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Archive for the ‘avoriaz’ Category
Après ski cocktail recipes
Nowhere does après ski quite like France!
There’s nothing like a busy day on the piste for working up a thirst. And there’s definitely nothing quite like that first grande biere or vin chaud for satisfying that hard earned thirst…apart from a cheeky après ski cocktail that is.
Here’s our guide to some of the top tipples you should be tracking down in the French Alps this season, and how to make them at home.
Après Ski
That’s right, what better place to start our mixologist’s guide than with the Après Ski itself.
Make it at home?
25ml vodka
25ml Pernod
10ml measure green crème de menthe
4 fl oz sparkling lemonade
Shake the vodka, Pernod and crème de menthe with ice, and after that strain into a highball cup with a few of ice cubes inside it. Add the lemonade. Enjoy with a sprig of peppermint and a piece of lemon.
On the piste?
For true glitz and glamour head to Courcheval 1850 and the Parisian style cocktail bar, Purple Cafe.
Chartreus’ito
Fancy a local French twist on the Mojito? Try the Chartreus’ito, substituting rum for the herbal Alpine liqueur. Guaranteed to warm those cockles.
Chartreuse is one of the oldest and most mysterious spirits around…with nearly 400 years of history and the added kudos of being produced by Carthusian monks. Allegedly only three monks from the order know the secret recipe – each hold one third of the recipe and have taken a vow of silence. Its origins are said to be as an elixir of life!
Make it at home?
Mix 1/4 lime and sugar in a glass
Add fresh mint leaves and ice cubes
And 50ml Green Chartreuse
Top up with soda
Stir and serve with straws
And what could be better than a sunny day on the slopes? A Chartreuse Soleil!
1 part Green Chartreuse
6 parts orange juice
Over ice
On the piste?
You’ll find Chartreuse just about anywhere in the Alps and L’Alpe D’huez is one of the closest resorts to the spirit’s Grenoble home.
Toffee Apple
Meribel and Val d’Isère have become synonymous with toffee vodka. This can be enjoyed as a fiery shot but why not linger over a long drink such as the Toffee Apple.
Make it at home?
50 ml Toffee Vodka
25 ml apple schnapps
25ml apple juice
12.5ml lemon juice
Over Cubed ice
One spoon of grenadine
Add to shaker Toffee Vodka, apple schnapps, apple juice (the sharper the better) and lemon juice.
Shake and pour into a Collins glass with cubed ice, then add one bar spoon of grenadine to create that marbled look and garnish with a piece of fresh apple.
On the piste?
Head to be Meribel or Val d’Isère, the home of Thunder Toffee Vodka.
St Germain Cocktail
Another local speciality, St Germain is made from elderflowers grown in the French Alps and makes for a very refreshing cocktail.
Make it at home?
Champagne or dry sparkling white wine
25ml St Germain
Topped with club soda
Fill a Collins glass with ice.
First, add St Germain, then champagne, then club soda. Stir well, and garnish with a lemon twist.
On the piste?
Where better to sip a refreshing cocktail than the heart of Paradiski at Plagne Soleil with its sunny climate and spectacular views of Mont Blanc.
Génépi
Génépi is the general term in the Alps for a home-made liquor featuring local mountain flora (the herb, Artemisia). For a warming aperitif try it mixed with spirits and apple juice for a long drink.
Make it at home?
In a shaker filled with ice, pour:
25ml Génépi
50ml vodka
Apple juice
25ml syrup blue Curacao
Shake for 10 seconds and serve in a tall glass.
Or go for something a little more frisky…
The Powder
25ml Génépi
25ml peach cream
6cl orange juice
25ml cassis liqueur
Place 2 ice cubes in a tumbler and pour the ingredients in the order of the recipe.
On the piste?
You won’t have to search far in Avoriaz to find a bottle of Génépi behind the bar.
Black Forest
The title of this suitably fruity cocktail may remind you of skiing off-piste…
Make it at home?
ke it at home?
25 ml crème de cacao
25 ml cherry liqueur
25 ml cherry brandy
25 ml cream
Shake ingredients together and pour into glass. Add a little more cream on top, then add a cherry to garnish.
On the piste?
For a twist on the traditional recipe, head to Jack’s Bar in Meribel where they serve it with raspberry liqueur, white crème de cacao with hot chocolate and Chantilly cream. Yummmmy!
