It doesn’t matter what kind of skier you are, somewhere out there is
a resort that’s perfect for you. Matt Barr profiles four of the best
BEST RESORT FOR…
Snowboarders/fun-lovers
Resort Verbier
Nearest airport Geneva
Transfer 170km
Overview Switzerland’s flagship ski centre is also one of Europe’s very best: a steep, sunny, internationally renowned free-riding resort with great partying and some of the best snowboarding in the Alps. Indeed, Verbier has a reputation as something of a snowboarding stronghold, particularly as it hosts the Verbier Xtreme contest each year, in which the world’s best riders attempt to tame the fearsomely steep Bec des Rosses face.
Ordinary snowboarders will love it as well. There are three main areas: Verbier/ Mont Fort, Savoleyres and Bruson. Verbier/Mont Fort, which tops out at 3300m, is a good place to stretch yourself on some challenging terrain. Savoleyres and Bruson are better options for the less confident, or if the cloud comes in and you need some trees to help you find your way down the hill.
At night, Verbier is equally stimulating. No trip to the town would be complete without visiting the Pub Mont Fort and having a sambuca, while Wonderbar is better for classy (and very expensive) cocktails.
Sleep To do Verbier in style, look at the Crystal Finest packages (tel. +44 (0)870 0601370, crystalfinest.co.uk). You’ll stay in one of the valley’s finest chalets, enjoy lavish meals three times a day and get chauffeured to the town and lift stations by the chalet staff. Great for groups of friends looking to splash out.
Eat Restaurant La Grange serves some incredible food, go for a traditional fondue (tel. +41 (0) 27 771 6431, www.lagrange.ch).
Drink Try Casbah or Le Farinet.
Shop Verbier enjoys a certain society status, meaning Prada, Dior and the like are very prevalent. For designer shopping junkies, there’s a lot of choice.
Days out Check out one of the nearby spa towns or have a go at sledging at Savoleyres. Or plan your visit to coincide with the spectacular O’Neill Xtreme Verbier event – the next one takes place during the last week of March 2008 (www.xtremeverbier.com). www.verbier.ch
BEST RESORT FOR…
Families
Resort Lillehammer
Nearest airport: Oslo Transfer 145km
Overview Lillehammer hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994 and the city and surrounding ski areas are now one of Norway’s most popular sports regions. What makes the place great for families is the sheer number of attractions. Kids can get bored in resorts, especially if the weather comes in, but being based in a bigger town gives you plenty of scope.
Of the four resorts within an hour’s drive of Lillehammer, Hafjell is the closest at 15 minutes away. It’s cast from the same mould as the majority of Norwegian and Scandinavian resorts. Given its small area and predominantly rolling terrain, it’s absolutely perfect ‘intermediate and families’ country. There is a specific children’s area in the lower part of the resort, meaning you can leave your kids in the nursery area with a qualified and responsible member of staff. The local ski school is also brilliant.
Sleep The last thing you want with children in tow is a long drive to the resort each morning, so look at somewhere like the Nordlia cabins and apartments, which have on-slope access (tel. +47 6124 9000, www.hafjell.no).
Eat Lillehammer’s main street is littered with small cafés and restaurants, if you want to venture out in the evening.
Drink There’s a surprisingly vibrant nightlife scene in Hafjell, with après-ski being particularly popular among locals. Gaiastova, at the top of the hill, is a great place to stop for a relaxing drink.
Shop Head into Lillehammer to check out an excellent range of shops.
Days out If the weather is bad, the luge and bobsleigh track is definitely worth investigating. www.lillehammer.com, www.hafjell.no
BEST RESORT FOR…
Non-skiers
Resort Chamonix
Nearest airport Geneva
Transfer 88km
Overview Situated at the base of the Mont Blanc – western Europe’s highest mountain at 4,807km – Chamonix is arguably the world’s most famous mountain resort and it’s status as the centre of things ‘extreme’ is assured. The place has been challenging and inspiring awestruck tourists of every stripe for over 200 years, thanks in part to the valley’s reputation as the birthplace of modern Alpinism and the magical atmosphere engendered by the neck-craning mountains that loom over the town.
All of which means that Chamonix holds many attractions, even for those for whom the prospect of sliding down a powdery slope is enough to bring on a fit of the vapours. Day excursions include a trip up the fearsome Aiguille du Midi (at 3,842m one of the world’s highest cable cars) and a journey on the old Montenvers railway to see the famed Mer de Glace glacial valley.
The town also has some of the chicest shopping this side of Paris and, given the hotchpotch of nationalities that make it their home each winter, a hectic nightlife centred around some happening bars and clubs – a trip to the late-night Garage is a must. Of course, you might just be content to sit outside a café in the central Rue Dr. Paccard, enjoying a coffee and some of the best views anywhere in the world, just like millions of tourists before you. The beauty of Chamonix is that it gives you this choice.
