Swoosh down the pistes, go fat biking, snowmobiling, sledging or snowshoe hiking, take a horse-drawn carriage ride and enjoy the snowy mountain peaks. In the evening, pop off your skis and have some fun! There’s so much to do in the French Alps in winter and for New Year celebrations you’re spoiled for choice.

Warm up in your cosy chalet, admire the magical scenery from a hot tub, chill out in a sauna, take a dip in a heated pool – your accommodation in the French Alps is part of the fun…

Courchevel

In Courchevel the skiing is glorious but there’s plenty more to do. Why not go ice diving at the lake of Courchevel Le Praz (1,300m above sea level). Or try your hand at driving a ski groomer in a 470-horsepower piste caterpillar, accompanied by a professional. And in the evening enjoy the festive winter nightlife. For New Year there are three days of events with entertainment including theatre, music, dance and fireworks – great for friends, couples and families (29-31 December).

Meribel

In picturesque Meribel, New Year’s Eve brings a special torch lit descent, where skiers head to the slopes by candlelight as fireworks explode overhead. This is followed by a giant party on the piste with free hot drinks, music and more fireworks. When the party’s over, winter is the ideal time to go snowboarding, snowshoeing and husky-dog sledging in the Mottaret Mountains, while the ice skating rinks in Meribel town centre will keep the whole family entertained.

Val Thorens

Like Meribel, Val Thorens ski resort hosts a torchlight parade, suitable for all ages, followed by a fireworks display to say goodbye to the old year while Place Caron rocks to the beat as DJ’s play the funkiest sounds. In the Saint-Martin-de-Bellville commune, Val Thorens is a fun winter destination with plenty of events including a rather unusual Australia Day (26 January) – with fancy dress, a giant barbecue and all things Australian!

Aravis resorts

Magical Manigod with its Narnia-like scenery, Le Grand Bornand and La Clusaz with their fabulous pistes and vibrant village life and lovely St Jean de Sixt – each part of the Aravis Massif resorts offers something different. On New Year’s Eve there’s an unmissable masked ball in Le Grand Bornand!

Go night skiing. Ogle the majestic Mont Blanc from the beautiful Beauregard Plateau. Take a cheese tasting in the village of Manigod. Go ice bumping in La Clusaz – yup,  bumper cars on ice! Whizz down the sledge run at St Jean de Sixt – suitable for all ages! Relax in a hot tub (photo La Grange a l’Ours, Manigod).

Dreamy chalets

And when you’re not outdoors having fun, you can be indoors having fun, chilling out and enjoying your best life in a gorgeous chalet. OVO Network has over 300 beautiful chalets and apartments to choose from, each hand picked for their location, style and facilities. Where you stay is as much a part of your French Alps winter holiday as the snow. There are plenty of restaurants but self-catering is also a great experience with bakeries, fromageries, epiceries and supermarkets in the towns and villages. Plus stock up at the regular markets where you’ll find great cheeses and charcuterie, and make fondue, raclette and tartiflette – perfect fuel for your Alpine adventures.

Browse OVO Network’s fabulous collection of chalets and skidaddle to the French Alps this winter for a brilliant holiday.

If you have holiday rental accommodation in the French Alps, find out more about how OVO Network can help you achieve year-round bookings.

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When booking your ski trip, there is often a trade-off between convenience and charm. Samoëns, in the Grand Massif ski area, just 1 hour and 10 minutes’ drive from Geneva airport, is a beautiful alpine village, ancient and French…

It’s a tale of love at first sight for travel writer Rachel Ifans, whose guide to family skiing in Samoëns reveals why this resort is a winner…

What’s great about skiing in Samoëns?

I’ve been to a range of ski resorts in the French Alps over the last decade – from Les Gets to Flaine and back again, but the one that stays in my memory the most is Peisey Vallandry, a wonderfully inaccessible village perché on the side of a mountain, seemingly unsullied by tourists, inhabited by families who’d lived there for generations, who farmed the land in summer and who piste-bashed their way through the winter months. Always a hint of wood smoke in the air, always a weather-worn smile of welcome at the local shops.

But after a trip to Samoëns, I’ve got a feeling I’ve fallen for it in much the same way. The skiing is great and well connected (part of Grand Massif) but, to be honest, it’s a bit clunky getting from town to the slopes. It’s not insurmountable but the convenience of newer resorts is lacking. Hang on, though, I’m talking about falling in love here – and common sense never played a part in that!

Booking a ski trip is a head/heart situation. If you’re choosing with your head, sure, go for the high-rise, ski-in-ski-out resorts – there are plenty of them! But, if you want to fall a bit in love with your ski resort, you’ll need to go to Samoëns.

Un coup de coeur in Samoëns

It’s hard to explain why some things tug at your heart strings while some things don’t do it for you at all. And, bold francophile that I am, I’m going to give you a few illustrations of why I loved it so.

It’s really French. Many ski resorts, some of which I also love dearly (yes, that’s you, Les Gets) feel culturally homogenous, just a bit international, in comparison to Samoëns. It’s like a stubborn French lady who refuses to chuck out her stale bread, or an obstinate fromager who would not allow a crumbly cheddar over his threshold. It really is just so French there.

It’s old. The name Samoëns dates from the early 12th century and is said to derive from a word meaning ‘the seven mountains’. The locals here are known as ‘septimontain(e)s’ and the boulangeries in town do a fantastic cake that is reminiscent of a bakewell tart that is called just that.

It’s the only French mountain resort classified as a national heritage site (Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques) and its church, according to records, dates from the 12th century, although was finally completed in 1555. The village has a long history of stonemasonry; many of the buildings survive today, like the pillared and covered marketplace in the main square. Older still is Le Gros Tilleul, an ancient and imposing lime tree, planted in the square in the mid-1400s.

A friendly ski resort

It has character. We saw it all. From oompapa bands in the town square, swing music serenades at the bottom of the gondola in the mornings, chunky wooden games in the marketplace, crazy people on stilts leading a NYE parade around the streets.

