Bucket List Trips
More Skiing, Less Money: Why You Should Ski Or Snowboard In Europe – Alpine Adventures in Forbes
“If your travel agent is not a ski expert (few are), there’s a good chance they will call Rick on your behalf.”
Rick Reichsfeld is president and founder of Alpine Adventures, the leading luxury ski travel tour operator in the United States, and a member of the prestigious Virtuoso consortium of top travel advisors (agents). If your travel agent is not a ski expert (few are), there’s a good chance they will call Rick on your behalf. His company also works directly with consumers and books individuals and group ski and snowboard travel to U.S. resorts and the rest of the world, including Japan, with packages and custom itineraries, and he knows a lot about the intricacies of the ski industry and winter travel. A full-service travel agency, Alpine Adventures can even bundle air with its programs. I asked Reichsfeld about the European value proposition, and he had a lot to say.
Larry Olmsted
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“Why is it cheaper to ski in Europe over the U.S.? In the U.S., most ski resorts are privately owned by large corporations. Giant ski operators Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company own nearly 50% of the North American ski market. In Europe, however, the majority of ski resorts are state-owned. This decentralization leads to lower prices as there is greater competition. There are also around 8-times more ski resorts in Europe than in the U.S., which further increases competition and lowers prices.”
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“With such a high demand for a small number of resorts, many of which are owned by a handful of large companies, the cost of skiing in the U.S. is increasing at a seemingly unsustainable rate. When comparing U.S. and European ski trips, a stand-out factor is the difference in lift pass prices. Ski lift passes in the U.S. are much more expensive than in Europe, with most European ski resorts offering cheaper rates than even some of the most budget-friendly resorts in the U.S. A European ski resort generally costs less than $100 a day. Weekly passes offer even better values, with prices varying significantly across European resorts, typically ranging from $230-$550.”
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“While U.S. ski lessons are privatized and only available through the resort itself, Europe benefits from having independent instructors and ski schools. This competition brings down ski lesson costs significantly. Private ski lessons in Europe typically total $210+ for a half day of lessons, whereas, in the U.S., half-day private ski lessons can cost upwards of $600 for a of lessons. Group lessons are a cheaper option in both locations, but considerably so in Europe, typically costing around $250 for five days of lessons.”
Rick Reichsfeld
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2024 Bucket List Trips: Safari – Adventures Africa in Forbes
Larry Olmsted
Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Best Safaris, The Trip Of A Lifetime
“There’s no better gift than the gift of travel, and while the term “Bucket List” is overused in the travel media, there is no trip that is more “Bucket List” or “Once In a Lifetime” than a safari.”
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There’s no way around it—safaris are expensive trips. But you don’t have to spend thirty thousand dollars a head to appreciate the stunning variety African wildlife and safari camp experiences. There are some reputable tour operators that prioritize value over opulence, and there are some countries, such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda, that have the same great wildlife but much lower overheads and more affordable lodges and camps. Adventures Africa is one operator that combines these, and offers full-blown, more affordable safari itineraries in all regions of Africa. The Florida-based company has been at it for more than a decade and is a division of Alpine Adventures, generally considered the top ski travel specialist in the United States.
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2024 Bucket List Trips For Every Kind Of Adventure And Active Travel – Alpine Adventures in Forbes
Larry Olmsted
“If you have a particular outdoor or travel passion, be it hiking, biking, golf, or skiing, there’s a Bucket List trip for you to experience this year. These are all topics I have specialized in for three decades, and I continuously try new outfitters and new destinations to find the best trips on earth, so I figured I’d kick off the New Year by sharing some of that expertise.”
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For Niseko and the one stop luxury shopping approach, try Alpine Adventures, America’s foremost ski travel specialist, and a full-service travel agency, so they are great at finding good air fares and such. Alpine Adventures has really embraced Hokkaido and has emerged over the past few years as this country’s leading Japan ski expert. They are also a member of the elite Virtuoso network, which gets customers additional benefits.
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