Bellecôte

If great ski access, multiple restaurants, bars and late night clubs aren’t selling it to you, take advantage of one of Bellecôte's multiple activities such as the heated outdoor swimming pool in the centre of the village with a view of the piste, take a ski-joering trip with the local horses, watch a world-class competition on the half pipe, or if you are lucky enough to be there for New Year's Eve sit back and enjoy being in the perfect spot for the biggest event in La Plagne’s social calendar, the epic open-air piste party that is La Nuit du Pompom Rouge.

The lifts give you easy access to Champagny, Plagne Centre, Montchavin – along with the Vanoise express to Les Arcs, the Roche de Mio bubble starts here and the glacier is just two bubble stops away. The lifts also service the snow park, boardercross run and competition-grade half-pipe situated just above the village and viewable from the accommodation and eateries in the centre. Bellecôte is a major junction for people accessing all areas of the mountain and in peak season this can lead to some heavy-lift queues especially around 10:00 as all the ski schools head out at once and at 16:30 as everyone strives to head back to Plagne Centre 'en masse' via the Colosses chair. If you are aware and avoid the peak times, you can't beat Bellecôte for snow access.

At the base of the apartments is a string of restaurants and eateries with huge outdoor seating areas complete with deck chairs that are perfect for a laid back beer in the sun or a quick lunch of pizza, pasta, burger or crepe before getting back onto the slopes. Bellecôte also has plenty in the way of shops and conveniences, a tabac and Spar for all your grocery needs, ski service and ski hire outlets, clothing and souvenir shops, a tattoo and piercing parlour and speciality shops selling local meats, wine and cheese. Of an evening head to Le Mouflon or La Ferme, both are inviting restaurants which serve traditional Savoyard specialities such as fondue, raclette and tartiflette.

If you fancy something less local aim for Spitting Feathers an excellent little English bar serving proper pub food, live sports coverage and British bitter on tap. Then if you fancy partying a bit harder you can always head over to Le Cosy Bar, Bellecôte’s own nightclub open until the early hours throughout the season.

A hub it may be but pretty it is not, no log cabins in sight here, the accommodation in Bellecôte consists of giant U-shaped apartment blocks that rise up like a wall at the bottom of the piste. These blocks are predominantly filled with self-catered, studio, one and two-bedroom apartments sleeping anything from two to eight people, which though less quaint than a snow-covered chalet is also less expensive. Due to the nature of the accommodation, there is a lot of private rentals and it suits many seasonnaires and staff who are billeted here for the entirety of the season.