It’s so friendly. Never has that stereotypically rude-French rep seemed so wrong-footed. We couldn’t believe how nice everyone we met was. No sign of frustration at the tourist-heavy queues, no annoyance at the lack of language skills, the people in shops, manning lifts, running ski schools, serving in cafés and restaurant were unfailingly friendly.

It’s not chic. It doesn’t have schmanzy bars serving Apero Spritz and sharing platters. To give you an idea, we were regulars at two bars on the main square: Bar Le Samoëns and Bar Le Savoie. All you hear are French voices (even during a school holiday peak week). Think standard French bar, lots of seats, big TV playing sport, waiter zooming around, tray aloft.

A bit of a drag

No-one and nowhere is perfect, and I’ve hinted already that it’s a bit of a drag (‘scuse the pun) to get to the slopes from Samoëns town. So, the key is to make things as easy as possible for yourselves. In terms of planning, I recommend prioritising your accommodation and hiring ski kit wisely too.

So, for lodging. If you don’t want to walk even a little bit, I advise getting somewhere close to the gondola. We stayed in a LaGrange property which was about 10 minutes’ walk from the cable car. This was fine for us – our kids are teens and don’t mind a walk in the morning – and, it was so reasonably priced that it made up for the slight schlepp. The walk to the cable car passed a beautiful frozen lake, woods and idyllic river path.

At the end of a great day’s skiing, if we didn’t feel like walking there were free ski buses. The kids would take a five-minute bus ride on the Blue Line to just outside our apartment and we would peel off on foot to the town to buy the evening meal and have an après-ski drink – or two – on the way. By the time we’d get back to the apartment, poulet roti and baguettes tucked under our arms, they’d had their loooooong baths and uninterrupted screen time to boot.

Getting kitted out

We hired our kit from a wonderful family business – called Roland Gay – with branches in town and on the plateau too. Roland himself is hands on and works alongside his impeccable team of experts. The kit is top notch. We also took advantage of one of Roland’s heated lockers on the mountain. Just 30 metres down a short slope from the top of the Grand Massif Express (GME) cable car, our locker meant we could leave skis, boots, helmets, bags, poles overnight, making the walk and the cable car (almost) effortless.

If you want a heated locker, you have to book well in advance for peak weeks.

There are many ski hire options everywhere. Extreme Glisse, for instance, is another good option right at the bottom of the gondola that is worth a look.

What’s the skiing like in Samoëns?

You take the GME cable car from just outside Samoëns village. It takes a few minutes to get up through the fluff before you float to an eyeball-burning winter wonderland that’s inconceivable below the cloud level. It’s a mecca for beginners with loads of nursery slopes, easy Blues and drag lifts.

If you’re an experienced skier, there’s not much on this plateau – you’ll need to take an express chairlift called the Charmiande Express which hoists you out of Samoëns and into the realms of Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillion and Sixt. This connecting lift is quick but it creates a potential bottleneck; there is probably a 10-minute queue when things are at their busiest.

So, you need to wise up and time your approach. Get there early and take advantage of myriad pistes over the hill. You have to return to Samoëns1600 if you’re dropping kids at ski school in the afternoon and then it’s hard to avoid queues as bibbed infants and liberated parents descend on the Express at the same time after drop off. My advice: drop your kids bang on time and flee before the rush.

Coming back in time for the last cable car down to town is another pinch point, as there are certain lifts you HAVE to use to get home and everyone is doing it at the same times. Not only once did I yearn for the option to ski down to town at the end of the day. The queue to get back to town at 16:45 was the part of Samoëns ski that we didn’t enjoy. Tired children, cold children, long waits, stamped-on feet, passive aggressive behaviour, the distant lure of vin chaud.

Impressive ski area

Niggles aside, the ski area is impressive – great for beginners and early intermediates. In school holidays, the blue runs got busy and it was sometimes a bit of a bunfight, especially at the top of pistes before people dispersed. Reds were a different experience, and when we got to grips with the slopes on offer we found fantastic snowparks and off-piste potential.

There are plenty of pistes above the tree line but we also enjoyed Les Carroz with its tree-lined pistes. I skied down a very long blue with a divine scent of Boeuf Bourgignon in my nostrils, wafting up from a restaurant at the base. Considering there was no snowfall while we were there (and a lot of sun), the pistes held up well and were entirely skiable every day.

Ski lessons for kids at Samoëns

We booked our kids’ ski lessons with ZigZag ski school and can’t recommend them enough: small groups for 2.5 hours, well-judged levels and fab instruction. Our two were working for their Gold and Diamond badges so there was a mix of technique and fun through the week. ZigZag’s were the kind of lessons that have you looking at your kids and marvelling at how confident they’ve become.

Eating out in Samoëns

Down to brass tacks now, here are my notes on nosh, starting with a general point on piste eating: there aren’t many cafés on the slopes in this ski area compared to other places we’ve been, so you need to time pitstops and toilet trips well.

Restaurant Lou Caboëns. It’s on the right slightly back on yourself coming out of the GME – there’s a restaurant with a good rep (but you need to book ahead) and a popular outdoor snack bar. Good price too – but get there early for lunch as the queues get long!

La Gamelle is a snack bar on the plateau. A nice spot, out of the way of passing skiers, and you catch the late afternoon sun. Basic, but decent and good value. Seating is mostly outside.

Croc Blanc. Beautiful views but no loos – that rhymes! This is the only lunch spot at the top of the Charniande Express/Tete des Saix lifts. The spaghetti carbonara was delicious and beautifully decorated with artistic carrot shavings, and we also had good croque monsieur and fries here.

Shopping for self-caterers

As for the food options in Samoëns village, these are our stand-out spots:

Boulangerie Tiffanie. There are at least two branches – one at the bottom of the GME and one right in the village centre. They do excellent baguettes and fantastic cakes from the Exotika passion fruit pud, to the local septimontain tarts, and not forgetting the oreillettes, wafer-thin, crunchy bread sheets sprinkled with icing sugar.

