Sloping off in Val d'Isere

• 

  Val d'Isere, France

From its traditional Savoyarde architecture, to its fantastic restaurants, Val d’Isere is one of the most popular resorts in the world and has one of the highest extended ski domains in the world - L’Espace Killy, which includes Val d’Isere and Tignes.

Val sits at 1850m, but is known for being one of the most interesting and varied of France's high altitude resorts, and of course it has a brilliant snow record so you don't need to cross too many fingers for a good season.

As soon as you arrive, be sure to make your spa bookings at Hotel Barmes de l’Ours – it may be home to the largest spa in the Alps, but it still gets very busy - whilst the dinner seat to try and bag tout de suite is one at Michelin-starred La Table de l’Ours.

Foodies and families will love Val d’Isere in equal measure, as the resort has its very own Children’s Village with an ultra-safe area designed for beginners – even better, staff are now trained to brilliant enough standards to welcome tots from as young as 18 months old. If they’re not quite ready to click into skis yet, sledging and recreational areas have been also set up on the snow front.

For non-skiers in the group – and for the skiers too if you fancy a day off from the slopes – the resort has a new sports centre with pool, play pool, climbing area, sports hall, squash courts and a well-being area for sauna, Turkish bath, spa, cold baths and hydro-massage. And don’t sweat it if you don’t fancy those - there are 11 spas in the resort, including great ones in hotels Le Blizzard and Le Tsanteleina.

There are impeccable chalets in Val - it is known for its range of chalets - and of course Hotel Barmes de l’Ours is the best bed to book in town, but new places to stay include swish ready-for-season suites at Club Med mountain village in Val. The hotel now has a 5-Trident private wing with just 25 exclusive south-facing suites with a beautifully light lounge. There are 18 suites for double occupancy, six family suites and a wheelchair-accessible suite - all feature large balconies with stunning views down the valley. Other facilities there include a concierge service, bar, large communal terrace area with outdoor Jacuzzi and a private ski room. At the mothership, Club Med have put a new pool and a spa at the fitness centre.

Of course the downside here - not enough to stop you sampling the resort - is Val is a bit of a Little Britain, so popular is it with UK skiers. And it's perhaps not the best place for thise beginners in the group who could find themselves falling and failing on its range of intermediate-difficult runs.

Events to look out for

New for this season is Pistes Gourmandes, taking place March 15–20 and tipped as a culinary and gourmet extravaganza, including the first gourmet cooking contest in Val, the Golden Spoon.

The Men’s and Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup (Criterium de la Première Neige), with the thrills taking place December 11-13 and 18–20.

Check out the Polo Master (January 14-17), a polo tournament with some of the best players from France and Argentina.

For something soothing after the slopes, check out Classicaval (January 19-21), the resort’s classical music festival.

And the events season closes out with the Adventure and Discovery film festival on April 19-22.

By April Hutchinson

Location: France