Just a couple of hours’ flight away from the UK, the French Alps offer a vast choice of resorts catering for absolute beginners, intermediates and pros.

Here’s our guide to the top ten most affordable ski resorts in France…

1. Les Corbier
Best for: Families
Located in the Les Sybelles region of France, the resort of Les Corbier is purpose-built, compact and traffic-free. Designed in the 1960s by architect Le Corbusier, the resort has become the fourth largest ski resort in France. Nearly all of the accommodation is ski-in/ski-out apartments and with two supermarkets in resort, self-catering ski holidays are a breeze. There are several bars and restaurants.

Hot deal: Pierre & Vacances Residence Maeva Les Pistes is located 500 m from the slopes, the ski lifts and shops and offers fully-equipped apartments with mountain-view balconies. A week in a one-bedroom apartment for up to four people, costs from just 199 Euros.

2. Chamonix
Best for: experienced skiers
Chamonix is a much-loved ski resort due to the variety of outdoor activities you can participate in here. The summit of Mont Blanc is the third most visited natural site in the world and the mountains hosts activities such as ice climbing, alpine mountaineering and extreme skiing. There are all sorts of terrain, but this is the perfect destination for the expert winter sports enthusiast and the adventurous. Chamonix is famous for its cable car up to Aiguille du Midi as well as the panoramic restaurant at the top station of the Brévent cable car, which boasts impressive views of the Mont Blanc Massif.

Hot deal: The Residence Maeva La Riviera is located in the district of Chamonix Sud, 300 m from the Aiguille du Midi cable car and five minutes from the resort centre. Studio apartments for up to four cost from just 244 Euros for seven nights.

3. Valloire
Best for: Intermediates
Valloire offers the combination of an old mountain village mixed with modern architecture. Valloire is the best known of the Maurienne valley resorts and its narrow streets, bustling shops and various restaurants makes it a charming location for your winter holiday. The slopes spread widely across three sunny sectors and are particularly good for intermediates. 70% of the Valloire/Valmeinier ski area is above 2000m and it offers 150 km of slopes.

Hot deal: The Pierre & Vacances Chalets Valoria at Valloire is located on the heights, overlooking the valley and the resort. A high standard residence built in a style typical of the region; these spacious apartments are located 300m away from the ski lifts. Studios for up to four cost from only 279 Euros per week.

4. La Clusaz
Best for: intermediates
The French ski resort of La Clusaz is one of its kind as it is still, essentially, a genuine mountain ski village. This ski resort exudes rustic charm and an infectious Gallic atmosphere. La Clusaz offers 200km of largely intermediate slopes, above and below the treeline, and makes a fantastic base for an enjoyable, relaxed week.

Hot deal: Residence Maeva La Perriere overlooks the resort on the southern slope and is available at 320 Euros per week for a 4 person studio apartment.

5. Serre Chevalier
Best for: Snowboarders
Serre Chevalier is one of the major ski resorts in France. Located in the Haute-Alpes region, Serre Chevalier is a large valley between the Lautaret and Briançon passes. Its 13 villages and hamlets, which blend tradition and modernity, are scattered across the valley with its large skiing areas covering 250km. The resort also offers a wide range of activities for the whole family, and with its large natural terrain is also considered one of the best snowboarding destinations in France. Serre Chevalier lies at the foot of the most beautiful peaks of the Ecrins National Park and boasts approximately 300 days of sunshine a year.

Hot deal: Résidence Pierre & Vacances L’Alpaga, situated in the mountain village of Villeneuve, has comfortable, spacious apartments close to the shops and ski lifts. Studio apartments for up to four people costs from 378 Euros for a week’s ski holiday.

6. Isola 2000
Best for: Skiers of all abilities
The little known Isola 2000 is a ski resort in the southern region of the French Alps that offers great skiing for all levels. This modern resort’s altitude is at 2000 meters and pisted runs reach the height of 2610 meters on the summit of Sistron where, on a clear day, it is possible to see the Mediterranean Sea.