Traiteur Le Pied de Poule. Restaurant-quality meals for tired people who don’t want to go out to eat – on various days we ate their lasagne, regional cooked sausage called diots, a gorgeous canard, dauphinoise potatoes and, of course, poulet roti

AltiPizz – lovely thin base and excellent toppings. Take away or eat in – just off the main square

The supermarkets in town can get packed, particularly on weekends. There is a Carrefour 2km away: a quick drive or a lovely walk through a lakeside park and frosty woodland.

More on Samoëns

Summer fun – Samoëns  is not just for skiers
5 springtime activities to try in Samoëns 
Why Samoëns is perfect for adventurers
Samoëns tourism: www.samoens.com/en

Rachel Ifans is a British journalist and editor, covering a wide range of lifestyle and travel subjects, but she always returns to her first love, France.

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Not everyone who loves mountains and snow, likes to ski all day long. So what is there that doesn’t involved racing down those snowy white slopes? Here are our top tips for non-ski activities that will make your cheeks rosy and mean you can really enjoy the snow without the skis! From adrenaline-fueled to totally chilled…

Fabulous and fun things for non-skiers to do in Les Arcs

Snow-shoeing and hiking

In my search for off piste adventure, I headed into the forest to give snow shoeing a try. Snow-shoeing is diverse, brilliant fun and not as hard as you may think. You need a good pair of boots and a guide who will supply you with snow-shoes and poles.

My first guide was Antoine who offers a whole host of snow-shoeing and hiking activities (www.baladesducolporteur.com). You can snow-shoe for as little as an hour or for a whole week. There’s a wonderful day long snow-shoe hike which involves a fondue lunch at an Alpine chalet. Plus, there’s night snow-shoeing. And, an overnight option to sleep in a log cabin in the mountains.

Antoine’s style is pretty relaxed. He clearly knows these mountains and their heritage well, and he’ll soon have you snow-jumping, and bouncing down steep descents which you never thought you’d be capable of. Although perhaps his most impressive feat is producing a large and delicious cake from his backpack along with hot tea at 2,000m!

With Mont Blanc in the distance, you can walk in the Mont Blanc forest, in the Beaufortain mountains opposite Les Arcs and up the Petit St Bernard pass along the French Italian border. Antoine caters for varying levels of fitness and stops often – to point out a bird, a particular tree or a mountain. And nothing beats the fact that you’re high up and off the beaten track, in amongst the pines, listening to the silence of the snowy mountains.

Nordic Walking

My second guide, Marie was much more spiritual (Facebook: Marie.Randos). A botanist, Marie’s style of snow shoeing resembled Nordic walking as she taught us to use our poles and ensure we got a full body work out. Marie explained the energy of the forest, the detail of the botany and we stopped to practice Qigong, yoga and meditation along the way. It was just as enjoyable as snow-shoeing with Antoine but a very different experience.

Visit La Passerelle

With its peak at over 3226m, the Aiguille Rouge is the highest peak in the Paradiski valley, and they’ve just installed a breath-taking viewing platform, La Passerelle.

To get there, you just take the Varet cable car from Arc 2000 – although check the weather first because it’s not always open. At the peak, you feel like you’re stepping into air as you enjoy 360-degree views across the top of the mountains. But beware, it’s cold at the top – even if it’s warm and sunny below!

Dog sledding

If you’re not sure you want to spend a whole week in the peaceful serenity of the mountains on foot, don’t despair, you can still get your adrenalin fix. From December to April, you can go dog sledding with a team of Alaskan Huskies, including a discovery trip and night rides. en.paradisled.com/

Tobogganing galore

And how does 3 km of toboggan track with banked turns, alternating fast and sliding sections sound? Impossibly hard for the beginner (I seemed to do most of it backwards), you do need a valid lift pass but it makes an interesting change to skiing! www.lesarcs-peiseyvallandry.ski

Relax at the Nama Springs

Tucked away in Eden Arc 1800m, is the Nama Springs spa. It has a hammam, four different saunas, a salt flotation pool and two outdoor pools. On a cold day, be warned that while swimming in the snow is wonderful, you’ll need nerves of steel to strip off and dance through the ice to get in and out of the pool.

Club Med

The Club Med Les Arcs Panorama resort opened in December 2018. It seems to melt into the mountainside of Les Arcs 1600. The inclusive resort has got pretty much everything you could expect and beyond. Snacks and drinks waiting for you as you ski off the piste. There’s food and drink of every description and an endless supply of jollity and entertainment. And, of course, kids’ ski classes and a locker service that’ll have your kit ready to hit the slopes the moment you arrive. If you’re here with your family, they really have got all bases covered! And off piste there’s an open-air jacuzzi and spa facilities.

Lunch with a view

Chalet de l’Arc (Arc 2000). The joy of Les Arcs is that it’s largely pedestrianised and you can walk to this altitude restaurant across the slopes. It’s set in an original farm building and oozes local charm. The portion sizes are gigantean. And, the local speciality “Le Chausson du Boulanger” (particularly Le Savoyard one made with cabbage, sour cream, Beaufort cheese and sausage) is a must. Although, you will never fit into your salopettes again!

By the time you feel ready to roll down the mountain, it’ll be time to head back to Club Med for a 4-course dinner! But at least with all the activities you’ve done, you feel like you’ve earned it!

Apres-ski

Arc 1800 is the liveliest village for night life and bars. For something a bit different head to the Village Igloo at Arc 2000. Open from 09.00-17.00 a unique ice grotto, bar and restaurant plus mini hotel where you can enjoy an icy aperitif. Complete with ice sculpture and carvings it’s a fun visit. From 19h they offer evening activities including an overnight stay and fondue dinner. Wrap up warm for this one – it’s chilly in the igloo!

And, for those who can’t resist a ski session, Les Arcs’ slopes are seriously varied. Whatever level you’re at from beginner to expert, there’s something to suit all. Les Arcs is part of the huge Paradiski area, with stunning views to Mont Blanc and all villages are ski-in/ski-out.

