Val d'Isere offers some of the best skiing and nightlife in the Alps. With names like Jean Claude Killy and multiple beautiful people, world-class lodging and restaurants, and lots and lots of snow, Val d'Isere is the place to go for those who enjoy "the scene" and who don't mind spending large sums of money. Host to some of the 1992 Winter Olympic ski competitions, Val d'Isere is a resort to challenge all levels of skiers.

General Information:
L'Espace Killy is named for France's most famous skier and is regularly ranked among the top five ski areas anywhere. L'Espace runs along a series of peaks and plateaux around Val d'Isere. The village of Val d'Isere is a mixture of older buildings and large concrete buildings. The nightlife is a variety of quiet hotel bars to all-night dance clubs.

Val d'Isere has something for just about everyone as long as you are willing to fork out the money.

Skiing/Snowboarding:
Val d'Isere offers terrific intermediate and advanced skiing. There are three parts to the area. La Daille has wide and long moderate runs. Solaise and Bellevarde range from intermediate up to advanced pistes. In this area, if you are concerned with what level a run is, don't ski there. Finally, Fornet is pure off-piste and will please even the most addicted skier.

Beginners even have a couple of different places to ski. There are seven beginner lifts at the base of the hill as well as 21 trails on the plateau. Since these are all pretty long, this small number of runs can keep a beginner plenty occupied for a week-long vacation. About 30 percent of all skiing is beginner.

Intermediate runs are the backbone of the Val d'Isere system with 67 blue runs. Guides will take intermediate skiers to off-piste skiing sites if the need arises. There are also great moguls, but be sure to give your legs plenty of rest. Most of the pistes at the bottom of the hill are black or red, so you may want to take the gondola back down the hill in order to remain injury-free.

The advanced skiers should head to Bellevarde Face which is the site of one of the most difficult Olympic men's downhill courses ever. Solaise moguls are another place to head for some high level skiing. Advanced pistes make up 22 percent of Val d'Isere's offerings.

Snowboarders would do well to head to Val d'Isere, also. This is one of Europe's best snowboarding areas. La Daille has a 35,000 square meter snowpark that includes all of the usual activities.  There are beginner and pro snowboardercross courses and a special boarder's chalet to keep all levels of snowboarders happy. Val d'Isere offers boarders excellent off-piste opportunities. Instructors can show you where the best snow and air can be found.

There is no night skiing at Val d'Isere.

Although heliskiing is illegal in France, legal heliskiing in Italy is just over the hill and there are plenty of shops and schools that offer trips. These offer the helicopter trip over as well as a helicopter return.  Information is available at shops in the village for those interested.

Cross-country skiing is not very big in Val d'Isere. The focus is more on downhill and snowboarding. There are 12 tracks of varying levels that cover 44 kilometers (27 miles) for those who enjoy cross-country. These trails do fill up when the threat of avalanches closes the plateau. Rental gear and instruction is available at many places in the village.

Snowmobiling is available from one or two shops in the village. Daily trips are available for booking and are good diversions in the afternoon or for non-skiers.

There is very little ice climbing at Val d'Isere despite the fantastic opportunities that naturally pop up during the winter. Be sure to check out your general climbing condition before booking a climb so that the guide will be able to suggest the best climbing for your skill level.

Tubing and tobogganing are seen as children's activities at Val d'Isere. There is limited opportunity and, generally, not the focus.

Children's Ski and winter Activities:
Children are pampered to the hilt in Val d'Isere. There are at least 10 different children's programs in the winter here. Children under five get free lift tickets. Children over three can take lessons at the ski schools that are not too far from the lodgings. There is also plenty of ice skating and swimming.

Three to thirteen year old children can go to the Children's Holiday Home for half-day, full-day, and weekly programs. Four to seventeen year old kids can go the Club des Etoiles. There are ski and snowboard lessons as well as rentals for the youngsters. Finally, baby sitters are available through the Tourist Office, but, during the busy times, these book up fast.

Most of the best beginner runs are at the top of the slopes, so parents should keep a close eye to make sure the kids don't stray down to the steep pistes.

Apres-Ski:
Young adults and the young at heart find Val d'Isere's nightlife one of the most happening in the Alps. Some restaurants and bars stay open all night. Bars and clubs vary widely and anyone wanting some quiet should definitely check out the distance between their room and the bars before getting comfortable. Also, for those who want to stay out all night, just remember that the shuttle buses stop running at midnight.

Restaurants in Val d'Isere are at the top end and expensive in most cases. Menus evolve daily, so always check the postings outside the restaurants for exact information. It may be a bit more economical to have a do-it-yourself plan for eating. Local shops have fresh breads and pastries to choose from and Alpine cheeses are widely available.

The movie theater in Val d'Isere may not be on the top of visitors' lists unless they enjoy movies dubbed in French with more of a Jerry Lewis feel than most American films.

Attractions:
The older section of Val d'Isere is where to look for a bit of history. St Bernard de Menthon church dates to 1664 and offers an inside look at how locals lived before 1937. The cobbled streets, weathered wood, and stone walls help visitors understand the trials of living in the historic area.

Visitors can take a tour of Ferme de l'Adroit where the owner explains the process of cheese making. Aside from these, Val d'Isere does not offer much in tourist attractions.

Due to the difficulty of travel in and out of the Val d'Isere valley, side trips during the winter months may be more of a hassle than an memorable experience.

Lift Facilities:
Val d'Isere offers the fun of underground ski lifts. The Funival can carry 250 skiers up 3,400 feet in just five minutes to the top of Rocher de Bellevarde. The Grand Motte Funiculare can carry 300 people up 3,300 feet in six minutes to the summit of the Grande Motte. There are nearly 100 ski lifts that can accommodate over 130,000 skiers per hour to the top of the hills.

These lifts include the two funiculars, four cable cars, four gondolas, ten high-speed detachable chairlifts, 38 regular chairlifts, and 38 ski lifts. There are no lines in France, so take note that there may be some pushing and bumping in order to get to any of the lifts.

Lift Tickets:
Lift tickets for Espace Killy come in half-day, full-day, and six-day levels for adults, kids 5 to 12, and two senior groups: 60 to 69 and 70 to 74. Those under 5 and over 75 ski for free. Lift tickets run anywhere from $22 for a half-day up to $150 for a six-day pass. Discounts are available for those sub-groups listed above. These rates do not include insurance, so you may want to check your policy to assure coverage such as evacuations, treatments, and transfers that you may need on a ski vacation.

Most of the resort shops, restaurants, and lodgings accept travelers checks, Visa, EuroCard, and Mastercard.

Snow Conditions:
Val d'Isere usually has the pleasure of early snow. The resort opens as early as November 25th. The normal amount of snow for this area is 30 feet. Avalanches are usually more of a concern than a lack of snow here. There is, of course, more snow at the higher elevations, but due to the deep valleys, there is less of a chance of ice.

The resort can stay open until early May with plenty of snow the entire time.

Travel Time:
The closest airports to Val d'Isere are Lyon or Geneva. Lyon is about two and a half hours by car and about three and a half by bus. Geneva is three hours by car and about four and a half by bus.

Visitors can also fly into Paris and transfer to the TGV for the three-hour train trip to Lyon where they will transfer to a bus to Bourg St Maurice. Although Paris is a further distance, flights into Lyon and Geneva are more expensive and less frequent.

Rental cars should not be an option for traveling to Val d'Isere since there is only underground parking in most of the village. Parking is very expensive and there is no reason to drive upon arrival to Val d'Isree due to difficult driving conditions.

For more information or for package rates please call us at 888-222-2110.