penguin-place-co-nz

© Pink Beret

It can be challenging to put together a successful family skiing holiday in Europe, especially if it is your first time doing so. There are so many ski resorts across the continent and on popular slopes that it can be hard to tell which will best suit the needs of your family.

When you are bringing along young children, it's important to ensure that you destination will have adequate services for kids in terms of slopes and facilities. A few popular ski resorts have earned a reputation for being family friendly, and one of these is the Alpe d'Huez, which is nicknamed 'the island in the sun'. It's also referred to affectionately as 'Alpy' by many guests, and it's known for its outstanding green and blue runs which are ideal for new skiers. There are also a host of activities and clubs which can entertain kids between the ages of 6 and 12.

© Skistar Trysil

A major loophole regarding UK travel insurance laws poses a risk to those on skiing holiday and other package trips. The risks of this relatively obscure loophole became evident after the AmTrust Europe insurance company refused to pay claims by families whose children were unable to go on class skiing trips which were canceled.

The package tour provider, Skiing Europe, is asking for government and the insurance industry to change the laws so that this won't happen again. Skiing Europe was insured through AmTrust to provide refunds to customers in the event they had to cancel holidays. The company began canceling class trips which led AmTrust to cancel its policy with the firm, and even triggered a police investigation. The situation has also led to broader fears in the industry that many other travel companies may be relying on insurers that will not pay out in the event of financial difficulty.

© Derek Purdy

A large snowstorm affecting the Queenstown Lakes district in New Zealand is encouraging people to hit the slopes for a skiing holiday, but transportation officials are urging caution on the roads in the southern areas due to ice and frost on roads and footpaths.

In the Queenstown area, there were many foothpaths around local schools which were gritted as a priority in anticipation of heavy frost. State Highway 93 was closed due to heavy snow from Clinton to Mataura, and parts of SH94 were also closed. The snow could reach 200m in Dunedin and the school holidays mean that traffic will likely be heavy as travelers head of to Queenstown and Wanaka for skiing holidays. Authorities were threatening to fine motorists with fines if they did not slow down and drive appropriately in the difficult conditions.