Flaine

Although some regard the resort as an eye sore, its concrete 1960s Bauhaus style has come back into vogue. Flaine offers a huge interlinked ski area; The Grand Massif. It is purpose built and offers ski convenience from most of the accommodations but choose carefully where you stay as you can be awy from teh resort centre.

The resort is divided into two distinct areas connected by a lift. Flaine Forum is a small snowy square surrounded by shops bars and restaurants.The upper part of Flaine is Flaine Foret also with its own shops bars and restaurants.The village is an excellent example of the 60's French purpose built high mountain resorts, aesthetically not terribly pleasing on the eye but more than made up for with it's great ski area and ski convenience.

The resort will quite often offer free lift passes for children during the low season and is largely traffic free. The accommodation is predominantly in self-catering units, and more attractive properties can be found in the satellite resorts of Samoens and Les Carroz. Many of the slopes are north and north west facing and have good reliable snow cover. The ski area extends to 265kms and offers an excellent range of skiing for all levels.

For beginners there are excellent nursery slopes in the village. These slopes are all served by free lifts so many beginners will not need a lift pass for the first few days. When beginners want to progress to nice cruisy blues there are numerous opportunities in and around the resort.

Intermediates will very much enjoy the large amount and excellent variety of pistes and we will whole heartedly recommend this as an ideal destination for intermediate skiers.

Experts will find some seriously challenging terrain with a large amount of off piste. Whilst some of the off piste looks easily and safely accessible we would emphasise the importance of not venturing off piste without a qualified local guide and equipment. One of the most challenging blacks is the Diamont Noir which is narrow and mogulled and fully deserves its black rating.