When it comes to appealing ways to spend a winter break, not much beats renting a catered chalet in a top Alpine ski resort. Combining the best of physical activity and winter sports with the luxury, comfort and warmth the season demands, it is no wonder this particular style of holiday has reached the levels of popularity that it has.
Head to France
When it comes to places in which to spend a winter vacation, France tends to be one of the first to come to mind. The location of one of the tallest mountain ranges in the world – the Alps – has contributed to make it a prime destination for skiers and snowboarders looking for an enjoyable time on the slopes. Any winter sport enthusiast worth their salt will probably be able to rattle off a comprehensive list of resorts and locations where a fellow aficionado may get their fix, each with their own individual strengths and shortcomings.
But while the more ‘mainstream’ skier or snowboarder is unlikely to go too far beyond the better known resorts, someone with a more in-depth knowledge of the country and its skiing locations may steer towards more obscure, but no less interesting places in which to rent a catered chalet. A good example of this, for instance, is Les Menuires, a resort in the Savoy region that not only offers challenging and varied pistes, but also boasts several interesting places to visit relatively close by. Below are just a few attractions located close to Les Menuires and which can help complement or round out a skiing holiday in the resort.
From Quaint To Modern
One of the best aspects of spending a holiday in a catered chalet in Les Menuires is the fact that neither traditional quaintness nor avant-garde modernity is ever too far away. Skiers and snowboarders looking to get to know the ‘real’ France, for example, can visit the nearby village of St. Martin de Belleville by day, before visiting the trendy Le Mousse bar for an after-ski drink in the evening.
On the other hand, those looking for a slightly more offbeat type of entertainment – at least for a ski resort – need look no further than Les Bruyeres, an indoor water park that doubles as a spa, which will delight both families with youngsters and those looking for a ‘wellness’ experience. Les Bruyeres also boasts a cinema, where film enthusiasts can catch the latest Hollywood blockbuster or an old classic.
While not mind-blowing by ‘regular’ standards, any of these attractions is relatively unexpected in the context of a winter holiday; as such, holidaymakers who choose to rent a catered chalet at Les Menuires will find that their resort offers an unexpected new dimension not found in more famous or popular locations, in France or elsewhere.