COURCHEVEL, FRANCE
Sitting close to the Swiss and Italian borders in southeastern France, Courchevel is a resort made up of five villages known by their metric heights – 1850 at the top, down to 1100 at the lower end of the valley. Predictably, the higher you go the more upmarket and expensive things get, but you can access the lift network from all the villages. Courchevel makes up part of the famous Trois Vallees ski area, an enormous spread of interlinked ski-zones offering superb slopes for all abilities, making it a particularly good place if you have beginners or intermediates in your party. This being one of the largest resorts around, there’s also a heap of non-skiing activities to get stuck into. Take a balloon ride over the mountains, go ice climbing, quad biking in the snow, tobogganing or “skijoring”, where you’re towed by a horse while wearing skis. Apres-ski nightlife is centred around 1850, with a strong mix of chic bars and some of France’s finest restaurants.
Where to stay: the beautiful ski-in, ski-out Kilimandjaro Hotel is like a fairy-tale chalet, all sloping roofs and elegant woodwork. It’s got a Michelin starred restaurant and a dreamy spa to relax in when you come down from the slopes. Double rooms from €890 per night. www.hotelkilimandjaro.com. Various different deals and packages for skiing in Courchevel can be accessed via www.courchevel.com.