Ski rail transfers in Paris get easier

(Corinne Gavard)

Ski travel guide Snowcarbon has introduced a pre-paid taxi service for skiers travelling through Paris.

Snowcarbon provides rail and ski packages from the UK using European rail systems, which often require a change in Paris. For travelers carrying skis, the Metro can be impractical and taxis may be too small and charge a fee for carrying skis or snowboards. The new Snowcarbon service allows passengers to book a private car, suitable for skis, to make the transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Lyon or Paris Austerlitz.

The journeys cost from €20 for a single person in a shared taxi, to €50 for four people, or €89 for a group of eight. Luggage, including skis and snowboards, are carried at no extra charge.

The popularity of using rail for ski holidays has been boosted in recent years by the increase in efficiency of European rail travel. Both Eurostar, the high-speed service between the UK and France, and Thalys which connects Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, offer service to the French Alps. Several tour operators, including Crystal, First Choice, Thomson and Neilson, also offer fixed-price rail-inclusive packages to some resorts in France and Switzerland.

According to TUI, one of the world's largest tourism firms, France is by far the most popular destination for British skiiers, with 37 percent of the market share or around 400,000 visitors a year.

www.snowcarbon.co.uk/