Isola 2000 has an excellent snow record too. Snowboarding is popular in Isola and there are plenty of ‘board-friendly’ lifts and a dedicated snowboard park. There are lots of shops, bars, clubs, restaurants and supermarkets adjacent to the slopes and there are numerous cafes and restaurants should you wish to take a break and bask in the Mediterranean sun.

Hot deal: The Pierre & Vacances Les Terrasses d’Azur residence in Isola 200 is in perfect keeping with the resort’s natural environment of pines and larches. It overlooks the resort and is close to the ski runs and shops. The apartments are very comfortable and have a panoramic view over the skiing area and the Chastillon valley. Studio apartments that sleep up to four people cost from just 441 Euros per week.

7. Les Carroz d’Araches
Best for: Families
Les Carroz d’Araches is an expansive, sunny and traditional resort with plenty of terrain to suit everyone. It has the lived-in feel of a real French village and its array of pavement cafes and restaurants around the main square offers a homely and lively atmosphere.

The resort caters particularly well for families, offering excellent facilities for children so is perfect for a family ski holiday. There are good woodland runs immediately above the village for bad-weather days, with a scenic setting to enjoy when the sun shines.

Hot deal: Pierre &Vacances Residences MGM Les Fermes du Soleil is a luxury 4-star residence, just a stone’s throw from the centre. Each apartment is designed to offer you maximum comfort with large bay windows giving exceptional views over the village, the valley or the skating rink. The closest ski lifts, 800m from the residence, are accessible via a free shuttle bus. One-bedroom apartments for 3-4 people cost from 630 Euros per week.

8. Flaine
Best for: Intermediates and families
Flaine is a high-altitude resort sharing a big, broad area of varied slopes with more rustic alternatives. Flaine is a resort proud of its Modernist and artistic design, which is a dramatic contrast to the natural landscape of the French Alps. As well as the architecture, several large public art works adorn the base of the resort, including a Picasso.

Loved by many, due to the extent of its ski area and range of runs, this is a resort ideal for intermediate skiers as well as being one of the most family-orientated ski resorts in Europe.

Hot deal: Pierre & Vacances Terrasses d’Eos residence is a brand new addition to our ski residences for the 2009/10 ski season. Built in 2008 by Intrawest, this top-of-range residence is located in a new, entirely car-free hamlet of Flaine Montsoleil and features 145 comfortable apartments.

The two buildings that make up the residence have direct access to the pistes and chairlifts, providing you with a direct link to the Flaine and Grand Massif ski areas.
One-bedroom apartments cost from just 572 Euros for seven nights and sleep up to four people.

9. Valmorel
Best for: First timers and families
A great choice for first-timers and families, Valmorel is a purpose-built French ski resort comprising several small satellite villages in the Grande Domaine. Valmorel and St Francois Longchamps together offer 165km of marked pistes.

Valmorel’s resort centre is car-free and it also scores top marks for families as most of its pistes cater for beginners and intermediates, and there are plenty of designated practice areas. The ski area is on your doorstep which means you can literally ski to your door – another big plus if you’re skiing with kids. While it is great for families, those who also want lively après-ski should go elsewhere as there are only a handful of restaurants and bars.

Hot deal: P&V is offering seven nights in a studio apartment at Résidence Maeva Planchamp et Mottet in Valmorel from just 405 Euro.

10. Alpe-d’Huez
Best for: thrill seekers and skiers of all levels.
Home to La Sarenne, which at 16km is Europe’s longest ski run, Alpe d’Huez is often thought to be the sole preserve of ski pros and adrenalin junkies. While the infamous ‘Tunnel’ run remains a must do ride for experienced skiers, the resort also has a good choice of gentler runs for beginners. The best of the less challenging slopes are found on the outskirts of the resort and there are plenty of blues and reds for intermediates.

Situated in a large sunny bowl, Alpe d’Huez is known as the ‘l’Isle au Soleil’ (‘The Sunny Island’) thanks to its high levels of sunshine throughout the year.

