How do the French manage to swan around ski resorts year on year, looking chic and unflustered? More importantly- which ski resorts do they spend time in, and do they save any money whilst being there, compared to us Brits?
Hopefully, our guide will point you in the right direction and help you choose the right slopes and resort without busting your bank balance.
Where to ski like the French
If you're planning a ski holiday to the Alps and are trying to get the most for your hard earned bucks, it's time to put Hello and Heat out of your mind and start googling the brilliant ski destinations you can actually afford.
OK, so the Beckham's have strutted their stuff in Courcheval, Hugh Grant and Jamie Oliver live it up in Verbier, and Kate Moss and George Clooney are just a few of the big names who flock to St Moritz, but if your budget is more suited to packed lunches than hanging out in Michelin-starred restaurants, it pays to choose your resort with care.
At Pierre & Vacances, we firmly believe that choosing to stay in an affordable French ski resort does not mean you have to comprise on style, comfort and access to the slopes. Pierre & Vacances have plenty of resorts in top ski areas of France, with plenty of secret gems that even the A-List haven't discovered yet. The French flock to these hubs in their droves, and you won't catch a savvy French ski party following celebrities' wake, they prefer to ski their own path!
Our French neighbours who, thanks to their proximity to the mountains take regular trips to the slopes, know the top spots that deliver the best snow and après ski for a lot less. To find out what we Brits could learn from our friends across the Channel, The Independent's Travel Editor, Simon Calder interviewed French ski buffs Jerome and Marie for a special Pierre & Vacances video feature - 'How to Holiday Like the French.'
Follow our guide to skiing like the French...
Where to ski in France?
While the unfriendly Euro exchange rate puts a squeeze on your budget wherever you go in the Alps this season, the French resorts that have traditionally offered better value for money will still come in cheaper than the slopes graced by the stars.
French ski lovers on a budget avoid the upmarket resorts. At the top of their lists are the equally enticing but better value snow havens of Chamonix, Avoriaz, Serre Chevalier, and Valmorel - all of which are easily accessible from the UK, too.
Three of the best - value ski resorts in France
Serre Chevalier
Located in the Haute-Alpes region, Serre Chevalier is one of France's biggest resorts with a massive 250km ski area. Its 13 villages and hamlets scattered across the valley blend tradition and modernity, and the resort also offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. With its large natural terrain it is also considered one of the best snowboarding destinations in Europe.
Hot deal: Situated in the mountain village of Villeneuve, Résidence Pierre & Vacances L'Alpaga , has comfortable, spacious self-catering apartments with fully equipped kitchens, and it is surrounded by a landscaped garden. It is ideally located just 50m from the shops and 200m from the ski lifts. Transfer: Grenoble airport (2 hrs) or Chambery station (3 hrs).
Studio apartments for up to four people costs from 530 Euros for a week's ski holiday in January 2010.
Valmorel
A great choice for first-timers and family ski trips, Valmorel is a purpose-built French ski resort comprising several small satellite villages in the Grande Domaine. Valmorel and St Francois Longchamps together offer 165km of marked pistes.
Valmorel's resort centre is car-free and it also scores top marks for families as most of its pistes cater for beginners and intermediates, and there are plenty of designated practice areas. The ski area is on your doorstep which means you can literally ski to your door - another big plus if you're skiing with kids.
Hot deal: Built in the traditional Savoyard style, the Pierre & Vacances Chalets du Morel residences comprise a selection of small hamlets scattered around the resort. All residences offer comfortable self-catering apartments within 200m of the ski lifts and shops and restaurants of the resort centre.
Seven nights in a studio apartment for up to four people costs from just 520 Euros.
Chamonix
Chamonix is a much-loved ski resort due to the variety of outdoor activities you can participate in here. The summit of Mont Blanc is the third most visited natural site in the world and the mountains hosts activities such as ice climbing, alpine mountaineering and extreme skiing. There is all sorts of terrain, but this is the perfect destination for the expert winter sports enthusiast and the adventurous. Chamonix is famous for its cable car up to Aiguille du Midi as well as the panoramic restaurant at the top station of the Brévent cable car, which boasts impressive views of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Hot deal: Check into the Maeva Chamonix La Riviere residence in the district of Chamonix Sud. Here you'll enjoy comfortable self-catering apartments with the Aiguille du Midi cable car just 300m from your door.
Studio apartments for up to four cost from just 365 Euros for seven nights in January 2010.
When to go skiing
It pays to remember that the UK and French school holidays don’t necessarily coincide. In order to avoid the crowds, canny French skiers book their holidays when our kids are at school. So take their lead and plan your trip when they're not going to be on holiday!
While the French are able to enjoy last-minute weekend breaks that can prove more difficult for us as we have to cross the Channel, there's another French trick you can follow. Travelling to the mountains mid-week, particularly if you go by rail during the day will not save you money on travel costs but resorts will be quieter as so many French people head to the mountains just for the weekend. Mid-January is a great time to go - you'll get the best snow and all the schools have gone back so you’ll have the slopes all to yourself. In March or April, you can pick up some great last minute and short break offers for the end of the season.
Go self-catering
The French favour self-catering apartments over catered chalets for good reason - they not only love cooking up a feast 'at home' for family and friends but know that getting into this ski habit saves a heap of money. Take their lead by stocking up on local goodies from the supermarket to make your own tasty packed lunches (you don't need us to tell you have pricey the cafes on the slopes can be) and hearty dinners. Do this and might well be able to afford a celebratory splurge in your resort's best restaurant on your last night.
Self-catering apartments are so much easier than hotels for families too – you can cook when you want to and share rooms and space rather than being restricted by meal times and hotel rooms.
Ski lessons
To save money, think about getting a group of friends together to share a lesson – or join one of the existing group lessons, which the Ecole du Ski Francais run in every resort. Private lessons are for stars like Victoria Beckham only! Don’t forget to check out the free parties that the local tourist offices hold, too.
All Pierre & Vacances residences featured are ski in/ ski out and are self-catering apartments with fully equipped kitchens and cooking facilities.
To make your Euro go even further, Pierre & Vacances have introduced the hugely popular offer to help Beat the Euro Designed to help cash strapped Brits ‘beat the Euro’, the deal offers at least 15 percent off all ski accommodation on PV-Holidays.com, the website for Pierre & Vacances. The offer is valid all season, on all dates and resorts and can also be combined with any other offer currently available on the website, including the 20 percent early booking discount.
The exclusive discount code is 8258 and you can claim your discount to get money off your next ski holiday. Pierre & Vacances will also be posting lots of offers in the new year.
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