Help with my shortlist

Of course..

Flaine is primarily self catering or a couple of hotels. Most is pretty much ski in/out. I think Neilson have a chalet in the Hameau which definitely isn't ski in/out! Very family orientated and minimal queues in off season.

Tignes / Val: As has been said, tignes in bad weather can feel like being on the moon. Val has more nightlife, but is a cold village in early season as the sun barely reaches the village in January. Plenty of chalet accomodation in both, so of which is ski in/out. I'd stay in Val rather than Tignes having done both.

La Plagne has lots of chalets especially in 1800 and around Centre. some are ski in/out but not all. It's a big area with some good off piste if you know where to find it.

Les Arcs offers good skiing but is more self catering than chalet in the main parts, but Peissey seems to have developed the chalet culture.

Alpe D'Huez has some great skiing and a massive area for beginers at the bottom. If you want nightlife without too much of a walk, do check where you are staying, as others have said.

I'm sure you'd be happy in any of the above, so looks like the next few years are sorted!

Er, I stayed in the Hameau in Flaine, and each morning I skied down to the main lifts

Oh, I did have to cross the road 1st

Would thoroughly recommend La Plagne/Les Arcs, and Val D/Tignes.

La Plagne has loads of ski to door, especially Belle Plagne, Plagne Village and Plagne Soleil. Belle Plagne has a 'villagey' feel, and best positioned for easy access to the whole area. Good mix of hotels, chalets, and apartments. Virtually all ski to door ( or at least pretty darned close). Plagne Centre and Plagne Bellecotte have lots of (ugly) apartments for self caterers. Skiworld have several good chalets in the Balcons de Belle Plagne complex, which are alongside a blue piste, and can be skiied back to from 2 different areas. They always have rooms available last minute, for late bookers wanting to save a fortune.

Ler Arcs, has slightly better skiing than La Plagne, with lovely wide tree lined pistes, as well as high altitude open pistes.

Both La Plagne and Les Arcs have great snow records.

Val D/Tignes don't have as much ski to door, although if you stay on the Legattaz side of Val D, you'll find a some more ski to door. Also this side is on the way back from Tignes, as well as on the way back from Solaise side of Val D, so 2 routes back. Bit flat coming back from Tignes but do-able. Room sizes in Val D are generally laughable (shoeboxes)


Flaine from reports of mates, is an ugly apartment block resort, but blessed with tons of snow every year. Can be accessed from other prettier villages such as Samoens.

The others I can't say as no experience.

Have stayed in Les Coches once - long cold lift up into the main ski area of La Plagne and very little sun in the village. Also it is rather "soul-less" no real traditional restaurants/bars to speak of. Skied a lot that year in Les Arcs and the skiing there was excellent and varied - agree the Aiguille Rouge is a must. Le Plagne has more intermediate runs but also some very challenging ones (Le Coqs black is the hardest run I have ever skied!). Plagne 1800 is where we stayed last New Year and although it does not have too many bars the Cave is probably one of the best for Apres Ski we have been in Most of the accommodation is a short walk to the chair.

Les Sybelles - we stayed in St Jean D'Arves that has a chair up to Le Corbier. Found that area limiting so we tended to drive over to St Sorlin (a few minutes) and the ski-ing there was surprisingly good. However the drive up to the resorts is awful along a very windy, potholed road, some of the lifts are ancient and nightlife is virtually non existent so would not go back.

Have you thought about my all time favourite in the Three Valleys? St Martin de Belleville - access to both the Meribel and Les Menuires/VT sectors very easy with Courchevel over another summit from Meribel. The village retains lots of charm, has three or four good bars and restaurants and up in Les Grangerais lots of self catering accommodation close to the gondola. It is also sunny! Good luck with your lists!

If you go to Les Arc/La Plagne promise me you will give Sainte Foy a go and really test out your new skis

ParalyticSkiCrazie wrote:

Les Sybelles - we stayed in St Jean D'Arves that has a chair up to Le Corbier. Found that area limiting so we tended to drive over to St Sorlin (a few minutes) and the ski-ing there was surprisingly good. However the drive up to the resorts is awful along a very windy, potholed road, some of the lifts are ancient and nightlife is virtually non existent so would not go back.

Thats what I was thinking might be the case with this area, but the ski area looks surprisingly good. It sounds like a poor mans Serre Che!

ParalyticSkiCrazie wrote:
Have you thought about my all time favourite in the Three Valleys? St Martin de Belleville - access to both the Meribel and Les Menuires/VT sectors very easy with Courchevel over another summit from Meribel. The village retains lots of charm, has three or four good bars and restaurants and up in Les Grangerais lots of self catering accommodation close to the gondola. It is also sunny! Good luck with your lists!

3 Valleys is not on my wish list....cant you read???!!!!

I suspect N was not on your wish list last year but you (and I!!) were persuaded to go...