As the preferred destination for British skiers, France is expected to attract approximately half of all the UK’s snow sports enthusiasts heading abroad this winter.

The reasons for France’s popularity are quite obvious. Firstly there’s its size. According to the French national Institute of statistics, France contains a total skiable area of 1950 km², with 13,000km of downhill ski pistes, serviced by 4200 ski lifts, which if laid end to end would reach from Paris to Cairo.

Then there’s the altitude. Most of France’s major resorts have pistes situated at well over 3000m, making them snow sure.

The final reason is proximity. Being Britain’s nearest neighbour on the continent, France and its resorts are easily reached by road and rail. A number of train and coach services, such as the Eurostar’s dedicated ski train (featuring the famous disco carriage), take skiers direct to Moutiers, Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice. Travellers embarking the ski train after work in London can be skiing the pistes of Courchevel, Meribel, Tignes, La Plagne, Val d'Isere or Les Arcs, early next morning.

In addition to overland travel, the French slopes are easily accessible by air. Many traditional airlines and every single British budget carrier have regular services to the four international airports around the Alps, which receive flights from 18 different UK destinations.

However, one aspect of the French skiing experience that isn’t so proudly heralded is the accommodation. Oppressive tenement buildings blight even the most fashionable resorts, Tignes being a prime example. Built in the prevalent style of the 60s and 70s their apartments can often be small and cramped, encouraging residents to spend as much time as possible away from their rooms.

Yet developers have learnt from past mistakes, evidenced by new constructions such as Intrawest’s hugely successful Arc 1950 village between Les Arcs and La Plagne, in the alpine department of Savoie. The utilitarian, concrete towers have been succeeded by spacious, traditional Savoyarde chalets, built from local wood and stone and fitted with satellite television and dishwashers. Guests also have access to such facilities as saunas, Jacuzzis, swimming pools, gyms and gourmet restaurants. A good selection of well-equipped ski chalets in the Rhône-Alpes region are available for rental on the Rentals France website.

While complexes like Arc 1950, (along with the rash of luxury hotels that have recently opened in the Alps) cater specifically to wealthy clientele, their construction has also benefited skiers on tighter budgets, as with a greater variety of accommodation available, prices have become more competitive across the market. For example, Chalet Cristal sleeps 4 people and can be booked for just £100.

Courchevel

At the very top end, the fashionable pistes of Courchevel 1850 achieved global fame as the favourite resort of former French president Giscard d'Estaing; while the royal families of Denmark, Morocco and Spain are also frequent visitors. It is situated at the eastern end of the Trois Vallee’s, which is the worlds largest ski area, also containing the renowned resorts of Méribel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, Europe’s highest ski resort.

Situated in the Savoie department, of the Rhône-Alpes region, the nearest airport, Aix-Les Bains, is 110km away and receives flights from 8 different UK destinations.

The resort is composed of five separate base stations, each known by their altitudes, 1850, being the largest and highest; although its highest point is actually only 1747 metres.

With Roman Abramovich, Flavio Briatore, Roman Polanski and George Clooney all regular visitors to the resort, Courchevel’s apes-ski has become legendary. Its huge selection of bars, gourmet restaurants and nightspots, usually boast a lengthy list of glamorous clientele.

Chamonix

Equally prestigious, but less exclusive than Courchevel, Chamonix is among the most famous ski resorts in the world. In the department of Haute-Savoie, it is widely acknowledged as the world’s winter sports capital and was the setting of the first ever winter Olympics.

Chamonix is an actual town with a permanent population of 10,000; although its residents are permanently outnumbered by visitors staying in its 60,000 tourist beds. With accommodation available to suit all budgets, the town attracts over 5 million visitors throughout the year. Unlike many other resorts which become ghost towns off-season, Chamonix is equally popular during the summer months, particularly with mountaineering enthusiasts.

Chamonix is especially prized by skiers for its runs down the Vallé Blanche glacier. Chalet Cristalliers is a chalet that sleeps 10 people and offers spectacular views of the Mont Blanc spectacular views of the Mont Blanc and Aiguille du Midi mountains. Near the border with Switzerland, Chamonix is easily accessible from Geneva Airport, which has flights to almost every UK destination.

Saint-Foy

The vast resort of Val d'Isère is another world name, whose slopes teem with skiers throughout the season. Just a few kilometres away though, the relatively unknown village of Saint-Foy offers skiers fabulous panoramas of the Tarantaise mountain range and uncrowded pistes. Its Savoyade chalets, featuring round stone columns and stone roof slabs, are available for prices far below those charged by its celebrated neighbour.

Only having one bar and a handful of restaurants, its aprés-ski cannot be compared to that of Val d’Isere; however its unpretentious and unspoilt atmosphere attracts many professional skiers and instructors on their days off, who take advantage of the cheap lift passes.

Samoens

Skiers on small budgets will find no better bargain in the Alps than the town of Samoëns in Haute-Savoie, whose designation as a ville fleurie, identifies it among the most beautiful towns in France. Its low altitude sometimes affects the quality of snow, but its low-prices (between 565 and 670 for a two-bedroom apartment at the height of the season) and untouched beauty more than compensate.

Samoëns has also achieved the Petit Montagnard label, which guarantees safe and regulated tobogganing, nursery slopes and other activities for children; while its ski passes are priced to appeal to families. 

Cerdagne-Puigmal

Away from the Alps, the less fashionable Jura, Vosges, Massif Central and Midi-Pyrénées are easily reached from a variety of airports, served by numerous budget airlines. Rentals France provides another good selection of rental property in the Midi-Pyrénées. Skiers travelling to the resorts of Mont-dore and Besse in the Massif Central should fly to Lyon St-Exupèry, while those travelling to the Pyrénées usually fly to Toulouse, Carcassonne or Perpignan.

While non-alpine resorts can represent excellent value for money, they cannot offer the same high altitudes, meaning that they are not always snow sure.

One of the highest ski stations outside the Alps is Cerdagne-Puigmal in the Eastern Pyrénées. Set in 320 hectares of exceptionally beautiful landscape, its pistes lie between 1800m and 2700m, assuring snow throughout the season. Its seven black and 16 red runs rarely suffer the congestion of the alpine slopes, while its lift passes cost only €23 a day in peak season.