A view from the French Alpine resort, Méribel

It seems European ski resorts are no longer snowed under by the global economic downturn and are starting to show signs of recovery according to the first-ever Ski Resort Property Index for Q2 2011 from Knight Frank, with prices in many resorts having now stabilised or in some cases having seen small increases, particularly across the French Alps.

Over the past five years, French ski resorts have experienced a substantial amount of investment, helping improve accessibility and infrastructure as well as the quality of the skiing, However, it is thought that other factors are at play in the stabilisation of prices and recovery of the market.

It has been suggested that a large number of high altitude French ski resorts often prove more reliable in terms of snowfall, while an additional factor at work, apart from the culinary delights, comes from the wide selection of seasonal sports and activities available beyond skiing.

Liam Bailey from Knight Frank

Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, comments: “Demand for property is proving less seasonal in many of the world’s luxury ski resorts. Summer tourism, often involving hiking and climbing, particularly in the Alps, has helped to increase rental incomes for many second homeowners. The Alps are now host to a number of summer festivals, concerts and sporting events attracting visitors year round.”

Certainly, the year-round appeal has been a big attraction for Eurozone buyers in 2010/11. While UK buyers account for 35-40% of prime property purchasers in the French Alps, Italian buyers have been fiercely competing for a slice of the property market having been unaffected by currency variations at the time of the global economic recession.

Further research from the Ski Resort Property Index highlights that sales activity in French alpine resorts in 2010/11 has proved strong with areas such as Courchevel, Méribel, Megève and Val d’Isère performing well and seeing the best properties draw interest from more than one buyer. This has allowed sales to be made at or near the asking price.

High demand

Ranked one of the best ski resorts by the Daily Telegraph and now even easier to reach with Eurostar direct ski trains from St Pancras, London to Moutiers, only 25 minutes away from the resort commencing 17th December, Meribel, situated in the middle of Les Trois Vallées, is in high demand as investors rush to snap up luxury units in the only new build development this season, Les Balcons de la Chapelle.

An interior at Les Balcons de la Chapelle

Business Development Manager, Charlie Williams of Terresens, France’s leading eco-friendly property developer responsible for Les Balcons de la Chapelle in Meribel, comments: “New ski property developments such as Les Balcons de la Chapelle have brought a fresh level of quality and luxury to French resorts. Meribel remains one of the most popular destinations with British ski enthusiasts, ranked one of the 50 most expensive locations for residential property in the world by the Knight Frank Prime Residential Index (2010) with property prices reflecting the desirability of the area.

“While the market is still very price sensitive, viewings for property in prime French alpine resorts have increased and we at Terresens have seen considerable interest in our luxury new build development in the heart of Meribel, perfect for those who desire all year round indulgence.”

The limited number of 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom apartments and chalets of Les Balcons de la Chapelle occupy a prime location, just a short walk from the ski lifts, shops and restaurants and command incredible unobstructed views out over the mountains. Available fully furnished to the buyer’s specification, these luxurious residences afford stunning views over the valley and La Chapelle Notre Dame costing from €560,000.

To find out more about Les Balcons de la Chapelle in Meribel, contact the developer Terresens at www.terresensproperties.com.

Mark Krull

The nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping and it’s time to switch the heating on. The last thing anyone wants is this most important of creature comforts breaking down and, with the ever more expensive Christmas day creeping closer, saving money on fuel bills is also very important – especially with energy prices creeping up year on year.

Mark Krull, eco-expert from Logic4training – which trains gas fitters, plumbers and electricians – gives his top tips for preventing heating disasters and keeping warm for less.

• Frozen pipes: We suffered a particularly cold winter last year with frozen condensate pipes (the black, white or grey pipe coming from the bottom of the boiler to the outside) a common complaint. Frozen pipes means the boiler will stop working completely.
• To stop this happening again, ideally, you should call a Gas Safe Registered Installer to help thaw the pipe, plus find a solution to the problem. If it’s an emergency and you can’t get anyone to help, use a hot water bottle or heat wrap (like the ones used to ease muscle pain) and hold round the pipe until thawed. Only attempt to thaw a pipe at ground level, which is easily accessible – don’t scale walls or climb on the roof! Once thawed the boiler must be reset.
• Prevention is better than cure; insulate your pipes with waterproof lagging
• Bleed radiators: If your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom this means there’s an air lock and they need bleeding. Unscrew the ‘bleed screw’ at the top, using a radiator key and let the air out until water comes through. If you have a sealed system, make sure you replace air let out with water using the filling loop (this should have been shown to you when the boiler was installed.) If you’re a landlord, show your tenants how to do this when they move in. It will stop unnecessary maintenance calls.
  