This resort is a great choice if you’re travelling in a group which has mixed abilities – leave the pros to La Sarenne while the novices play it safe.

Hot deal: Situated in Les Bergers district of Alpe d’Huez, the Pierre & Vacances Bergers residence has comfortable apartments and a heated outdoor swimming pool. Seven nights in a studio that sleep 3-4 costs just 405 Euros.

All P&V residences featured are ski in/ ski out and are self-catering apartments with fully equipped kitchens and cooking facilities.

Pierre & Vacances have also just launched a euro-busting offer which means customers can save up to 35 percent off all ski resorts throughout the winter season. This means, if you book fast enough you could be saving a third and spend just 55€ for a weeks accommodation! And it gets better…this major ski discount can be used on all dates throughout the winter ski season including the school holidays, Christmas and New Year.

The Eurobuster deal can also be combined with any other P&V deal currently on offer, including the 20% early booking discount, leading to savings of up to 35% on your winter ski holiday.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is often overlooked by destination skiers visiting the South Shore due in part to the areas own strategy of being “Lake Tahoe’s Full Service, Value Oriented, DAY Use Snowsports Resort.” What exactly does that mean? Basically that other than on-site lodging, Sierra-at-Tahoe has pretty much everything else you are probably looking for in a ski resort like 2,000 acres of terrain, a 2,212 vertical rise, 46 trails, 6 terrain parks, 9 chair lifts and 3 surface lifts and…oh yeah, about 560 inch of snowfall on average. As for that whole lodging thing, the resort is located just 30 minutes away from South Lake Tahoe where there are plenty of options and Sierra at Tahoe even runs a shuttle which stops at over 40 of them.

Terrain

If there is one common complaint about Sierra at Tahoe it’s that it doesn’t ski as big as it is or that it doesn’t feel like the trails are really 2,000 acres worth. Here’s the thing, a good amount of that acreage is in the trees. In fact, you’ll find some of the best tree skiing in the country here making it a must visit, especially on a powder day. You might have to look around a little for your line but they’re there. In West Bowl, try the trees between Horsetail and Clipper. Off the Grandview Express the area between Preacher’s Passion and the Tahoe King lift is a good spot as well. There are also a total of five backcountry access gates, all accessible from the top of the Grandview chair, and guided tours of the backcountry are available. So the trees are great but you aren’t ready to go into the woods yet? Don’t worry there are also some excellent beginner and intermediate terrain here as well. Beginners will enjoy trails like Wagon Trail from the top of the Grandview Express or Sugar N Spice of the Hob Hill double. However, be aware that Sugar N Spice does cross several advanced trails so make sure you look up hill. The Westbowl area is a great place for the intermediate skier or rider and also has a terrain park coupled with a few more advanced trails to keep things interesting. When the day is done head for the Sierra Pub for live bands and tasty beverages.

Off-slope Fun

Sierra-at-Tahoe also offers tubing, snowshoeing on-site. Cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and other outdoor activities are all available nearby and of course there is plenty to do in South Lake Tahoe from daytime shopping to night time bar hopping.

Crystal Mountain, Washington

Crystal Mountain has undergone some major improvements since being bought by Boyne USA back in 1996. Part of the sales agreement was that Boyne had to invest some serious money into the resort over the next 10 years and that is exactly what they have done, and continue to do. This upgrading has included the Forest Queen and the Chinook Express, both high-speed “six packs,” the Green Valley high-speed quad up to Grubstake Point and most recently, the Northway double which added 1,000 acres of lift serviced backcountry style terrain. In addition to the updated lifts they have also expanding the trail system, increasing the size of the rental shop, renovated bathrooms, added new groomers, built the Campbell Basin Lodge, and they still aren’t done! The already approved Master Development Plan also includes an all-season 80-passenger tram, the conversion of some of the fixed-grip chair to high-speed lifts, a slope side hotel and more base facility upgrades. The bottom-line is that Crystal Mountain Resort is doing everything it can to make itself THE place to go in Washington and perhaps the whole West Coast. Crystal welcomes skiers and snowboarders to its slopes; however, a downside to Crystal is its complete lack of man-made freestyle terrain. As of this writing there is no terrain park or halfpipe at Crystal. So, if you are looking for terrain your best bet is the backcountry.