You can find out more about Les Arcs at: www.france-montagnes.com; UKFrancefr

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Take a tour of France that doesn’t involve a bus or multiple hotel room changes. Discover the most beautiful beaches of France and go sailing without millionaire prices. Have an adventure on your own, with friends or with family. A sailing holiday is a lot of fun and a great way to make new friends…

The answers to all your sailing holiday in France questions.

Are sailing holidays affordable if you have a budget? What is included in the booking price?

There are several different types of sailing holidays. The sort where you relax and cruise or holidays where you get more involved and become part of the crew. Some ships offer an individual berth or cabin, meaning guests can share their sailing holiday with like-minded people, and in doing so, share the cost. Some companies add on general boat expenses such as fuel and mooring fees. Each holiday is unique – you can even find experiences with a hostess and a dedicated chef.

Do I have to share a cabin with someone on a sailing holiday?

Many holidays offer the option to book a single spot (or berth), a whole cabin, or the entire boat! So, depending on whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, a family, or group of friends – there is a form of reservation to suit you! Many solo travellers do share cabins. But, if you’re looking for a little more privacy, and would like a cabin to yourself – simply let the organising skipper know, and he will propose a cabin price.

As a total novice and travelling solo, where is best for me to learn sailing in France?

The French coast is diverse and rich, which makes it a privileged playground for sailing. In fact, depending on the region you choose, your cruise will be very different!

For beginners who want to acquire some basics, and maybe discover a passion, I would recommend the South of France and more precisely the French Riviera. The calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea are ideal for beginners who have always dreamed of hoisting the mainsail, tucking in the genoa and learning to steer! In addition, the picturesque ports of the region allow you to practice your manoeuvres.

You can for example, head to Hyères and the Porquerolles Islands for a sailboat cruise. Here you’ll discover one of the most beautiful natural paradises on the French Riviera. Imposing cliffs interspersed with creeks, turquoise waters, warm southern sunshine, the sweetness of the Mediterranean and the charm of Provence are combined to offer you a superb holiday. While teaching you the basics of navigation, your skipper will help you discover the charm and glamour of the colourful villages of the Côte d’Azur’s seaside. Always attentive, the skipper will be delighted to share his knowledge with you and answer your questions.

Where would you recommend for a sailing trip in France for two friends who like adventure?

For the more experienced sailors, Brittany’s coast can be an attractive destination for those with a taste for adventure and for those looking for a challenge.  The tide, currents, numerous rocks and islands add a spice of complexity. You can enjoy excellent sailing conditions with wind, a temperate climate and landscapes that change with the rhythm of the tides. For example sail in the Gulf of Morbihan and its many islands and islets, the island of Groix, Belle Ile, the islands of Houat and Hoëdic. Or choose the Finistère, with Concarneau, the island of Sein, the bay of Audierne, the Crozon peninsula and the Glénan archipelago. On these two magnificent water bodies, all the elements are gathered for technical learning in complete safety, in an iridescent landscape of changing lights and colours.

I’m a mum with two teenagers – is a sailing holiday a good idea?

One of the positives of sailing holidays is the flexibility.

• Choosing to travel alone, or share the boat with another family
• Having the freedom to adapt and tweak the itinerary with your skipper to suit your needs and wishes
• Being able to drop anchor or stop in a harbour and go ashore to explore the coastal towns at your leisure
• Enjoy time as a family, allow the kids to explore beaches, snorkel, or do water-sports

It is this personalisation of sailing holidays that makes them original family adventures. They can be tailored to the style and characteristics of you and your family.

What different kind of sailing experiences are available?

There are many different formats of sailing trip available, and in hundreds of different destinations, in every ocean around the world! As well as holidays that are centred around relaxation, exploring destinations and cultures, there are also flotillas (groups of boats sailing together), regattas and races, adventure-centric trips, sport & wellness infused sailing trips (that include activities such as yoga, water-sports, and hiking), and trips that are focused on learning how to sail.

I want a sailing holiday where I can learn a little bit about sailing. But really I want to relax – is that possible? Where should I go?

There are plenty of stunning sailing destinations in Brittany and along the French Riviera.  Great areas if you can combine learning to sail with some heavy relaxation in a beautiful setting. The French island of Corsica that lies to the south east of the French mainland also has some idyllic locations. Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands that face Sardinia and the Maddalena Archipelago being particularly popular for family holidays!

Want to pick up some sailing knowledge, or sharpen your skills? Send the skipper organising the trip you are interested in a message and let him know. Skippers are truly passionate about sailing and are usually delighted to share their expertise!

Are there sailing holidays suitable for a group of 10 friends?

Groups of this size have a couple of exciting options! You can make a whole boat reservation on a boat that is big enough to host 10 travellers. On each holiday listing, there is a section towards the bottom that shows some information about the boat. In this case, a catamaran would be perfect. Most catamarans have at least 4 large cabins. There’s often plenty of communal space, including a netting on the front of the boat. Perfect for those looking to relax!

Another option for a group of this size would be joining in a flotilla trip. Flotillas usually contain between 2 and 10 boats, all following the same itinerary. This sort of trip is great if you are looking to have an adventure with friends. It’s also good for making new friends.

Happy sailing!

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Bobbing about on the sea was never more fun than now. Never more accessible either. And never as easy to find the perfect sailing holiday off the coast of France for you. And, there are prices to suit every budget.

You’ll find every sort of sailing holiday in France. From Corsica to the Mediterranean, from Normandy and Brittany to the Arcachon basin. You might be amazed at the many types of sailing holidays there are. Learn to sail breaks for a weekend or longer to relaxing tours, wellness, flotilla, catamaran and more!

