A late season team trip to Tignes and Val d’Isère allowed us to discover the best of these big-hitting resorts.
Skiers heading to the Folie Douce bar!
If it’s a great vibe you’re looking for then Val d’Isère has a real buzz, even in late April. Skiers come for its après ski as much as for the fabulous, extensive skiing. Its famous bars like Dick’s Tea Bar and the original slopeside bar, La Folie Douce, where dancing on the tables is pretty much compulsory, live up to the hype. Did you know that the wine cellar at La Folie Douce is one of the biggest in the Alps? They also mature cheese down there!
A stylish double bedroom at Chalet Skadi
We loved the exquisite attention to detail and stylish décor at Chalet Skadi, a collection of beautifully styled apartments, with its own spa and a relaxing low-lit pool area. From the clean-cut mountain headboards to the eye-catching wallpaper and distinctive lighting, this is an interior designer’s dream and exudes style, like the resort itself.
Watching the skiers go past from the balcony at Chalets Jardin Alpin
For location, with doorstep skiing, the Chalets Jardin Alpin were pretty spot on. When we visited, we could watch people returning from a morning on the slopes from the sunny balconies of these 4-star chalet apartments.
Skiing the Grande Motte with our ESF instructor
Skiing with our fantastic ESF guide meant that we could explore so much more of the ski area. The ESF instructors we’ve come across are always knowledgeable but on this occasion, our guide also happened to be in the French ski team and had grown up in Tignes. His grandfather had opened one of the first hotels in Tignes Le Lac and even had a piste named after him (the blue piste Henri) so we felt like we truly had the inside track!
Posing on the Val d'Isere sign at the Grand Pré
Our guide took us to his favourite picnic spot at the top of the Grand Pré lift, where there was a spectacular viewpoint, the iconic Val d’Isère sign for some Instagram moments, and a choice of gentle greens for post-lunch skiing. A slight change from the following day when we were spoilt for choice at the buffet at all-inclusive Club Med Tignes Val Claret the views of the slopes from the sunny terrace were pretty epic, as was the lunch with options from around the world. The luxury apartments at Le Jhana would be a great self-catered alternative with ski-in/ski-out access.
Admiring the view of the Grande Motte
From Tignes Val Claret you can take a funicular railway through the mountain up to the Grande Motte glacier, which also opens for summer skiing. In April, this gave us superb conditions; crisp, hard, perfectly groomed slopes, as well as views that literally stopped us in our tracks (we did get a bit snap happy!).
Looking down at Tignes Le Lac from Le Taos
Back down in Tignes Le Lac, we visited Le Taos, which offers hotel accommodation and self-catered apartments. This stylish property in the heart of the resort (it’s on the Lavachet slope) had stunning views over the resort and an excellent restaurant with an impressive panorama. Striking décor, blending natural materials and modern comforts, and plenty of natural light set the accommodation we saw apart.
Team shot whilst checking out the spa at Kalinda with our matching blue shoe socks!
Looking ahead to next season, we were excited to see the new Altaviva residence in build. This brand-new 4-star residence is due to open in Tignes 1800 in December 2018. More traditional in style than Le Lac and Val Claret, Tignes 1800 has a wonderful friendly feel to it. Access into the rest of the Tignes Val d’Isere ski domain is easy via the 8-seater Boisses gondola. Altaviva will complement the super popular Kalinda luxury apartments also in Tignes 1800. Kalinda’s large pool, separate children’s pool, great location by the slopes (doorstep skiing) and comfortable apartments make it one of our client favourites.
Tignes and Val d’Isère feel like big hitting resorts with a heart; exploring and rediscovering the ski area reminded us what’s so special about this huge domain, where you can enjoy perfect powder at Easter and beyond.
