Tignes - village

As each of Tignes' five villages has its own distinct character and benefits, here’s a quick run-down of them all:

• Val Claret: good for advanced skiers as it provides the quickest access to Grande Motte and Petite Balme, and for boarders who want to be near the terrain park. Home to some of the liveliest bars and nightclubs.
• Le Lac: the main hub of Tignes, with most of the best hotels and restaurants. Good for intermediate skiers and beginners.
• Le Lavachet: a good option for families, with easy access to the beginner slopes and quieter nightlife than Val Claret and Le Lac.
• Les Boisses + Les Brévières: older and prettier than the three higher villages and relatively well-linked to the ski area by lifts and buses. The benefits of staying here are the cheaper accommodation and dining options, alongside the more relaxed, locals-oriented atmosphere.
  

Les BrévièresPhoto: Greg Mistral

Accommodation types

Tignes has a good selection of hotels, chalets and apartments, the best-value-for-money generally being in Les Boisses and Les Brévières. That said, unlike these two, most accommodation in Tignes’ three purpose-built villages (i.e., Le Lac, Le Lavachet, and Val Claret) is ski-in/ski-out (hence the higher price), allowing you the smoothest start to the day possible. Regardless of your priorities, you’ll find that all of Tignes’ accommodation is significantly less expensive than in neighbouring Val d'Isère.

Ski/snowboard equipment hire

All five of Tignes’ villages have their own selection of ski shops, with Tignes Le Lac having the most. Besides chain stores Skiset, Intersport and Precision Ski, more bespoke rentals unique to Tignes include Mountain Attitude in Le Lac, and Yab Sports and BlackCats (specialising in snowboards) in Val Claret.

Non-ski activities

Ice diving in Tignes' lacPhoto: Tignes Office du Tourisme

The non-ski activities in Tignes can be as hardcore as the skiing: including ice-diving, ‘Bun J Ride’ bungee skiing beside the Merles chair, and paragliding. Lower octane pursuits include ice-skating, yoga, and relaxing in the Le Lagon public pool and well-being centre in Le Lac.

Childcare

For private nannies and babysitters in Tignes for children of all ages, t4nanny is worth checking out. Another excellent choice is ABSki Childcare, the longest-running childcare provider in the resort, who offer competitive week-long packages so that parents can hit the slopes each day care-free.