Ski Olympic-style with AITO

With only 14 days left to go, the build up to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is reaching fever pitch, so we spoke to AITO Ski members to see if we could follow in the footsteps of previous medallists and take to the slopes in a resort that previously hosted a Winter Olympics.

With only 14 days left to go, the build up to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is reaching fever pitch, so we spoke to AITO Ski members to see if we could follow in the footsteps of previous medallists and take to the slopes in a resort that previously hosted a Winter Olympics. Here are some ski break from AITO members to some of the most famous Olympic resorts down the years, and some video links to relive the atmosphere from these great events.

St Moritz, Switzerland 1928 & 1948
Sleek St Moritz – 7 nights’ B&B from £899 pp
St Moritz, the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism, has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and has something for everyone with its 350 km of pistes. With an in-house confectioners, 3* Hotel Hauser in St Moritz is the perfect place for a ski holiday. 7 nights’ B&B in March at the centrally located hotel, with Swiss flights and rail transfers costs from £899pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Squaw Valley, USA 1960
4,000 acres of skiing in Squaw Valley – from £1,099 pp for 7 nights in January
Celebrating 50 years since holding the Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley offers fabulous skiing and snowboarding overlooking the beautiful high alpine Lake Tahoe. Non-skiers will enjoy a variety of other activities, from snow-tubing to spa treatments or a visit to the Olympic Museum. 7 nights from 10 February at ski in/out 3* Squaw Valley Lodge, including flights and 4X4 car hire from £1,050pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Grenoble, France 1968
Vaujany in the Alpe d’Huez, Grenoble – £649 pp
Perched on a beautifully scenic slope in the corner of the Alpe d’Huez piste map near Grenoble lies the pretty village of Vaujany. Relax in true Alpine style by the roaring wood fire whilst the finishing touches to the evening’s culinary treats are made at Chalet Lucette. A week costs £649 pp fully catered including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Ski Peak on 01428 608070

Calgary, Canada 1988
Banff in Canada’s Rocky Mountains – £893 pp
An hour and a half from Calgary lies the beautiful town of Banff amidst the towering Rocky Mountains. A stay at the comfortable Banff Inn this February costs £885pp based on two sharing, including scheduled flights and resort transfers. You can ski in Banff at Norquay or Sunshine and take in a visit to Lake Louise too or perhaps visit the Olympic Park in Calgary, where, amongst others Eddie Edwards and the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, found fame. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709

Albertville, France 1992
Adrenalin in La Plagne – £599 pp for 7 nights
With a bobsleigh run built for the 1992 Winter Olympics which is within easy access to the slopes, La Plagne offers an exciting holiday for adrenalin seekers. Its extensive ski area offers opportunities for all ages and abilities. 7 nights at the traditional Chalet Marguerite, La Plagne 1800 (sleeping 10/11) costs £679 per adult, £629 per child, including flights, transfers and chalet board for 20th March. Call AITO member Ski Beat on 01243 780 405

Lillehammer, Norway 1994
Norwegian Olympic Lillehammer – from £698 pp for 3 night break
The dramatic mountains above Lillehammer, home of the 1994 Winter Olympics, make a fantastic destination for a Norwegian ski trip. Make the most of the local ski school, with a resident British ski instructor, and fill your days on the slopes or cross-country skiing. Later relax in front of a log fire in the inviting lounges of the Rustad Hotel in Sjusjoen, trying the Norwegian specialities in the excellent restaurant. From £698pp including flights (Heathrow), transfers and 3 nights’ half board with lunch packs. Call AITO member Inntravel on 01653 617000

Nagano, Japan 1998
A week in Japan combining the white slopes of Hakuba and neon lights of Tokyo from £622 pp
Stay for five nights in the Hakuba Valley, deep in the Japanese Alps of Honshu and home to eight resorts which hosted the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. With the ski season running to the end of April, the seven-night holiday costs £622 pp including two nights’ hotel accommodation in Tokyo and five nights lodge accommodation in Hakuba with breakfast, airport transfers, transport between destinations and information pack. Flights with Swiss, with departures from Heathrow and Manchester, start from £475 pp. Call AITO member InsideJapan Tours on 0117 314 4621

Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Park City, Utah – 7 nights’ B&B from £1,025 pp
Park City, within easy reach of other Utah top skiing areas Deer Valley and The Canyons, offers ideal skiing for all the family. With numerous ski schools, over 100 restaurants and bars and only 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, 7 nights’ B&B from 22 February at the popular family-run 3* Park City Peaks Hotel with flights and transfers costs from £1,135pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Vancouver, Canada 2010
Olympic spectator sports in Whistler – £2,680 pp for a week
Visit Whistler this March and enjoy the resort, its slopes and all the excitement of the biggest winter sports event on the planet! With the Peak 2 Peak gondola to Blackcomb, fantastic snow and a multitude of Olympic events, Whistler is bound to appeal to all. A week at the luxurious 5* Chateau Whistler costs £1,709pp, based on 2 sharing, including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709

Ian Bradley