-- G. BEDARD, ETOBICOKE
A: The Rhone-Alpes region is by far the jewel in the crown of France's ski regions. No wonder. The world's largest ski area -- imagine six major ski resorts in one place and you get the picture -- is comprised of three valleys (Les 3 Vallees). Rhone-Alpes has hosted three Olympics.
From Toronto's Pearson airport, a couple of carriers can get you to Lyon, the ski hub's airport, this winter. Air France/KLM flies to Lyon via Paris. Air Canada flies direct to Geneva on Fridays or four times a week via Montreal to Geneva, where there are trains and buses to Lyon. In Lyon, there are frequent buses to the resorts. The drive takes one to three hours depending on the resort you choose.
The best deals are in January when ski passes are roughly 30-40% cheaper than usual. The snow season opens in early December and closes mid-April. The resorts typically run winter programs from November until May. There is skiing for all skill levels. The area is also heaven for non-skiers as spas and gastronomy are popular.
Les Barmes de L'ors (hotel-les-barmes.com) translated as "bear's caves" in Val D'Isere is one hotel-spa that offers a mix of accommodation from Scandinavian chic to traditional alpine style. Located in Alpes D'Huez, the area boasts 330 sunny days and has 8,000- metre vertical drops.
La Plagne, another popular ski area, has 10 villages and 425 km of runs. A new double-decker cable car -- the Vanoise Express -- connects to the villages.
Val Thorens is known as the highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300 metres and has a 16-km toboggan run -- the longest in the country.
For more, visit ifyouski.com:80/resorts/airports/lyon. The helpful web tool is full of useful details such as distances to the resorts, driving time by car, bus and train schedules, slope and resort descriptions, deals and ratings of activities.
Q: A few of my buddies and I are thinking of taking a trip to Mexico in the spring. I will need to bring prescription medicine with me. Is there anything I should know about bringing medicine? Will this be a problem? If there is anything you could tell me I would be grateful.
-- D. POLS, TORONTO
A: A representative from the Mexican Tourism Board suggests taking a copy of the prescription or other documentation that describes the contents and purpose of the medicine.
"If there are liquids they can either check them in their luggage or keep what they need for three days in their carry on," says Cristina Alvaradejo from the Mexico Tourism Board, and adds, "I really don't see any problem with it. Also ensure the medicines come in their (original container). That always helps."
Q: I read your column each week and finally have a question of my own. My husband and I will be taking a river cruise along the Danube next June. We will be spending a few days in Budapest first, then will have stops in Austria and Germany. What currency should we take? Do all these countries use the euro or is there a different currency for each? Thanks for the info.
-- D. CLARK, NIAGARA FALLS
A: Hungary's currency is the forint. Although part of the European Union, it still maintains its own national currency. Austria and Germany both use euros.
ILONA@MYCOMPASS.CA
Were you born with the “bad driver” gene?B.C. ski resorts riding on Olympic coattails
