Why ski in ... France?

By Mark Frary, Ski Editor of Times Online

France’s hold over the attention of British skiers and snowboarders is as strong as ever. Two in every five winter holidaymakers go to our nearest neighbour, with just two resorts – Val d’Isère and Méribel – accounting for 15 to 20% of all British skiers’ holidays.

Despite the very obvious rivalry between the UK and France, Brits love crossing the Channel for their holidays. In part, this is because it is so handy. France is the easiest holiday destination to reach from the UK. Getting there by train is easy too. Eurostar runs direct services to the Alps from the UK during winter giving easy access to many of the most popular resorts while there are other easy high-speed rail connections via Paris.

The other part of the appeal of France is that the French way of life is very easily understood by people who sometimes have an inherent distaste for anything ‘too foreign’. Most Brits learn French at school and a ski holiday is a great way to practise your "Je m’appelles" and "quatre bières".

For skiers and snowboarders, France offers huge variety. If you love the steep stuff, try Chamonix. If putting your foot down and zooming for miles is more your pleasure, there are the resorts of the Three Valleys and Paradiski. Charming resorts? Then St Gervais and Le Grand Bornand are for you. Like your après-ski? Head for Val d’Isère or Méribel.

France also excels in purpose-built resorts. The resulting towns may not be good on the eye but when you can ski right to the door of your apartment – even these tend to be a little cosy for the number of people staying – who is complaining? Lugging your gear around the resort is one of the biggest pains of skiing and that is why resorts like Les Arcs and Alpe d’Huez are so enduringly popular.

Find the best resorts in France to reach by train. Find ski holidays to France with rail travel included.