  If it's this cold outside, don't let him into your home!

• If you keep having to bleed your radiators it probably means there’s a water leak, so you should call a trained installer to take a look.
• Service: Whether you’ve got a gas, oil or solid fuel boiler an annual service will ensure your heating systems is working to optimum efficiency, plus highlight any problems before they arise. Landlords, this is your responsibility. Tenants, make sure you ask for a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate when you move in.
• New gas safety rules: If you have a boiler where all, or part of, the flue cannot be seen then inspection hatches need to be fitted. You’ve got until January 2013 to sort this out. If you don’t, by law your boiler could be switched-off.
• Keep safe: Install a Carbon Monoxide tester to warn if there’s a leak. If you do have a leak call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately, on 0800 111 999.

Keep warm (and spend less):

• Understand your boiler: Learn how to use your boiler properly and save on your heating. If you’re a landlord (especially one with bills included in the rent) go through how the boiler works with your tenants and explain how to use the heating most efficiently. Don’t switch your heating off in the winter; keep it a low base temperature overnight. It costs more to heat up a freezing cold room.
• Do turn your thermostat down. Reducing the temperature by just one degree, will save eight per cent on your heating bill.
• Do make sure all radiators have thermostatic valves (TRV’s); then you can set the temperature in each room.

Draught proof:

• Stop your home leaking heat like a sieve; invest in some thick curtains, draught proof round doors and windows and cover the attic hatch with blankets. Make sure your radiators aren’t covered by furniture.

Insulate:

• Up to 35% of the heat in your home is lost through the walls, and up to 25% through your roof. Not all houses can have cavity wall insulation, but every roof should. According to the energy saving trust, insulating your loft could save £180 a year.
• The Governments ‘Green Deal’ is offering free insulation for some homes, paid back through utility bills. For more information visit the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s website: www.decc.gov.uk

Listen up landlords!

• 

  Keep safe - and keep warm this winter

  The days of letting out draughty, badly maintained properties are over. Landlords may have to pay fines of up to £5,000 if they rent properties without proper insulation and if tenants ask for energy efficiency improvements you won’t be able reasonably to refuse them. Local authorities will potentially have the power to insist landlords upgrade the worst-performing properties. Help is at hand when it comes to insulation – the Green Deal applies to landlords too.

• To help Landlords make their properties meet the proposed legislation, Logic4training is launching a Landlord Efficiency Awareness Course in 2011. For more information call: 0845 845 7222, or email enquiries@logic4training.co.uk.
• All landlords should present tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which details how a property performs in terms of energy efficiency (plus improvement suggestions).

Call in the experts

If you have any work relating to your gas heating, you must check that the installer you choose is Gas Safe Registered. They should present you with an ID card. If they don’t have this, then walk away – badly installed or maintained gas equipment could result in death. To find your nearest Gas Safe Registered installer, visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk.

For more information about Logic4training, visit: www.logic4training.co.uk.

New York's discount scheme to the Big Apple: CityPass

This fall, take a bite the of the Big Apple for less money. Ever-changing New York City is an ideal autumn getaway. Just as the kids are heading back to school, thinning the crowds at the city’s most popular museums and landmarks, dozens of exciting new shows are opening in theatres on Broadway and beyond.

Leaves are beginning to change colour in Central Park, restaurant menus are shifting their focus to comfort food, and hotel deals are suddenly more plentiful.

A great Big Apple deal is New York CityPASS, which ensures that travellers experience the best of the city at nearly half of the regular price. Each New York CityPASS includes prepaid admission to the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), as well as two option tickets.

The first option ticket lets holders choose between either a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise; the second, a choice between the Guggenheim Museum and Top of the Rock observation deck.

New York CityPASS costs $79 for adults (value $146) and $59 for kids, ages 6-17. In addition to the savings, New York CityPASS allows holders to bypass most main entrance ticket lines.

Manhattan’s fall visitors will be among the first to see two newly acquired collections of Conceptual art at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). And what better way to end the day than with a little music atop the Empire State Building. The 86th-floor observatory, open nightly until 2am (the last elevators go up at 1:15am), now offers live saxophone music (Thursday-Saturday, 10pm-1am).

