Top 3 Ski Resorts in France

When it comes to skiing holidays, France is the country that usually pops into my head first. After all, it's pretty famous for its amazingresorts, plus it's nice and easy to get to - and if that's not a winning combination, I'm not sure what is! Of course, the nation's home to a fair few skiing destinations, which means deciding exactly where to go can take longer than you think, especially if, like me, you tend to be quite indecisive.

So, I thought I'd help you out by putting together a list of my top three ski resorts in France. Hopefully, this will set your holiday planning off to a good start. And if any of the below do take your fancy, you can find out more about accommodation and such at companies like Snowchateaux.

1) Tignes

If you're looking for a snow-sure resort, you're not going to do any better than Tignes. Located in the Espace Killy region, it offers skiing from an impressive 3,450 m on the Grand Motte Glacier.

Its snow-sure qualities are one of the key reasons I selected it, but there are more. Personally, I think one of the very best things about Tignes is the simple fact that it's so varied. From lively apres-ski and unusual activities to renowned pistes and an extensive, exceptionally well put together lift system, it really does seem to have it all.

Among my favourite Tignes facts is that you can ski to Val d'Isere - another top ski resort - in just 20 minutes. So, if you come to Tignes, you essentially have the slopes of Val d'Isere at your disposal too, which is a pretty exciting thought.

I also love the fact that there's so much else you can do here, like going ice driving and attempting snowshoe treks. After all, it's always nice to try something a bit different while you're on holiday.

2) La Plagne

Next on my list is La Plagne, a fantastic resort in the valley of the Tarentaise, which is in the Savoie region of France. Forming one half of the vast Paradiski area, La Plagne is home to 225 km of pistes, where you'll find 15 black runs, alongside 72 blue and 10 green. Plus, there's a sizeable off-piste area, as well as a new snow park - 7cube.

It's also worth remembering that La Plagne is one of the highest resorts on the continent (sitting between 1,250 m and 3,250 m), so it's a snow-sure destination. In terms of its layout, La Plagne is spread across four main communes, which it is possibly simplest to look at as mini resorts in themselves. These are Champagny-en-Vanoise, Macot-la-Plagne, Aime and Bellestre.

3) Les Arcs

Last on my list is the famous Les Arcs, which is one of France's best-known ski resorts. What you might not already know, however, is that this forms the other half of the Paradiski area, and from here you can reach the aforementioned La Plagne in just four minutes, as the two are connected by the world's fastest cable car.

What's great about Les Arcs is the variety it offers. Boasting some 200 km of pistes, it has open runs and tree runs, as well as a 7 km long piste that descends 2,026 m. There's also 30 km of cross-country skiing, good snow schools - including Ecole de Ski Francais - and guaranteed snow throughout the season.

Plus, there are traditional villages offering accommodation here, as well as four purpose-built resorts that are more modern. Wherever you choose to stay, though, you'll generally find the local area puts on lots of great events, like firework displays and film screenings.

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