French Snowboarding Resorts

Once you have decided that you want to go on a snowboarding or ski holiday, choosing which resort can be a little difficult. Admittedly, if you’re headed out to the French Alps there isn’t a great difference between many of the resorts as they often share similar ski areas, but little differences can have a huge impact on your holiday. Here is a quick guide to some of the major ski resorts.

Morzine
Morzine is one of the most famous snowboarding resorts in the Alps having hosted the first ever British Snowboard Championships in the early nineties. Since then it has made huge efforts to cater to snowboarders as much as skiers and therefore is a great place to go. It’s very close to Geneva airport, and as a popular summer resort has a very international/British feel, which can be good or bad depending on what you are looking for.
Les Arcs
Les Arcs has a number of different resorts at different altitudes making it perfectly suited to beginners. There is a famous snow park that is a definite plus point, and due to the direct link with the neighbouring super-resort of La Plagne there are masses of runs for those who are a little more advanced. It is quite far from the airports, around 2 and half hours to Geneva, but that’s the only drawback to an exceptional resort.
Meribel
Meribel is one of the most varied resorts in France. At the centre of the 3 Valleys ski system is offers everything that you could possibly want. The high altitude and glacier access makes it very snow sure. Whilst it is good for families, there is a vibrant nightlife that makes it a popular destination for younger skiers and snowboarders.
Tignes
Tignes really is one of the finest destinations in the Alps. One of the highest resorts in Europe it offers skiing and snowboarding throughout the year up on the glaciers. It’s a great place for families, but there are two major drawbacks: the distance from the nearest airports (almost four hours) and that, particularly in the winter, the weather can be harsh. The large quantities of snow are a bonus, and also a drawback if you get confined to the chalet because of a blizzard.
Val D’Isere
Everything that applies to Tignes also applies to neighbouring resort Val D’Isere. However, Val D’Isere is one of the most expensive resorts in Europe and styles itself as the resort of the rich and famous with many boutiques and expensive restaurants. The Alps have been welcoming skiers and snowboarders for as long as people have been wanting to ski and snowboard, so every resort is relatively high quality and has a lot to offer. The challenge is not only finding the right one, but making sure that you avoid the low quality elements of each resort (some of the ski schools, for example, are better than others). For this reason it can be a good idea to book with a tour operator*, but you can save money by dealing with everything yourself.

*Alpine Elements come as recommended if you’re looking to book your skiing holidays through a tour operator.