Hot Bunny
Also known as the Ski Bunny or Snow Bunny, this is ideal when you want a hot chocolate with an edge.
Make it at home?
25ml Triple Sec
1 Cup Hot Chocolate
Top with Whipped cream
Heat mug. Pour in hot chocolate, add Triple Sec and stir. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows. Sit by the fire place and enjoy.
On the piste?
You’ll need a Hot Bunny after tackling the slopes of Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens.
French 75
Arguably one of the most sophisticated cocktails, the French 75 is said to have originated at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1915, created for returning World War I fighter pilots. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm howitzer artillery piece.
Make it at home?
1/2 oz lemon juice
50ml gin
25ml Cointreau
Champagne
Pour the lemon juice or gin and Cointreau into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
Carefully add the Champagne.
On the piste?
If you’re going to drink a classy cocktail then where better than Chamonix. Head somewhere like the Clubhouse for some of the best cocktails around.
Which is your favourite post-piste tipple? Come and tell us on our Facebook page!
Summer holidays go live with Pierre & Vacances
Book early for savings of up to 35 per cent!
You can book summer holidays at over 45,000 apartments throughout France and Spain from today (December 26, 2011) with the launch of the new Pierre & Vacances 2012 brochure. Early-bird booking discounts, a new waterside residence in Brittany, as well as improved facilities plus new regional activities added to its soon-to-be re-branded Pierre & Vacances Resorts, are among the exciting developments that you will be able to experience in 2012.
Bargain breaks in France and Spain should be snapped up early with 35 per cent savings possible by combining long-stay and early booking discounts.
Early booking and long stay offers
The early bookings offers are available for up to 13 night stays for bookings made before 31 March 2012 for holidays from April to August and until 31 May 2012 for holidays from September to November. Long stay discounts are valid on stays of 14 to 20 consecutive nights. Discounts are as follows:
- Maeva- up to 20 per cent off for early booking/ up to 15 per cent off for long stay
- Pierre & Vacances Residences- up to 20 per cent off for early bookings/ 10 per cent off for long stay
- Pierre & Vacances Resorts- up to15 per cent off for early bookings/ 10 per cent off for long stay
- Pierre & Vacances Premium- up to 15 per cent off for early bookings/ 10 per cent off for long stay
The offers exclude peak holiday dates of 14 July- 24 August 2012.
The Pierre & Vacances summer portfolio offers exciting new additions and discounts for 2012. Full details of the summer portfolio from Pierre & Vacances can be seen here.
New residence
Le Coteau et la Mer in Douarnenez, Brittany is the latest addition to the Pierre & Vacances summer portfolio. The waterfront residence is located 50 metres from Les Sables Blancs Beach and has 64 one to two bedroom apartments, sleeping up to seven people, many of which have panoramic views of Douarnenez Bay. Guests will have access to the residence’s heated swimming pool which faces the sea and a solarium. There is also a Thalassotherapy centre just a few minutes walk from the apartments where treatments can be pre-booked.
Highest waterpark in Europe
A brand new water park, Aquariaz, is to open in the Alpine resort of Avoriaz - the birthplace of Pierre & Vacances – in May 2012. Designed by Center Parcs Europe, it will be the largest water park at high altitude in Europe.
The conservatory style aqua park will cover 2,000 metres squared with large swimming pools, flowing rivers, hot tubs, water slides, a wading pool and a climbing wall. The entire area will be decorated with plants and trees to invoke a tropical atmosphere and floor to ceiling windows will allow panoramic views of the Portes du Soleil area.
New ‘Holiday Village’ branding
From January 2012, Pierre & Vacances 13 Resorts across France and Spain will be re-branded to Holiday Villages with the aim of providing guests with further on site facilities, à la carte services and integrated regional activities.
Key new features include a five free activities pass available per booking ranging from bike hire to discovering circus skills and more free activities for the whole family including fitness sessions, sports tournaments and evening shows. Pre-bookable children’s clubs are offered and improved baby kits will be available including items such as a night light and mosquito net. Further details on the Holiday Villages can be seen at here.
