* Moves are afoot to ban heli-skiing in Italy, according to the non-governmental environmental group CIPRA (Commission Internationale pour la Protection des Alpes).
Helicopter companies are barred from landing skiers on mountain tops across the border in France, though they are able to operate scenic flights and to carry passengers between some resorts.
The Italians have been more relaxed about it, but the authorities there have been coming under heavy pressure from environmentalists, who argue that just one flight over remote slopes can cause serious disturbance to wildlife across an entire valley.
The Italian senate has voted in favour of a law preventing landings and take-offs - and overflights less than 550m above ground - in the Alps and Apennines . In the former it applies at 1,500m above sea level, in the latter at over 1,000m. The only exceptions would be rescue and training operations, and flights to re-provision mountain huts and restaurants, or to carry out construction work that cannot be completed any other way.
Andreas Götz, director of the Liechtenstein-based CIPRA, says he expects the law to be ratified by Italy's chamber of deputies later this year.
* Self-catering specialist Interhome (020-8891 1294 www.interhome.com) is knocking 30% off the weekly price of some accommodation in the Alps for customers booking less than a week before they travel.
In the French resort of Les Deux Alpes , the price of a two-room apartment sleeping up to five people, for a week starting January 27), has been cut from £272 to £195. Two-room apartments for up to four people in Megève and Chtel are down from £254 to £183, and from £271 to £197 respectively.
In Switzerland, the price of a studio for up to three people drops from £423 to £313, and an apartment for up to six in Crans Montana from £414 to £297. Discounts apply only to the property rental, although the firm can also arrange Channel car ferry and tunnel crossings for £190.
* For skiers inclined to take off independently for North America, transatlantic air fares again look attractive this season.
Non-stop midweek return flights with British Airways from Gatwick to Denver are on offer for £267.20 and from Heathrow to Boston for £199. There are respective supplements of £10 and £4 each way if you fly at weekends. You must book by January 29 and fly out by the end of next month, staying at least one Saturday night. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400) can offer the Boston deal for £195. It also has TWA flights to Vancouver via St Louis for £271, also with a minimum stay of one Saturday night, and charter seats to Calgary on Canada 3000 for £315. Both deals are from Gatwick and are available for departures until April 6 and March 24 respectively. Remember that the week beginning February 17 is a particularly busy US holiday period, which also means Canadian resorts are crowded, so book accommodation before you go. The same applies to British Columbia in late March.
* Airtours (0800 0288844) is offering a day's skiing in the French resort of Chamonix for £89 - half the original price - including a return flight from Manchester on Monday, February 5 and transfers. Weather and air traffic control allowing, you depart at 7am and arrive in Chamonix at about 11am, which leaves time for about six hours on the snow. A lift pass and ski and boot hire cost around £40 and can be arranged on the coach from the airport.
* The Swiss resort of Arosa stages its hot-air balloon festival next weekend (January 27). Inghams (020-8780 4400 www.inghams.com) can provide a weekend there for £351, or a week for £491, with flights from Heathrow and train transfers. For a supplement, you can also fly from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds-Bradford, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle or Glasgow.
