The three other linked villages in this long valley are Chantemerie, Monetier les Bains, and Villeneuve la Salle. Monetier has its own snowboard park as well as a spa and thermal baths. Villeneuve has many gentle beginners’ slopes, an ice skating rink, a fitness center with a sauna and gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, a floodlit circuit for ice driving, and a good variety of restaurants, bars, night clubs, and shops. There is also the town of Briancon with its historic medieval fortress and cobbled streets as well as a modern sports center featuring ice hockey matches.

Throughout the large ski area you will also find all levels of ski slopes from nursery ones to difficult ones such as the Isolee black run and a long Olympic run. There are 15 expert (black) pistes, 42 difficult (red) ones, 33 intermediate (blue) ones, and 25 easy (green) ones. At the bottom of the valley are cross county trails. And if there isn’t enough snow, there is plenty of snow-making equipment handy!

There are excellent ski schools for beginners, sleigh riding, sledding, ice skating, ice and rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, alpine mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking, torchlight descents, carriage rides, and more.

There has been a 50 euro-million investment here which includes a new drag lift and other modern lifts, increased snow making, improved runs access, and the use of a “Holiski Card” which allows skiers to beat the crowds and receive discounts off lift passes for as much as 30% per day. The Les Grands Bains center can hold 1200 people every day over three floors and features outdoor and indoor naturally heated pools, Roman features, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and is an oasis for those seeking a calm atmosphere as well as beauty and health treatments.

Serre Chevalier is a picturesque mixture of old villages and new buildings. It is the Alps’ seventh largest ski resort and was voted the number one wellness resort by Alpes Magazine. The resort has 3 skating rinks, 6 movie theaters, 3 outside pools, 1 indoor pool, 2 fitness centers, and much more. This is the home turf of Luc Alphand, an international downhill racer.

The French Alps have been the scene for several Olympic games including races and speed skiing.

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If you are looking for a ski holiday at Val Thorens in the Trois Vallees, talk to your ski specialist about St Martin de Bellville where you will find some great chalet ski holiday deals. Similarly if you have always taken a ski holiday in Meribel, a gondola now connects from the resort of Brides-les-Bain and some great ski holiday deals are available.

Chalet holidays are tailor made for all group sizes, from a couple to a number of like minded people. The food is amongst the best to be found on a ski holiday; often this is prepared by cookery school graduates many to cordon bleu standard and these meals would compare favourably with that served up in a top French hotel just down the road, but at a fraction of the cost. Normally wine of your choice is served at the table and this usually seems to come from a bottomless carafe! French chalets have a wide choice of breakfast from cooked to “continental” and afternoon tea, usually a sumptuous cake, is waiting for you when you get back from the ski slopes.

All round France is still a great place to choose for your ski holiday and if you take the advice of your holiday specialist, fantastic offers are better than ever this year. By using the facilities of your ski holiday specialist you can usually find just what you are looking for to make your holiday perfect.

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Some of the places that you cannot afford to miss include the mountains and the city of Lyon, apart from the striking Mont Blanc. There are also many rivers, famous vineyards and natural parks in the region that are worth visiting.

The first thing people come here to do is skiing and snowboarding. A large number of people head towards the Val d’Isere slopes for skiing and snowboarding especially during the winters.

There are several ski resorts in the area and even if you are not carrying your ski equipments with you, they can be hired from the resorts or stores or even be bought there. Some of the most popular ski areas in Rhone Alpes include Vallee Blanche in Chamonix, Les Arcs in Bourg Saint Maurice, La Tania in Courchevel, Les Allues in Meribel and St Martin de Belleville in Les Menuires

The second thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy its glorious nightlife. There are several bars, operas, clubs, pubs and cafe bars for the visitors to enjoy. The Place des Terreaux in Lyon is a public square that gets lit up in the night by beautiful 19th century fountains and is always founded crowded after sunset. Opera National de Lyon is an internationally renowned opera in Lyon.

A large number of visitors come here to enjoy the world class opera performed here. Le Hot Club is a premier Jazz club in Lyon which features live performances many times in a week. Le Twenty in Grenoble is one of the trendiest cosmopolitan cafe bars featuring specialties like several cocktails mixed in Chartreuse.

The third thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy the live performances conduced here from time to time. Theatres Romains de Fourviere in Lyon is a renowned theatre, remnant from the dominant era of Roman Empire. The ruins of the two amphitheatres are more than 2000 years old. Amphitheater of the Three Gauls in Lyon is more than 2000 years old monument of the Roman organization. The Roman Theater in Vienne is a Roman theatre seating around 13000 people. It also serves as an architectural building and an ancient ruin.

The fourth thing you must not forget to do in Rhone Alpes is to explore its history and culture. Standing on the Fourviere Hill, the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere was constructed in late 19th century with grave exterior and ornate interior. The Cathedral Saint Jean Baptiste is a 12th century cathedral made in Gothic style with impressive windows of stained glass. Hotel de Ville is the city hall of Lyon with blue domed pavilions and a tall clock tower.

The fifth thing you should not miss in Rhone Alpes is enjoying its wine. The best known wine producing regions of France are situated near Lyon which are Beaujolais in the north and Cotes du Rhone in the south.

The diversity of the Rhone Alpes region of France make it very popular for self catering holidays all year round. Renting a holiday home would give the tourist the time and freedom to explore and partake of all that is on offer in this region of France.

About the Author:
Andrew Gibson is M.D of Direct Holiday Bookings. France rentals are popular with families staying in self catering holiday homes in the Rhone Alpes. They also have a great selection of apartments for self catering rental in Rhone Alpes as holiday rentals.

Photograph: La Tannerie. Ski Chalet for rental in the Rhone Alpes.

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In Les Menuires, part of the ski domain opened from 6 December before the official opening on 13 December, with a day ski pass for the opening weekend at a special rate. www.skijournee.com

In Chamonix, after abundant snowfall, the Grands Montets ski area plans to open daily from 6 December. Other ski areas in Chamonix such as Brévent-Flégère and Balme will open on Saturday 20 December. The Aiguille du Midi cable car will re-open on 13 December. www.chamonix.com

Les Portes du Soleil have recorded snowfall of 50 cm at 1200m and 120 cm at the top of the ski domain. The resorts of Chatel, Avoriaz and Les Gets partially opened last weekend. www.portesdusoleil.com

In the southern Alps, the resort of Les Orres is reporting snow covered slopes and the resort will open on 13 December. There is a webcam on www.lesorres.com

The resorts of Val Thorens, Tignes and Les 2 Alpes are already open.

Other resorts such as Chatel, Les Gets, Le Grand-Bornand, Chamonix, Les Contamines, La Clusaz, Val d’Isère, Alpe d’Huez and Isola 2000 will partially open at weekends.

The latest information about French ski resorts can be found at www.ski-ride-france.com

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