French ski resorts with outdoor ice skating
Who hasn’t been inspired by the recent resurgence on TV of Torvill and Dean to don their ice skates and perfect their figure skating skills? There’s something rather romantic about the idea of cutting a dash on the ice rink, complete with Argyll sweater, mittens and skates. Especially outdoors, of a winter’s afternoon in the warming sunshine, or of an evening with snowdrops on your tongue and twinkling chalet lights brightening the dusk. And the promise of a hot chocolate or vin chaud when you’re done! Perfect entertainment for all the family.
Ice Skating champions Torvil and Dean
Why not take the opportunity of your next skiing holiday in France to venture out onto the ice?
Here is a guide to French Alpine resorts with outdoor patinoire (ice skating rinks!).
Alpe d’Huez
This south facing, sunny resort of Alpe d’Huez has lots of self catering ski accommodation, and is the ideal place to perfect your figure of eight whilst soaking up some rays.
The ice rink is located on the Avenue des Jeux in the heart of the resort and is open daily from 11.30am to 10.45pm. Figure skating tuition is offered by Alpe d’Huez Patinage Club for ages three and upwards.
Entry costs €6 for adults/ €3 children under 13 or is free with a Visalp ski pass. Skate hire costs €4.
A class pratices their triple salcos on Alpe d'Huez's open air ice rink
Les Deux Alpes
It comes as no surprise that this international winter sports resort has an Olympic-size outdoor ice rink, located next to the swimming pool on the Rue des Sagnes, close to the central Place des Deux Alpes. The resort is a huge playground for mountain lovers, with lots of self catering accommodation for those wanting to experience the fantastic restaurants the area has to offer.
Entrance to the ice rink is free for all holders of a six day lift pass. There is a small charge for ski hire. Open daily from 10.30am to 12.30pm, 3pm to 6.30pm and 8.30pm to 11pm.
At certain times of the week you can also try your hand at ‘ice gliding’ – bumper cars on ice!
‘Ice gliding’ – bumper cars on ice!
Megève
The outdoor ice rink is situated in the centre of this picture perfect Alpine village on Place de la Résistance, surrounded by accommodation with views of Mont Blanc.
It’s open daily from 2pm to 8pm (Tuesday from 2pm to 6pm, special children’s session from 6pm to 8pm). It costs €4.80 per adult and €3.80 per child (5 to 14 yrs). Skate hire costs €3.20, free for children under 5.
Megève open air ice rink
Avoriaz
There is a brand new ice rink opening in the 2011/2012 season in the centre of this family-friendly resort – which is also the home of Pierre & Vacances. The rink will be open daily from 3pm to 8pm. Entry costs €5.20 for adults and €4 for children under 12, including skates. Holders of a Family Pass can get in for free.
La Plagne
La Plagne has two natural open-air ice rinks situated in majestically high Aime La Plagne and sporty Plagne Bellecôte.
The rink at Aime La Plagne offers fantastic views of Mount Blanc. Open daily from 3.30pm to 10.30pm. Cost is €7 per adult and €5 per child under 12.
The rink at Plagne Bellecôte is located behind the main gondola and is open daily from 10am to 7pm for the same price.
Les Arcs
Skiers heading to the heart of the Paradiski region can take advantage of Les Arcs’ two outdoor ice rinks, one in Foret du Beauchet 1800 and the other in Place Haute 2000.
Val d’Isere
The natural ice skating rink at this world-renowned ski resort is in the middle of the village of Val d’Isere, which is full of family friendly self catering accommodation. It is open every day from 3pm to 8pm. The cost is €6 per adult and €5 per child, or you can buy a child week pass for €20 which includes entry to the rink and skate hire.
Natural ice skating rink in the middle of the village of Val d'Isere
Les Houches
Skate in front of the Mont Blonc massif at the natural rink in Les Houches, located in the centre of the village. The best news is, it’s free.
Young girl ice skating in Les Houches
During French holidays, the rink is open Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 5pm and from 8pm to 11pm. At other times it is open Tuesdays from 8pm to 11pm, Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm, Fridays from 8pm to 11pm, Saturdays from 2pm to 5pm and from 8pm to 11pm and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm.
And you can also stay in the view of the Mont Blonc massif in one of Pierre & Vacances’ self catering apartments in Les Houches.
Open air ice skating rink in Les Houches
La Clusaz
La Clusaz, renowned for cross country skiing, has a 1000 m2 open air ice rink located in the centre of this typically Savoyard village, and is even covered in the event of rain. And if you fancy a stay in one of the most laid back resorts in the Alps, Pierre & Vacances has self-catering accommodation in the area.
