Destination: French Alps - Ski resorts

Slide 1

DESTINATION

FRENCH ALPS – SKI RESORTS

Oh là là… la France! An all time classic destination for skiers of all ages, levels, nationalities & travel style. The vastness, variety and beauty of the ski areas, the appeal of French cuisine and language and that je ne sais quoi that makes every visit to France as exciting as the first, make for the irrefutable fact that skiing & après skiing in the French Alps is (or should be) in the bucket list of every skier!

THE SKI RESORTS OF THE FRENCH ALPS

There are over 300 ski resorts in the French Alps, so no matter what kind of skier and traveller you are, you are bound to find the perfect ski resort.

THE MODERN CLASSICS

On the one hand, there’s the high altitude, typically purpose-built, resorts preferred by the majority of skiers from France, Europe and beyond. Again, these are amongst the best in the world and many are interlinked to create enormous playgrounds of fun in the snow.

Choosing amongst the many resorts can be intimidating. My recommendation? Go as high as you can get in order to get the best snow. Now, this might entail a town built in the ’60s with its architecture fully reflecting that. Even if brutalist design is not your cup of tea, trust that everything looks charming under a pile of fresh snow. Moreover, these ski resorts offer a good amount of high-end accommodation and luxurious facilities along with plenty of more affordable options. And did I mention the world class ski slopes and infrastructure?

Val Thorens is the highest altitude resort in Europe and part of Les 3 Vallées, the largest ski area in the world. Oh yes, that’s all in the French Alps!

Famous Chamonix and British favourite Val d’ Isère combine incredible high altitude skiing with a very lively après ski scene.

Alpe d’ Huez, Avoriaz-Morzine, Les Deux Alpes, Les Arcs, Tignes, La Plagne and Flaine are popular high altitude ski resorts with large ski areas and world class facilities. Perfect for everyone looking for great skiing and a relaxed après scene.

THE POSH

On the other hand, there’s the ‘posh’ ski resorts. This is where oligarchs, royals and socialites mingle with us commoners in order to ski in some of the best ski slopes in the world. The après ski takes place in traditional mountain villages where arrays of charming chalets (historical or just built in such a style) house 5* hotels, luxury spas, fine dining restaurants and designer boutiques.

Courchevel is by far the most obvious option for a ski trip in that style. Megève and Méribel will offer that vibe but in a more understated way. (Courchevel and Méribel are also part of the immense 3 Vallées ski area).

GETTING TO THE FRENCH ALPS BY PLANE

Getting to the ski resorts in the French Alps typically involves flying into one of the airports mentioned below followed by a 1-3h car / bus transfer.

– Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport
– Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport
– Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport
– Geneva Airport (as in… Switzerland)

GETTING TO THE FRENCH ALPS BY TRAIN

From anywhere in the world via Paris with SNCF:
France features a comprehensive train network throughout the whole country. Riding the TGV (high speed train) from Paris (or one of the other major French cities) to the Alps is a truly unique experience (from Paris: 4-6.5h).

From London with Eurostar + SNCF:
Take the Eurostar train from central London (St. Pancras International) to Paris Gare de Nord (a bit more than 2h). Get a cab to Paris Gare de Lyon and hop on a TGV train to various stations in the French Alps (4-6.5h).

From the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany with Eurostar Snow (previously known as Thalys):
Eurostar Snow connects several cities to Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the Alps (see routemap). From there, a variety of ski resorts can be accessed within 30-60min via shuttle / bus. The snow train typically runs on Saturdays and routes are direct or indirect depending on the point of origin.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: FRANCE

LANGUAGE: French; a lot of French people also speak English well

CURRENCY: Euro (€) (France is part of the EU & Eurozone)

PLUGS: Types C and E (230V supply voltage & 50Hz frequency)

VISA REQUIREMENTS: Citizens of EU countries and those from many non-EU countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA, among others, do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. Check the official website for visa application to France or at your nearest French embassy / consulate.