France is the perfect place for those wanting to learn to sail with thousands of miles of coastline. Maybe you’re a complete beginner and just want to learn the ropes, set sail and then relax. Or you may want to take your skipper exams. The key to happiness is choosing the sailing course that’s right for you. Whether you’re travelling solo, a couple, friends or family – there’s a sailing holiday to suit you. You’ll be coached by professionals and have fun as well as learning. There’s also lots of time to swim, snorkel and explore on land.

Learn to sail holidays in France

Soak up the ambiance and sublime scenery from on board your boat – priceless but it doesn’t have to be expensive (even in the summer months) …

Family sailing holidays in France

What’s an ideal family holiday for those with teens? You guessed right – sailing holidays are just about perfect. It’s a great way to bond as you get engrossed in learning about sailing and enjoy working as a team whilst having a real adventure. If your teens like to capture those perfect moments and send selfies to their friends – they’re going to be happy onboard. There’s not much that beats relaxing on the deck of “your” boat and diving into the clear blue waters of the Med. You’ll be stopping at ports along the French Riviera, snorkelling along the coast of Brittany… You get the picture, and so will your kids. With safety first, experienced and patient skippers, the stunning coastline of France and a wide range of experiences to choose from, you’ll make memories to cherish.

Corsica Sailing holidays

Join the ranks of the international yachting crowd who sail around the gorgeous island of Corsica and indulge in a holiday you’ll never forget. Corsica sailing holidays range from relaxed cruising for a week or more, one day discovery tours, wellness break, marine life. There’s even the chance to participate in the famous Calvi on the Rock Festival with its moonlit beach concerts.

Dive into the glittering waters, laze in secluded coves on silky white sand and explore secret grottoes. Wander the little streets of Corsica’s most beautiful seaside towns and dine on rustic fare flavoured with herbs and the freshest fish, washed down with local, chilled wine.

What’s not to love!

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If the idea of a sailing holiday in France floats your boat and you thought it might be too expensive or only for couples and groups – think again. No longer are sailing trips the preserve of the rich and famous. And, if you’re travelling solo you don’t have to share a cabin with a stranger. France offers a huge range of sailing holidays, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

Learn to sail in France – or just cruise and relax

France is spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful seaside cities and towns and stunning beaches. Plus there are islands galore from the picturesque islets which pepper the Gulf of Morbihan to the larger sunshine island of Corsica. Taking a tour by water is one of the most fun and exhilarating ways to experience the coastal beauty of the legendary French coastline from the French Riviera to Brittany and Normandy, Corsica and the Cote d’Azur.

Hiring a boat with or without a crew is expensive. However, lots of holiday companies offer trips where join like-minded travellers on a boat with a skipper and crew or join a skipper and be part of the crew and it really isn’t going to blow your budget.

Sailing holidays for solos, couples and families

Most sailing holidays require you to share a cabin. But, some do offer single berth breaks – check the details when you’re searching. It’s an ideal way to have an adventure. Some companies also offer you the chance to check in advance who your fellow passengers will be. It’s a great way to make new friends.

It’s also a perfect holiday for couples and families, especially teens, as there’s so much to do. Take part in the navigation and running of the boat if you want. Relax if you don’t. Sailing holidays range from a day, perhaps cruising the Bay of Arcachon, to a weekend, a week or longer. And for some holidays you can even book the whole boat.

Enjoy lazy hours on deck soaking up the sun. Swim and snorkel in secluded coves and relax on remote beaches which you’ll have all to yourself. Discover a new location every day from the well known hotspots such as Antibes and Saint Tropez or less well known destinations such as gorgeous Porquerolles. Time to explore the places where you dock is built into many tours according to what sort of sailing holiday you want and where. You’ll get the chance to enjoy fabulous lunches and dinners ashore or on board.

Learn to Sail holidays

You don’t need sailing qualifications to join a trip. But, if you want to learn about sailing, there are loads of courses available. From Normandy to the French Riviera you can join a boat holiday where you’ll lean to read maps, navigate the tides, deal with strong currents, address sail settings and steer the boat.

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If you crave beautiful Alpine runs, dramatic mountain backdrops, sun, fantastic ski conditions and lovely wide pistes – then you’ll certainly be in your element if you follow in our snowy footsteps to Meribel.

Meribel – Picturesque resort

As a seasoned skier, and regular visitor to the Alps over the last decade, I’m no stranger to the vast beauty of this stunning, snow-capped mountain range. But what I wasn’t expecting, on my family’s latest winter visit here, was to be so taken with the ski resort of Meribel.

Located in the middle of the largest ski area in the world, The Three Valleys boasts a ski area four times greater than the surface area of Paris. We enjoyed the best week of ski-ing we’ve ever had in the French Alps at this picturesque resort. It ticked so many boxes for my family-of-four – both on, and off-piste.

Boasting a global reputation for being one of safest places in the world to ski, the resort’s been such a hit with Brits – a third of its visitors are British – it’s even earned the nickname of “Little England on the Alps”.

Skiing at Meribel

Ski conditions here are so great because 85% of the resort is based at 1800 metres above sea level, with its 150k of pistes, accessible on a local area pass, reaching its highest peak at 2952m. But, if you plump for a Three Valleys pass, then you’ll be able to reach runs at an even higher 3230m peak and explore an impressive 600km of beautiful pistes across 335 runs.

This includes runs on the other side of Meribel, within easy reach at Courchevel, and if you have got time to venture slightly further afield, you can also ski at Val Thoren and Les Menuires.

It’s easy to see why Meribel is such a hit with families and intermediate skiers. The bulk of its 68 runs are either blue or red –  6 green, 30 blue, 25 red and 7 black. And, it’s extremely easy to traverse the slopes by tackling just green and blue runs if you’re ski-ing with young children, or beginners, in tow. There are even “Family Cool” signs indicating safe and easy pistes for families with a mix of abilities.

Off piste at Meribel

Meribel also has dedicated sledging experiences, fun snow parks, secured freeride areas, reserved racing areas and dedicated ski touring slopes.

