Travel Eye on La Plagne (France)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in La Plagne.	Hotels in La Plagne	Flights	Car Hire/Rental

Overview:

Now part of the new Paradiski ski area, La Plagne is now linked to Les Arcs by the new cable car - the Vanoise Express.

This means that skiers from Les Arcs or La Plagne will have the opportunity to experience a unique adventure: the voyage from one ski resort to another in just 4 minutes, at more than 380 metres above the valley, through the most extraordinary landscapes. The Paradiski area is 420 kilometres, contains 232 pistes, 2 skiable glaciers and 144 ski lifts.

Popular with international middlemarket groups and families, owing to a preponderance of apartment accommodation and children's facilities. There is a wide range of skiing for all levels, although intermediates will benefit most.

Brits make up 37% of all foreign visitors and flood the largely self-catering accommodation - predominantly in Plagne Centre (1970m) and Belle Plagne (2050m).

The accommodation is predominantly purpose-built concrete blocks, with large self-catering apartments far outnumbering hotels, concentrated in Plagne Centre. Some units being used by UK operators as chalet-style accommodation.

Off-snow, things aren't quite so good, with only an average selection of shops, restaurants and clubs. Other non-ski activities are pretty limited. Kids are very well cared for with ski-school nurseries and kindergartens; for those still with the daring of youth, there is the chance to zoom down the 1992 Olympic bobsleigh run.

Overall, a great resort for skiers still learning, but one that, as with many French purpose-built resorts, doesn't really capture the Alpine spirit. - Top Tip: stay in gorgeous Champagny-en-Vanoise for the traditional Alpine thing and a rapid gondola link into the full La Plagne lift system - plus the chance to ski for a day in nearby Courchevel.

Locality:

La Plagne is in south east France, in the Savoie region, close to the Italian border (it is 36 mls SE of Albertville, 20 mls SW of Bourg St Maurice, 94 mls SE of Geneva and its airport, 122 mls E of Lyon and its airport, 75 mls E of Chambery and its airport). There is a scattered cluster of little resorts high above the double-headed Tarentaise Valley, spread over a wide mountainous area at various high altitudes. The original and principal village is known as Plagne Centre.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to:

The ski-pass covers the whole Plagne area. Various ski-schools including one with a base at Plagne Centre and locations at all its satellites; it boasts over 500 instructors, many of whom speak English.

Each village has its own complement of shops, ranging from small, rather pricey supermarkets and souvenir outlets to the usual sports goods and ski-hire. Plagne Centre has the most choice, although Belle Plagne is more upmarket. Little to satisfy nonskiers.

During the daytime there is downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, snowshoeing, winter walking, paragliding, snowmobiling and snow-tubing. The resort is host to an Olympic bobsleigh run, speed-skiing run and dog-sledding.

There are Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, indoor gyms and fitness centres. There is also an indoor climbing wall, squash, paintball, cyber centre and video games.

In summer, a variety of sports, minigolf, mountain biking and hiking, roller skating and nature walks.

The nightlife is centred on numerous bars and restaurants, with some hotels offering in-house entertainment. There are cinemas and unsophisticated discos in the larger villages, bowling at Belle Plagne. English-language video and DVD hire in Plagne Centre.

The main villages offer a variety of eateries, ranging from simple pizzerias and creperies to Tex Mex, French cuisine and Savoyard specialities. Several hotel restaurants; handful of slopeside and mountain restaurants.