The well known resorts
of Val D'Isere and Tignes are,
in
anybody's book, two of the finest ski
stations in the Alps.
Hey. Lets make that
the world! They are that good. Three hundred
combined kilometres of prepared slopes, more
than 100 lifts, a free ski bus zipping you
among them, an underground railway boring
you to them, and, once you are up to this
paradise, a variety of slopes that will, as
they say, "blow you away." At 1,850m and
2,100m high Val and Tignes have more
problems with getting rid of snow than they
have getting it in the first place.
Plus, at FF1,000 for a six day lift pass, these resorts are decent
value too. Although joined on the pass system, the resorts are
totally different, personality wise.
Val D'Isere is the more traditional, whilst Tignes is of the
purpose built variety. The latter is no pretty face, that's for
sure. But what the hell, beauty is only skin deep and when you
get a load of the substance of the skiing, who cares if the place
is a bunch of ugly buildings on a tundra? Val D'Isere had a bit
of a face lift for the Olympic games recently, and the old girl
is actually looking presentable. More
Another view and
vital statistics
Designed and planned to give maximum quality slope
time rather than aesthetically inspiring architecture,
although the surrounding scenery makes up for a design
period best forgotten! The most snow sure resort in
France, it even offers glacier ski-ing in August! There
are three main areas, Val Claret is the closest to the
Grand Motte, Le Lac and Lavachet on the other side of
the lake are virtually interconnected now. Access to the
Espace Killy is excellent and an efficient shuttle bus,
which runs until midnight, links all
3.
On the
mountain
If you value time going downhill and resent time
wasted getting back up the mountain Tignes delivers.
Funiculars whiz up underneath the mountain and fast
chairs carry a remarkable number of skiers and riders at
once! Beware, this is home to some of the most testing
steeps, bumps and off piste in the world so your legs
might feel rather punished by the end of the
day! More
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