When it comes to sledging there’s a rather exhilarating run called Mission Black Forest (you pay per run here, including sledge hire, so it can be a pricey option). Or there’s a weekly evening sledge ride, (rent a sledge  and get a ticket at Coombes lift) which is great value for money, and more to the point, fabulous fun. To make life even easier, the sledge run, which was also a green ski run in the day, even ran past the hotel where we were staying – which was virtually ski in ski out (a one minute walk from the ski room to the piste’s edge).

If you’re a foodie, you’ll be in your element here. There are some great options for lunch on the piste, including the fantastic Le Plan des Mains at Les Allues. We enjoyed fabulous homemade delights here including homemade breads and cakes, and mains included succulent steaks to power us on for an afternoon of ski-ing.

There’s a choice of a host of activities to indulge in such as igloo building. At the resort leisure centre, Parc Olympic, you could enjoy a range of activities from a relaxing massage to sooth those achy legs to swimming and skating on its Olympic-size ice rink. A completely new experience for us was ski-joring. It’s basically ski-ing while you are being pulled by a horse (or it could be by dogs) that you have to steer (or try to!). It was fast, exhilarating, and I’d definitely do it again as would my 13-year-old son and husband, who were fans of this newfound activity. While we enjoyed an introductory lesson in the safety of a penned in snowy paddock with Le Coeur Equestre Des 3 Vallees, once you’ve honed your skills you can even venture onto selected pistes, for extended fun.

Driving to Meribel

Getting to and from Meribel, was straight forward. We enjoyed a smooth sailing with DFDS from Dover to Calais with priority boarding and very comfortable priority lounge access, which included free drinks, snacks, and day beds to put your feet up on. And, while there are airports nearer to the resort of Meribel, travelling by ferry and car, even adding on the tolls you’ll need to pay en route, driving is still, more often than not, the cheaper option.

But facing a near nine-hour car journey is a daunting one, so I would recommend breaking the journey up with an overnight stay somewhere near the half way mark, which is exactly what we did. I can highly recommend a stay in the beautiful city of Dijon, and a meal at Maison Milliere restaurant based in one of Dijon’s oldest houses.

Situated behind the Cathedral of Notre Dame – make sure you follow the lucky carved owl trail around it – the food here is fantastic, the service was excellent and the historic building intriguing too. On the way back we stopped off at Hotel Les Remparts in Rue de Verdun, Chaumont, Haut-Marne, Champagne, which was full of character.

All in all, Meribel is now our favourite French ski resort!

Justine Halifax and family stayed for a week with Ski France at Hotel Le Mottaret.  Ski France’s flagship hotel in the Alps, it had a three star-rating, but they say they would rank it higher than that. It had a hot tub, out door bar, free parking, ski and boot rooms at piste level…

Hotel Le Mottaret; www.skifrance.co.uk; Ski hire: Sport 2000 Mottaret Ski Evasion
For more information on Meribel visit: www.les3vallees.com/en/ski-resort/meribel/

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Dropping “my last ski trip was a short break in Arêches-Beaufort” into any ski based conversation is a bit of a polarising moment. The enlightened will beam from ear to ear, talk about the charm of the village, the enviable quality – and quantity – of the snow. And, inevitably, the wonderful cheese cooperative in the centre of the town. Others, however, will either assume they have misheard, or that you are making it all up and you’ve never skied in your life. Beaufort is a cheese. Or possibly a wind scale. But – a ski resort?

So why bother? If you want pumping techno, Jaeger bombs and general carnage each evening, just don’t. This quiet, year round village community is categorically not for you. If you appreciate a genuine welcome from the locals, good French food (followed by home-made Genepi, of course) and picturesque skiing, then book your trip without delay.  The topography means Arêches has an excellent snow fall record. We were skiing in fresh powder in the last few days before the resort closed. On our last morning we saw less than 10 other skiers enjoying pristine conditions and it really felt like the mountain was ours.

Skiing – the next small thing…

Arêches is a relatively short transfer (usually under two hours) from Geneva. At the time of writing, the only UK tour operator featuring the resort, Ski Weekender, will pick you up from Arrivals and take you there, door to door. In line with their (unofficial) strapline “Just leave your brain in Geneva”, a full area lift pass will be waiting for you in the hotel, with dinner, bed and breakfast included and ski hire on site. It’s a well thought through package, designed to get you skiing as fast as possible, with the minimum of fuss.

Time on the slopes is all the more precious on a short break. To get the most from your limited stay in an unfamiliar area I would strongly suggest booking an instructor/guide through the local ESF (Ecole Ski Francais). Again, Ski Weekender can help organise this for you. They will show you the best runs on the mountain for your ability (and the conditions). And they will make sure you end up at the best restaurant or lift at the end of the session. It may also give you unofficial access to the warm ESF locker room at the top of the main lift. This means you don’t have to carry your skis, poles and boots up every morning (and back).

Ski, snowshoe and mindfulness in the mountains

Our ski guide, Michel, was Arechois through and through. A farmer during the summer, a ski guide in winter and one of the original founders of the cooperative that now produces the wonderful Beaufort cheese. He took my family and I, both on skis and snowshoes (Raquette), on a veritable tour of the mountain during our short stay. He stopped to point out notable viewpoints and where his cattle grazed in the summer. We experienced crisp, clean air, amazing views, interesting flora and fauna and, at times, almost total silence. If mindfulness and being close to nature is your route to relaxation then Arêches-Beaufort should undoubtedly be on your list.

Where to stay in Arêches-Beaufort

Ski Weekender offer a couple of accommodation options for their short breaks in Arêches Beaufort including the Hotel Christiania in the heart of the village. Our rooms were spacious, very comfortable and offered views on to the wooded lower slopes. Inclusive evening meals were taken in the hotel’s restaurant. It’s a traditional and very welcoming place, well populated with locals eating out (always a good sign). Breakfast was a hearty pre-ski array of meats, cheese, fruit salad, breads and pastries. Thereafter it’s a five minute walk to the lifts. Arêches is an Alpine village, not a purpose built ski resort. There are shops, restaurants, small bars and bakeries, with prices for the basics more realistic as a result. But you don’t have ski in/out convenience.

