France is still the favourite destination for people from the UK looking to hit the slopes, thanks to its close proximity, snow-sure high altitude resorts and miles and miles of varied and scenic runs. Of these resorts, Val d'Isere seems to top the bill for many snow-lovers, who are attracted to the charm of the village, the quality and variation of the slopes and the excitement of the bustling nightlife. Welove2ski give it an uber-hot rating of 85% and here's why...
The village - Picturesque charm
The village of Val d'Isere is centred on its main street and situated in a valley, next to Tignes. With parts of it dating back to the 13th century, Val d'Isere is a combination of charming traditional chalets in quaint streets (which some of its more purpose built neighbours seem to miss) and trendy, cosmopolitan bars, clubs, specialist shops and restaurants. The free busses make it super-easy to get around and the weekly market selling local produce adds to the Savoyard atmosphere.
The slopes - Loads of them!
Val d'Isere is linked to the ski area of Tignes and together they form the high altitude Espace Killy, with no less than 300km of slopes, freeride routes and a snowpark. Although beginners will certainly find what they are looking for here, with free lifts and easy slopes higher up; the resort is renowned for its extensive off-piste terrain that is accessible by lift and a number of specialist schools combine guiding and instruction so you can explore it all in safety. Three glaciers make for snow-sure areas with the highest point of the whole resort lying at 3550m. Oh and the lift system is second to none, with 97 ski lifts whisking you around from Val d'Isere to Tignes and back again.
The nightlife – Tres lively!
Never is a beer or a vin chaud more deserved than when you have been ripping up a mountain of snow, especially when it is home to 300km of pistes! Val d'Isere certainly does cater for the thirsty skier and snowboarder and with a wide array of clubs and bars, it has a scene to rival any of its other neighbouring resorts and is known as the 'capital of English-speaking apres-ski'. From the Moris Pub or Folie Douce for live music to Bananas for a young and lively vibe, there are loads of happy hours to choose from! For some apres-meal action, many clubs and bars open until 1.30pm, but the legendary Dick's Tea Bar carries on until 4 am and no visit to 'Val' would be complete without visiting it.
So to sum it all up in a nutshell, loads of charm + loads of pistes + loads of off-piste + loads of freeride + loads of cruisers + loads of snow + loads of nightlife = SHED loads of fun.
And if you're looking to get a piece of all that, Mark Warner ski holidays come in a convenient package format, so you don't have to worry about any logistics and can get on with the skiing (or snowboarding) and partying! Because trust me, there is simply no time for food-shopping or cooking in this place.
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