Résidence Montana Soleil, Val Thorens, France

· ski-in on the blue Voie de la Boucle slope then cross the road to rejoin the piste · 5 minutes’ walk to the centre of the resort (through a series of elevators and walkways, not on the steeper route by road) · 3 minutes’ walk (or 150m ski in snowy conditions) to the Cascades chairlift · 2 minutes’ walk to the nursery slopes · 3 minutes’ walk to the ski school meeting point · 3 minutes’ walk to the nearest supermarket

The Montana Soleil is a cracking option if self-catering in a traditional alpine setting sounds up your piste. It’s charming chalet-style façade leads into a mix of 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, with warm wooden furnishings and snug living spaces. It’s spot-on for ski couples, families or groups of up to six, and each apartment has a south-facing balcony too – so you can soak up the sun between runs.

You can ski right up to the boot room door on a blue run here, so you can forget lugging gear around at the end of your ski day. The Soleil’s location makes it a slightly quieter option to some of the neighbouring Montana residences – so if you’re a fan of relaxed downtime when you’ve hung up your salopettes, it’s a good fit. Come morning, it’s a case of crossing the road to get back on the piste and kick things off again – easy-peasy.

With an on-site ski hire shop, a bakery across the way – with a top-notch breakfast delivery service – and plenty more restaurants and après spots close by, you’ve got all the ingredients of the perfect ski trip on your doorstep. Need a bit of spa time? Pop to the Résidence Montana Plein Sud down the road and pay a little extra for a post-ski pamper.

· small lobby lounge area · ski hire shop · extra charge for bakery delivery service · extra charge to access Les Bains du Montana Spa in Résidence Montana Plein Sud (approx. €15 per adult aged 15+, or €10 per child, per visit – children must be with an adult) · boot room with free individual ski lockers and heated boot rack · free WiFi throughout · lift to all floors

Self Catering

· self-catering apartments with kitchenette facilities

All apartments are non-smoking and have a kitchenette with hob, oven, microwave, fridge, coffee machine, kettle and dishwasher, as well as a flatscreen TV and telephone. Bed linen, towels, cleaning kit and end-of-stay clean (excluding kitchen) are included.

When you arrive, you’ll need to pay a deposit of approx. €500 by credit or debit card for each apartment on your booking.

2 bedroom apartment with balcony (approx. 45m²) - sleeps 1-4: Two twin bedrooms, living area, private bath with shower, WC and balcony.

2 bedroom apartment with balcony (approx. 49m²) - sleeps 1-6: Two twin bedrooms, cabin with bunk beds, living area, private bath, private shower, WC and balcony.

1 bedroom apartment with balcony (approx. 32m²) - sleeps 1-3: Twin bedroom, single sofa-bed in the living area, private bath with shower, WC and balcony.

Cots and highchairs are available to hire for approx. €28 per week. Please request at the time of booking.

Please note: End-of-stay cleaning does not include the kitchen, so you'll need to clean this yourself or an extra charge will be deducted from your deposit.