Great Deals to Europe

Here are six tour operators that specialize in the soup-to-nuts European ski experience at reasonable prices. It’s often easier, and more economical, to go through a tour operator to Europe. Bear in mind that ski hotels in the Alps typically require seven-night stays. Prices are per-person, based on double-occupancy.

Adventures on Skis (800-628-9655/ www.advonskis.com) is a 22-year-old company run by Austrian-born Leo Demelbauer and his Swiss wife, Mary-Claire. They work with more than 40 resorts in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. Their accommodations of choice are selected three-, four- and five-star properties. Take their package to Villars in the Lake Geneva Region. The $1,209 price includes round-trip airfare on Swissair from New York to Geneva, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the Eurotel Victoria, breakfast and dinner daily, local taxes and service charges. For Courchevel, France, Adventures has a seven-night package that includes round-trip airfare on Swissair to Geneva or Lyon, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the hotel Courcheneige, daily breakfast and dinner, local taxes and service charges, for $1,250.

Bon Ski (888-9-BonSki/www.bonski.com) is a two-year-old company that specializes in the French Alps, with trips to such resorts as Courchevel, Val Thorens, Meribel, Tignes and Val D’Isere. Their package prices start at $969, land-only, and include seven-nights accommodation in a hotel or apartment, daily breakfast and dinner, transfers from either Lyon or Geneva, lift passes and local taxes.

Central Holidays (800-935-5000/www.centralholidays.com) specializes in Italian ski trips but also works with resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland. They usually have the lowest prices to such Italian resorts as Cortina, Val Gardena and Madonna di Campiglio, using two-, three- four- and five-star hotels. A typical trip from the 27-year old company is to Madonna di Campiglio. For $1,382, the package includes round-trip airfare on Alitalia from New York to Milan, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the four-star Golf Hotel, daily breakfast and dinner, six-day lift ticket and local taxes. For Cortina, they offer round-trip airfare on Alitalia to Milan or Venice, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the three-star Hotel Concordia Parc, daily breakfast and dinner, local taxes, and a six-day ski pass for $1,074.

Lindenmeyr Travel (800-248-2807/ www.lindenmeyrtravel.com) is a small, 13-year-old company that works with just 12 resorts in Switzerland, Austria and France. In keeping with the boutique nature of her company, owner Chips Lindenmeyr may only use two or three hand-picked hotels at each resort.

Lindenmeyr also factors in an extra day in either Zurich or Geneva on the last night. That’s easier than arising well before dawn at a ski resort to make a noontime departure from Geneva or Zurich to the United States. For example, Lindenmeyr has a trip to St. Anton, Austria, in the heart of the Arlberg. The package includes round-trip airfare on SwissAir from New York, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the four-star Hotel Montjola, breakfast and dinner daily, a six-day ski pass, and an 8th night accommodation at the zum Storchen in Zurich with breakfast, as well as local taxes and service charges, for $1,755. For Switzerland, Lindenmeyr has a $1,500 package to St. Moritz. It includes round-trip airfare on Swissair to Zurich, seven-nights at the Hotel Languard, daily breakfast, a six-day ski pass, local taxes and service charges, and an eighth night, with breakfast, at the Hotel zum Storchen in Zurich.

Ski Europe (800-333-5533/ www.ski-europe.com) is a 14-year-old company that offers customized ski trips to Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, wworking with a wide range of hotels.

SwissPak (800-688-7947) is a 13-year-old company that sends American skiers to resorts in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. For $649, Swisspak offers a week in the Austrian resort of Kitzbuehel. The package includes round-trip airfare on Swissair from New York to Munich, round-trip transfers, seven-nights accommodation at the two-star Hotel Hoerl, daily breakfast, service charges and local taxes. For the Swiss resort of St. Moritz, there’s a $1,049 deal that includes round-trip airfare on Swissair to Zurich, round-trip transfers, seven-nights at the three-star Hotel Ludinella, daily breakfast and dinner, local taxes and service charges.

Ski Europe This Winter