Ski Resorts with Charm and Atmosphere

Champagny-en-Vanoise is a traditional Savoyard village resort with direct links to the La Plagne, and wider Paradiski, ski domain. It makes an excellent good value 'backdoor' connection into one of the largest and highest ski areas of the Alps and should not be overlooked for a quieter family ski...

Chatel which is part of the massive Portes du Soleil ski circuit is a pleasant, lively, French dominated old village with its own extensive, pretty intermediate terrain. The resort is made up of modern unpretentious chalet style hotels and apartments mixed in with some old farms where cattle stil...

Although the resort has a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, the skiing really is excellent. The local area has a good mix of tree-lined slopes below the resort and wide, open runs above it - more than enough to keep most skiers happy for days. However, add in access to the rest ...

When it comes to Courchevel Le Praz - think classic traditional as opposed to flash and brash. Le Praz is an authentic mountain village with a new gondola that gets you quick and easy access to the whole of the 3 Valleys. The fact is there are not many French resorts that are as pretty as Le Praz...

Les Carroz is a traditional family orientated resort with an attractive village square, pavement cafes and some interesting shops. The gondola and chair lift link directly to Flaine and the Grand Massif but involve a steep 300 metre walk from the village centre. Apartments make up the majority of...

Samoens is a truly traditional mountain town and is the only French ski resort that is designated as a Monument Historique! Once a thriving medieval centre for stone masons Samoens is now a charming mountain town relying on tourism as its number one income provider. There is a traffic free centre...

La Clusaz has managed to maintain its traditional mountain village charm and very French atmosphere despite developing into a major resort. The pistes, although spread out, are largely suited towards intermediates and beginners, but experts will struggle to find any truly challenging terrain (wor...

Le Grand Bornand is part of the Aravis skiing area (the other resort being La Clusaz) and has 90km of slopes descending from Mont Lachat, the highest peak at 2,100 metres. Together the two resorts, which are linked by local bus service, offer a considerable 220km of pistes which can be accessed u...

Megeve is a chic and cosmopolitan ski resort and one of the most exclusive destinations in the Alps. The resort was conceived by the Rothschilds in the 1920's as France's alternative to Switzerland's St Moritz. Luxury ski holidays to Megeve are about more than just the skiing: the resort is a mec...

This resort guide to Meribel, one of the most popular resorts with the British market, gives an overview of the ski area, the restaurants (both on and off the mountain), the après ski scene and also the nightlife options available to those that choose to take their ski holiday in this fabulous Th...