ELTIPS AV R T
With a smile, he said: “This wasn’t open yesterday, so we should get some fresh snow.”
Sure enough, as the sun emerged from the blisteringly cold snow clouds, we could see just a few tracks snaking down towards the valley.
To make sure no one else could sneak in and steal the pristine kneedeep snow, we hurtled off to the fluffy white stuff, sending plumes of cold white smoke high up behind us.
It had been like that all morning in Val Thorens, which is pretty good for the November weekend when most people are obsessed with online shopping for iffy bargains.
Best
Any day on skis is, as the old saying goes, better than a day in work. And to my mind it’s better than shopping as well.
When you’re doing it in the world’s top-rated resort, it doesn’t get much better – unless the lunches are fab too.
It was all in a day’s work for my guide who shrugged and smiled at the news his town had won best ski resort at the World Snow Awards for the fourth year running.
Christophe Cluzel, who is also was just high. That’s the reason everyone went. I’ve been one of those visitors who has tucked into burger and chips in the kiosks to keep costs down and gone just for the snow. But top- end Val Thorens is growing – with hotels like the fivesta star Pashmina, which also happens to be one of the highest in the town. The boutique hotel, which has 50 Make roo rooms including a few suites with sure you take the the their own saunas, shows the height Tyrolienne Zip Wire, above sea level on each floor. aboA which is the highest in As it is 2,356m – almost one and Europe. It takes just under two a half miles – above sea level, minutes and travels at almost b bounding up the stairs will take 100kmh starting at 3,230m dropping y your breath away. to 3,000m over 1,300m. €50pp. But even if you are not in one With a new, easier run down to the of the more luxurious rooms, you resort from La Folie Douce, partying can end the day soaking in one there at the end of the day is a must. o of the outdoor hot tubs or the Take an evening ride on the 6km in indoor pool, which has a view over toboggan run, which drops 700m the snow-covered slopes. And you and usually ends up in a few wil will get that view six months of the crashes along the way. yea year, right the way through until
They are instructors as well as hotel owners and they like to get out on the slopes as much as they can.
So if it’s good enough for them to be out on the pistes every day, it’s got to be good enough for all of us who turn up for a week or two a year.
After all, where else could you stop for lunch after burning a couple of thousand calories and savour some of the most gorgeous food you’ve ever tasted?
As I tucked into the best steak frites of my life with Christophe in La Fruitiere, I wondered if I could brush up my technique and join them for the rest of the season. FACTFILE SWISS flies from Heathrow to Geneva from £ 69 ( swiss. com). Rooms at the Pashmina start at £195 (hotelpashmina.com). Go to valthorens.com for more info.