The biggest skiing area in France is Les Trois Vallees which has more than 600 kilometres of runs. If you are a skier who likes covering a lot of ground then this is one of the best places to head to. It is also one of the areas most likely to receive snow on a regular basis because most of the slopes are located above 1800 metres.

There are many resorts in the area including, Meribel, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and Courchevel. Courchevel is one of the most upmarket resorts in this part of France and as well as having excellent skiing has numerous Michelin starred restaurants. The area is also only around one and a half hours drive from Geneva airport.

The Chamonix Valley is in the shadow of Mont Blanc and has over 150 kilometres of pistes. Here you will find Brevent, Flegere, Les Grands Montets, Le Tour, Les Houces and Argentiere. This part of France is mostly known for its off piste skiing and steep runs, which include some of the most famous descents anywhere.

Despite this challenging skiing, there are also plenty of opportunities for beginners and it is also one of the easiest areas to reach and is located just over an hour away from Geneva. Other than skiing, the area is famous for its breathtaking scenery and charming old streets.

Another resort that is close to Geneva is Megeve and it has a lot of appeal because it is very much a traditional village and has a great many excellent restaurants. Unfortunately, the snow is less reliable here than when compared to some other areas because of its relatively low altitude of 1000 metres.

Another location is Les Portes de Soleil which has 12 resorts all linked together on both sides of the Swiss/French border. These results include Les Gets Chatel, Avoriaz, Marzine, St Jean d’Aulps and Chappelle d’Abondance.

Here you will find a great deal of off piste skiing which will satisfy even expert skiers. This area has some facility for beginners, but is mostly suited for those at an intermediate level as well as those with a great deal of experience.

Flying through Geneva airport, or those at Lyon or Grenoble, is not the only way to go skiing and it is possible to take Eurostar to Bourge St Maurice. Here you will find resorts such as Val d’Isere and Tignes, both of which have a great deal of skiing which is suited to people of all skill levels. Over 70 percent of this area is above 2000 metres in attitude which means it provides some of the most reliable skiing runs in France.

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From the 650 km of ski slopes to the lively nightlife in town, this is a prime spot to hone your skiing skills and then enjoy the pleasures of apres ski entertainment and relaxation. For skiers and snowboarders the options vary from gentle beginner slopes to the sort of off-piste areas that will challenge the most expert and adventurous winter sports enthusiasts, with plenty of in-between for those who want a challenge but not a daredevil run.

Back in the early 1900′s Morzine was mostly supported by the local industry of slate mining, and you’ll see some of the products in the streets and roofs of town. It is still a traditional market town, with very little of the commercialisation that has overtaken many of the larger French resorts.

When you’re not skiing, or if you don’t even like to ski, there is lots more on offer in Morzine to provide a memorable holiday.  You can ice-skate on either an indoor or outdoor rink, or go dog-sledding, or take a horse-drawn carriage for a cosy and relaxing tour of the town, and there are two cinemas as well as some excellent shops if indoors is your preference.

The French do nightlife very well, and food, of course.  There are several top-quality restaurants as well as quite a few good value cafes and pizzerias. The night life sizzles at Le Dixie Bar, or try Le Rhodos for a more soothing atmosphere. All things considered, Morzine really is an ideal destination for a winter break.

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Of course, for the ultimate experience you might want to book a helicopter tour and really see some of the most impressive ice sculptures of the areas. Families may also enjoy heading down the hills on toboggans and the winter trails are great for a short walk. On days when the weather is poor, or when you just want a chance to do something inside in the warmth, Les 2 Alpes offers plenty of indoor activities as well that range from gym facilities to swimming to spas and general wellness centres.

When on holiday everyone likes the chance for a little relaxation and pampering. You can usually find these types of activities inside the Les 2 Alpes hotel or at most accommodation locations nearby. Also in the town is the opportunity to head out to museums, bowling alleys, galleries, and cinemas.

You will also find about 120 shops along the main street allowing for some time to check out the local boutiques that feature everything including sports equipment, fine jewellery, trendy fashion, bakeries, and of course chocolate shops. There are also plenty of great dining locations that offer area specialties such as homemade pizza, Italian, and high end French cuisine.

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This skiing location is in the Trois Vallees, in France, and the resort offers a wide range of activities, which are particularly suited to those travelling with children. There are nursery slopes where children can learn to ski and there is a ski lift running from the centre of the village taking more experienced skiers to the top of the slopes.

