Valmorel is an ideal family resort although there is sufficient good skiing for even the best. It has been highly recommended by "The Editor" for many years (probably since its earliest days of development!) Skiing starts in December and goes through until late April and the introduction of a good snow-making system ensures runs remain open right back to the village even in "sparse" winters.
You can drive to Valmorel in a little over eight hours by car from Calais. Alternatively, you fly into Chambery and in less than an hour, you are in the resort. The third method of transport is by train to Moutiers where a shuttle bus will transfer you within about 40 minutes. For motorists the journey from the main road just outside Moutiers to the resort is not difficult although you may have to fit snow chains for the last part of the journey if it is snowing.
Once you arrive, Valmorel La Belle village is a delight. Although it is purpose-built, it has successfully blended the architecture of a traditional mountain resort with all that is modern and the use of wood to clad the buildings makes Valmorel even more attractive. It is set amongst woodland and the main (traffic-free) street is a delight to wander through with its variety of shops, bistros and bars. There is a small but delightful hotel right in the centre of the village and a couple of minutes walk from the main lifts, small wooden clad chalets and apartments are to be found built up the lower slopes.
For skiers there is evening flood-lit skiing with Valmorel a mecca for families. There are 27 blue runs, 31 red and 25 black for the more experienced. The skiing area is deceptively large and you can easily ski across to the neighbouring resorts of St. Francois Longchamp in the Maurienne valley. The whole pisted area is served by 2 gondolas, 14 chairs (2 covered), and 36 drag lifts. Indeed, the lift system is most efficient and even within the expanding village there are "shuttle" gondolas which run automatically and link some of the high developments with the main village, so after that evening meal and a few "jars", you do not have to face the prospect of a long uphill slog back to the chalet!
Good skiers will find the upper slopes do have some challenging runs such as the black from the Col du Mottet on the Valmorel side or the black piste - La Lauziere over towards St. Francois Longchamp. If you enjoy the fun of a mogul field, then runs in the bowl of the Col du Gollet are well worth a try!
Do not worry about snow cover right through to mid-April when the resort closes. There are 220 snow cannons ensuring a more than adequate piste cover on the 83 slopes.
Apres ski includes dog sledding and a toboggan run and for familes with young children, the local kindergarten takes kids from 6 months to 7 years.
For further information, please contact Valmorel at valmorel.reservations@wanadoo.fr or visit their website at www.valmorel-reservations.fr
Special Offer: We have teamed up with PV Holidays, leading supplier of French Skiing accommodation to offer a Christmas offer of
one night free with every booking.