere as it hosts its annual Big Snow Festival; featuring some of the biggest UK DJs including Westwood, Fern Cotton & Scott Mills, Example & DJ Wire and many more. Don’t Stay In have dubbed The Big Snow Festival as ‘the week long rollercoaster of skiing, snowboarding and big nights out’.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the 3* Hotel Club Daina Apartments in the Andorran resort of Arinsal departing on the 13th March for £329pp (was £519), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick, £259pp from Manchester (was £459), saving £200pp, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Ischgl, Austria: The 2011 Top of the Mountain Concert
The ski-closing Top of the Mountain Concert in the Tyrolean resort of Ischgl, Austria has comfortably reached legendary status when considering end of season ski parties with globally renowned artists such as Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys and even Elton John gracing the stage. The next ski-closing concert in Ischgl in Tyrol is set for April 30th 2011, and whoever has been chosen to entertain the crowds at the next celebration, to end the ski season, is still a strongly guarded secret. However, you can be sure that you'll be in for a great surprise and a great week of skiing.
Avoriaz, France: Jazz festival 2011
If big end of season parties and colossal live music concerts isn’t your cup of tea then the Jazz Up Festival in France’s Avoriaz resort might just be for you. Taking place from the 18th – 25th March and now in its 4th year, the Jazz Up Festival will hold over 40 dinner concerts during the week, 4 larger concerts taking place in the festival hall as well as numerous jazz themes events throughout the week with a whole host of jazz performers from around the world.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the French resort of Morzine, neighbor to Avoriaz, in the 4* La Creche Chalet Apartments departing on the 19th March for £504pp (was £704), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick, and Manchester, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
Val d'Isère, France: 2011 End of Season BIG Party Atmosphere
For long days of skiing, sunshine and a big end of season party atmosphere, the French resort of Val d'Isère is well known for constantly closing their season with a bang. From the middle of April right through to the beginning of May expect to see lots of end of season celebrations, including parades and lots of vin chaud, so there’s definitely plenty to enjoy.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the 3* Club Belambra Les Jardins de la Balme apartments departing on the 16nd April for £359pp (was £559), saving £200pp, including return flights from Gatwick, £399pp from Manchester (was £599), saving £200pp, and transfers, based on 4 sharing.
For more information, and bookings, visit: directski.com
