Skiing in France

France undoubtedly has some of the best and most extensive ski areas in the world and can boast more than 400 ski resorts in the Alps and the Pyrenees. Most of the well known ski resorts in France are located in the Alps, on the border to Switzerland and Italy, and they include the world’s largest lift-linked ski area the Three Valleys – home to famous resorts like Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens. Other famous French resorts include Chamonix, Tignes, Avoriaz, Val d´Isere and Alpe d´Huez. Six of the world’s ten largest ski areas are in, or partly in, France and that leads the country to claim it offers the best value skiing in the world, because although lift tickets for these giant areas are not cheap, you do buy far more lifts and piste kilometres for your Euro than for a smaller area. France has hosted the Winter Olympics several times - in 1992 in Albertville, in 1968 in Grenoble and in 1924 in Chamonix.

French ski resorts are very varied, ranging from large, commercialised places such as Flaine, to small, charming mountain villages such as Megève and Châtel. The large ski resorts often have a very high level of comfort, and you can ski all the way to the hotel door.

When it comes to bars and restaurants, France also gets a high score. In the French Alps you get delicious food and excellent wines. The variety is also very large when it comes to the nightlife; some of the ski resorts are quiet and family oriented, whereas others have a very vivid nightlife.