There’s a lot happening in Arêches-Beaufort at the moment. In addition to a planned new lift linking both sides of the ski area opening for the 19/20 season, there is a new self-catering accommodation complex and a spa. It will never claim to be the next big thing, but it definitely could be the next small thing. A really worthy destination for a relatively exclusive ski short break.

View from a non-skier

I love the mountains in winter, but I’m not a skier. Personally, I can’t think of anything worse. But in Arêches-Beaufort there is plenty of scope to enjoy the beauty of unspoiled mountains at a much more leisurely pace.

Or so I thought. Anyone who thinks snowshoeing is an easy option hasn’t tried it. It’s a real workout, quite literally breath-taking (maybe it was the altitude?) and gives a whole new perspective on the mountains. We used the surprisingly empty green runs, as well as cross country routes. The whole experience took a magical turn when Michel pointed out an eagle circling overhead. Even he doesn’t see them that often so we felt incredibly lucky.

Cheese and lots to do

The following day, while the others returned to the slopes, I enjoyed the small, but very lovely spa in the village. Feeling relaxed, refreshed and reunited with the clan, we went for an afternoon in the cheese factory. It’s fascinating, with a film show and displays explaining how farmers, like Michel, adapted to change by joining together to keep their traditional way of life alive.  Beaufort cheese is delicious, with a flavour that varies slightly according to the time of year and what the cows are eating. Despite its delicate flavour, the room in which the cheeses are matured is overpoweringly, eye wateringly, pungent.

Arêches Beaufort village is a year round French community, without the international, sometimes transient feel of a large resort. As such there really is so much more than skiing available on a ski holiday there, even for the skiers themselves.

Fact Box

Tour operator Ski Weekender (www.skiweekender.com) offer long weekend and mid-week short breaks, as well as week-long holidays and double domain specials, to a range of French resorts, mostly within one hour transfer of Geneva. Transfers, accommodation, lift pass and meals are included in the price, with equipment hire available in house. Other resorts available include Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Samoens, St Gervais and Les Contamines.

By keen skier Paddy Daly and non-skiing wife Sarah Daly who blogs at mychtilife.wordpress.com

Find more inspiration to visit this lovely area of France at: areches-beaufort.com

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The French Alps are breath-taking no matter what season you choose to pay a visit. But if you’re fan of skiing then this impressive chain of picturesque mountains, which boast some of the highest and most spectacular peaks in Europe, will float your adrenaline-seeking boat during the winter months. For skiers at all levels, Alpe D’Huez definitely fits the bill.

The island of the sun – in the mountains

While there’s a host of great ski resorts to choose from, if you’re travelling as a family the Family Plus resort of Alpe d’Huez is a perfect location – and even manages to tick the sunshine box too.

Poised on a mountain plateau that faces directly south, and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine, Alpe d’Huez has earned the apt nickname of “L’ile au Soleil”, or the island of the sun. Yet despite enjoying such prolonged warm weather, its ski area is open for an impressive four months, from mid-late December to mid-late April, as natural snow fall is propped up by 1,033 snow cannons to deliver maximum snow coverage over its 840 ski-able hectares.

High above the Oisans Valley, the ski area at your disposal in Alpe d’Huez is vast, stretching from 1,860 metres at village level to 3,330 metres at the summit of the magnificent Pic Blanc, where on a clear day you can look out over a fifth of France.

Just one of the breath-taking mountains that you can view from this spot include the Alps’ highest mountain Mont Blanc, or the white mountain.

A Tour de France landmark and the “mother of all black runs”

While it’s stunning, picture postcard views, sunshine and long ski season are enough to entice you to take a ski holiday here, the resort of Alpe d’Huez, in the Massif des Grandes Rousses, also has some interesting claims to fame which might tick a few more boxes for you. It’s the most iconic Alpine ascent of the Tour de France – while the tour route varies year to year, Alpe d’Huez was first included in the race in 1952 and has been a stage finish regularly since 1976, and it hosted the bobsled event as part of the Winter Olympics in 1968.

If you’re more of a daring skier then Alpe d’Huez is also home to what’s affectionately known as the “Mother of all black runs”, the Sarenne piste. At 16km it’s the longest black run in Europe stretching from Pic Blanc (3300m) to Alpe d’Huez (1860m).

Skiing for all levels at Alpe d’Huez

This resort is great for all levels of skier as it boasts a varied mix of pistes mostly above the tree line. They range from beautiful wide blues just above the village, to more challenging reds higher up and at the top daring and steep bumpy blacks – as well as Sarenne, Le Tunnel is also another scary one if you’ve got the head and stomach for it!

There are 43 green, 38 blue, 40 red and 17 black runs, two snow parks, recreational ski area, over 2120m of vertical drop with more than 250km of pistes, and the chance to enjoy night ski-ing and sledding.

When it comes to beginners the resort also has two dedicated areas exclusively for visitors to learn the art of skiing or snowboarding away from the main pistes, as well as a kids’ area with a covered magic carpet surface lift. A quirky fact that appeals to little ones is that a couple of the resort’s runs, as well as an avenue in the resort and children’s play park, are named after marmottes, or marmot, which are large squirrel-like creatures that make their home in this area. And, if you visit at the end of the season, you’ll probably be lucky enough to see them popping up to greet the world above as the snow starts to melt as we did.

Alpe d’Huez is great for kids

If your children’s legs are weary after a morning skiing, and they don’t fancy getting back on the pistes after lunch, a nice activity is to switch into your snow boots and take them on the DMC Gondola to the Grotte de Glace, up 2700 metres. Here you’ll discover fabulous sculptures carved into the walls of an ice cave spanning a 120-metre-long gallery.

Or, if your children can ski red runs, and they’ve still got energy to burn off, you can also ski to and from this cave, instead of going via the gondola.