New York CityPASS can be purchased online at CityPASS.com or at any of the CityPASS attractions. It is valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use. CityPASS ticket booklets are also available for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Southern California.

For more information on CityPASS, visit www.CityPASS.com

Fernie Alpine Resort, Canada, Opens Polar Peak Lift, The Biggest Vertical In The Canadian Rockies

At Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia, you have a ski destination not to miss this winter

The spectacular Polar Peak Lift will add onto the already incredible vertical at Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia, now giving the ski resort a whopping 3,550 vertical feet when it opens this winter. Combine the most snow in the Canadian Rockies, with the most alpine bowl skiing in the Canadian Rockies and the biggest vertical and you have your ski destination of choice in Canada.

With over 2,500 acres of terrain over five alpine bowls, the deepest snow in the Rockies and a year-long celebration commemorating 50 years of legendary skiing and riding and you have a ski destination not to miss this winter!

The Polar Peak lift is the only major new lift installation in the BC Rockies for this winter and one of a few new lift installations in North America. It is believed that it is the only new lift installation going to a mountain-top for this upcoming winter.

The Polar Peak Lift adds an above tree-line Bowl skiing experience with over 22 new runs and the incredible experience of skiing off the summit of one of the highest peaks in the Lizard Range, Polar Peak. In addition to the new Polar Peak Lift, Fernie Alpine Resort offers nine other lifts and 140 marked runs – now having the most Ski Runs in the Canadian Rockies.

The Polar Peak Lift provides quick access to the various ridge-lines above the major alpine bowls. This quicker access for Ski Patrol will speed up efforts to open up terrain following the regular snowfalls Fernie Alpine Resort receives.

For more information e-mail: Eileen Clarke at Tourism British Columbia at EClarke@TourismBC.co.uk  (picture credit: Tourism British Columbia)

The opening up of new Jet2 routes from Scotland will give skiers greater access to the slopes

From December 2011, low-cost airline Jet2 are commencing new routes from Edinburgh and Glasgow to the heart of the Alps – Chambery, Geneva and Salzburg. With the winter holiday season only months away many keen skiers will already be planning a vacation and having greater access to the slopes is excellent news with direct flights from Glasgow to Geneva and Edinburgh to Salzburg and Chambery.

Commenting on the announcement of the new routes, Ian Doubtfire, Jet2′s Managing Director, said: “Friendly flight times are carefully scheduled to get passengers to the resorts and out on the snow the day they arrive. Customers don’t need to rush for a seat as they are pre-allocated – we want to make sure any racing is done on the piste and not to get on the aircraft!”

For owners of chalets on the Alpine ski slopes who will be looking to maximise their rental potential, new flight opportunities such as these are always fabulous news.

Charlie Williams, Business Development Manager of eco-friendly ski property developer Terresens and keen ski enthusiast explains: “Giving home owners and holidaymakers more choice and more availability to fly is always very positive news. We are particularly interested in the new flights being opened up to Chambery. This airport is a key portal to get into the Alps but also particularly good for people wanting to ski in the Tarentaise as the airport is only just over an hour from most resorts in this area. This ski region includes Val d’Isère and Tignes which is undoubtedly one of the largest ski areas in the world.

La Chapelle at Ste Foy is fully equipped with a wide range of facilities including an in/out pool and a spa

“We have a particularly interesting development in Ste Foy which nestles just below these two busy resorts. Ste Foy is a beautiful hidden gem, tucked 20 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Tignes and Val. The beauty of this resort is that the prices are ridiculously cheap compared to their neighbouring giants and holidaymakers have the choice of spending the day on the quiet slopes on their doorstep or driving up the mountain to use one of the other resorts. Another great fact about Ste Foy is you are skiing below the tree line rather than the barren open pistes in Val d’Isère and Tignes.”

La Chapelle is a luxurious 4* block of 68 apartments that provides both a fantastic lifestyle opportunity and also a strong investment with guaranteed and index-linked returns for 18+ years with an excellent French management company. All apartments come with fully fitted kitchens and flat screen TV’s. Shared facilities include an in/out pool, sauna, Turkish baths and a spa.

Prices for apartments in La Chapelle, Ste Foy, start from €161,014 and include furniture and parking.

