Press

"Great skiing is not always matched by great food.  But head to Alta Badia, in the Italian Dolomites, and prepare to loosen your belt.  For the region takes food and wine at least as seriously as skiing – Alta Badia has three Michelin-starred restaurants – and you can combine all three in a gastronomic ski safari, sampling dishes specially created by some of the world’s top chefs for 12 of Alta Badia’s mountain refuges.

 Powder Byrne offers seven nights …..at the Rosa Alpina, San Cassiano…..

……Beautiful five-star hotel and spa with a two Michelin-starred restaurant, owned and run by the same family since 1850. The 51 rooms and suites are all individually and elegantly designed."

The Sunday Telegraph, Discover, Sunday 20^th January 2013, Nicky Holford

"Ski, eat, ski, eat, ski, eat.  Indigestion aside, does it get any better than this?

Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites has long been the destination of choice for foodies, thanks to its abundance of local meat, cheese and wine.  It also has three resident Michelin-star chefs…… .. this season saw the launch of a more budget-friendly Michelin-star food experience: one you can enjoy for a reasonable price, at over 2,000m – and without having to remove your ski boots………..

With 40 wide, meandering and pretty blue runs. The skiing is gentle, relaxing and confidence-boosting.  The ratio of pistes to mountain pit-stops also means that you’re never more than a few turns away from a bombardino (a local speciality of hot advocaat, brandy and cream) or a sun-kissed terrace with a breathtaking view.

Liz Harper travelled with luxury tour operator Powder Byrne, which offers tailor-made ski holidays to Alta Badia.  Powder Byrne’s bespoke service includes private transfers, complimentary ski guiding, resort shuttle services, restaurant booking and ski programmes for children and adults, as well as full resort concierge support."

The Independent, Saturday 19^th January 2013, Independent Traveller Supplement, Liz Harper


"[My daughters] were in TheZone, run by recent graduate Elli…Her’s was a happy group as they strode down the beach to meet with the windsurfing instructors, or hired pedalos, or teamed up with other resort staff to take groups of children canoeing.  For [my younger daughter], canoeing out to rocky outlets and seeing fluffy baby seagulls up close was the highlight of her stay."

Junior Magazine, January 2012, on Hotel Formentor, Mallorca.

"The Swiss resorts of Laax and neighbouring Flims are great for holidays with children, and have long been championed by family-ski specialist company Powder Byrne."

Harpers Bazaar, January 2012, Hot 100, No 7

"Powder Byrne Scallywags Programme is available in top Mediterranean resorts this Summer and Autumn Half Term...[They] will make sure your children are enjoying fun activities with newfound friends."

First Eleven Magazine, Website, August 2012

"A Scallywag’s Summer...Powder Byrne offer a wonderful selection of beautiful luxury hotels across the Mediterranean and further afield delivering the highest levels of personalized service."

Baby London, Baby Hampshire, Baby Surrey, May-Aug 2012

"One of the great things about this trip (Peru Air &  Space family adventure with Powder Byrne) is that it can be adapted to suit all ages and abilities."

Food & Travel Magazine, July 2012

"The popular Swiss resort of Flims offers a summer base for one of our favourite top-end operators.  Full activity programmes for kids include white water rafting, climbing, cycling and nature trails.  You can join in as much as you want (and more) or enjoy fabulous spa facilities and just relax.

Carefully thought-out programme of hotels in 11 summer destinations...Not cheap, but excellent childcare (Editor Emily rates it the best around) has families coming back year after year."

Angels & Urchins, Spring 2012

"Powder Byrne has added Puente Romano in Marbella to its collection of upmarket family hotels. The highly recommended pb crèche will be running throughout June, September and October and is complimentary outside school holidays.  Plus helpful pre-purchasing service for baby essentials, as well as pre-travel service to answer any queries, including a call with the crèche manager."

Angels & Urchins, Summer 2012

"I had heard about the Anassa Hotel in north-west Cyprus from friends...so when I found out that family holiday specialist Powder Byrne operated at the Anassa, the deal was done for me.

It was one of those rare weeks you have as a family where everything works.  The flights were on time, the Powder Byrne experience was so liberating for [my husband] and I, and the hotel had everything we wanted."

