New Year ski holidays with a difference

Posted by - Hugo Clarke on Tue 23rd October 2012

The first snow of the year has already been seen in some parts of the Alps. If you can’t wait to get up on the slopes, why not book a New Year ski retreat? France's proximity to these shores makes it an obvious choice and, with plenty of resorts to choose from, it caters for a ski weekend to suit everyone. Some of these are in reliable mainstays such as Chamonix and Tignes, but today we’re looking at a couple of France’s less well-known resorts. They are quite different from each other, but both Isola and Megeve can make for fantastic hotel or chalet holidays.

Isola
Isola is one of the Alps’ best family resorts. It may lack some of the glitz of other French resorts (though there are a couple of nightclubs and a good selection of bars), but more than compensates with its focus on the skiing itself. Most visitors are keen to get as much in as possible, rather than spending too much of their trip in bars and boutiques. Everything in Isola is laid out to make life easier for skiers, so you can make the most of your limited time on the slopes over your ski weekend. The skiing is varied too, with a good mix of slopes for skiers of all levels. Its elevation and favourable micro-climate mean it's also pretty reliable for snow coverage.

Clients may wish to stay in the Pas de Loup hotel, which is right on the Isola slopes, meaning you can ski in and out. Everything is designed for convenience, leaving you free to focus fully on the sport itself. Guests stay full-board, with food and drinks included.

Megeve
Glitzy Megeve is very different to Isola. While the first makes such a good weekend destination because it is skiing focussed, Megeve is about much more than just the skiing. If you are interested in group ski holidays, with one or two less experienced skiers in your party, Megeve makes the perfect choice. It is a very attractive resort, with pretty chocolate-box buildings and some impressive shopping and dining options. While the ski area is fairly low altitude, if you are willing to travel a little you’ll find some great higher altitude skiing around nearby Chamonix.

If your preference is for chalet holidays, you could stay in the charming and central Chalet St. Georges, just a short walk from the main Chamois telecabine. You can enjoy the ambience of a resort that has played host to more than its fair share of royalty and celebrities over the years. A New Year ski holiday is particularly special in Megeve as its midnight procession of torch-carrying ski instructors is a wonderful sight to start the year, especially with a glass or three of vin chaud inside you. If you want more from your long or short break, Megeve could well be the place to go.