For more information, contact: Terresens on-line at www.terresensleaseback.com

Just two hours from Zurich, Andermatt is ringed by the glorious Swiss Alps

Andermatt Swiss Alps, a new luxury integrated hotel and residential resort located in Switzerland, two hours from Zurich, has joined Sustain Worldwide, the prestigious sustainable development membership organisation. Andermatt Swiss Alps will eventually be home to 25-30 villas, 490 apartments and six hotels with 844 rooms, including the showpiece Hotel Chedi Andermatt, which will open in 2013.

Located on the site of former army base ringed by stunning Alpine mountains, the site had largely become considered ‘untouchable’ for Swiss or European developers. “Nobody wanted to take the risk,” said Samih Sawiris, the Egyptian-born developer of the resort and managing director of Orascom Development. “It took a foreigner to realise there was a great opportunity and to have the vision to see the potential on offer here – and to have the guts to take on the challenge.”

Orascom’s major challenge is to build the resort sustainably so that its environmental impact is kept to a minimum – not only now but looking forward 40 years. Based on personal conviction, Sawiris has a firm belief in, and commitment to develop Andermatt Swiss Alps as a carbon neutral resort. The company’s principles espouse contemporary enlightened thinking: that businesses will only continue to prosper if they manage the environmental, social and economic impact of their business actions and activities.

At Andermatt Swiss Alps, the environmental impact is being managed by the generation of heat from geothermal – deep piles drilled into the earth from which to extract heat. Local stone and timber is being utilised to reduce the embodied energy impact of importing materials from far distances. All hotels and apartments will be built to Swiss Minergie standards. The company is exploring the possibility of incorporating the BREEAM environmental methodology, (the world’s most rigorous), into future phases of the master-planned resort.

Andermatt Swiss Alps will eventually be home to 25-30 villas, 490 apartments and six hotels with 844 rooms,

Property released for sale is priced from CHF15,500 (approx £10,000) per m2. The smallest one-bedroom apartment, in one of four apartment houses about under construction, is a large 91m2. The first hotel underway, the Chedi Andermatt, a 5-star superior, is scheduled to be open by 2013. Two-bedroom condos in the uber-stylish, landmark hotel are for sale, priced from CHF22,000 (approx £15,000) per m2. The high-end prices are reflected in the first class design values, and the overarching sustainable luxury of the resort.

Sustain Worldwide CEO Anwar Harland-Khan, said: “Andermatt Swiss Alps’ parent company, Orascom Development, has an enviable sustainability track-record and commitment to enlightened environmentalism. In central Europe, Andermatt Swiss Alps is demonstrating sustainability leadership qualities. The company’s ethos to develop a luxury integrated resort where sustainability is integral to the development and construction process and not simply a bolt on resonates perfectly with Sustain Worldwide’s philosophy.”

Sustain Worldwide’s members, who have committed to develop sustainably and in consideration of their impact on the environment and local communities, are creating luxury sustainable homes that are among the finest to be found in today’s international property market. Set in outstanding locations in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Morocco, Brazil, Kenya, Montenegro, Thailand and now Switzerland, the properties are priced from as little as £175,000 to several million in some cases.

For more information about Sustain Worldwide and its members’ luxury sustainable homes, resorts and communities, visit www.SustainWorldwide.com

For more information about Andermatt Swiss Alps visit www.andermatt-swissalps.ch

“Three years ago we bought a brand new, three bedroom apartment in Uzumlu, near Fethiye, on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. We now love Turkey so much, its people, the weather and its low cost of living, we have bought a detached villa for our retirement,” says Roger Hawkins.

Roger and Sally first started visiting Turkey for their holidays about five years ago. A choice of flights from East Midlands and Birmingham, near their home town of Newark, Nottinghamshire, encouraged visits to a virtually unspoilt coastline and countryside. “It has only been in the last few years the Turkish Government has realised the tourist potential and created a mini-boom in visitors”, says Roger.

The apartment they bought is in a pretty village with views over the spectacular mountains which are often snow capped in winter. About 40 minutes drive takes you to a small ski resort and 45 minutes to Dalaman Airport. The apartment is extremely spacious with three double bedrooms. In addition there are beautiful balconies and use of a communal pool and landscaped gardens.

“Although we bought it as a holiday home we have had the added bonus of being able to let the property easily and in the high season can receive around £250 per week. In fact, currently we have a six month let on the property which has been an additional benefit”.

