Why choose La Plagne for your 2013 ski break?

Thursday, 3 May 2012 12:19 PM

When it comes to luxury winter getaways for 2013, you can't go far wrong with French ski holidays - especially if you head to the resort of La Plagne. There's plenty to recommend this mountainside destination near the Italian border - read on to find out what.

Quality accommodation

It's not a luxury ski holiday if you don't have a well-appointed chalet to stay in. Luckily, La Plagne has high quality accommodation in abundance. Much of its lodgings are made up of wood-clad chalets that can sleep up to 12 skiers over two or three floors, with many bedrooms having their own ensuite bathroom.

A few of the other features you can enjoy in La Plagne's accommodation include log fire burners, close proximity to the ski facilities and/or apres-ski, and wonderful mountain views that will be a delight to wake up to.

Make sure you opt for a catered ski chalet for an extra luxurious touch - after all, why spend your time cooking and cleaning when one of Europe's biggest ski areas is right on your doorstep? Speaking of which...

Great skiing

La Plagne is the resort of choice for anyone looking to avoid the crowds that tend to flock to extremely popular destinations like Courchevel and Meribel. The Paradiski Ski Area - some of which is shared with Les Arcs - is huge, boasting 236 slopes, 153 km of cross-country trails and two peaks over 3,000 m high.

There is a good variety of blue, black, green and red slopes to choose from, ensuring skiers of all abilities are able to enjoy themselves on their ski holiday. The bulk of Paradiski's slopes belong to La Plagne, so you can easily try a new route on every day of your luxury break.

Activities galore

You don't just have to ski on your holiday to La Plagne. The Paradiski Ski Area also features extensive snowboarding facilities - ideal if you want to try something new on your break.

That's not all; depending on your tastes (and how brave you are!) you can go quad biking, bobsleighing, ice pedal karting, snowshoeing, paragliding and zip sliding, to name just a few of the other pursuits on offer.

One of the main talking points of the resort is its immense ice tower, which can be tackled by climbers of all abilities thanks to its variety of vertical and sloping faces. Be sure to have a go on the former type of surface if you want to take on a real challenge.

Of course, there might well be days when you would prefer to stay inside, especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Just a few of the indoor activities you can indulge in at La Plagne include bowling, climbing and swimming, ensuring you stay active throughout your holiday.

Nightlife

La Plagne's ten villages offer a variety of nightlife options for visiting skiers. You can take your pick of all kinds of restaurants; try the Maison in Plagne-Centre for a great steak and the Face Nord in Belle-Plagne for a true taste of local cuisine. In addition, it's worth making the longer journey to one of the mountain eateries in the area, including Roc des Blanchets above Champagny and the Forperet above Montalbert.

There are also many bars perfect for a pre or post-dinner drink. Try the Igloo Bar in Plagne-Centre for apres-ski in truly wintery surroundings, or La Mine in Plagne 1800 if you fancy taking in some live music.

A luxury guide to La Plagne

The vast resort of La Plagne is one of the largest in the world, and nestles in the Tarentaise Valley of the French Alps. With ten individual villages and the 200-person double-decker Vanoise Express cable car linking it to the nearby Les Arcs, it is no wonder that the ski area around La Plagne is known as Paradiski.