Cheap ski deals

By Katharine MacColl

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THE DOOM and gloom surrounding the state of this year's pistes doesn't seem to have put off this year's batch of British skiers

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Over the past few years the introduction of low-cost, no-frills flights, combined with the popularity of the Eurostar has meant more and more people are�abandoning package holidays and organising their own ski breaks. But just how easy is it �

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Greater flexibility gives you greater freedom when it comes to choosing resorts. You can take your own car or fly, and all for a reasonable price. Here are some recent deals we found:

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Travel offers:

P&O Stena Line (0870 600 0600) or www.posl.com has special ski packages including travel insurance and breakdown insurance, from �225, based on a five-day break for two adults and two children.

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Sea France (0870 571 1711) or www.seafrance.com offers a Ski-Saver until April�that includes a Dover-Calais crossing in a car with five passengers, insurance and cover, from �249, based on five people.

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Hoverspeed (0870 241 3872) or www.hoverspeed.com offers deals on five in a car from �259.

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Eurostar (0870 518 6186) or www.eurostar.com has introduced ski trains to Moutiers, Aime La Plagne and Bourg St Maurice from Waterloo and Ashford. They also offer an overnight ski train from �169, which includes coach transfer and ski and pole storage.

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The airline Buzz (0870 240 7070) or www.buzzaway.com has flights from Stanstead to Lyon, Chambery, Geneva and Toulouse from �95.

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EasyJet (0870 600 0000) or www.easyjet.com flies to Geneva for �50 from Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead.

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Accomodation�offers:

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Head� to Chamonix for easy reach of many mountain ranges and you'll find cheap dormitory accommodation. Check out the Savoyard-style Chalet Ski Station (0034 5053 2025) that has bunks from �6 per night. Boule De Neige (0034 5053 0448) has double rooms from �11 per person.

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Hiring skies for seven days from Pro-Skis (0034 5053 5892) will cost between �23-�61. A ski pass for six days will set you back �91 for the Chamonix Valley.

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Over in Italy, at Courmayeur, you can get a flight with Ryanair (0541 569569) from Stanstead to Turin. Accommodation is a bit more expensive - the average cost of bed & breakfast in a small family-run guesthouse in �12.50. A ski pass for six days will be �93 and more information can be found at www.courmayeur.com

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Happy skiing.