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Viewing Family Skiing Holidays in FranceFamily Skiing Holidays in France
By Martyn Davis
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Your family skiing holiday in France starts when you have to decide where to go, as France has two main ski areas, the Pyrenees and the Alps. France has some of the biggest ski resorts - for skiers of all abilities and experience. Skiing holidays to France are very popular, especially to resorts in the French Alps, with popular places like Courchevel and Meribel. However, France has hundreds of kilometers of ski slopes, situated in some of the most spectacular mountainous regions in the world. When you go on your family skiing holidays or snowboarding, you need to find the right place with the right ski slopes. Whether this is through a travel agency for a luxury package ski holiday, or you are organizing everything yourself by choosing your own chalet or staying in a hotel and being pampered while off the ski slopes, the choices are endless. France has some of the biggest ski resorts such as Les Trois Vallees (Three Valleys), which includes resorts like Courchevel and Meribel. This area has around 600 km. of pistes for skiers of all abilities and experience, so there is enough choice for everyone. Meribel can offer skiing to people with all abilities, as there are some fantastic beginners' slopes but The Three Valleys area offers a good challenge for more experienced skiers, and has an incredible choice of ski schools, which cater to everyone from groups to individual tuition. Although it is generally a purpose built resort, you will find it has a fairytale atmosphere with the ski chalets that blend into the scenery. However, it does have quite a lively nightlife and can get very busy in the peak season. Courchevel is an outstanding place to ski or snowboard, but can be a little on the expensive side. The extensive slopes of the resort offer extensive and varied skiing. It is made up of four villages known by their altitudes, and they vary immensely, but in some places, you can ski right outside the door of the hotel! Font Romeu is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and has the biggest snowmaking operation in the Pyrenees. With well over 2500 hours of sunshine each year, this makes it another popular resort for both weekend breaks and longer holidays alike. Chamonix has five very good resorts. However, they are not near the slopes and you need transport to get to them. This place has everything from great shops to a wonderful atmosphere, yet because of how well known it is, the area can be very crowded compared to some other skiing towns, especially around the ski lifts. Alpe d'Huez is one of Europe's largest and highest ski resorts. It is currently one of only around twenty in the world that offer a lift-served vertical of over 2000 meters. It has the largest slope in the world, where you can ski for well over an hour without taking any ski lift, although these are definitely not for the beginner or intermediate skier. There are a few places in France where you can ski on the glaciers even in the summer months, such as Tignes or Val d'Isere. There are very few great skiing areas in the world that can excite the imagination more than the Val d'Isere and L'Espace. Killy is one of the best ski areas in the world, and there is an amazing variety of different skiing via ski lifts and ski buses that link the area of Val d'Isere to the neighboring Tignes. However, if you have never been skiing before, it is advisable to book you holiday through a tour operator. He or she will know exactly what resorts are suitable. It is also a good idea to have some lessons on dry slopes prior to going, so that you can make the best of your holiday, rather than spending the first few days just learning to stop falling over! Booking your skiing holiday independently can save you quite a lot of money, but there can be downsides as well, especially if you have never been to the resort before. For instance, you may not realize how far it is to get from your accommodation to the slopes, or even how far it would be to get to the ski hire places. Please do bear in mind that even if have your own skis or ski boots, you will still need to purchase other items of equipment before you go, such as proper skiing gloves and sallopettes to keep you warm and the snow out. There is a wide range of ski accommodation in France, and you can choose from purpose built private ski chalets, chalet apartments, or hotels. French skiing accommodation meets the needs of all skiers, with self-catering cabins to fully serviced luxury apartments and hotels, ideal for the skier on every budget. However, the choice of accommodation can be quite overwhelming. You must consider all the people in your party, especially if you have young children where childcare facilities or entertainment may be an important issue. If you are a more experienced skier, you may wish to look at chalets nearer to the more difficult runs rather than the nursery slopes, or perhaps opt for a little more luxury in a hotel with gourmet meals. Speaking to people that have already been to a resort, or even going to forums can help a great deal. This is especially true if you wish to know what places are the best for good value restaurants when you are on a self-catering holiday, or maybe even avoiding a resort with a lively nightlife if you have little ones that need their sleep! Of course, you also should look into what other activities are available in your chosen resort. There are usually things for all of the family to enjoy, such as shows, archery, concerts, squash, tennis, ice skating, golf, swimming, dancing, saunas and spas, plus much, much more. About the Author: www.placesinfrance.com. Martyn Davis European: traveler, author, photographer, and business development manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks, and attractions - Family Skiing Holidays In France. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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