AH, IT’S GOOD TO FINALLY BE BACK !
FINALLY, the moment arrived. I managed to get back to the mountains. On the last day of November, after almost two years of not being able to ski because of the Covid pandemic, I clicked into my skis and whizzed down the slopes of Baqueira Beret in Catalunya (Spain).
It felt good to be back. I was lucky to visit Baqueira with friends (pictured), exploring some of its 160km of pistes to a backdrop of blue skies and good snow conditions. The resort had enjoyed a busy and snowy opening just a few days before but on a pre-season Tuesday morning, it was like having our own private resort with quiet slopes but just enough people around to add a sense of fun. I showed my Covid cert when renting ski equipment and wore a mask to get on chair lifts but apart from that, everything was normal. We stopped for lunch at a mountain restaurant, enjoyed stunning Pyrenean scenery and revelled in our return to skiing.
Accessible from Toulouse and Barcelona airports, Baqueira Beret is situated in the beautiful Vall d’Aran and while it’s not well known among Irish skiers, it’s a real gem with lots of familyfriendly slopes, a new lift which has opened up additional easy blue runs for intermediates and lots of off-piste options for serious skiers.
Once a favoured bolthole for the Spanish king, it’s also quite high end with a Moet champagne bar on the slopes and a Cinqo Jotas restaurant specialising in fine Iberico ham dishes. So what about the coming season in Europe? With Austria in lockdown until December 13 and the introduction of negative test requirements for all passengers returning to Ireland, things are looking a bit more complicated. But as a ski industry contact has reminded me, international travel is still open and Irish tour operators are positive that there will be a ski season. Both Crystal Ski and Topflight Holidays’ programmes start on the weekend of December 19. ‘I’m travelling to Austria for Christmas,’ says Neal Collins from Topflight Holidays, ‘and I fully expect my holiday to go ahead. Our customers are holding firm, they really want to go skiing and if that means taking tests while abroad, they’re willing to do it.’
According to Collins, less than 5 per cent of bookings have been deferred or changed since the most recent travel updates.
Right now, every day tells a different story with a constantly evolving scenario. In Switzerland, vaccinated and recovered travellers will have to present a negative PCR test before entry. Furthermore, they have to carry out a second test (PCR or rapid antigen) between day 4 and day 7, with the result reported to the Cantonal authorities. .
Requirements in France are currently similar to Ireland with a health pass which proves vaccination or proof of recovery required for access to lifts and other services. The situation in Italy is stable at the moment with a new Super Green pass planned from December 6 to prove that visitors are fully vaccinated.