Samoëns

Samoëns, the sleepy charmer of the Grand Massif where Brits love the authentic French feel, French families calmly drop their kids off with ESF instructors who double as miracle workers, and the occasional Dutch speedster swooshes through the tree-lined runs with no apparent need for breaks.

It’s the kind of place where you’ll ride the Grand Massif Express gondola to Samoëns 1600, only to discover you still need to take a chairlift (or three) to reach your friend who promised the views from Tête des Saix were worth it.

We love carving up runs like Dahu while daydreaming of a post-ski vin chaud at Covey’s, followed by raclette that’s guaranteed to melt both your taste buds and your willpower.

We're not so keen on taking a wrong turn and ending up halfway to Flaine or getting overtaken by a herd of pint-sized prodigies in matching ESF bibs. But hey, if you’re going to get out skied by six-year-olds, you might as well enjoy it in one of the prettiest villages in the Alps!