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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1600m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[3]
Snowboarding:		[2]

Sitting at the heart of a vast snowy bowl with good views of Mont Blanc, Flaine is a resort of controversial design surrounded by skiing of undisputed quality. The huge Grand Massif ski area links the resort, which is one of the closest to Geneva so that transfers are short, to the traditional villages of Samoens, Morillon, Sixt and Les Carroz in the valleys below.

Flaine was established in 1967 and has caused controversy ever since as the main buildings are uncompromising grey concrete rectangles reminiscent of the most utilitarian architecture of city-centres around the world from that era. But it’s a mistake to think of the design as cheap and nasty. In fact it is an artistic statement, with the design by a master of the Bauhaus architectural school from Germany, who required special permits to be allowed to build in France. It’s in keeping with Flaine’s love affair with art since its inception; there is even a public work by Picasso at the edge of the slopes.

It was looking a bit tired after 40 years however, so Flaine has been in renaissance for the past few winters and is undergoing a makeover on the slopes and in resort. The biggest change is the integration of a new ski area, Flaine Montsoleil, designed by the North American resort wizards Intrawest, the team behind Whistler, as their second outing in the Alps after Arc 1950 at Les Arcs.

The new Intrawest development is Flaine’s fifth base. Most of the facilities are in the linked Flaine Forum and Flaine Foret. There is also Flaine Hameau, about a kilometre (just over half a mile) away and a village of Scandinavian designed buildings – both have limited facilities compared to the other bases but are linked to the main resort by a shuttle bus, as well as by the ski lifts and pistes.

Beginners

Flaine’s wide sunny bowl has gentle nursery slopes at its base making it a good choice for beginners. Once you’ve mastered your technique it’s then easy to get a gondola up the mountain and start descending back to the resort on a long, wide, easy blue. There’s a choice of ski school with the option of the ‘ski evolutif’ learning method, whereby instead of the conventional method of learning to ski in the wedge shaped snowplough on full length skis, then moving to having your skis parallel to one another as you improve, you start with short, easy to turn, skis in the parallel position on day one and get skis progressively longer as you improve.

Intermediates

A fabulous destination for intermediate skiers, the upper runs are above the treeline and, along with the dozens of marked blue and red trails, there are endless cuts through the huge powder bowl between them. Beneath Flaine long runs continue down cut through the forests to the valley villages where you can stop for lunch or just a drink before taking one of the fast gondolas back up. Not to be missed is the famous Cascades piste, one of the longest and most scenic in the world. It descends 14km (nine miles) from the Grandes Platieres at 2,500m to Sixt, 1700 vertical metres below.

Advanced

There’s plenty to keep advanced skiers busy including tough blacks runs like Styx and Diamond Noir, off piste powder steeps and tree skiing above Les Carroz. The resort has a team of independent expert ski teacher guides, including former members of the French Alpine ski ream, who can provide tuition in off piste technique or themed lessons on moguls and powder or arrange high mountain touring.

Snowboarding

Boarders are very well looked after in Flaine, where the terrain is perfectly suited to the sport. There are the vast fields of powder to surf upon above the resort and the tree runs with their natural terrain features below. There’s also the Jam Park in the Aujon sector which has features suitable for all abilities including tables, rails and quarter pipes plus events, a sound system, DJ and barbecues. Flaine has been upgrading its uplift so most of the mountain can be accessed by fast and easy to ride chairlifts and gondolas rather than old drag lifts.

Other Activities and Facilities

Flaine has a growing list of non-ski activities. Still out on the snow there’s the chance to drive a car or a quad bike on an ice circuit, go snowmobiling, dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or tobogganing. You can also choose to fly above it all on a tandem paraglider.

Indoor facilities include a climbing wall, swimming pool, sauna, small cultural centre and a bowling alley. There’s a small selection of shops concentrated in a mini indoor mall and along the snow front, all are easy to reach and close together. Along with the essential ski shops there’s a chemist, post office, small supermarket and souvenir stores.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Flaine has a little more soul than many purpose built resorts, with dozens of bars and restaurants, several of which have long histories and plenty of atmosphere. Popular bars include Le Diamant Noir, the White Pub (which has plenty of ambience and a big selection of beers and whisky) and the Flying Dutchman. If you want to stay up late there’s also a nightclub to visit. There are also more than 20 restaurants ranging from creperies to traditional Alpine mountain huts serving mouthwatering fondues and raclettes. The resort has a weekly entertainments programme and themed weeks running throughout the winter.

Families

Largely car free, compact, close to the airport and user-friendly, Flaine is a great choice for families. The youngest children (aged from six months to four years) are looked after in the non-ski Petits Loups nursery, which is open daily. Older children aged three and older can join the learn-to-ski nursery classes offered in two snow gardens, the International Ski School’s 'Green Mouse Club' (Souris Verte) or the French Ski School’s ‘Rabbit Club’. Both have excellent facilities and English speaking teachers. There is also a small play area and toboggan slope right by the resort edge so parents can sit and enjoy a coffee on a café terrace whilst watching their children play. The competition between the two helps to drive standards up. Older children have a range of specially tailored classes for their age group that tie in with French national certification standards.

Piste Map for Flaine

Accommodation in Flaine

• Andromede/gemeaux Apts - 2 star, self catering
• Andromede/gemeaux Apts - 2 star, self catering
• Andromede/gemeaux Apts - 2 star, self catering
• Belier/capricorne Apts - 2 star, self catering
• Ferme Du Soleil - 4 star, self catering
• Flaine Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Flaine Foret Apts - 2 star, self catering
• Hameau De Flaine - 3 star, catered
• Hotel Le Flaine - 3 star, catered
• Hotel Le Flaine - 3 star, catered
• La Foret Apartments - 3 star, catered
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau De Flaine - 4 star, self catering
• Le Totem - 3 star, self catering
• Le Totem - 3 star, self catering
• Le Totem - 3 star, catered
• Le Totem - 3 star, catered
• Le Totem - 3 star, catered
• Le Totem - 3 star, catered
• Le Totem - 3 star, catered
• Les Terrasse D'eos - 4 star, catered
• Montsoleil Apartments - 4 star, catered
• Montsoleil Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Montsoleil Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Montsoleil Resort - 4 star, self catering
• Montsoleil Resort - 4 star, self catering
• Res De La Foret - 4 star, self catering
• Res Terrasse D'eos - 4 star, self catering
• Res Terrasse D'eos - 4 star, self catering
• Res Terrasse D'eos - 4 star, self catering
• Res Terrasse D'eos - 4 star, self catering
• Residence De L'arche - 3 star, self catering
• Residence De L'arche - 3 star, self catering
• Residence De L'arche - 2 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 3 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 4 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 3 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 4 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 4 star, self catering
• Residence De La Foret - 3 star, self catering
• Residence La Foret - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Les Pleiades - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Les Pleiades - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Les Pleiades - 3 star, self catering
• Sunotel Apartments - 3 star, self catering

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