At Oxford Ski Company, we pride ourselves on having first-hand experience and knowledge of the chalets, hotels, and resorts we feature. We are a close-knit team who are dedicated and passionate about what we do.
Within this series, we’re highlighting each of our specialists across the team as we dive into their knowledge of some of our most popular resorts across the world.
I’ve been a keen skier since I was 11 and first tried snowboarding in my late teens. As an adult, I decided to take a six-month career break to do a season as a chalet chef, but I ended up staying in the French Alps for nearly a decade worth of winters. Having managed a small portfolio of catered chalets in the Tarentaise Valley I have plenty of first-hand knowledge to share about the area.
One of my favourite areas to ski, as I did nine seasons in la Plagne, is the Paradiski area. La Plagne and les Arcs make up the Paradiski area. Within these resorts are different villages, but where ever you choose to stay, you have the added benefit of having access to 239 ski runs and an amazing 425 km of pistes simply by purchasing a Paradiski lift pass.
When skiing in la Plagne, the lift system has recently had a serious upgrade, so bottle necks have been reduced, but I would still avoid the Bellecote queues after 3pm.
It’s worth taking a trip on the Vanoise Express; it is one of the largest cable cars in the world and has a partial glass bottom so you can see the many 100s of metres to the valley below. Also, the tree runs in Vallandry are great on snowy days with low visibility.
Key Resort Facts for la Plagne and les Arcs
Resort Height: 1800-2100m
Skiing Elevation: 1250-3250m
Pistes: 425km
Green: 8%
Blue: 49%
Red: 30%
Black: 12%
Getting to Paradiski Area
Closest Airport: Chambery (CMF)
Transfer Time: 1h 45m / 135km
Recommended Airport: Geneva (GVA)
Transfer Time: 2h 35m / 215km
Our Portfolio
Chalets in the Paradiski area: 17
Hotel in Paradiski area: Hotel Taj-I-Mal in les Arcs
Where to Eat
I love lunch on the terrace Hotel Carlina, they have great staples like whole roast chicken, and the plat du jour is always a winner. For the best burger in the area head to le Grizzli in Plagne Village.
My Favourite Places to Stay
Dou Lodge in les Arcs – with ski-in / ski-out access onto the Mont Blanc Cachette piste and shared spa and wellness facilities this is a fantastic, self-catered property for a family group. If you don’t fancy cooking on a few nights, there is the French Touch eatery on the ground floor of the residence - they serve the best fresh pastries in the morning too.
Chalet Juliette in la Plagne – another superbly positioned self-catered chalet with ski-in / ski-out access straight onto a blue run and the centre of town just a 10-minute walk away. The south-facing views of the surrounding mountains are a wonderful perk too when enjoying an aperitif in the hot tub.
The Best Après Spots
In la Plagne, le Bergerie on the mountain is where the locals and seasonal workers tend to go. If the weather is bad, head indoors for a cocktail at Igloo Igloo where you can dance with polar bears to live music! Les Arcs’ la Folie Douce is of course a great place to be after a hard day’s skiing.
My Top Tips for Ski Trips
If skiing in the school holidays, when the resort is at its busiest, plan to have either an early or late lunch. The time when everyone else is eating (between 12-2pm) is when the lift queues are quietest. I always advise to ski higher than your accommodation after lunch so you can have an easy ski home.
