Les Ménuires: Les Menuires is the Savoie family ski resort par excellence. It boasts the 3 Valleys ski area and a friendly atmosphere.

Built in 1964, the small village grew rapidly with the primary aim of preserving its traditional atmosphere, far removed from the concrete buildings that can sometimes be found elsewhere. In fact, despite its staggering capacity to handle almost 61,000 skiers an hour, its architectural layout manages to give it a peaceful atmosphere, without forgetting the festive character typical of destinations that experience a sharp increase in the holiday population. Originally made up of three districts, La Croisette (home to the Belambra Club Neige et Ciel), Preyerand (home to the Résidence Belambra Le Hameau des Airelles and the MMV Coeur des Loges) and Brelin, with conventional designs designed to accommodate the maximum number of visitors, the resort has gradually turned towards a more Savoyard charm, at the heart of the mountain tradition between chalets and wooded flats. This has led to the addition of Les Bruyères (home to Belambra Club Les Bruyères), Les Fontanettes and Grand Reberty (home to Villages Clubs du Soleil). This turnaround has enabled the resort to attract a more affluent clientele. The facilities have followed suit and it's now easy to indulge once you've taken off your skis. Nightclubs, saunas, bars and a sports centre are just some of the ways to extend the pleasure when the chairlifts close.

Why come to Les Menuires?

Of course, if Les Menuires has acquired such a reputation, it's above all thanks to its exceptional 160-kilometre ski area linked to that of Les Trois Vallées, the largest in the world with 600 km of pistes. There are 80 pistes, suitable for all types of skier, as well as 28 kilometres of cross-country trails for those who want to enjoy the scenery. The resort attracts many foreign tourists, who make up 47% of its clientele, including the British, Belgians and Dutch.

And like any self-respecting winter destination, most of the restaurants welcome you at nightfall to serve up hearty dishes. There's no escaping the traditional tartiflettes and raclettes.

Who is this destination for?

Les Menuires is a friendly ski resort that caters for a varied clientele, from families to experienced skiers. Families can enjoy a host of activities to suit all ages, including tobogganing, a mini snowboard park, an ice rink and snow games. Children can also have fun in complete safety at the Piou Piou club, where they can learn the basics of skiing from experienced instructors.

For more experienced skiers, Les Menuires offers a varied ski area, with over 160km of pistes with itineraries for all levels, as well as off-piste skiing areas for thrill-seekers.

Les Menuires is also an ideal destination for snowshoe trekking enthusiasts, with signposted itineraries for discovering the Tarentaise landscapes.

Les Menuires is a ski resort accessible to all budgets, with a range of accommodation from luxury chalets to more modest flats.

What to do in Les Menuires

Unsurprisingly, the main activity in Les Menuires in winter is... skiing! With its generally good snow, the resort is a paradise for sports enthusiasts expecting to glide over vast expanses. For the more experienced, the eight black runs and the BK Park unveil their daring curves, ready to be tamed by the most daring.

The Roc'n Bob toboggan run is 450 metres long and has 22 bends. There are even night-time runs! Another option, if there's no snow or in summer, is Speed Mountain, an unusual rail toboggan run with a storyline from start to finish.

Families often complain about the lack of facilities for their children. The resort has made up for this in spades, offering a number of areas where you can learn to ride two boards in a fun way. Take the Friendly Natural Park, for example, an educational area where you can learn more about the flora and fauna of our mountains. Designed and created in partnership with the Vanoise National Park, this park is made from recycled wooden pallets and features a parallel slalom, banked turns, bumps, tunnels, games and a large wooden terrace. The majority of the slopes are blue, ideal for parents who can enjoy their downhill runs while keeping their children safe. If you prefer a relaxing descent to a fast one, the cross-country ski runs are ideal for an unusual outing in the heart of the Alps. The downside of skiing is that the days are short. The question for most families is how to spend the late afternoon. Les Menuires came up with the idea of setting up a range of activities for those who don't want to tire themselves out after an afternoon of sport. So you can relax in the pool, bounce on the bouncy castles, take a dip at the cinema or watch football matches on snow and children's shows. And to make the night even longer, the resort sometimes organises nocturnes for snow enthusiasts... As for party-goers, there's no doubt they'll find something to suit them in one of the resort's six discotheques.