Tips & advice

Winter sports and skiing holidays:

They should not be planned on the spur of the moment, especially if it is for the first time or if you go with children. To make a success of your stay, it is better to be well organised. Carefully packing your suitcases and booking the services you require in advance will help you avoid problems and nasty surprises.

Children suitcases read more

Choose your resort: 

If you do not know where to go yet, the “Ski Resort” section will help you select the ideal place for your next holiday Read more

For family holidays choose some of the very best family-friendly resorts in the French Alps, 23 "Famille Plus" ski resorts are in Savoie Mont Blanc Read more

Choose the accommodation which fits your needs:

Many types of accommodation are proposed in the French Alps to suit anyone's needs, for family, couple, group of friends...

Have a look to Savoie Mont Blanc accommodation offers: read more 

Think off early booking:

Many resort booking services and Tour operators offer great deals to early bookers especially for winter holidays. 

Go to the French Alps out off peak season:

The French School holidays run from mid-February to mid-March and ski resorts can be busy at this time. If you can avoid these periods, you will avoid the crowds and you will also pay less for your stay. 

Ski equipment rental:

Can be booked on line, check which are the ski rental shops of your resort.

Remember to hire a children's helmet, it is a strongly recommended safety precaution.

On-line services:

Ski lessons, ski passes, etc., can all be booked with a single click on the tourist office web site of the resort you have chosen.

You can book your ski lessons directly on the ESF (Ecole de Ski Français) web site  

Extra activities:

Many extra activities are proposed in winter and spa and pool are very successful. For health and safety reasons, the water temperatures is 24c for outdoor pools and between 25-27c for indoor pools. In France trunks are compulsory in the swimming pool, swimming shorts or similar are prohibited. Some of the swimming pools do not have depth markers and there is no life guards on duty at accommodation pools. 

Take the time to check:

Do you have an insurance for all the family?

 If necessary, you can obtain insurance at the ski lift ticket offices (cover for search, rescue, medical aid and emergency transport, medical surveillance and repatriation, reimbursement of unused ski passes in case of poor weather). 

General Information:

Euros: Remember that all prices to pay locally (deposit, local tax, linen or TV hire, ski pass, taxi...) are quoted in Euros. 

Travel Documents: You need a valid standard 10-year passport to go to France. British passport application forms are available from Post Offices. 12 weeks can be required to issue or renewal your passport. 

Local tourist tax: This tax is a holiday tax levied at the discretion of the local authority and it is generally collected upon arrival. This varies from place to place and can be up to €1.50/pers per day. It is sometimes included in the price of the accommodation. 

Driving a car: French Road Safety law stipulates that all vehicles must carry a reflective safety jacket, a warning triangle and a  breathalyzer. Snow chains are a legal requirement if you are driving on mountain roads in winter. Read more