Ski holiday spotlight on: La Plagne in France

• Country: France
• Language spoken: French
• Great for: Families, intermediates, off-piste (with a guide)
• Season length:Mid-December to mid-April
• Range of runs: 32% green; 44% blue; 15% red; 9% black
• Lifts: 94 drags; 62 chairlifts; 12 gondola; 2 cable cars; 1 funicular

Set high up on aplateau in the Tarentaise Valley, La Plagne is a resort made up of 10 separate villages, each with their own personality but all offering access to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world-famous425km Paradiski area.

The resort’s 225km of slopes offer enough variety to keep all levels of skiers and boarders satisfied, though with plenty of green and blue runs it’s undeniably a great place for beginners and intermediates.

Many of the villages benefit from ski-in,ski-out access, including the more laid-back Belle Plagne where our Neilson chalets and chalet hotel are based. Since 2003, the resort has also enjoyed excellent connections with its neighbour, Les Arcs, thanks to the impressive double-decker Vanoise Express cable car.

With so many beginner-friendly runs, it’s no wonder La Plagne has such a good reputation for family ski holidays. Many of the more forgiving pistes are found at higher altitudes, so Belle Plagne is well-situated for easy access to a number of these nursery slopes and blue runs. If you fancy exploring a bit more of the resort, make a short trip in the télécabine to Plagne Bellecôte where you’ll find the widest selection of gentle blues for the family to ace that snow plough technique.

One of the many advantages of purpose-built ski resorts such as La Plagne is the convenience of ski-in,ski-out places to stay. Could there be anything better at the end of a long day on the mountain than knowing you don’t have to lug your skis and poles back to your hotel? We think not.

Like most French ski resorts, La Plagne is no stranger to a bit of funaprès, but if you're looking forwild parties and late-night clubbing, this may not be for you. The scene is more laid-back here with a few select clubs and bars staying open ‘late, but the calmer nightlife is definitely a bonus for groups with young ones (or those who need all the sleep they can get to catch first lifts).

La Plagne’s popularity with families might fool some into thinking that challenges for expert skiers are limited here, but those with an appetite for jaw-dropping descents and narrow couloirs know that the Bellecôte is home to some of the best off-piste action around.

Head to the glacier’s north face via the Traversée lift to experience the routes this area is known for and test your stamina against the 2000m descent to Peisy Nancroix. For a more scenic off-piste experience, take the Montchavin/Les Coches track or the tree-lined route from Mont Sant Jacques to Plagne 1800.

Novice off-pisters should head to the top of Dos Rond where a steady blue shadows the track, or try out the route beneath the Roche de Mio chairlift where the slopes are a little more sympathetic to rookie powder hounds.

If you plan on heading to the backcountry in La Plagne, it’s essential you go with an experienced guide who will be able to advise you on the best and safest routes. Avalanches are common in the area, so remember to also pay attention to any warnings before heading out.

So you’ve mastered the basics and now you’re looking to ace the jumps, kicks and tricks; La Plagne is a great choice for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. With several snowparks and Europe’s longest boardercross at your boot tips you’ll have moves to rival the pros in no time.

Take the Colorado chairlift from Plagne Centre to 7 Cube Snowpark where a wide selection of jumps are graded from green to black to suit anyone from first-time freestylers to do-it-with-your-eyes-closed riders.

Try your twin tips on the half-pipe at Plagne Bellecôte if you’re a real adrenaline junkie, or for those with weaker stomachs, head to Funslope at the top of the Arpette chairlift where you can hone in your skills on 1450m of jumps, banked turns, kickers and all kinds of obstacles. Whether you land the jump or crash and burn you’ll have an awesome time either way.

Across La Plagne’s villages you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained once you’ve hung up your boots for the day. Switch skis for skates at Plagne Bellecôte’s open-air ice rink, or if horizontal ice just doesn’t cut it for you, the towering 24m ice wall at Champagny le Haut is the perfect playground for daring climbers.

Fans of Cool Runnings will want to grab their spikes and make their way to the Olympic bobsleigh track at La Roche d’en Haut. Experience the excitement for yourself here at France’s only bobsleigh track where you can drive your own Bobcraft or take a ride in the Taxi Bob where you’ll be piloted by a pro and reach speeds of up to 100kph.

There’s plenty more to explore across the resort, from the 600m long Super Tyro zip line from Aime 2000 to Plagne Centre, to snowmobiling, tobogganing and even paragliding. There really is no such thing as boredom in this corner of the Alps.

Though quieter than some other French resorts, there’s still a lively atmosphere to be found in La Plagne. For après on the slopes, La Bergerie is a popular choice for prices that won’t break the bank and for its DJ sessions in the afternoon. Europop and a pint anyone?

Down at lower altitudes you’ll find Bar La Mine in Plagne 1800 where live music and a cosy, open fire are ready to welcome you after a tiring day on the pistes. La Tête Inn in Belle Plagne is authentically alpine in its décor and an ideal spot to catch up with the group on who hasthe best story of the day. For easy-access après, carve your way down the slope to Scotty’s Bar in La Plagne Centre where you can slide straight in to happy hour.