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. Now with all this talk about Olympics and all, you probably think that Val D'Isere and Tignes are ski stations fit only for the gods, for those who seek fame and fortune on the boards, as it were. Not so dear heart, not so.

Val D'Isere and Tignes, as a matter of fact, offer as much for the beginning skier, and skiers in various, but shaky stages of development than just about any resort we can mention. There are, you might like to know, even a selection of free lifts for beginners. You will also probably be interested to note that there is plenty of very, easy skiing at high altitude in both resorts. Even skiers with a minimum of talent and experience will be able to enjoy the vastness and beauty of these resorts. Decent recreational skiers will enjoy the heck out of V&T as the area is fantastic for allowing fair to middlin' skiers enjoy what many say is the best skiing in Europe. Super star skiers will also be delighted with the possibilities here. Anywhere and everywhere, if you have the talent, there is good skiing. Want to let it all hang out, to go for it? This is the place. Bumps? You got 'em. The steep and deep? It does not get any steeper, or deeper. Touring? Yep, available. Well, you get the picture.

Val D'Isere and Tignes are two separate villages about 15km apart by road, but as far as the ski lift systems are concerned they are joined at the hip. The villages are 1,800m and 2,100m high respectively, and the skiing goes as high as 2,500m. There is summer skiing in both villages, but by far Tignes is the bigger and most popular. In winter you can ski freely from one resort to the other, or stay in your own back yard, the choice is yours. Your own back yard, by the way, can be anywhere. Tignes, Val, down the valley a ways, in between, it just does not matter, there is a lift nearby that can get you to the action. Cost? In line with other excellent European resorts.

There is a great selection of accommodation, but there is definitely a shortage of choice in the luxury range. Night life is decent and there are lots of good places to eat in both resorts. There are ample sport and leisure facilities available here which include an outdoor sporting centre, a sports hall in the Henri Oreiller Conference Centre, a public swimming pool and a fitness centre. The road to these resorts has been improved since the recent winter Olympics. If you arrive from Geneva and are coming by car, head for Albertville, Bourg St. Maurice, and up from there.