The Best Resorts For Skiing In France

Thinking of heading on a skiing holiday to France? Well look no further, because France has plenty of snow covered slopes that are very appealing to ski enthusiasts. Such slopes cater for ski lovers of different levels of ability, from the learner to the expert skier! So, if you are interested in booking a dream ski holiday in one of the scenically beautiful regions of France, read on for more�

The following are what we reckon to be the best ski resorts in France!

1. The Three Valleys (Les Trois Valles)
Composed mainly of the Mribel, Courchevel, Les Mnuires and Val Thorens resorts, the Three Valleys area encompasses about 600km of pistes and over 200km of ski lifts. There are brilliant facilities to be found throughout these resorts, and the mountain restaurant cuisine comes highly recommended! The Three Valleys are easily reached from airports such as Geneva, Chambry and Lyon Airports.

Mribel Located right in the centre of the three valleys, Mribel is probably the most popular ski resort in the world � just go there to find out why! There are nearly 400km of wonderful piste links to explore which link Mribel to other resorts such as Val Thorens. With a modern ski lift system, endless queues for the slopes are unheard of! There are different areas of the resort which will afford the visitor diverse skiing experiences! The main town of the resort is Mribel Les Allues, and about 3km away is Mribel Village. Mribel le Raffort is another village outside the town which has good connections to the main ski resort. You could also check out Mribel-Mottaret which is resort high up in the French Alps area. This is more for the serious skier with excellent accommodation, bars and restaurants. For the beginner, the Mribel Altiport area is the place to go. Mont Vallon is the perfect place for the advanced skier. There are great opportunities for snowboarding in this resort as well.

Courchevel To the west of Lyon, Courchevel is a purpose built ski resort, there are plenty of ski slopes and accommodation in the resort. It is not just one resort but five of them � Courchevel 1850, 1650, 1550, Le Prazz 1300 and La Tania. All of the resorts have a different look and feel, Courchevel 1850 is very chic whereas Le Praz is a traditional French village. There are slopes for skiers of all abilities. The slopes here are north facing and as such the snow is more guaranteed.

La Tania Nestled in the pine forests of Les Trois Valles, La Tania was built for the 1992 Winter Olympics. Here, you are never more than two lifts away from Mribel and Courchevel. The nursery slopes here are good for beginners. The higher slopes towards Courchevel are better for the experts.

Val Thorens This is a purpose built resort that is compact and regarded as the highest village on the European continent. There is varied skiing available with great facilities and nightlife. There is also a sports centre with a swimming pool and squash courts. Val Thorens has a range of slopes that are widely acclaimed � for the expert La Masse and Cime de Caron are widely recommended. Check out the wonderful glaciers of Chavire for added adventures! The Maurienne Valleys is another spot to check out.

Brides Les Bains An alpine resort located in the valley below the Mribel resort. If you want to relax, Brides Les Bains is the place to go, with spa therapies available for the days you do not ski. Less than a half hour journey will bring you into the Mribel resort. The tourist facilities here include disco bars, restaurants and a casino.

St Martin de Belleville Located in the Belleville valley, and has a great lift system so getting to the rest of Les Trois Valles is quite easy. However you can stay here to enjoy some great skiing! There is skiing up to 3200km on offer here. St Martin de Belleville is a traditional French village of great charm. Featuring wooden ski chalets and a charming church, if you want a getaway from the major ski resorts this is the place to go.

2. L’Espace Killy Area
Located in the Savoy Region of France, and well known for its ski challenges and wide areas, L’Espace Killy covers an area of 300km of downhill skiing. This alpine area links the glitzy resorts of Val d’Isere and Tignes. This resort is easily accessible from the main international airports. The resort has something to offer the skier and snowboarder of differing abilities.

If you are looking for peace and tranquillity, or partying the night away, you will find it at L’Espace Killy. Both Tignes and Val D’Isere offer different destination types for the visitor. The ski area covers 300km of ski piste and has nearly 100 ski lifts. Val D’Isere is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, and the charming village dates from the 13th century. Tignes is more purpose built but is guaranteed snow, as it is located at 2,100m.

There are great facilities for the skier � and there is great nightlife guaranteed! It is estimated that there are nearly 70 bars, clubs and restaurants to select from! Use the free bus service to get around. The resort has all of the activities available for non-skiers such as sleigh rides, ice-skating, market stalls, and snowboarding parks.

3. Porters du Soleil Area
Widely regarded as one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, there are 14 resorts in this region and it covers the area from Switzerland’s Lake Geneva to Mont Blanc in France. There is over 600km of high altitude skiing slope areas, so the serious skier is well accommodated for the sport. All levels of ski ability are catered for at this resort. There are generous opportunities here for snowboarders.

The Porters du Soleil Resorts are easy to access � it is situated less than two hours from Geneva Airport and is an excellent spot for a weekend ski break or for longer.

Some of the best ski resorts in this region include the French resorts of Avoriaz, Chatel, Les Gets and Morzine and Champry in Switzerland. There is such character in these resorts � you get a combination of modern buildings and the aesthetic Savoy style villages and towns that have scenic chalet style houses and great charm.

For a family skiing holiday Avoriaz is a popular spot � families return year after year to this family oriented resort. The children will be enthralled with the winter wonderland atmosphere here. There is a fine sports centre with a bowling alley to keep the non-skiers entertained. The resort is north facing so snow is always guaranteed. The horse drawn sledge for transport in the local area is always a thrill. Great ski opportunities for beginners and experts alike are here.

Chatel and its neighbouring resort called La Chapelle are fine locations for skiing. The Super Chatel area is best for beginners and is linked across to Torgon and Champoussin over the Swiss border. Linga offers slopes for the more experienced skier.

Les Gets is popular if you are looking for a family skiing holiday. It has excellent facilities for children.

For an added thrill take a trip over the Franco-Swiss border to Champry. The wonderful back drop of mountains and wood chalets make this village a picture postcard. The narrow streets add to the charm of the village. Perhaps not suited for beginners, Champry has some wonderful ski slopes and runs, including the �Swiss Wall’.

Hope you liked our guide to the most prominent ski resorts of France. If you are debating as to take a French ski holiday, remember that the very best way to travel with freedom and at your own pace is by hiring a value for money car rental.