Ski Resorts in France
France is the number one country for British skiers.
It is easy to access by cheap flights or alternatively, if you want to keep costs down by driving there yourself.
It claims to have the best skiing in the world, and I wouldn't argue, although I have yet to sample the delights of USA and Canada.
I started my skiing at the cheaper beginners resorts in Italy, Bulgaria & Spain, but since becoming an advanced skier have chosen France for my last dozen or so trips.
There are now more tha 320 resorts to chose from in France and a huge diversity in amenities and prices. Everybody knows about the enormous interlinked systems like the Portes du Soleil, Trois Vallees, the Milky Way and Espace Killy, which are impossible to fully ski in the usual one week break.
We probably all also know of the glamour resorts like Val d'Isere and Megeve, but little is known of some of the gems in the Pyrennees, Massive Central, or Vosges Mountains.
If you go for glamour or extensive range of skiing, France can be as expensive as any other pricey ski country in the world, but if you go to the lesser known areas, France can also be one of the cheapest.
Unfortunately the French like to keep the cheaper resorts to themselves and you will often find very little English spoken in the majority of these.
These cheaper, lesser known villages are generally also the quaintest -devoid of the high rise apartment blocks that blight their more expensive neighbours.
Unlike most other Alpine countries, though, France often falls behind in the charm stakes due to having so many purpose built resorts with their modernistic apartment blocks.
The big advantage of these, though, is that you can ski directly out of them at the start of the day and ski back to at the end. The apres ski, although OK, also generally lags behind the provision and enthusiasm of the other countries.
However, if all you want is a great SKIING holiday - FRANCE is the place.
Crest Volland
* ** ***
Small village, not a lot in it. Limited skiing in the resort but village lifts link with Les Saises which has plenty. Ski right back to doorstep on easy slopes. Good beginners resort if you're not interested in nightlife. Megeve, classy all round resort, only 16 km away if you want more apres ski, or to spy the occasional French pop or film star.
James Masters
Les Deux Alpes
*** **** ****
High altitude resort. Large village/small town, with good range of shops, restaurants, nightlife at reasonable prices. Good selection of skiing and lift system for all abilities. Beginners will find a useful free tow on the lower nursery slopes. Glacier skiing on Mont de Lans means guaranteed snow. Good 14 km red run back to village. Lift pass allows a days skiing at Alp d'Huez, Serre Chevalier or Puy St. Vincent. One of best value resorts that I've been to.
James Masters
Les Orres
* **** ****
Purpose built resort on a plateau, boasts longest run (red) in Southern Alps. Doorstep skiing in right snow conditions. Variety and abundance of skiing makes this a good resort for mixed ability group. Advanced skiers just might find the three black runs insufficient although L'Horrible is a good test. Varied nightlife mainly around the bars; the nightclub in the 'Big Golf Ball' must be one of the most unusual in the Alps. Good value.
James Masters
La Pierre St. Martin
**** ****
La Pierre St Martin is a little ski resort in France on the Spanish border in the Pyrenees near Biarritz and Pau. It is a fantastic resort for the novice skier and for young families, with plently of green, blue and red runs to keep everyone happy.
Ski passes are extremely cheap (approx £16 a day) and there are plently of ski hire shops. The ski school is very good with a number of the instructors speaking English and much cheaper than the Alps!!
We stayed in the village of Arette approximately 25 minutes away in the valley - a very pretty, uncommercial and typically French village with a restaurant, hotel, bar and general amenities. We loved it!!
Ken Innes
Serre Chevalier
*** **** ****
Great Skiing over the Grand Serre Che area (four villages). 111 pistes in total included 13 black runs. Good lift system and free ski bus between villages. Great resort for mixed ability group. Would have rated more highly if it hadn't have been the higher than usual prices in the good selection of shops, bars & restaurants.
Would still highly recommend but not for skiers on a strictly limited budget. If you can afford it though, worth it for the skiing. Some of the accomodation in Chantemerle economically priced to offset.
James Masters
Valloire
*** **** ****
Medium sized resort with plenty of everything. 36 lifts serve three ski areas giving 150 km of pistes.143 snow cannons cover ten of the pistes so skiing just about guaranteed. Powder skiing at Le Crey Rond. Some good long runs even for novice skiers. A good resort for a group of mixed abilities. Good apres ski too.
James Masters
Villard de Lans * ** ***
Villard de Lans is a small village situated in the foothills of the Northern Alps, just 70 km from Grenoble. The ski area has 32 pistes which allows approx 130 km of downhill skiing. It is fairly snow assured with a top ski station height of 2285 metres and 245 snow canons on the lower slopes. There are also 160 km of cross country trails, and a snowpark. The potential for off-piste skiing in the forests on the Corencon side of the mountain is very good.
Villard-des-Lans is a real mountain village with a range of restaurants, shops, and other services, including an indoor ice rink & sports centre.
June Jackson
