Go skiing in a French winter wonderland.

(From Irish Independent)

DESTINATIONS Gemma O'Doherty

* In France they're calling it the wedding of the century - but you won't see it on the pages of a celebrity magazine. On the Saturday before Christmas thousands ofguests will celebrate the union of the two biggest ski resorts in the French Alps: La Plagne, the most popular ski destination in the world, and Les Arcs, a giant resort above Bourg-St-Maurice in the Tarentaise Valley.

The [euro]16m link, called Paradiski, will have a futuristic cable car, the Vanoise Express. It will cross the 1,250ft-deep gorge separating the resorts in less than four minutes. Eachdouble-decker car will have a capacity of 200 passengers.

The merger will create what is believed to be the largest skiing area in the world. A week in Paradiski in late January in a three-star hotel costs [euro]895 including flights, transfers andlift pass. Phone Crystal Holidays on 01 4331080.

* No matter how experienced you are, anyone who goes skiing without insurance is asking for trouble. Many Irish skiers are under the misapprehension that EU legislation will bail them out if they have an accident. The E111 health reciprocation agreementshould provide free treatment in state surgeries and hospitals but many resorts have theirown private clinics, which don't recognise the agreement. Treatment ...