La Plagne (Villages)
High altitude purpose built resort offering value and excellent ski convenience
Plagnes Villages resort guide - a general overview
Plagne Villages (and nearby Plagne Soleil) is one of the smallest of the Plagne ski resorts. It is very much aimed at family skiing on a budget yet gives unrivalled ski access with nearly all the accommodation being ski in ski out. It is also one of the highest ski resorts in the Alps at an altitude of 2,100 metres - there are no snow reliability issues here.
The 'village' is purpose built and made up of self-catering chalet-style residences. There is a brace of restaurants, a small tourist office, a ski-hire outlet and small supermarket. The atmosphere is quiet and unhurried and best suits families looking for a good value base for their winter holiday.
Plagne Villages is surrounded by several blue grade pistes, which lead gently down to Plagne Centre from where you have complete access to the rest of resort. This means in the morning you can start your day with a ski run down rather than a chairlift up. Returning to your accommodation in Plagne Villages is similarly very easy taking the same blue runs down from the higher skiing above Plagne Centre and Plagne Bellecote. There is a small beginner ski area and a meeting point for ski lessons in Plagne Villages.
Resort stats
425km
2,100m - 3,250m
Level of skiing
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Experts
- Snow sure
- Off-piste
- Ski area
Qualities
- Charm factor
- Non-skiers
- Nightlife
- Resort layout
- Fine dining
- Short transfer
- Resort value
Airports
- Chanbery
- 2hrs 15mins
- Lyon
- 3hrs
- Geneva
- 3hrs
Pros and Cons
Pros
- One of the highest ski resorts in the Alps - snow sure from beginning December to end April
- Very practical resort layout with most accommodation offering ski in ski out convenience
- Good value cheap family-style accommodation
- Easy enough access to Plagne Centre for resort amenities and amusements off the slopes
Cons
- This is very much a purpose built resort and has zero traditional alpine village appeal
- Nearly all the accommodation is made up of cheap self-catering units
- There are very limited resort amenities with two restaurants and one small supermarket
Restaurants
La Plagne (Villages) Resort Restaurants
Plagne Villages offers La Casa de LOurs with its popular terrace (on the slopes) and a reasonably priced menu of local specialities. For a more tradsitional and rustic ambience choose the Restaurant Le Grizzli which is located at the bottom of Plagne Villages. It has a cosy wooden chalet atmosphere with meat cooked over an open fire and a beef-centric menu.
La Plagne (Villages) Mountain Restaurants
The mountain restaurants in the La Plagne ski area are generally good value for money and many have fantastic views of the Vanoise National Park or the Tarentaise Valley, and only get really busy during peak weeks. For stunning views across the valley to Courchevel, the Rossa on the Champagny side is the best option, you can even nap in the deck chairs! In bad weather head for the lower tree lined runs that lead down to Les Coches & Montchavin, and try the Chez Pat du Sauget. The Arpette is a good value restaurant in the main part of the piste and is easy to get to for most levels of skiers.
La Plagne (Villages) Apres Ski
The apres ski scene is pretty much non existant but you can access Plagne Centre using the telebus service which runs until midnight.
La Plagne (Villages) Nightlife
There is no nightlife in Plagne Villages.
Funicular
Cable Car
Gondola
Chair lift
Drag lift
Property