Sleep Chamonix has a huge variety of accommodation. To really enjoy the place in style, stay central in the Clubhouse (tel. +33 (0)450 909656, www.clubhouse.fr), the area’s premiere boutique hotel.
Eat Le Munchie (tel. +33 (0)450 534541) is a Chamonix institution, serving fusion style cuisine.
Drink A night on the sauce can be expensive, but there are some great bars in town. Try Chambre Neuf, near the train station, or the renowned micro-brewery MBC, on the road to Flegere.
Shop The main shopping street, Rue Dr. Paccard, has a range of smaller ready-to-wear boutique and flagship stores from outdoor-themed brands such as Quiksilver, Billabong and The North Face.
Days out The Aiguille du Midi and Montenvers are absolute must-sees, as is taking a cable car to the top of Brévent for the best views of Mont Blanc. Further afield, the spa town of Saint Gervais is a few kilometres down the valley, while Annecy, about 90 minutes’ drive away, is one of the French Alps’ hidden gems. www.chamonix.com
FR » Stations de ski
Verbier est la station phare de la Suisse, avec des pistes de renommée internationale dans les régions de Mont Fort, de Savoleyres et de Bruson. Idéale pour les amateurs de surf des neiges et de sports de glisse, Verbier accueille en mars, Xtreme, un événement spectaculaire, et offre une pléthore de soirées après ski. Atterrissez au Restaurant La Grange, ensuite slalomez pour prendre quelques verres au Pub Mont Fort ou au Wonderbar.
Les familles adoreront Lillehammer en Norvège, avec ses pentes pour skieurs de niveau moyen ou débutants, ses nombreuses attractions pour les enfants et une fantastique école de ski – sans mentionner les infrastructures d’une plus grande ville. Quatre domaines skiables se trouvent à proximité, dont Hafjell le plus proche, qui offre des hébergements de taille familiale dans des chalets et des appartements.
Baqueira-Beret est un joyau méconnu des Pyrénées espagnoles, équipé d’un système moderne d’ascenseur, inondé de soleil et recouvert d’un épais manteau neigeux, où l’on peut déguster la meilleure cuisine de toutes les stations d’Europe occidentale. Sublime pour les débutants, la station au sommet du magnifique Val d’Aran vaut la peine d’être explorée pour son art, sa culture et son histoire.
La Pleta est l’hôtel le plus somptueux, pourvu de thermes occitanes. La cuisine excellente, qui inclut aussi des ‘tapas’, se déguste dans la station et non loin à Arties et Vielha.
Les non skieurs peuvent trouver des activités à l’infini à Chamonix, au pied du Mont Blanc, en France. Lorsque vous en aurez assez de boire un verre dans l’un des cafés de la rue Dr. Paccard, face au panorama, essayez le voyage en train de Montenvers jusqu’à la vallée de glace appelée Mer de Glace ou prenez un téléphérique, direction l’Aiguille du Midi pour une grande bouffée d’air à 3,842m.
NL » Ski resorts
Met zijn internationaal bejubelde pistes van Mont Fort, Savoleyres en Bruson is Verbier het paradepaardje onder de Zwitserse skioorden. In maart kunnen snowboarders en feestneuzen er hun hart ophalen tijdens het spectaculaire Xtreme Verbier met zijn vele après-skiparty’s. Laat je gaan in het restaurant La Grange, gevolgd door een afzakkertje in Pub Mont Fort of Wonderbar.
Gezinnen zullen dan weer dol zijn op het Noorse Lillehammer, met zijn prachtige pistes voor beginners en halfgevorderden, massa’s kindvriendelijke attracties en een fantastische skischool. En dan hadden we het nog niet over de troeven van een grotere stad! In de buurt liggen vier skigebieden. Het dichtstbijzijnde is Hafjell, waar het hele gezin kan overnachten in hutten en appartementen.
Baqueira-Beret is een ongerept juweeltje in de Spaanse Pyreneeën, met een moderne lift, veel zon en sneeuw en de beste pensionmenu’s in West-Europa. Dit skidorp op de top van de prachtige Val d’Aran is ideaal voor beginners. Bovendien vinden ook liefhebbers van kunst, cultuur en geschiedenis hier hun gading! Het chicste hotel in de stad is La Pleta, met zijn Occitania-kuuroord. Maar voor lekker eten mét aprés-tapas kun je ook terecht in het skioord en de nabijgelegen dorpen Arties en Vielha.
Als je de ski’s liever niet aanbindt, valt er nog heel wat te beleven in Chamonix, aan de voet van de Mont Blanc in Frankrijk. Als je genoeg hebt genoten van het uitzicht vanuit een café in de Rue Dr. Paccard kun je de Montenvers of tandradbaan naar de gletsjervallei Mer de Glace nemen. Of je kunt met een kabelbaan naar de Aiguille du Midi, op een adembenemende hoogte van 3.842 meter.
Images Buzz Pictures, Corbis
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