Erna Low, the Ski Specialist to the French Alps, launches the winter season with 10 New Properties.
For the first time, Erna Low adds the picturesque resort of Arêches-Beaufort. Arêches-Beaufort is a great resort for families as it has a much shorter drive time from Calais as well as being a good value alternative to more well-known resorts. It is close to Albertville in the Beaufortain valley and will be particularly attractive to lovers of the famous Beaufort cheese. Whilst the resort is little-known on the UK market, the advantage is that prices are very competitive throughout the season.
A seven night stay in the New 4* La Cle des Cimes Residence with its indoor pool and ô Pure spa will cost just £747 for the week beginning 05 January 2019 for a 1 bedroom apartment for 4 person including a return Flexiplus crossing with Eurotunnel for 1 car. That equates to £187 per person including travel.
Joanna Yellowlees-Bound, CEO of Erna Low comments, “Over the last few seasons we have realised that we are selling more self-drive ski holidays to the French Alps than any other type of ski holiday, so moving forward this is what we have decided to focus on – ski holidays to France. With all our years of experience and knowledge, we endeavour to find the best ski holidays for our clients”.
Over 30 years ago, in Erna Low’s Guide to Family Skiing of 1973, founder Erna Low herself wrote; “Renting a furnished apartment is a very popular and comparatively inexpensive way for a family to enjoy a ski holiday. Apartments can be rented in all the modern French ski stations – La Plagne, Les Arcs, Flaine and many others.”
Erna Low added, “Taking your own car has advantages if at least four people travel together, take their own food for the journey and motor through the night. Your car and passenger passage by boat (Sealink or Townsend Thorensen) should be booked well in advance direct with the shipping company. Remember to drive on the RIGHT and take pills for car sickness.”
Today Erna Low continues to promote travelling by car to the Alps and the company enjoys a special partnership with Eurotunnel. The result is that all clients travel with Flexiplus (equivalent to travelling Club or First Class on a flight). Clients enjoy access to the new Flexiplus lounges in Folkestone and Calais and benefit from priority boarding.
New in Alpe d’Huez the 5* Hotel & Residence Daria-I Nor
This new hotel with some additional spacious apartments in the Residence Daria-I-Nor is in the central Eclose area of Alpe d’Huez, with spectacular panoramic views of the valley and easy access to the slopes. Erna Low offer 7 nights from 05 January 2019 for £1536 for a 1 bedroom apartment with cabin for 4 persons including use of the fabulous spa facilities at the hotel. This price also includes a return Flexiplus crossing with Eurotunnel.
Ever Popular Arc 1950
Arc 1950 remains one of the most popular resorts offered by Erna Low. Book now for Half Term:
Erna Low offers 7 nights in ski in-out Arc 1950, France, for February half term with a saving of 10% on the accommodation. A spacious 2 bedroom apartment for 4/6 persons was £3801 and is now £3460. All residences have their own pool and the resort offers a programme of activities for children during the week, as well as having a crèche for little ones. This price also includes a return Flexiplus crossing with Eurotunnel arriving 16 February 2019. There are further Early Booking Discounts of up to 20% off low season dates.
Erna Low is the oldest independent ski company, founded in 1932 by pioneering entrepreneur, Miss Erna Low. A leading ski operator to all the best resorts in France and beyond. Erna Low can offer flights from 21 UK airports direct to the mountains with resort transfers/car hire, or great value self-drive ski holidays including Eurotunnel crossings. www.ernalow.co.uk @ErnaLow
Arc 1950, village resort in the French Alps, launches its Summer Season with a series of Wednesday Activity Days running throughout the summer high season.
Arc 1950 The village opens on 7th July with the first ‘activity Wednesday’ taking place on 11th July.
Focusing on a different theme every week, visitors to the village of Arc 1950 can enjoy FREE entertainment not just on these special themed Wednesdays but also throughout the week. Families with children of all ages can enjoy games, workshops, shows, watersports and more.
Activity Wednesdays during July:
Ø 11.07 – Sports week
Ø 19.07 – Bike week
Ø 25.07 – Al Andalus with Armutan Theatre Company
Activity Wednesdays during August:
Ø 1.08 – Water day
Ø 8.08 – Mountain Festival
Ø 15.08 – Climbing week
Ø 22.08 – Arc 1950 fairground
Ø 29.08 – Space Odyssey
New for Summer 2018 the ‘Outdoor Card’ for stays of over five days includes three free activities – choose from a half day guided hike, an intro to mountain biking for 8-12 year olds, a fitness class, intro to golf or an archery session.
