The Ski Resort
La Plagne is 10 separate villages rather than one ski resort and as consequence the New Years Eve celebrations are more low key in comparison to similar ski areas and their respective ski resorts. La Plagne is therefore a great New Year ski destination for skiers who are looking to ski more than they are to party. That isn’t to say that there are fun times to be had, it is however more low key than some of its nearby ski resorts. It therefore attracts quite a lot of family ski holiday-makers who want to getaway at New Year and basially ski.
Worth Knowing
La Plagne is 10 separate villages rather than one ski resort and as consequence the New Years Eve celebrations are more low key in comparison to similar ski areas and their respective ski resorts. La Plagne is therefore a great New Year ski destination for skiers who are looking to ski more than they are to party. That isn’t to say that there are fun times to be had, it is however more low key than some of its nearby ski resorts. It therefore attracts quite a lot of family ski holiday-makers who want to getaway at New Year and basially ski.
When visiting one of these villages you have a choice, stay low in one of the more traditional villages which are quite pretty, these include Champagny en Vanoise (1,250m), Montchavin (1,250m), Plagne Montalbert (1,350m), and Les Coches (1,450m), or go high and stay in one of the purpose built ski resorts of Plagne (1,800m), Plagne Bellecote (1,930m), Plagne Centre (1,970m), Plagne Soleil sometimes referred to as Plagne Villages (2,050m), Belle Plagne (2,050m) or Aime La Plagne (2,100m). When we use purpose built we really do mean this in the French sense, so expect great snow typically at New Year, accommodation that is within a stones throw of the piste, but just is not pretty to look at.
Whilst the skiing is best for beginners and early intermediates, and there is plenty of it too, being part of the Paradiski ski region skiers can pop across to Les Arcs to more testing pistes. The Vanoise double decker cable car is worth the the trip alone just to see how they have spanned a great big valley that previously separated the two!
View La Plagne Villages - Paradaski in a larger map
For a real New Year ski celebration, you can also arrive in comfort and style as the Eurostar train stops just 15 minutes from La Plagne villages at Aime-la-Plagne with two trains arriving and departing each weekend from St Pancras International station in London.
Off Piste Skiing
Pop down to Champagny for a great off-piste run and a great French lunch with a glass or two of champagne to celebrate the morning and the New Year. Start at Mont de la Guerre which generally has good snow on gentle and wide slopes that become nice tree line skiing nearer the bottom.
The Bellecote is a popular area for off-piste but not after a heavy night of New Year celebration as despite La Plagnes beginner and intermediate label, this off-piste is far from it!