Add to this the exceptional cost of living with a council tax of around only £80 per year and money goes a lot further which is why the Hawkins felt it was perfect for retirement. The village, where they have now bought a three-bedroom villa with a large pool, is unspoiled.

With a population of around 2,000 it is an active community with plenty of shops and restaurants and also a number of British ex-pats (at least 40 to 50 couples), so they have an excellent lifestyle while living among the friendly Turkish population.

Concluded Roger, “With austerity measures coming in to the UK, it will be wonderfully restful to move away and enjoy a totally relaxed lifestyle. It will open up the whole of the Mediterranean in terms of visiting other countries. Kos and Cyprus are so close they can be reached by ferry and of course. with a number of airlines flying directly to the UK, visits home are easy and relatively cheap.”

The Hawkins property is currently being marketed by Oceanwide Properties a company offering expert advice and assistance to UK buyers, with offices both in the UK and in Turkey. Specialising in the Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey, which appeal very much to the British, their website offers a wide range of properties from £37,000 to around £350,000.

“Properties in Turkey offer exceptional value for money and with excellent capital growth of around 12-30% in the past 12 months, depending on location plus good rental returns, interest is growing rapidly helped in many ways by the curb on high rise homes, ensuring that the coastline retains as much as possible its natural beauty”.

Uzumlu apartment

Situated in Uzumlu with fabulous views over the valley and mountains, this three bedroom, 2^nd floor apartment, is just a few minutes walk from the centre of the village. The first floor boasts a very large patio that is shared with the other apartments. There is a covered car park with reserved parking. The property offers three double bedrooms, one with en suite, fully tiled bathroom and all have large balconies. There is also a family bathroom and the fitted kitchen is open plan. There is a very low charge for the maintenance of the communal pool and garden.

Offers are invited over £55,000. The property has been reduced for a quick sale.Oceanwide Properties has an office in the UK and another in Turkey. For more information, go online at www.oceanwideproperties.co.uk or call 0845 520 3030

The environmentally-friendly properties at La Reserve in Avenue d'Albigny, Annecy

Bespoke new homes planned for an historic lakeside town in the Haute-Savoie region of France will be a showcase for environmentally-friendly development. That is the claim of of one of France’s leading Alpine developer, MGM, which has just started work on exclusive new luxury apartments at La Reserve in the historic and picturesque lakeside town of Annecy.

Comprising two, three-storey buildings together containing 17, one- to three-bedroom apartments in the residential area fronting Annecy’s prestigious Avenue d’Albigny – dubbed ‘the Champs Élysées of Annecy,’ it is said to be the town’s ‘most enviable address’ – La Reserve follows the success of MGM’s first three developments in the area.

Contemporary external and internal design

In the latest scheme – La Villa d’Artagnan – all but one of the 18 homes ranging from one-bedroom apartments to a four-bedroom duplex have been sold but MGM is retaining its show apartment so that off-plan buyers at La Reserve can see the variety and calibre of the finishes available.

Says Richard Deans, sales consultant in MGM’s London office: “La Reserve, which features a contemporary external and internal design, is highly unusual as buyers can choose from a huge variety of kitchens, bathrooms, doors, tiles and other finishes to personalise their bespoke home.” All the properties will have spacious balconies or terraces, many with views of the lake and mountains.

“MGM has pledged to design and build homes which respect and help to conserve the environment and natural resources,” says Richard. “Those planned at La Reserve will be a showcase for environmentally-friendly development.”

Lake Annecy is located in the Haute Savoie regioin of France

This project has features that range from geothermic under-floor heating to the use of water-based products in place of conventional solvent-based ones. In many case MGM has opted for building materials that can be recycled in the longer term.

Prices of the apartments at La Reserve, which will be ready for occupation in the summer of 2011, start at €560,000 for a two-bedroom apartment of 64 square feet. Investors could expect to achieve a monthly rental income for a two-bedroom apartment of in the region of €1,600 to €1,700 during the ski season and summer months, says Richard Deans.

For full details of La Reserve call 0207 4940706 or visit the website: www.mgm-constructeur.com

If you have your home in Liguria at, for example, the Dominio San Sebastiano Resort in Bergeggi, you could be in the ski area around Cuneo (to mention just one destination in Prato Nevoso) in little more than one hour by car.

