You’ve been convinced to head to the French Alps for your ski vacation. It didn’t take much arm-twisting, did it? But obviously you’ve got some planning to do—there is the crossing of a large ocean involved, after all. From choosing a resort to making travel arrangements, here are some helpful details to help get you on the slopes.
Where to Go
The groomed slopes around Saint Gervais are a great option for beginning and intermediate skiers - Sébastien Avenet.
For beginner/intermediate skiers who like history and good food: Megève (opens in new window) is one of France’s most historic ski areas, built around a village of cobblestone streets dating back to the 13th century. It sits at a lower elevation (the base area is around 3,000 feet) than many other French resorts. A large portion of the ski trails are surrounded by trees, and they include a balanced number of beginner, intermediate, and high intermediate runs. It is also part of the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area system, which offers close to 300 miles of trails to explore in neighboring Saint Gervais and three smaller resorts, all a gasp away from Europe’s highest mountain. Prices are mid-range.
For experts: If you are comfortable on steeps, enjoy all kinds of conditions, love untouched powder, and plan to go hard all day, Chamonix (opens in new window) is a great choice. It’s home to Vallée Blanche, the world’s longest ski run, not to mention walls upon walls of white off-piste options between Grands Montets and Aiguille du Midi. Espace Killy, which includes Tignes and Val d'Isere, offers an impressive variety of easily accessible off-piste terrain as well as a couple of super steep groomers—La Face and La Sache—both regularly used for World Cup and World Championship alpine races. Chamonix and Val d'Isere are also key spots for partiers with high-energy après and nightlife. Prices are on the higher side.
Your legs will be relieved to hit the numerous cruisers in
Les Arcs (opens in new window), because most of the resort’s black runs are ungroomed and spotted with car-sized moguls. The Couloir en S is one of the area’s most harrowing off-piste options, a narrow chute with a slope angle of close to 45 degrees. Price-wise, Les Arcs is lower mid-range.
For a high-end vibe: Courchevel (opens in new window) is one of the ritziest resorts in Europe, where fur coats and hats can still be found in droves and the shopping is rife with Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and just about every other designer supplier. The place is also home to at least three Michelin star restaurants, and its nightlife is characterized by champagne cocktails and moonlit rides in horse-drawn sleighs. It is also part of Les Trois Vallées, the largest connected system of ski areas in the world.
While the slopes leading in and out of Courchevel itself are largely scenic, wide groomers, the area is connected to seven other resorts, including
Meribel and La Tania. You could spend every minute of an entire week on the slopes and still not see all that the system has to offer. Although skiing is affordable, expect high-end prices on accommodation and everything else.
For family variety: You might feel you’re in a time warp walking through the car-free village of Avoriaz (opens in new window), which is part of the 12-resort Portes du Soleil system. If you don’t feel like walking through the village, a horse and carriage isn’t far away, and there is an indoor water park for your off-the-slopes afternoons. The ski area has an enormous ski school catering to both small children navigating obstacles in a ski playground as well as teenagers taking their skills to the next step in five separate terrain parks. Portes du Soleil (opens in new window) offers a variety of terrain—though predominantly intermediate—and straddles the border to Switzerland. Prices are mid-range.
Les Karellis (opens in new window) is also a good pick for families with small children, as there is a snow playground in the center of the village, which is also car-free. Special kid focused events are organized on certain evenings. Prices are lower mid-range.
For the best kept secret: La Rosiere, which straddles the border between France and Italy, is part of the Espace San Bernardo system. It is considerably smaller than some of the other resorts mentioned, but it still offers close to 100 miles of trails that cater to every type of skier: beginner, intermediate, and advanced with a few off-piste expert offerings. Most of the ski area is south facing, making it one of the sunniest options around, and the quaint village offers a handful of tasty restaurants serving authentic Alpine cuisine (think raclette and sausage). The architecture is classic mountain chalet. Prices for accommodations and dining are considerably lower than many other resorts.
How to Get There
Flights: Airports in Lyon, Grenoble, and Chambéry, France, are all within a two to four hour drive of most resorts. You can also access them by flying to Geneva, Switzerland. From Geneva, it’s possible to get to a handful of resorts (Chamonix, Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Les Carroz) in around an hour on the road (as long as no inclement weather is involved) and several others (including Megève, Saint Gervais, Samoens, and Morzine) in around an hour and a half. Flights between most U.S. cities and Geneva usually involve at least one connection (although there are direct flights from Washington-Dulles and New York’s JFK) and range in price from $550 to $1,200 in the winter. As far as travel time, a direct flight from New York to Geneva is about eight hours.
Ground transportation: There are trains and transfers to and from the nearest airports that will eventually get you to your resort, but a shuttle is much faster and well worth the money for the added convenience. They can range anywhere from $80 to $400 per person each way. If you feel comfortable driving on narrow, curvy mountain roads, potentially in snowstorms, renting a car is also an option. But keep in mind that cars are not allowed or parking is difficult at many resorts, and some are nearly impossible to reach without a four-wheel-drive vehicle, chains, or burly snow tires, which can be double the price of a regular car rental at the airport.
Gear: There are a myriad of equipment rental shops in every resort, most carrying an impressive variety of low- to high-level skis, snowboards, and even telemark skis, saving you the hassle of hauling your own heavy gear. You’ll also find that renting gear is much more affordable than in the U.S. If you do choose to bring your own, most airlines allow you to check it for free.
Lodging: You can find lodging options to fit every need and budget. The official website for every resort typically offers a comprehensive list of accommodation options, ranging from five-star hotels to hostels. Some resorts are all-inclusive, like the Club Med locations in Chamonix, with a spectacular view of Mont Blanc, and the chalet at Méribel.
Written by RootsRated for Atout France and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network.Featured image provided by Patrick Nouhailler
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