Les Menuires
The outdoor skating rink in Bruyères, in the heart of Savoie Olympique, is open from 4 pm to 8 pm. So if you want to ski in one of the sunniest spots in the French Alps, check out the self catering apartments on offer!
Have we missed your favourite skating spot? Let us know over on our Facebook page!
Skiing in the French Alps: our winner’s video!
At the end of March Richard Wilkinson won a skiing holiday to the fantastic French Alps destination of Avoriaz, courtesy of Pierre & Vaccances, P&O Ferries and Avoriaz.
He took wife Wendy and daughter Millie on an adventure packed week in April with plenty of snow, skiing and sun!
Check out the fantastic video of their week away skiing in the Portes du Soleil:
A guide to Avoriaz: skiing at the home of Pierre & Vacances
Avoriaz: a completely pedestrian resort, home of Pierre & Vacances and one of the first places in the world to welcome snowboarders.
So when my wife and I were deciding about our short ski break there was only one choice. And it’s all happening at the Portes du Soliel resort this year. In development in the resort are 8 new residences: five premium self-catering, three new Pierre & Vacances and one Maeva residence. But most exciting is the building of a new water park, Aquariaz.
There’s also lots of great events to catch this year: the Jazz Up Festival at the end of this month, the new Go Wild Outdoor Music Festival at the beginning of april and the Spring Break party weekend during the Easter break.
Our journey began at Gatwick airport, we flew in to Geneva and, though we often use the Pierre & Vancances transfer service pvtransfers, this time we used a company who specialise in the Morzine and Avoriaz area: skiddygonzales. For a little over 120 euros we got a return transfer for two with a very professional lady driver which took around 1 hour 30 minutes each way.
Once we arrived in Avoriaz a representative from the tourist office arranged for us to be transported to our accommodation via ‘piste basher’. Very original! (8 euros per group).
View from Maeva Antares residence
We were staying at the Maeva Antares residence which is right at the top of the resort with amazing views of Avoriaz and the mountains. The apartments have been recently refurbished and we were lucky enough to be upgraded to one of Maeva’s disabled apartments, which was very spacious with two balconies to enjoy the views from.
Our apartment
The next morning access to the slopes was easy. Our ski lockers were on the ground floor and we simply skieed straight from the door on to the slopes. Perfect, especially for those like us who want to get as much skiing packed in as possible.
Our kitchen
Though the wider Portes du Soleil area could have done with a bit more snow we found there was more than enough in Avoriaz and the conditions at the top of the mountains were very good. And, quite surprising for the time of year, we had two days of lovely sun and clear blue skies.
In the evening Avoriaz has a magical feel to it. Kids sledge in the centre of the resort until bedtime and all the trees are lit up with lights. And the resort is carefully watched over by friendly brightly coloured giant teddy bears on the scaffolding of all the new building developments.
Talking of new developments, during my visit I had time for a quick breakfast with the lovely Stephane and Virginie from the Avoriaz tourist board.
Stephane and Virginie at breakfast
The tourist centre is a stylish building right in the centre of the resort where they can help with all your needs and questions during your stay. I was lucky enough to get a few insider tips from Stephane and Virginie. And as we were kid free for this ski break we felt we had to try out a few of their recommendations.
First the bars:
La Cabane is very cool, the Wild Horse Saloon is a bit more raucous, but our favourite was La Tavaillon – a small and friendly bar with a range of Belgian and Irish beers and a nice mix of indie and classic rock music.
La Cabane
For food:
There’s a huge amount of choice from savoyarde fayre at Le Chalet d’Avoriaz to Tex Mex and takeaway pizza. We loved the authentic charm of Les Boules de Neiges which has everything from Tartiflette pizza to giant salads and Fondus.
Le Yeti Bar
All in all then a perfect short ski break in Avoriaz. We will be coming back, though next time maybe with the kids, as the resort is also perfect for the family.
You and three friends could soon be heading to Avoriaz for the most exciting new music event in the Alps – the first ever Go Wild Music Festival (Festival des Concerts Sauvages) 2-9 April 2011.
Pierre & Vacances has teamed up with P&O Ferries, Ski set and Avoiaz 1800 to provide the ultimate mates’ break: ski and snowboard by day – take in secret acoustic gigs in totally wild mountain locations by night.