Luca Catalano of Realitalia says: “In reality you could enjoy a weekend at your sea view Spa at Dominio San Sebastiano Resort in Bergeggi, swimming in the heated open air seafront swimming pool on the Friday, followed by Saturday spent skiing on the slopes and you could still be back in the evening for a relaxing sauna.”

One of the largest ski areas in Italy, Via Lattea, which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic, is home to around 400 kilometres of pistes. This is a really grown-up ski resort if you consider that, for example, Val d'Isere in France, accounts for some 300 kilometres of pistes

Dominio San Sebastiano is a holiday home resort promoted by Realitalia, a company specialising in high quality new builds and renovations throughout Italy, all backed up by an exemplary concierge service and professional letting management.

Since Dominio San Sebastiano is a holiday home resort, it offers the opportunity to get rental guarantee arrangements for those who are after an income from their overseas home and are looking to purchase with a mortgage, since rates are very low and the euro is strong against the pound sterling.

The resort is perched on the Bergeggi Hills overlooking the clear blue Mediterranean and sits within a lush four hectare Mediterranean park. It is just 40 minutes from Genoa airport and just under two hours by car from Nice and Milan.

This brand new, eco resort comprises one and two bedroom apartments and villas. All have views of the peaceful bay and have easy access to the private beach which can be reached on foot. Local shops and cafés in the town that are close by make this an ideal holiday destination.

There are a number of attractions nearby including archaeological sites, golf courses and with an attractive drive, you can be in the south of France in a relatively short time. There are also opportunities for trekking, cycling and bird watching.

Don’t forget that this is a year-round destination with skiing at Limone Piemonte and Prato Nevoso around one to one and a half hours away.

Concluded Luca: “This is a destination for all seasons. Dominio San Sebastiano makes an excellent holiday home both for personal use and letting, and enables owners to maximise on their property investment by reducing periods throughout the year when their property is empty.”

Currently, prices at Dominio San Sebastiano, Liguria, Northern Italy are:

• one bedroom flats (gardens and terraces) from £ 300,000
• two bedroom flats (garden and terraces) from £ 500,000
• villas (gardens) from £ 600,000

Contact Realitalia at www.realitalia.co.uk or call them on 0870 8909936 for more information

Realitalia are members of the UK Green Building Council and the company signed the 2016 Commitment to build zero carbon emission homes by 2016.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Winter's arrived...

It doesn’t matter where you’re going, what the season is, whether there’ll be snow and skis or sand and sea, there are certain basic rules it’s worth heeding. Along with the early skiers, many sunshine-starved families who opted for a UK ‘raincation’ during the summer will be heading for more reliable climates this Christmas break.

As a result, UK airports promise to be busy despite the economic woes. Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), the long-stay airport parking expert is offering travellers a selection of top tips to make sure they have a fuss-free, festive break.

The family-friendly top tips include the following:

• Check that your passports are still valid – for some countries it must be valid for six months after the date of travel, and remember, children’s passports do not last 10 years like adults.

• Make sure you have travel insurance and if travelling in the EU then obtain and take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

• Make copies of important documents and take one copy and leave one copy with a close friend or relative, or subscribe to and load them onto the ‘APH Online Safe’ in case bags get stolen or lost.

• Shop around for the best rates on foreign currency or purchase a pre-paid currency card – don’t wait until you get to the airport to buy your currency.

• Heading for the sun at this time of year means you may be travelling to more exotic destinations so check which inoculations are necessary for that country.

• Pack a foreign plug adapter.

• Charge iPod and camera batteries the night before departing

• Check that suitcase weight and dimensions conform to your airline’s rules.

• Check-in online, 24 hours before flying to avoid check-in fees at the airport.

• Print out flight e-tickets.

• Reserve seats on the plane.

• Cancel the milk and papers and make sure your central heating is on the ‘frost protection’ setting.

• If you have a very early start, consider an airport hotel the night before. This year Hotel and Parking packages are even better value and offer great peace of mind.

• If not, set a back up alarm clock to make sure you wake up for early departures.

• Make sure your car is prepared for the journey to the airport – for example, check tyres, battery and screen washer fluid.

• Double check the booking if you have arranged a taxi to take you to the airport and be sure you have a contact number if they fail to show up at the agreed time.
  

  The Mediterranean is beautiful at any time of year - but don't forget to copy your travel documents

APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon-balanced company and has, through the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.

© Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Stewart Andersen’s Property Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

“As a company we provide a one-to-one service with our clients,” says Serge Cowan, managing director of Unique Living. “We specialise in re-sale homes that are established, beautifully presented and in first-class locations away from new-build developments. We focus on beautiful locations with the excellent facilities.

“We are pleased with the wide selection of homes currently being offered in the French Alps. By specialising in quality areas and homes, we are able to offer our clients only the best that the area has to offer. Prices range from £500,000 to £12,000,000 plus.”

Chalets that are the last word in comfort

Courchevel 1850: This resort is renowned for its designer shops and 5-star hotels, and some leading restaurants, including Bergerie and Cap Horn. The resort attracts some of the names from the world of business, as well as international A-list celebrities,.

Mèribel: A luxury chalet ski resort with homes that are mainly built in a traditional style and all under strict building regulations so there is always a shortage of homes and competition to purchase a property here can be fierce.

Megève: A cosmopolitan ski resort with a 17th century church and a centre which is closed to traffic for several hours a day. Après ski entertainment includes casino, clubs and live shows.

Val d’Isère: One of the most popular French ski resorts, here there is an eclectic mix of original stone homes and newer wooden residences. There is fantastic skiing including the Olympic downhill course and glacier skiing. Val d’Isère is renowned for its après-ski with a range of exclusive restaurants and for partygoers, plus nightclubs and bars.

Currently available through Unique Living:

Courchevel (1850), French Alps, France. A five-bedroom chalet with 350 square metres of living space which includes spacious living and dining room with a welcoming fireplace and professional, fully-equipped kitchen. Each of the five bedrooms boasts its own private bathroom. Traditional style interior with heavy beams and wood panelling. Features include: private lift, garage and relaxation space with TV area, Jacuzzi and sauna. Ref.A019794

Price 3 million euros.

Megève, French Alps A six-bedroom, brand new, individual chalet affording 300 square metres on three floors. There are six en-suite bathrooms. There is a contemporary interior design with Alpine architecture. Wide living space on one level makes it ideal for entertaining on a grand scale. Open fireplace. Features include: cinema room and wellness area. South orientated terraces. Elegant design and décor. Ref AO20107

Price 3 million euros.

Val d’Isère, French Alps A new architectural project of two chalets.

Both properties are to be built to the highest specifications with a range of facilities that encompass both comfort and wellbeing. This is a rare opportunity to own a luxury chalet in the centre of Val d’Isere. RefA020242

Price 4,900,000 euros for 300 square metres chalet

9,800,000 euros for 500 square metres chalet.

For those just looking for a pied-à-terre, then a one-bedroom apartment with balcony, fully refurbished, in Courchevel is available for 330,000 euros.

Unique Living can be contacted on: 020 8416 0230 or at www.uniqueliving.com

How to get there provided by www.travelsupermarket.com

Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Mèribel and Megève are all accessible from four airports in France and Switzerland as follows. They are in order of distance – nearest first.
(Note that for Megeve the distance order is Geneva, then Chambery, Grenoble and Lyon in that order)

Chambery – Flights operate with Snowjet from Stansted, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, Jet2.com from Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Leeds/Bradford and flybe from Exeter, Southampton and Birmingham.

Grenoble – Easyjet from Bristol, Gatwick, Luton and Birmingham, Ryanair from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Stansted, Air Southwest from Plymouth and Newquay, and charters and from various UK airports with flythomascook.com

Geneva – Easyjet from 13 UK airports, bmibaby from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands and Manchester, British Airways from Gatwick, Air France from London City, Baboo from London City, Swiss from London City and Manchester and flybe from 9 UK airports as well as charters from various UK airports with flythomascook.com

Lyon – Easyjet from Edinburgh, Gatwick and Stansted, British Airways from Heathrow, Air France from Birmingham and flybmi from Manchester along with charters from various UK airports with flythomascook.com

Flights take between 1hr45 and 2 hours

Prices start from as little as £19.99 one way when sales are in force, however average fares will be around £60 to £150 for Geneva and slightly higher for the other airports.

Transfers to the resorts are available by car, train and bus from all airports.

For more information, go to: www.travelsupermarket.com

© Stewart Andersen and Property & Travel with Stewart Andersen, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stewart Andersen and Property & Travel with Stewart Andersen with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.