La Plagne, France

* Vast ski area for all levels of skier...

* Excellent snow record...

* Ultra-convenient for the slopes...

La Plagne comprises around a dozen or so traditional and purpose-built satellite resorts that serve a vast area of slopes linked to neighbouring Les Arcs, across the valley. Together they form the 'Paradiski' – one of the largest ski areas in the Alps.

Our accommodation is located in Belle Plagne, one of the highest and most attractive of La Plagne's 'purpose-built' satellite villages. Not only is it the perfect base for all levels of skier and boarder, offering easy access to the Paradiski's 425km of pistes, but the village's traffic-free, snow-sure streets and excellent nursery slopes also make it a great choice for families.

La Plagne at a glance...

Resort height:	2050m (Belle Plagne)
Slopes:	1250-3250m	(1200-3250m - Paradiski)
Pistes:	225km	(425km - Paradiski)
Snow rating:	☆☆☆☆☆

Suitability			Skiing
Beginners	☆☆☆☆☆		Green runs	●	6%
Intermediate	☆☆☆☆☆		Blue runs	●	55%
Advanced	☆☆☆☆☆		Red runs	●	25%
			Black runs	●	14%

Resort			Transfer time
Charm	☆☆☆☆☆		Chambéry	2hr
Convenience	☆☆☆☆☆		Geneva	2hr45
Après-ski	☆☆☆☆☆		Lyon	2hr45
Family	☆☆☆☆☆		Grenoble	2hr45
Non-skiers	☆☆☆☆☆

Snow reliability

General snow cover	4/5
Snow quality – upper	4/5
Snow quality – lower	3/5
Resort level snow	5/5
Powder potential	4/5

The skiing

La Plagne is one half of the vast Paradiski area that, combined with Les Arcs, offers 425km of pistes, and is the second largest ski region in France.

Most of La Plagne’s slopes sit high above the tree-line, but there is also extensive tree-skiing in the lower satellite villages of Montchavin-Les Coches and Montalbert, invaluable in poor visibility.

La Plagne's ski area is an excellent choice for all levels of skier. The extent and variety of terrain makes it a high-mileage intermediate's paradise, but there is plenty of challenge for advanced and expert skiers too, with several testing blacks (especially off the glacier) and endless off-piste opportunities. For beginners, each satellite centre (including Belle Plagne) also has excellent nursery slopes with plenty of longer gentle runs to graduate to.

The resort

La Plagne is made up of a dozen or so separate satellite resorts which vary in altitude from 1200m to 2100m, and are a mixture of high purpose-built resorts and lower, more traditional villages.

Our accommodation is located in Belle Plagne, which sits right in the centre of La Plagne's ski area at an altitude of 2050m, and is as convenient and snow-sure as it gets. Although it is one of the resort's purpose-built villages, it is pleasing on the eye (as its name would suggest), almost entirely consisting of low-rise, wood-clad, chalet-style buildings.

Belle Plagne is also one of the more animated of the La Plagne villages, with a wide array of shops, bars and restaurants.