Resort of the week
VAL THORENS, FRANCE
Europe’s highest ski resort, at 2,300m, guarantees snow from December to April. Part of the Three Valleys complex – so large that you never have to ski the same run twice – Val Thorens provides access to more than 600km of slopes and easy skiing to the villages of Courchevel, La Tania and Méribel. An ideal location for big groups that love long and varied pistes, good self-catering accommodation and lively nightlife.
Val Thorens is best avoided at Easter, as visiting college groups from Ireland and Britain can add a rowdy edge.
Resort height2,300m.
Range1,260-3,230m.
Lifts181.
Total runs600km.
Longest runSeven kilometres.
Best runCime de Caron descent. Stunning views accompany you down this long wide red from one of the 3,000m peaks surrounding the resort.
Snow parksTwo.
SeasonNovember to May.
Snow reliability]]]]]
Who goesLots of Irish and British. Better restaurants and more spacious accommodation have seen an increase in Swiss and local visitors. Still, don't expect to learn any French on your week away.
ValueThe price of food and drink ranges from expensive to extortionate. On the other hand, a week-long Three Valleys lift pass, at €232, is decent value given the extent of the ski area and the modern, fast infrastructure.
Insider tipsBeginners and content intermediates will be more than satisfied with purchasing the cheaper Val Thorens Valley Pass, with 140km of runs.
AirportsGeneva, Grenoble.
Tour operatorsTopflight, Directski, Crystal, Inghams.
Snow report
It has been a great start to the season. Snow has been pouring out of the skies over the Alps, Pyrenees and Scandinavia this week. Early- season conditions are perfect, with many resorts opening earlier than expected. The outlook for the week ahead is good, with moderate dumps and cold temperatures. The eastern European resorts are a little barren, but it’s early days, and a week is a long time in the mountains.
Snow-forecast.com provides free forecasts for more than 2,200 resorts. You can check the snow at about 250 popular resorts on skiclub.co.uk or have a peek at your mountain of choice on snoweye.com.
Kitwatch
Well-fitted boots will vastly improve your skiing and give you a level of comfort you never thought possible. With prices becoming more affordable every year, you have no excuse to continue to put up with the raffle of rented boots. This year’s Salomon range, stocked by the Great Outdoors, in Dublin, includes Salomon Mission RS, a nice boot for the occasional skier from €229.
Get your skates on
For a break in one of the Alps’ best spa towns, Directski (directski.com) has a week’s self-catering in Bad Gastein, in Austria, from €604pps. Leaves Dublin next Saturday.
What’s on
Santa spotters and Christmas junkies can do no better than a visit to Levi (levi.fi), in Lapland. Proclaiming itself the “official ski resorts of Santa Claus”, its Christmas festival includes reindeer sleigh rides, igloo building and a visit to Santa’s factory for a meet and greet with the big man himself and his elf helpers.
AOB
With their discounts and waivers, our airlines at last appear to have recognised that their ski and boot charges are a turn-off. They need to do the right thing and drop the fees altogether.