Top Five New Budget Tax Tips for Overseas Property Investors...
George Osborne’s new Emergency Budget 2010 may have sparked controversy amongst pundits in the travel and property industry, but Erna Low Property’s CEO, Joanna Yellowlees-Bound thinks there is room for optimism between the budget lines.
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Route des Grandes Alpes :
THE LEGENDARY Route des Grandes Alpes from Lac Léman to the Mediterranean takes you through some truly breathtaking scenery. Our in depth guide written from experience, will help you plan your drive with ideas for accommodation, restaurants and places to see...
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Interactive Roadmap:
The Grande Traversée des Alpes has an interactive website to help users plan their Alpine tours. There are 6 routes available in 4 languages and include the Route des Grandes Alpes, Routes de la Lavande, the Chemins du Soleil and the Via Alpina. People can download, step by step, a map of their route or circuit, find accommodation from a comprehensive listing, see local attractions and especially for cyclists, hikers and bikers, there is more technical information such as vertical profiles, time and difficulty levels. The site is very easy to navigate and is packed with essential information.  Summer Activities

The Latest Summer Gear :
SEE OUR LATEST GUIDE to spring and summer outdoor gear from our favourite store Snow + Rock. Whether you're sightseeing, cycling, trekking, bouldering or mountaineering, we show you the latest style and innovations available.
Colours are bold and vibrant, highly technical and multi-functional.
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MGM Constructeur begins eco-friendly development at Flaine...
In the French Alps this month construction work gets underway on holiday homes for sale in a brand new year-round residence de tourisme described by developer MGM as ‘state-of-the-art in terms of sustainability and fuel economy.’ Just one hour from Geneva Airport, or a six-hour drive from Calais, and popular with Britons all year round, the location offers mountain bike rides and walks, white water rafting and canyoning in summer. (© image Havis)
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Alpine Regional Cheeses :
ALPINE CHEESES are produced according to the rhythms of the seasons and using methods passed down through generations of local farmers. Here we focus on three of the most famous cheeses from the region: Beaufort, Abondance and Reblochon
Read more...  Tradition & Nature

Combloux: Taking Scenic Skiing to Another Level...
The heart of old Combloux is a genuine Savoyard mountain village complete with Baroque church and its panoramic backdrop towards Mont Blanc. The ski area, though, is considerably higher up the mountain and is a refreshing back-to-nature affair. Combloux takes some beating for anyone looking for an unspoilt natural setting.There’s reassuring terrain for beginners, and some surprising intermediate terrain with long cruises. Disabled skiers are particularly well catered-for.
Read more...  Winter & Ski

Luxury, tradition and
environmental features...
FRENCH MOUNTAIN PROPERTY (FMP) develops stylish and authentic ski properties that preserve the look and feel of traditional Alpine living. We take a closer look at the creative skills of Chris Harrop and his team based in the Tarentaise valley near Sainte-Foy.
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Megève's not all bling and furs...
After tiring of St Moritz the Rothschilds turned their attention to Megève, opened a luxury hotel and in so doing propelled the town to international renown. It has lost none of its charisma but look beyond the exclusive image and you'll find that the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, with Megève at it's heart, is a strong contender for intermediate leisure skiers.
Read more...  Winter & Ski

La Clusaz revisited...
Just about the shortest ski-drive from the UK (or a swift transfer from budget flights into Geneva) make this traditional family ski area well worth considering. But does it deliver? We’ve returned to ski it this season to bring you the very latest of our trusted independant and comprehensive Resort Reviews.
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Le Grand Bornand: less is more...
Complementing its near-neighbour La Clusaz, relaxed family skiing and solid value have made Le Grand Bornand deservedly popular with day visitors from nearby Geneva, while quick flight transfers and easy road access attract increasing numbers of skiers from the UK. We skied there in January and bring you our independant, in-depth review here.
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Serious Snow-hunters head for the Hautes-Alpes...
SKIERS LOOKING FOR QUALITY skiing that doesn't cost the earth should consider heading for the southern resorts in the Hautes-Alpes.They are sunnier, easy to get to and cheaper than other Alpine resorts but have fantastic snow, good infrastructure and a great choice of accommodation.
We skied a whole range of resorts in the southern Alps last season and to help decide which would suit you, review them in full in our Ski Resort Reviews.
The ski areas offering the greatest variety of skiing, other activities and largest range of accommodation include Vars (linked with Risoul), and Montgenèvre. We loved the traditional family resorts of La Joue du Loup and its linked neighbour Super Dévoluy. You'll hear lots more about the impressive resort of Les Orres - which boasts surprisingly challenging terrain and has a new ski village at 2000m. Pra Loup, linked with Val d'Allos is great for families, as is Orcières 1850 - a little known resort but with bags of quality skiing and some rather unusual activities on offer.  Winter & Ski

Looking For Luxury..?
FOR MANY OF US THE PERFECT SKI HOLIDAY must combine wonderful skiing, great après-ski and comfortable, spacious accommodation with authentic Savoyard charm. And a warm welcome, naturally. To inspire you in your own quest for a luxury ski experience this winter we’ve put together an exclusive selection of wonderful destinations and places to stay.
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LONG A FAVOURITE HAUNT of French and Swiss family skiers, Le Grand Bornand is clearly moving upmarket, as witnessed by the arrival of Le Village de Lessy, a new luxury development created by prestige developer MGM, and managed by its subsidiary CGH.
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Montgenèvre: Ski Perfection..?
HIGH ALTITUDE, great snow and plenty of sunshine - plus cross-border skiing into Italy. Really, what more could you ask?
We've skied it and reveal our findings in our Resort Reviews.
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If you love cruising blues,
this one’s for you ...
WE’VE SKIED Valloire and its linked neighbour Valmeinier. The resorts are very much aimed at young and budget-conscious family skiers but offer surprisingly extensive skiing for all levels. Highlights include long Blue-graded scenic cruises which start high and among silent pine forests.
We loved it, see our comments in Resort Reviews.
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Wondering if you can do it too?
TAKING PART in snowsports and experiencing the thrill and excitement of downhill skiing is now a real possibility for virtually anyone, regardless of their disability. MountainPassions takes a look at some of the ‘Handiski’ accredited French ski resorts where disabled skiers can find suitable accommodation, quality instruction and a range of specialist equipment.
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Secrets of the Snowflake:
SNOWFLAKES - or more accurately ‘snow crystals’ - are microscopic miracles of nature. It’s a frequently-quoted truism that no two are identical, not that it really matters; the important thing is that things become much more interesting when several crystals get together, forming flakes. Where would we ski without them?
Read more...  Tradition & Nature

Eco-friendly Chalets :
WE LOOK AT HOW one developer is building chalets with a ‘green’ future. Chesterton International offers an insight into the chalets built by Grosset Janin.
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PLUS: Building your own eco-chalet: a couple created their dream home in the Val d’Abondance, with more than a few environmentally-friendly features. Now the chalet provides its enthusiastic owners with a successful Chambres d’Hôtes business.
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Highly Desirable :
NARROW BACKSTREETS evoke the spirit of Vieux Nice or Menton, yet the uplifting, high-altitude setting is unmistakable. We discover why the old fortified town of Briançon is such a charmer — and currently trés chic, too.
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WE ALL DESERVE A LITTLE PAMPERING now and then, so combining your ski holiday with a spa package is one way to enjoy your time in the mountains even more. We have some suggestions to help you find the best ski & spa deals in France.
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Mountain Chalet: Design Classic
THE CLASSIC ALPINE chalet has become an instantly recognisable icon of mountain living. These highly desirable mountain dwellings are also highly practical, as we’ll discover...
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