Thanks to all the fresh snow that’s arrived in the Alps recently, this season is set to be absolutely fantastic. If you haven’t already booked your 2016 ski holiday then what are you waiting for? However, the question you might be asking yourself is ‘which resort should I go to’? Well, to help you make that decision, we’ve decided to pick Flaine as our resort of the month. Here’s why…
Snowfall
The high altitude resort of Flaine is lucky enough to be reasonably snow sure for most of the season, making it very popular with skiers and boarders. Plus, the massive dump of snow across the Alps recently saw a very hefty amount fall on Flaine. As a result, conditions look brilliant – check out some of the photos taken there over the past week to see for yourself.
Images from the Flaine Facebook page
Ski Area
Sitting in a big snow bowl at the heart of the Grand Massif ski area, visitors to Flaine have access to a wide range of terrific ski terrain. Beginners benefit from the snow-covered nursery slopes situated next to the resort accommodation, four free ski lifts and the choice of several ski schools, including ESF and ESI centres. Intermediate level skiers have the most to enjoy, with hundreds of kilometres of easy and moderate runs that drop into the Flaine bowl or continue to the surrounding villages, including the 14km long blue ‘Cascades’ run. Plus, there’s also a great range of difficult terrain so advanced skiers and snowboarders won’t get bored easily.
© OT Flaine/ M Dalmasso
Accommodation
There’s a fantastic choice of accommodation in Flaine to suit all tastes. We’ve picked out a few of our favourites below.
Flaine Montsoleil Les Terrasses d’Eos is a stylish ski-in/ski-out residence with modern self-catering apartments, ideally located at the foot of the slopes. Plus, guests are able to enjoy the fantastic leisure facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna.
Flaine Montsoleil Les Terrasses d’Helios is the sister property to the Eos and also benefits from direct access onto the slopes. Guest are treated to bright and spacious apartments as well as fantastic facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a deep nature spa relaxation area. There’s also a ski shop and supermarket on-site.
Terminal Neige Totem, located in the centre of Flaine Forum, is a three star hotel, which has been completely renovated for this season. Its slope side location means guests have no trouble accessing the pistes. The rooms are stylish and contemporary, complete with artistic furnishings inspired by Native American culture. The hotel also offers a spa area, outdoor saunas, a bar and a restaurant.
Le Centaure is one of our most popular accommodations and it’s quite clear why. The stunning ski-in/ski-out apartments are ideally located in the centre of the resort next to the ‘Grand Platieres’ lift, and each has a south-facing balcony, well-equipped kitchen and lounge. The residence also offers a swimming pool, steam room, spa and resident’s lounge with an open fire.
Activities off the Slopes
Flaine also has a great range of activities on offer to keep visitors entertained when they’re off the slopes. There’s an indoor climbing wall, cinema and ice rink in the resort. Plus there’s snowmobiling, ice quad biking, dog sledding and paragliding available to those who wish to try them. Anyone who’s after a culture fix should be satisfied by the weekly guided tours of the art and architecture left by the resort’s creators, Eric and Sylvie Boissonnas. There’s also a cultural centre, which has an exhibition space dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists.
© OT Flaine / Y Havis
Restaurants
Flaine has a great number of restaurants, both on the mountain and in the resort. Le Bissac is one of the most popular mountain restaurants, offering both self-service and table service, and a sun terrace with terrific views. Le Desert Blanc, Le Michet and L’Eloge are also popular options. In the resort, the award-winning La Perdrix Noire in Flaine Foret serves a varied menu, including grills, rotisseries, seafood and Savoyard specialities. Visitors can also head to the well-liked Sucre Sale, a laid-back restaurant known for its specialty pita breads, or Monster Burger, which is ideal if you just want to grab a quick burger or panini.
© OT Flaine / M Dalmasso
Après-Ski
Flaine is not known for having a wild après scene but there are a few lively bars to relax in after a long day on the slopes. Skiers and boarders congregate at Le Flying Dutchman from the middle of the afternoon and it stays busy well into the evening, thanks to reasonably priced drinks and a great atmosphere. It also runs weekly pub quizzes, regular barbeques and karaoke nights. Le Diamant Noir and Le White Pub are also popular watering holes in the resort. If you’re with the family, you can head to Galaxy Bowling and enjoy some drinks at the bar while the kids hit the lanes.
© OT Flaine / M Dalmasso
You can find out more about the resort of Flaine and the accommodation we have there on our website. You can browse our full range of resorts and accommodations from the PowderBeds homepage. If you would like some expert advice about accommodation or resorts, please contact the PowderBeds team on 0131 240 3300 or [email protected]
Posted on Friday 15 Jan 2016