What's New in Meribel?

That"s one big catamaran LD Lines is showing off!

Always on the hunt for a bargain, we were pretty pleased with ourselves when we discovered a new fast catamaran ferry service from Dover to Boulogne with bargain prices to match, as a way of getting to and from the UK and our beloved ski slopes.

LD Lines has taken over where Speed Ferries left off and has been operating the Dover to Boulogne sur Mer service four times a day for the past few months with a brand new fast catamaran. We've actually been on the Norman Arrow and at 112m long, with 1200 seats and skimming over the Channel at around 35 knots (that's around 40 miles an hour!) it certainly is a fast and impressive way to get yourself across the channel and the staff were all very pleasant too.

If you're weighing up the idea of flying versus driving over this winter to the Alps, at the time of writing, LD Lines is offering return journeys for a car and up to five passengers from £58 when you book direct on the LD LInes website. As of November this year, the Norman Arrow will be going off to serve the Portsmouth to Le Havre route, but the Norman Spirit ferry will be taking over Dover to Boulogne and it's an hour and 45 minute crossing.

When you think about flying and the extra costs that most airline are now charging for ski and baggage carriage, plus the waiting time at the airport it could just work out cheaper to drive. From Boulogne to Chamonix for example, is a straightforward eight hour drive on pretty much empty motorways.

If you don't fancy the drive Geneva-based low cost-ish airline Baboo has just announced two new routes out of Geneva to the UK. Starting on October the 25th, the airline will be operating 11 flights a week from Geneva to London City, although the service seems to be aimed at the business market, as there are no flights on Saturdays, but great timings for those wanting a long weekend. One way flights are currently on offer from a rather reasonable £27.

And did you know London now has a sixth airport offering international scheduled flights? We had to chuckle when we read that Baboo will also start operating Saturday only services from Geneva to...wait for it.. London Oxford airport. Bless. Still, it is good news for skiers in the Oxford area who can now avoid the drive up the M40 to Gatwick or Heathrow and fly out on Oxford airport's only international scheduled flight service. Flight times are excellent for skiers with one return flight each Saturday, from £78 each way, starting in December.