For Britishers, France has been the traditional destination for skiing holidays. Each year, millions of British tourists descend upon the slopes of the French Alps. Despite the burgeoning popularity of Austria and Switzerland, France remains the number one skiing destination for UK residents.

Courchevel Ski Resort, France by Matt Squirrell / License: Creative Commons

Part of the reason for France’s popularity as a skiing destination is the quantity and quality of ski resorts in the country. Eastern France is dominated by Alpine ski resorts, many of which date back to hundreds of years. Some of the most popular ski resorts in France are:

1. Courchevel, Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Courchevel is where celebrities, royalty and multimillionaires go for their skiing holidays. One of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world, Courchevel offers facilities like no other resort in France. There are 11 five-star hotels in the resort, and two hotels have even been awarded the rare and much sought after six-star, or “palace” rating. Further, there are a total of seven restaurants sharing 11 Michelin stars between them.

All these facilities come at a price, of course. Courchevel can be frighteningly expensive for the average holidaying family. But if you want the finest ski holiday possible, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Courchevel.

2. Les Deux Alpes, French Isere departement

The second oldest resort in France, Les Deux Alpes has a rich history, challenging runs and plenty to offer for beginners as well as intermediate skiiers. The resort is located at a height of 1,650m with chair lifts going as high as 3,600m. There are plenty of accommodation options, including a Michelin star restaurant. Les Deux Alpes also boasts one of the best nightlife scenes among French resorts.

3. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie

The oldest ski resort in France, Chamonix has grown over the centuries into one of the central skiing destinations in Europe. Unlike many of the other resorts on this list, Chamonix is spread over a vast area and has extensive accommodation and dining options. Skiing in the town of Chamonix is very affordable and the views are breathtaking. You can take a cable car up to Aiguille du Midi which has stunning views of the Alps. The skiing is moderately difficult with very rough terrain.

Aiguille du Midi, Mont-Blanc, France by Cristian Bortes / License: Creative Commons

4. Montgenevre, Haute-Alpes

No resort can match Montgenevre for budget conscious holidayers. The little ski resort town is tucked away near the Italy-France border and offers plenty of challenging skiing opportunities for intermediate to beginner skiiers. The resort has plenty of cheap accommodation options, including all-expenses paid packages that run less than £400 per person.

5. St. Martin de Belleville, Rhone-Alpes

Another value-for-money ski resort nestled in the Rhone-Alpes region of France, St. Martin de Belleville is the quintessential Alpine town. Located at a height of over 3,500m, the resort has plenty of challenging ski routes and is a part of the Three Valleys ski area. Besides affordable hotels and challenging slopes, the resort is also well known for the 2 Michelin star restaurant, La Bouitte.

6. Val d’Isere, Savoie

One of the favorite ski resorts among British skiiers, Val d’Isere is famous throughout Europe for its challenging slopes. The terrain is rough and more suitable for intermediate to advanced skiiers. The accommodation is cheap and plentiful and caters to the British snowboarding/adventure tourist crowd.

7. Flaine, Haute-Savoie

Reasonably priced accommodation, good dining options, and moderately challenging slopes along with good beginner courses have turned Flaine into one of the most popular ski resorts among families. Add breathtaking views of Mont-Blanc to the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for a French ski holiday.

Brad Chambers is a blogger and journalist at Sealskinz.com a centre for sporting apparel and waterproof ski gloves. Brad enjoys, running, climbing and travel and holidaying in the South of France with his two daughters.

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Euro / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Images Money

Better Out Than In?

Many in the UK have been feeling pretty smug over the last couple of years, as Europe struggles to get a firm hold on the future of the single currency. There is no longer any dispute over whether the UK was right to decline entry into the single currency. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that our fortunes are inextricably linked with the health, or otherwise, of the Euro Zone and its member states.

The Advantages of a Weak Euro for UK Tourists

The Association of British Travel Agents recently remarked that there has never been a better time to go to Greece, but the reasons for that advice go much deeper than simply the exchange rate. Greece, which is struggling to elect a new government at the moment, is sitting on the brink of a financial abyss. This means that although holiday prices for British tourists are barely any lower than normal, they can take advantage of the desperation of Greek businesses in the face of such difficult times. Special offers abound throughout Greek resorts as businesses fight for their share of vital tourist income. So, the combination of the weak Euro and the intense competition amongst desperate Greek business owners can make for a very cheap time, for UK tourists going to the resorts at the moment. To a lesser degree, similar situations can be found in other Euro Zone countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland.

The Effects of a Weak Euro on the UK Tourism Industry

Unfortunately, the weak Euro has the opposite effect on tourists that would normally come to the UK for a holiday or a short break. They are finding it increasingly expensive, when they look to convert their ailing Euros into UK Sterling. If the Euro continues to decline against the Pound, many who may have previously have come to the UK from Euro Zone countries, could give it a miss and choose destinations within the Euro Zone so that they have no worries about exchange rates.

Wider Considerations

Another factor to consider is the effect the increasing uncertainty about the Euro has on the confidence of the would-be traveller. The issues being raised by the Euro’s uncertainty is also spreading an element of fear amongst holidaymakers. Since the financial gloom descended upon us some several years ago, quite a number of holiday firms and airlines have gone to the wall. The crisis facing the Euro only makes it more likely that other operators will fail before too long.

Only recently, holiday giant Thomas Cook needed a £200 million bail out, after seeing its shares slump dramatically as bookings fell by a third at the end of 2011. The effect this will have on the wider tourism industry has yet to be realised, but a struggling Thomas Cook can hardly help consumer confidence in them, or any other tourism operator for that matter.

Summary

So, while the Euro weakening against the Pound may be great for UK tourists going to the Euro Zone in the short term, it may not be such good news for the industry as a whole as the crisis deepens. A lack of tourists visiting the UK could be to the detriment of our economy as a whole, which could mean that UK consumers may not have the disposable income to take advantage of the strong Pound on holidays abroad in the future.

Guest post provided by ITC Classics luxury holidays, for holidays with a touch of class.

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