Terrain

With a total of 2,600 acres and over 50 runs there truly is something for everyone at Crystal. The terrain breaks down to 11% Beginner, 54% Intermediate, and 35% Advanced/Expert which makes Crystal an experienced skier or rider’s dream! However, although percentage-wise the newbies or those without a lot of mileage seem to get the short end of the stick, keep in mind that this is a good-sized resort so there are still plenty of options. Discovery, Quicksilver, Chinook Express, Miner’s Basin, and the Forest Queen Express all assess beginner terrain so you should have no trouble finding something you can handle. For the intermediates, you might try warming up on Gold Hill or jump right in and take Chinook Express to Rainier Express and get to the top of the tree line. The backcountry crew will have plenty of options here and the true experts will want to head to Northway Peak. At the end of the day everyone can meet up at the Base Lodge and head to BullWheel Pub for some great casual food.

Off-slope Fun

Although parts of Mount Rainier National Park are not open in the winter there is still plenty to do there including ranger-guided snowshoe walks, snowplay at Paradise, camping and snowmobiling. In nearby Enumclaw there is cross country skiing and even trout fishing in the nearby rivers. Restaurants, shops and lodging can also be found in town.

Blue Mountain, Ontario

Ontario may not boast of tall peaks (at 2275 feet, Ishpatina Ridge is its highest point) but the province is ski and snowboard crazy nonetheless. That’s evident at Blue Mountain, where 34 trails are spread over a two-and-a-half-mile long ridge, with 720 feet of vertical. And there’s more. The area has three terrain parks, two superpipes and a standard half pipe, 12 lifts including four detachable sixpacks and a detachable quad, and a tubing park. The resort is about 90 minutes north of Toronto and sits at the southern end of Georgian Bay, so it benefits from Lake Huron’s lake-effect snow. But there’s also 100% snowmaking. Of more import, perhaps, to visitors is Blue Mountain’s status as a four-season resort, thanks to a spate of development the past few years by Intrawest. The result has transformed the base area, which now has a full range of fine lodging, condominium clusters, a spa and conference center, restaurants, shops, and night life.

Terrain

With just a couple of exceptions, the beginner terrain is clustered in two pods. Novices should head to the South Base Lodge, where there’s everything needed to get started and gentle learning terrain. There’s another pod of easy terrain at the main base area. The rest of Blue Mountain’s offerings are pretty much evenly split between wide fall-line cruising trails and advanced terrain, including several black diamond trails. Of course, with three parks and three pipes, there’s a lot of air play at Blue Mountain, and you’ll find that the radical riders and twin-tippers gravitate to these more formal playgrounds. You can also enjoy the place at night, when about two-thirds of the terrain is lighted. The resort’s accommodations range from the modern Blue Mountain Inn (where you’ll find a spa, tennis, and indoor pool), to The Grand Georgian, done in the style of Canada’s great railway hotels. Also of note is the Weider Lodge, a handsome inn finished in the rugged style of old alpine ski lodges.

Off-Slope Fun

The tennis pavilion houses five Omni courts open all year. And there are a number of retail establishments where you can satisfy a shopping urge. But much of the post-ski action centers on a quiet meal at one of the several good restaurants about the resort and an early bedtime, or one of the night spots. The original Jozo’s is the place to be if you have energy to burn and the stamina to stay up until the wee hours, but mere mortals will enjoy the slower pace of the Indian Motorcycle Cafe and Lounge or the Copper Blues Bar and Lounge. In the nearby town of Collingwood, check out Planet Collingwood for dancing and pool, or The Admiral’s Pub for darts and conversation and about a dozen different ales and stouts on tap. Inside Line Weekend after-lunch lift lines at the Silver Bullet Express Quad – fast though it may be – can be rather long. Best bet is to lunch at the South Base Lodge, lunch early, lunch late, or lunch long.