Beginners will be able to learn the basics as there are 15 green runs which they can choose to practice on. For expert skiers there are plenty of options and they can ski at numerous slopes around the resort. If you are interested in higher altitude skiing then heading to Val Thorens is a great option.

Even if you have ventured away from some of the closest ski slopes you will not have to worry about getting back to the resort as there is a good road network which will always lead back to La Tania.

La Tania is a much more cost-effective location that other skiing locations in France and there are a wide range of chalets available for any budget. All of these chalets have stunning views over the surrounding area and the normal amenities that you would expect from a ski chalet.

For parents travelling with children who would like to go skiing alone for a time then there are nannies who can come to your chalet to look after your children while you enjoy some time alone on the slopes. There are also daycare facilities available at the resort.

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Some resorts in France have a very limited number of bars and these are often very far apart from each other. For the skier who wants to go on a bar crawl in the evening this can be very challenging as you won’t want to walk long distances in the snow. Meribel offers a very different experience and there are several bars packed together in the same area. There are also many clubs with parties that continue late into the night.

Le Rond Point has developed a bit of a reputation for its parties that occur after people finish skiing and there is often great live music playing in the early part of the evening. There are also several other locations nearby were live music is performed and bands are capable of getting everyone up for some dancing.

Another location for particularly friendly after skiing events is Lodge de Village. This location also serves good food and there is a chairlift nearby for easy access to other locations. This bar is actually located in Meribel Village which is separate from Meribel proper, but there is a bus that connects the two places and it only takes a few minutes to get between them.

Jack’s is a party filled location with a regular happy hour running for an hour from 9PM. There are also frequent theme evenings being run at the bar and often comedy nights are held with big names such as Al Murray.

Another central bar is Barometer which is known for having special offers on its drinks with some of them being available for as little as one euro. Another bar called Scott’s has a two for one cocktail deal every day. If you’re looking for a more upmarket establishment then you would be wise to head to Le Poste which attracts more French people and is generally a less raucous establishment.

If you are looking for a cosy location then La Taverne is the place to be, it has a more relaxed atmosphere and serves up some good food. There is also free Wi-Fi if you have a laptop, and computers to use if you do not. Drinks here are also very reasonably priced compared to elsewhere and there are often excellent live DJs.

Once the bars have closed nightclubs in the area start-up, there are two main locations  that are frequented by very different crowds. One of them is called Les Saint Peres which is very popular with the French and hosts notable live DJs on Monday nights. The other option is Dick’s Tea Bar, which is much more popular with English clientele.

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Almost 300,000 travellers head from the UK for the French slopes each year – no doubt drawn by the short flights, but also by the unique attractions that the region has to offer. Whether you’re an experienced skier looking for the challenge of a black run, or a novice searching for the right nursery slopes to learn a new skill, there will be a resort in the French Alps that will suit your needs.

After all, there are over 200 resorts to choose from in the French Alps region, each with its own charms and its own particular winter sports speciality. Some are little more than villages while others feel more like large cities in the busy winter months; some are aimed at families taking youngsters away on their first skiing trip while others have a lively apres-ski scene for those more interested in nightlife than life on the slopes.

The Grand Massif is the largest of the resorts in the French Alps, actually made up of a series of smaller resorts linked by cable cars and chair lifts, and served by nearly 280 kilometres of ski slopes. In fact, many of the resorts that make up the Grand Massif are not resorts at all, but traditional Alpine villages that have adapted to provide accommodation and entertainment for visitors. The larger town of Flaine is the only part of the Grand Massif that was built recently,with skiing holidays in mind.

No matter what your skiing level, there will be slopes and activities in the Grand Massif to suit your experience. Add to this range of slopes the fact that you have so many packed into a relatively small area, most first-time visitors find themselves surprised by the lack of queues at the lifts, even at the busiest part of the day.

Travelling between the resorts that make up the Grand Massif couldn’t be easier, whether you make use of the chair lifts and cable cars strung between the villages or hop on the courtesy buses that run between the major tourist centres. Both options make exploring the different slopes, and the different villages, very easy.

As with most resorts in the French Alps, the Grand Massif is also home to an excellent ski school which has classes for adult beginners as well as children, run by the well-established and well-known ESF chain. Even if you have been skiing before, a quick refresher lesson with an instructor can be just the thing to restore your confidence before you head for the slopes.

