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Winter or summer the French Alps are simply splendid.

The French Alps - Winter or Summer

LindaThalm
2005-12-02 16:15:56

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Winter or summer the French Alps are simply splendid.

val-d-isere-mountain-view I started skiing on a pair of pink wooden skis at Willamette Pass Ski Area in Oregon, which my grandparents managed until 1963.

How I wish they had been able to ski and see the French Alps ski resorts!

I've skied at all the major French resorts and they are all amazing.

In March we stayed - for the first time - in Val d'Isère. We were not disappointed, except for the weather - which one can never predict.

We skied blind - and I mean literally with our eyes shut - as it was a white-out.

You could NOT see the relief on the slopes and it was lucky if we could see to the piste sign a 100 meters down the hill.

In 50 plus years of skiing, this was a first.

But, on day four, the skies lifted, the sun came out and we skied our little hearts out all over the connected ski resorts of Val d'Isère and Tignes. Spectacular.

Among all the ski villages, Val d'Isère gets my top marks for quaintness and organization.

Val d'Isere - hotel les lauzes The Hotel Les Lauzes where we stayed for 4 nights qualifies for 10 out of 10 for friendly and professional service, an excellent breakfast buffet, an efficient boot warming area, a comfortable room and a nice sized bathroom with a tub.

Great for relaxing my aching muscles after a hard day of skiing.

It is 'only' a two-star hotel, but ever so nice and literally a one-minute walk to the slopes.

The hotel is in the heart of the old town, next to the church (the bells do sound now and again) and it is only a minute's walk to the closest shops, restaurants, the post, the Monday market and tourist office. Perfect.

You do not have to book a five-star hotel (with higher prices) to enjoy your stay in Val d'Isère. There are exceptionally beautiful chalets in this resort... prices may be more than the hotels.

You don't ski?

No problem. Visit the French Alps in late spring, summer or early fall.

The ski resorts offer hiking, biking, golf, tennis, swimming, sunning yourself and more.

If you do ski - Val d'Isère has summer skiing way up high on the glacier.