VAUJANY

TAKING THE FAMILY TO VAUJANY

Alpe d’Huez may be the best-known resort in the giant “Grand Domaine” ski area in the Isère area in the heart of the French Alps, but the region is also home to a number of smaller villages which provide the same access to this vast ski domain … in fact, sometimes with fewer people around to get on the lifts each morning, even faster. Vaujany is an intriguing option. It punches well above its weight for off-slope facilities as well as providing fast access to the best bits of the Grand Domaine, so we were excited to head there with the family. There’s a newly built Leisure Centre complete with an indoor Olympic-size ice rink, daycare facilities, bowling alley and spa. With a great swimming pool complex and some fabulous dining options too, we certainly didn’t get bored. Our family had a fantastic stay with Peak Retreats staying in the excellent new Edelweiss apartments and arriving to a wonderful day of powder snow.

Dom and his family stayed with Peak Retreats at Les Edelweiss in Vaujany. 7 nights self-catered in a twobedroom apartment from £220pp, based on 5 sharing. Price includes Eurotunnel crossing, with free FlexiPlus upgrade at most dates, with Peak Retreats.

LAURENT SALINO

AFFORDABLE HOLIDAYS FOR 18-30S

Action Outdoors, the UK brand of the not-forprofit UCPA group, has launched a number of holidays where the centres will exclusively host the 18-30 age group only. The holidays are heavily discounted and provide an opportunity for younger people to go skiing or snowboarding at an “affordable” price. At UCPA centres in Val Thorens, Serre Chevalier, Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes and Tignes, prices start from £481pp, all-inclusive, excluding travel. That means seven nights’ full board accommodation, a six-day full area lift pass, rentals and ski school or guiding. “This is taking a real lead at a time when everyone’s pockets are being stretched, especially for younger people,” said David Robertson, Managing Director of Action Outdoors.

T LOUBERE OT VAL THORENS DIETMAR DENGER SKIWELT

BEST FRENCH SKI RESORT

Val Thorens has again been ranked as "Best Ski Resort in France" at the annual World Ski Awards. It’s the 10th time that Europe’s highest ski destination has won and Val Thorens was also in the World’s Top 3 resorts, along with Kitzbühel and Verbier, the overall winner this year. “We’re celebrating our 50th season, so we’re delighted to be awarded ‘Best Ski Resort in France’ again,” said Vincent Lalanne, Val Thorens Tourist Office Director.

DRY SLOPE RESURFACED

35 years since Tallington Lakes in Lincolnshire first opened their original 120m-long dry ski slope to the public, a brand-new surface has been fitted. The old surface has been replaced with a Proslope surface which is designed to “mimic snow-like conditions” and includes surface misting and a shock absorption with the aim that everyone from complete beginners to full-on freestyle skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the slopes safely.

FREE KIDS SKIING

Austria’s SkiWelt region, one of the country’s largest with 270km of slopes, will offer free ski passes for children up to 15 years of age in the early and late parts of the ski seasons this winter. To qualify one parent must buy a ski pass valid for three days or more during the promotion period, which lasts from 8-16 December then restarts from 18 March through the Easter holidays to 10 April.