Of course, a ski resort can have the best slopes and the best amenities in the world, but without a regular and reliable snowfall there is little point in visiting. Luckily, the French Alps are known for their perfect skiing conditions all winter long, and many resorts have been known to employ snow cannons on the lower slopes if Mother Nature hasn’t played her part.

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Planning a skiing holiday in France for the family will need a big investment of both time and money, and you will want your experience to at least match, if not exceed, your expectations. The biggest part of any holiday is the accommodation, and by following a few easy rules it is relatively simple to find your perfect holiday accommodation in a French ski resort.

The key to a great family holiday is to go where other families go, so look for the resorts that are tagged as family orientated. You also want to make sure that the accommodation is close to the ski runs and the shops and restaurants. You also want a resort with both gentle and nursery slopes that are suitable for both children and adults who are taking  their first foray into skiing.

Other things to look for are services such as creches, Internet access, a fireplace, a sauna, a washing machine and a dishwasher. Having childcare and suitable amenities will enable parents to relax and be safe in the knowledge that their children are both safe and enjoying themselves.

The ideal accommodation is in a chalet where you can stay with your family and someone cooks your evening meal for you, provides your breakfasts and cleans the chalet while you are out having fun. This may sound idealistic but is very common in the great ski resorts of the French Alps and help to make a good holiday into a great holiday.

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Of course, there is little the resorts themselves can do about the carbon footprint of flights from the UK, but at least once you arrive at the green resort of Morzine, and its neighbours Les Gets and Avoriaz, you can enjoy your time on the slopes with a clear conscience.

Morzine is home to one of Europe’s first organic ski slopes, an attraction that was first developed in the mountains of North America. Known locally as “The Stash” the slope has been built to fit into its environment without damaging trees, causing soil erosion or affecting the habitat of local wildlife. The Stash isn’t just about green skiing, however, and can offer even experienced skiers a challenging run.

Although most of your transport in Morzine will be on skis, you do have to consider the impact of taxis and public transport in whichever resort you choose for your holiday. The small town of Avoriaz has solved this problem for the ethical skier by banishing all cars and buses from its centre, turning the whole area over to pedestrians and cyclists, both night and day.

Finally, Les Gets has gone green by thinking about the future, planting new trees to replace those destroyed in the development of the resort as well as focusing on projects that protect the natural environment from the potential damage caused by tourism and tourists.

These factors combined ensure that skiers looking for a green tinge to their winter snow should consider the Morzine area for their next trip.

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Paradiski lets you ski its new 425km of pistes on 17th December

Paradiski, the huge ski area in the French Alps that incorporates la Plagne, les Arcs and Peisey, and is home to the enormous cable car, the Vanoise Express, opened for business on Saturday the 17th December at 9am.

Now that they are fully open in time for the Christmas season, Paradiski have confirmed that the entire 425km of pistes is available to skiers, all due the recent heavy snow fall that have resulted in perfect winter snow conditions.

The whole domain underwent one last final check before it opened its doors; the tracks were beaconed, any residual damage that was found was rectified, and the mechanical equipment was given a last once over.

With over 70% of Paradiski situated above 2000m, it offers the ideal altitude to make the most of the winter snow conditions [at the moment temperatures are averaging 0 degrees during the day, dropping to minus figures during the night]. At 1200 metres, all activities will be accessible thanks to the recent heavy snowfall.

Eight years after its creation, Paradiski – which connects the stations of Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne – houses more and more holiday makers from France and beyond. For this winter 2011/2012, Paradiski has invested 21,7 million Euro for the construction of infrastructure, replacement of equipment and reinvestment and expansion of equipment for cultivating the snow.

On the morning of the 17th December Christmas holiday makers will take to the slopes to enjoy a range of snowsports.

To see the live web-cams of the Paradiski domain:

http://www.lesarcs.com/webcams

http://www.la-plagne.com/fr/hiver/autres/webcams.html

Paradiski in figures : 3 resorts, 20 destinations. Altitude from 1 200 to 3 250 m. 2 equipped glaciers at over 3000 m altitude. 425 km of slopes. 3 snow parks, 3 boardercross, 4 boardergliss, 2 half-pipe, 2 toboggan slopes. 246 hectares of artificial snow, 755 snow canons. 153 km of cross-country and Nordic ski trails. 102 096 beds. Access us at www.paradiski.com

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