Arc 1950 also launches New ‘Arc en Scene’ Thursdays, with different bands and theatre groups performing in the village every Thursday over the summer holidays.
Arc 1950 Le Village is a car-free, family-friendly resort where everything is planned to ensure that guests of all ages can make the most of their summer holiday.
Pierre & Vacances Special Accommodation offer: Save 20% on summer stays in Arc 1950
image: c Andy Parent/arc1950.com
Spring brings warmer temperatures, sunshine and ideal skiing conditions for a great end to the season in Arc 1950, closing on 28th April 2018.
Erna Low Property has unrivalled knowledge of the French property market, with a particular expertise in the French Alps. Erna Low Property launches its 2018 French Alps Property Reportwhich includes the following key trends:
French Property Market Is Booming
There were a record number of sales of existing properties last year (958,000 report page 5). Along with strong international demand, this is helping to drive a wave of new developments across the French Alps.
Vaujany, connected to Alpe d’Huez, is a great example of this where Erna Low Property currently has three developments in progress with sales being fuelled by the impending 2021 lift- link to neighbouring ski resort Les Deux Alpes.
Race To The Top
French resorts are involved in a “race to the top” to become global brands – and they are investing staggering amounts of money in redevelopment and infrastructure. La Plagne, for example, has announced €455million of new spending (some of this is in collaboration with Pierre et Vacances). €12 million of this is focused on new snowmaking systems. La Plagne will also see its first 5* development of apartments – The White Pearl. Châtel continues to expand, with new developments taking advantage of its rising profile, both as a ski resort and a mountain-biking hub.
Ultra-Low Euro Mortgage Rates and the Best Currency Rates
Ultra-low Euro mortgage rates mean the cost of borrowing is cheap [see graph on page 5]; repayments on, for example, a €240,000 fixed rate mortgage are still considerably lower in 2018 than they were in 2011 and 2014.
Francois Marchand, Director of Erna Low Property adds, “Interest from UK-based buyers remains strong. The average spend of Erna Low Property clients has risen in the last two years, this coupled with the ongoing low mortgage rates mean it is an excellent time for buyers; plus with our currency expert Halo, we can ensure buyers benefit from the best rates available.”
South of France or French Alps for Summer
Buyers are ever-more interested in summer – a resort with good summer facilities, close to Geneva or other main airport – are now as sought-after in summer as in winter.
Erna Low Property has been selling properties in the South of France for over 10 years. Complementing its Alps business, clients have options in the Cote d’Azur and Provence. NEW, close to Cannes, Villa Alice offers apartments from just €150,000.
Standards Are Rising
The age of the rabbit-hutch apartment is gone, and our partner developers such as Nexalia and Terresens offer more spacious properties, with bigger windows, higher-quality finishes, and wood-burning stoves. Customised interiors (e.g. you can reduce the number of bedrooms if you want a bigger lounge), and more flexible rental schemes are all part of the scene now.
Please contact Vanessa Fisher for a printed copy of the Erna Low Property French Alps Report, any information on available properties for sale and/or images: vanessa@vanessafisher.com 07957 618525
Erna Low Property was established to offer customers the opportunity to purchase properties in some of the world’s most beautiful and desirable locations. Whether looking for snow or sun, Erna Low Property helps buyers to choose the perfect property for holidays, retirement or investment.
Erna Low’s ongoing relationship with top Canadian resort developer Intrawest (well-known for pioneering Whistler and Mont Tremblant in Canada and Arc 1950 Le Village in France) led to the launch of Erna Low Property in 2003. Arc 1950, a new ski village in the French Alps and Intrawest’s very first project in Europe, was the first key property sales project for Erna Low and over the past few years, Erna Low’s property sales service has gone from strength to strength. Erna Low Property has its dedicated Estate Agency to sell properties all over the Alps and the South of France to property investors.
Erna Low Property now holds a sizeable portfolio of properties from the French Alps, across Europe and beyond. With their background as a specialist, niche tour operator, Erna Low Property and Erna Low Travel have been hugely successful in introducing many clients to both property sales and holiday rentals.
The French Pyrenees have received regular fresh snow top-ups over the last two weeks building on an already excellent snow base setting them up for excellent conditions for their final few weeks of the season and spring events.
