Stuart Parish joins a VIP travel agent and tour operator fam trip to Tignes, with Hotelplan and Inghams, for incredible end-of-season skiing
“Live life to the full” was the Tignes Tourist Board’s motto aimed at visitors arriving for the 2021-22 season – and, after two years of travel restrictions, this felt like incredibly apt advice. So when an invite to get back on the slopes with the Inghams team in Tignes came through, it was too good to refuse.
Our group had colleagues flying into Geneva airport from Manchester, Edinburgh and London, and we were all able to arrive within an hour of each other. As convenient as the flights are, however, it does take almost three hours to reach Tignes, but the transfer time is worth it in pursuit of great skiing conditions further up the mountains.
Ideal conditions
Tignes Le Lac is 2,100m above sea level, so even in late March there was plenty of powder, often with fresh snowfall in the evenings. When resorts based further down the slopes might be closing for the season, Tignes is perfect for those looking for their last chance to grab some snow (though it’s best to stay further up the slopes to make absolutely sure you avoid the slushy areas).
The network of connected runs extends to peaks of 3,456m, via the Grande Motte cable car, and in the two days we were there we were able to ski much of the available slopes between Pointe Du Montet at the outermost reaches of the neighbouring Val d’Isère region, to the most southernly point of Tignes 1550 Les Brevières, which speaks volumes for the accessibility provided by the lift system across the resorts.
It’s well worth visiting the peak of La Grande Motte, within the Tignes resort, to ski down the glacier. It’s a challenging red run, but once navigated successfully you’ll arrive at a network of runs including a sweeping blue run named ‘Genepy’, which leads to Tovière 2704.
The nightlife
If you don’t wish to ski across to La Folie Douce in Val D’Isere there are plenty of more local options in Tignes, such as the Loop Bar, with its nightclub – or ‘The Cave’ as it’s known – where you can keep the evening going until the early hours.
A highlight of our trip was the après-ski party at Cocorico in Val Claret, where five different ski lifts meet and everyone gathered off the slopes to dance the late afternoon away to live music. Afterwards, a bus took us back to Tignes – not only was that convenient, it’s also free for everyone to use.
Otherwise, if you want a more unique evening, we experienced an evening meal in Mongolian yurts and tipis at the Evo2 Wilderness Camp. Afterwards, if the mood takes you, you can then sledge the 30-minute route through the trees to Les Brevières. Be warned though – cascading along on a small plastic tray in almost total darkness isn’t necessarily for everyone.
Stay in style
The VoulezVous Hotel, where we stayed, also had a strong après-ski scene – with a bar and an openplan reception that transforms into a hub of activity by evening, with live music and entertainment. The property comes more alive the deeper into the evening you get, and its two karaoke booths never seemed short of willing participants.
The hotel, which opened in December 2021, 50 metres from the slopes, is a beautiful property. It mixes a traditional alpine feel with modern architecture and interiors – and everything you’d expect from a five-star property, with a swimming pool, sauna and spa facilities all looking out over the mountains.
The property comes more alive the deeper into the evening you get, and its two karaoke booths never seemed short of willing participants
Restaurant Il Savoia brings together the gastronomy of the Duchy of Savoy, a historical area shared by both France and Italy, and offers a thorough wine list.
With a hotel that provides all the creature comforts you could wish for after a day on the slopes, along with late-season snow, a challenging and thrilling network of ski runs and an après-ski scene brimming with personality, Tignes has much to offer. It’s certainly the kind of place to come after two hampered ski seasons, to live life to the full again.
Ask the experts
Craig Burton, Ski Solutions
“For decades, Tignes has never been outside of the top five popular resorts for Ski Solutions clients – and for good reason. With snow-sure skiing from November through to the end of April, a super-efficient lift system and an increasingly wide variety of high-quality lodging and dining options, Tignes ticks the box for thousands of British skiers and boarders each winter.”
Simon McIntyre, Iglu Ski
“Tignes has it all: 300kmplus of skiing; a lift system so efficient you’re unlikely to queue much; and a phenomenal range of accommodation, from cheap apartments to private chalets and five-star hotels. There’s lots to do for non-skiers or when you have finished on the slopes – the après is amazing and there are plenty of places to eat and drink late into the night.”
John Sullivan, Advantage Travel Partnership
“Conclude your day of skiing at VoulezVous Hotel, with a treatment session or a visit to the whirlpool, sauna, hammam or swimming pool, where there are breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains. Finally, if like me you find the perfect way to relax in the evening is with a spot of karaoke, then you won’t be disappointed.”
Book it
Inghams offers a seven-night stay at VoulezVous Hotel in Tignes from £1,559 per person, based on two adults sharing. Price includes flights from Bristol airport, departing on March 18, 2023.
inghams.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Oleksandr Katrusha/thecolorpixels.com; Pascale Beroujon
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