Once seen as a competitor to the premier ski resort of Courchevel, Alpe d’Huez, which encompasses the slopes of the outlying villages of Auris, Villard Reculas, Oz en Oisans and Vaujany, is one of Europe’s premier skiing venues and the fifth largest in France. And by 2021 there will also be the opportunity to ski over an even bigger area as a €350million gondola link is being created to link Alpe d’Huez to the neighbouring, and equally popular resort of Les Deux Alpes.

Information

As with all ski resorts there’s a plethora of accommodation available to suit all budgets. But my family and I stayed at the Residence Pierre et Vacances’ Les Bergers in the Bergers’ quarter, which is one of eight quarters within the resort – there’s also Cognet, Jeux, Eclose, Vieil Aple, Huez Village, Passeaux and Qutaris. Our four-star accommodation, made up of various sized apartments, boasted a heated, outdoor swimming pool and sauna, and a lounge with a bar, fireplace and pool table.

For more information visit www.pierreetvacances.com

For more information on Alpe d’Huez in general visit www.alpedhuez.com

Justine Halifax is a multi award-winning writer and has worked as a journalist and feature writer for the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post and Sunday Mercury.

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Paris is playing host to the one of the greatest golf matches in the world in September 2018. The Ryder Cup, a contest between between the top golfers of Europe and the visiting team from the United States will be hosted at Le Golf National course, at Guyancourt, near Paris.

Ryder Cup Paris 2018

From September 25-30 2018, golf history will be made at the spectacular Le Golf National course. At just 30 kilometres from the city centre it is easy to get to for spectators. This course is also where the  golf competition in the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place.

The Ryder Cup origins

First played in 1927, the match is named in honour of a British entrepreneur and business man, Samuel Ryder. He took up golf at the age of 49 and established the Ryder Cup as a contest to challenge American golfers who had the reputation of being well-backed. Since then, the drama, tension and sportsmanship of the Ryder Cup has become legendary. It is now among the most eagerly-anticipated and fiercely-contested events in world sport.

Going to the Ryder Cup Paris

It is estimated that around 200,000 spectators will visit Paris to watch the three days of match play in which the European team, led by Thomas Bjørn, will battle to win back the Cup from an American team, captained by Jim Furyk. It is only the second occasion that Europe has hosted the event outside the UK.

It will be the first time, the Ryder Cup takes place on the fringe of a capital city, and with Paris’s network of international airports, train stations and motorways, it will probably make this the most easily accessed Ryder Cup in history. Both teams will be based at the renowned and luxurious Hotel Trianon, in nearby Versailles, which with the beautiful palace and gardens of Versailles a stroll away, is one of Europe’s most compelling tourist destinations.

With its world famous and iconic landmarks from the Eiffel Tower, the Arc du Triomphe and the Champs Elysees as well as many other architectural to the architectural splendours of Versailles,  Paris will provide the perfect backdrop to the excitement of the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Golf in France

France has more golf courses than Spain and Portugal combined with a rich and varied terrain for great golf in magnificent and welcoming surroundings. French golf is relaxed, affordable, friendly and fun.  A vast range of courses is available across the whole of France including spectacular seaside golf and dramatic mountain courses.

Informality doesn’t mean undemanding, and the appetite for the game across France and across age groups and genders just keeps on growing. There are more than 600 courses around France to choose from, with 150 listed among Europe’s most beautiful courses, and 22 of them ranked in the 1000 best courses in the world.

If you’re taking your golf clubs to France, you won’t be disappointed, there’s loads of choice for a game.

Golf in the north

Within easy reach of the Channel ferry ports are great golfing regions such as Hauts de France, Brittany, Normandy, and of course, Paris, with Le Golf National and nearby Golf de Rochefort, as well as several others.

France’s northern coast is within easy reach of the UK and is rich in great seaside golf courses. Less than an hour from Calais, Le Touquet, Hardelot and Wimereux offer some of the most demanding and highly rated courses in Europe

Further round the coast and close to the ferry ports at St Malo, Roscoff, Caen and Cherbourg are classic coastal courses such as Granville, Pen Guen and St Malo itself.

But the south-west and Atlantic coast, the Alps and Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur also host many great courses.

Golf in the south

Wine lovers can indulge in a long weekend in legendary wine capital Bordeaux with great golf close at hand, for example at Golf du Medoc and the beautiful Arcachon lagoon.

Provence and the Cote d’Azur offers perhaps the ideal location for combining a family holiday with golf. Long, sunny days, fine wines, inventive cuisine and the proximity of the Mediterranean’s coastline all make this region one of the world’s best holiday destinations. From the Severiano Ballesteros designed Pont Royal, in the valley of the beautiful Luberon hills of Provence, to the stunning course at Servanes in the shadow of the Alpilles, or, further along the Cote d’Azur, the run of courses, including those at Sainte Baume, Golf du Chateau de Taulane, Terre Blanche, and Roquebrune, are all within easy reach of the perfectly blue waters of the Mediterranean.

The oldest course in France is Pau Golf Club 1856, which is also the oldest course outside Great Britain. Dinard in Brittany also has a long history, founded in 1887, it has a beautiful and characterful clubhouse plus stunning sea views.

If it’s the high life you’re after, then there are plenty of golf courses in mountain settings, surrounded by the most spectacular vistas. Chamonix, Megeve and Morzine all have courses above 1,000 metres in altitude, while the course at Tignes, the highest in Europe, tops out at a breath-taking 2,100 metres among the towering peaks of the Val d’Isere.

Find out more here: uk.france.fr/en/golf-1; www.europeantour.com/rydercup

What to do in Paris

Dine out – the choice is fabulous: 6 of the best historic restaurants in Paris; 3 restaurants in Paris the locals love for an indulgent dinner experience
Get off the beaten track and discover the Promenade Plantée an abandoned elevated railway track that’s now a garden in the sky
Sainte-Chapelle, the church that looks like a jewellery box in the shadow of Notre Dame
3 brilliant English language book stores that book worms will love

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