Avoriaz - introduction

Avoriaz 1800 is the ultimate ski-in ski-out village in an ideal position to access the Portes du Soleil circuit across the Franco-Swiss border. Unlike the majority of its 60s purpose-built rivals, the resort lucked into an innovative architectural blueprint. Nearly half a century later, high rises with sharply angled roofs mirroring jagged rockscapes have stood the test of time. 

Not so the apartments inside them. The French love their rabbit hutches, cheerfully squeezing a family of six into a kitchen-diner, a bedroom, a hip bath and a corridor with bunks, but most Brits prefer self catering with space to swing at least a kitten.

Aware of the need for regeneration, Pierre et Vacances, the movers and shakers in the functional apartment business, are constructing Amara, a premium residence characterised by contemporary flexibility. Modelled on Intrawest’s Arcs 1950, it will have the flexibility to offer self catering, bed and breakfast or half board packages, all of them with use of the spa and indoor pool. The 5 star development will  be the focus of the new Amara district, with shops, restaurants and a total of 700 extra apartments, most of them 4 star.

The Amara will open for the 2011-12 season. Meanwhile, Avoriaz is compensating for the ongoing disruption by pegging its prices at competitive levels, and laying on a hectic fun schedule of adrenalin-filled music shows to drown out any noise.

Highlights

• A dramatic setting on a shelf under a cliff that is floodlit at night.
• As the resort is on a slope, almost every building is ski in, ski out.
• Once you’re familiar with the elevators and walkways that link up the levels, getting around is easy thanks to intelligent design.
• Restaurants and bars with tables in the snow create atmosphere and invite impulse pitstops while skiing through the village.

Lowlights

• Not enough hotel beds.
• Many apartments fall short of contemporary standards.
• Limited facilities for non skiers.