Below are a selection of ski holiday offers for March and April:
Zenith Holidays in St Lary – Departs 17 March
Zenith Holidays offer 7 nights in the Cami Real apartments from 17 March from £163pp, sleeps 4. Flights available from £50 from London Stanstead. www.zenithholidays.co.uk
These excellent spacious apartments are in the centre of the Pyrenean village of Saint Lary Soulan in the Hautes-Pyrenees. Sensoria, the resorts thermal baths are just a short walk away through the garden of the residence. The main gondola up to the skiing at Pla d’Adet and beyond is a 100m from the Residence. St Lary has a lovely collection of shops and restaurants with plenty of Spanish influence in the local tapas bars lining the streets.
Big Break St Lary – 11-30 March
Book direct with St Lary between 11th and 30th March for any 3 days and get the 4th night for free. Just 175€ for four nights including a lift pass. www.saintlary.com/hiver/big-break
Ax les Thermes in the Ariege region of the French Pyrenees, just 1.5 hrs from Toulouse is an historic village based around its thermal waters. Guests can visit the Bains du Couloubret spa or soak their feet in the thermal open air foot spa at the base of the gondola. Ski Ax 3 Domaines with its three sectors, Bonascre, Saquet and Campels and skiing from 1400m up to 2400m. Over the closing Easter weekend March 31 and April 1st, a Snow Bike festival closes the season with MTB/Dirt bikes, enduro and races for all ages.
Erna Low in Cauterets Save 15% and 20% Departs 31 March
A family of four can stay 7 nights from in the Residence Balneo-Aladin in Cauterets, WAS £408, NOW £327 saving 20% or stay in a 7 person apartment, WAS £652, NOW £522 saving 15%. www.ernalow.co.uk
The Residence Baleno Aladin has a great location in the centre of Cauterets, 100m from the gondola taking skiers straight up to the ski area and 150m from the resort spa centre. Guests have free access to the Espace Balnéo Aladin spa centre which covers 800m² and includes 5 pools heated to 32° with water jets and hot tubs, steam room and sauna. Children from 3 to 13 years have a 3-storey play structure, games consoles, a mini cinema and a relaxation area for parents.
Pierre et Vacances in Grand Tourmalet Save 30% Departs 7 April
Grand Tourmalet is made up of the two villages Bareges and La Mongie with the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees. La Mongie is ski in-out with the cable car access to Pic du Midi and Bareges and old French town with tree lined skiing from the Tournaboup area. Both areas have spas using the local thermal waters.
Ski France in Peyragudes – Save 10% 17-24 March and Free Children
Ski France offer an apartment sleeping up to 4 people from 31 March from £319 in the Residence Les Adrets de Peyragudes plus children ski for free with every adult ski pass purchased. www.skifrance.co.uk
Peyragudes is a modern ski resort with ski in ski out accommodation perched on the side of the mountain in the Hautes-Pyrenees region of the French Pyrenees. Guests can enjoy an indoor pool at the Les Adrets de Peyragudes residence or take a short drive/transfer down to the village of Loudenvielle where they can enjoy the Balnea spa. The French Snowboard Championships weekend takes place over the closing Easter weekend.
Les Angles 30% off Lift passes and reduced Packages
Les Angles is offering 30% off lift passes booked from 17 March to the end of the season.
So a six day adult lift pass 165€ instead of 195€ [child 12 yrs & under 148€ instead of 175€) www.lesangles.com
Les Angles old village Is at the foot of the slopes, and it has managed to retain its authentic character whilst at the same time providing facilities of a modern ski resort. It is the only resort in the Pyrenees where the ski slopes end in the old village itself. The ski area has 55km with an altitude drop of 800m. With skiing up to 2,400m it is one of the largest ski areas in the Pyrenees-Orientales.
SPRING EVENT
“Le Rendez Vous” EVENT 20& 21 April Cauterets
300 amateur and professional freestyle riders descend on Cauterets for the closing weekend. The Oakley snowpark at the foot of the ski area will be open for photos and video shoots to get the best of the action from the event. DJs are on site and the “Winter Closing” party is held in Cauterets village at the Royalty Café.
For the first time, Erna Low adds the picturesque resort of Arêches-Beaufort. Arêches-Beaufort is a great resort for families as it has a much shorter drive time from Calais as well as being a good value alternative to more well-known resorts. It is close to Albertville in the Beaufortain valley and will be particularly attractive to lovers of the famous Beaufort cheese. Whilst the resort is little-known on the UK market, the advantage is that prices are very competitive throughout the season.