Mail on Sunday, 26^th February 2012, Gabby Logan

"For first-timers, later-life ski(i)ers, or those who enjoy a more leisurely pace, ski holiday specialist Powder Byrne’s ‘Learn in Style’ programme is a world away from intimidating ski-school lessons……..with small groups, hot-chocolate stops and long lunches, you’ll be slaloming with confidence after a few days in this fun and relaxed environment."

In Style UK, 1^st January 2012

"On this trip, thanks to Powder Byrne’s complimentary guiding service, all we needed to do was enjoy the snow.  My guide, Olly, sorted out absolutely everything: from getting my board waxed through to picking the best runs.  He even arranged lunch reservations, so we had the best outside tables in the sun every day."

Grazia, February 2011, Louisa Pritchard

"Snow Babies.  Ah, the relief.  Powder Byrne runs the best children’s clubs you know without you even knowing it...it focuses on family-friendly hotels, offering programmes all the way up from three-year-olds, to freestyle groups for teenagers.'

Tatler Travel Guide 2011

"If...you’re looking for more than just a few added extras, check out the new FreeStyle course from Powder Byrne.  Guaranteed to eliminate those ‘I’m bored’ statements from the older children in your party, this option delivers expert tuition across a range of freestyle disciplines for more accomplished skiers."

Junior, November 2011, Liz Harper

"For parents who prefer to have their children taken off their hands (they attend the brilliant Powder Byrne ski schools) so that they can ski in grown-up company."

First Eleven Junior Edition, September 2011

"If skiing is like being in a privileged club, skiing with Powder Byrne is like belonging to the most exclusive part of that club.  It’s pretty much the best family skiing package out there if you have the money.

Apart from the family feel of it all, they come (clients)  because Powder Byrne excels on the slopes.  The incredibly well-run children’s ski school (which runs all day) had groups of no more than six, each with an instructor and a Powder Byrne rep."

The Times, 20^th December 2011

"As a first –time Mum I was slightly dreading leaving [my daughter] but our worries disappeared when we walked into the crèche to be greeted by masses of toys ready to be played with smiling faces which filled us (and her) with confidence and meant we walked away for a child-free day of skiing without a look back.  I often had an update by test so I knew [my daughter] was having a ball.  She and Katie even made it up the mountain on the cog train to have lunch with us one day."

Angels & Urchins, 1^st October 2011, Gill Forbes

"Too hot for golf, perfect for kids. Not so at Penha Longa.  Here, the staff at the Powder Byrne kids club do all the charging around for you – only with infinitely more skill and enthusiasm...whether you’re a new parent who wants a lie-in, or a working mother like me who longs to see her children but also needs to recharge her batteries, they’ll find a way to accommodate you."

The Times Weekend, 19^th February 2011, Sarah Vine

"Slope off and find a ski guru (on Martin Bell Ski Academy). It’s just another celebrity lending his name to a product, I thought...but at 8.30 on a Monday morning, Britain’s top ski racer for over a decade in the 1980s and 1990s, turned up at our  hotel – the Schweizerhof in Zermatt – to teach my two girls.

The children clearly had fun with their well-qualified teacher.  At lunchtime Bell’s students met up with another, similar-aged group of skiers...amid the expert tuition there was lots of mucking about and joke-telling.

By the end of the week my girls were skiing in a very different way.  They looked as though they skied every weekend, as a sport, rather than coming every other year for a week’s holiday."

The Independent (The Traveller) 8^th January 2011 and Belfast Telegraph Morning (Weekend) 15^th January 2011, Siobhan Mulholland

"My transformation from sweary heap of skis to blue-route powder-meister could not have been achieved had my three children not been therwise occupied.  This is one of the strengths of Powder Byrne’s family ski packages.

Her (my wife’s) good humour was thanks not only to our spending more time together without children than in years.  The pampered existence offered by our hotel – the Tschuggen Grand – had a lot to do with it too."

Evening Standard, 19^th January 2011, Andrew Meather

"The service and attention to detail was impressive and the skiing was great for all of us.  I can’t envisage taking the children skiing any other way now."

The Times, 21^st November 2009, Gabby Logan