A home with nice skiing attached
For increasing numbers of doctors in the UK, the best part of winter is the opportunity to exchange the rain and grey skies for a week or two of skiing.
And if you have ever considered taking it a step further and actually buying your own piece of the French Alps, then now could be a good time, says Dylan Mitchell
Imagine an apartment or chalet with just the right combination between traditional and modern, made from local wood and stone, set on the edge of a piste with views of snowy slopes and pine forests, warmed with an open log fire.
Each morning starts with you stepping on to your skis and heading up the slopes on the nearest lift, returning invigorated in the evening, only to set off again for a gourmet dinner and drinks in the village.
If this sounds like heaven, then chances are that you have considered buying your own apartment or even a chalet in the French Alps.
A sound investment
After Paris and the Riviera, the French Alps are the most visited destination in the world.
Without the restrictions of foreign ownership imposed in neighboring alpine countries of Austria and Switzerland, French alpine property is available and always in demand. And it has proven to be a sound investment.
Mortgage interest rates are now at their lowest since World War II. Combine this with the best £ to € exchange rate since 2008 and it is no wonder there is now a resurgence in British buyers looking for their dream home in the French Alps.
Where to buy
Val d’Isere
This beautiful town is linked to Tignes to form the Espace Killy ski area of 300km of pistes and 94 lifts.
Set at an altitude of 1,850m with access to top slopes of 3,400m, Val d’Isere offers excellent skiing conditions and is well known for its nightlife.
Skiing
Intermediate to advanced
Nightlife
Budget
£££££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 40 mins, Chambéry: 1hr 55mins, Grenoble: 2hrs 35mins, Geneva: 2hrs 40 mins
By train
Eurostar Ski Train: London St Pancras to Bourg-St-Maurice.
Tignes
Connected to Val d’Isere and part of the Espace Killy ski area (300km of pistes), this high-altitude resort set between 1,500m and 2,100m, with lifts connected to slopes of 3450m, is virtually guaranteed snow.
The only drawback to Tignes is the architecture, which is awful. However, this has started to change with new, more modern developments.
Skiing
Intermediate to advanced
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 30 mins, Chambéry: 2hrs, Geneva: 3hrs
By train
Eurostar Ski Train: London St Pancras to Bourg-St-Maurice.
Meribel
Located in the centre of the famous Trois Vallées (Three Valley) ski domain, with more than 600km of pistes.
The villages of Meribel are set at an altitude of 1,600m to 1,700m and, thanks to a new lift system, have access to slopes of 2,700m within nine minutes.
Skiing
Ideal for intermediate
Nightlife
Budget
£££££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Chambéry: 1hr 20mins
Grenoble: 2hrs 15mins, Geneva: 2hrs 15 mins
Val Thorens
While not as picturesque as some of the other resorts, Val Thorens is well known for outstanding skiing and nightlife.
Set at an altitude of 2,300m, you are assured of excellent ski conditions and with easy access to the Three Valleys’ 600km of pistes.
Skiing
Beginner to advanced
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 30 mins, Chambéry: 2hrs, Geneva: 3hrs
Courchevel
Part of the Three Valleys, the largest ski area in the world (600km of pistes).
Courchevel stretches from 1,350m to 1,800m with lifts that connect it to slopes as high as 3,200m. There are a wide range of slopes, including excellent nursery slopes for beginners.
Skiing
Beginner to advanced
Nightlife
Budget
£££££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 15 mins, Chambéry: 1hr, Grenoble: 1hr 30mins, Geneva: 2hrs 15 mins
Les Arcs
The resort stretches up the mountain from 1,600m to 2,000m with access to slopes as high as 3,200m.
Les Arcs offers a wide range of properties, some with easy access to the slopes and views of Mont Blanc.
Together, the three resorts of Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne form the Paradiski area, which covers 425km of pistes, the second largest ski area in the world.
Skiing
Beginner to advanced
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 15 mins, Chambéry: 1hr 35mins, Grenoble: 2hrs 15mins, Geneva: 2hrs 20 mins
By train
Eurostar Ski Train: London St Pancras to Bourg-St-Maurice.
La Plagne
Made up of ten villages with the highest set at 2,000m, La Plagne is part of the Paradiski area (425km of pistes), the second largest ski area in the world, with lifts up to 3,250m.
Uncrowded compared to Les Arcs, which makes it an ideal destination for beginners.
Skiing
Beginner to Intermediate
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 15mins, Chambéry: 1hr 30mins, Grenoble: 2hrs 10mins, Geneva: 2hrs 15mins
By train
Eurostar Ski Train: London St Pancras to Bourg-St-Maurice.
Chamonix
Attracting mountain lovers all year round, Chamonix, set at the base of Mont Blanc, is the most visited alpine village in the French Alps.
Although the resort is set at only 1,035m, skiers have easy access to slopes as high as 3,840m.
The resort is well known for its nightlife and offers accommodation and dining to suit all budgets.
Skiing
Beginner to intermediate
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 5mins, Chambéry: 1hr 25mins, Grenoble: 2hrs 5mins, Geneva: 1hr 30mins
Les Gets – Family
Within the Portes du Soleil ski area (650km of pistes), Les Gets is a 12th century charming village that is ideal for family holidays and caters for young children.
Skiing
Beginner to intermediate
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs 5mins, Chambéry: 1hr 25mins, Grenoble: 2hrs 5mins, Geneva: 1hr
Sainte Foy Tarentaise
Often described as the ‘best kept secret in the Alps’, Sainte Foy is an ideal resort for beginners and advanced skiers. Particularly well known for its off-piste skiing.
With less nightlife than other resorts nearby, such as Val d’Isere, Sainte Foy is perfect for families and those looking to escape.
Skiing
Beginner to intermediate
Nightlife
Budget
£££
Getting there
By plane (time to airport)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry: 2hrs, Chambéry: 1hr, Geneva: 2hrs
Dylan Mitchell is director of French Leaseback.com property investments
- See ‘Tune out the noise‘