Best French Resorts for Groups

The king of chalet resorts, Meribel’s a long-time favourite of Brits and one of the world’s top spots for big skiing and big après. Whether you’re all staying in central Les Allues, cheaper Mottaret or one of the smaller hamlets, chalets make a sterling base: get one for sole occupancy if you want to rule the roost, or opt to share with others and see your group size double. There are plenty of other options if self-catering or a hotel stay would work better – with the same easy access to a fabulous ski area. Right in the middle of the mammoth 3 Valleys, no-one’s left out in groups of mixed abilities: beginners have their very own ZEN zones, while more experienced skiers can head off and explore the biggest ski area on the planet – pistes, parks, powder and all. Every kind of après ski is covered here, from the mountain mayhem of the Rond Point to the sugary delights of the Grand Marnier Creperie.

It’s got the charm factor, the legendary ski area and the world-beating après that brings groups back year after year. We love Val d’Isere’s old-school Savoyard town, where non-skiers can explore the shops, spas, and cafes while others take to the mountains. Beginners have a whole hill devoted to snow-ploughing (at the top of the Funival) and with links across the Espace Killy, intermediates won’t be short of ground to cover. Experts will be in their element, with some of the steepest blacks and deepest powder runs in the country (don’t miss the Face run or the Banana off piste). If your usual get-togethers include drinks and dancing, the original Folie Douce at La Daille’s gondola station can’t be missed, with Dick’s Tea Bar taking care of the after-party back in town.

Take an old Savoie village, position it just-so in the middle of the enormous Portes du Soleil and make it easily reachable by car and plane. Morzine’s terrific for groups: skiers can explore the slopes of TWO countries, non-skiers can soak up history and culture galore and everyone will love the range of activities and restaurants on offer. From the kind, tree-lined blues to the mogulled Chavanette on the Swiss border, there’s a heck of a lot of ground to cover on the mountains. Morzine has the best après in the PDS by a long shot - head to Infernos (on the Nyon plateau) or Le Tremplin (at the base) for a classic piste-side party and for a late one, Tibetan plays all the guilty pleasures! We’ve had some wonderful evenings round the table at L’Etale – steaks, fondues, pizzas - or for coffee, cake and live music it’s all about Beanies. Night tobogganing from the top of Pleney makes for a hilarious evening together, and sports lovers can watch some brilliant matches at the ice hockey stadium.

Sometimes beginners are confined to the bottom of the mountain, while the rest of the group get the best views and snow conditions higher up… Not so in L2A, where the smoothest runs are at the summit of this topsy-turvy ski area. Seasoned snow lovers aren’t short changed, with powder fields, steep gullies and the 2200m vertical of the Grand Couloir Chutes. Freestyle Land makes for a cracking meeting point, where the DJ rips up a storm, burgers sizzle on the BBQ and freestylers do their stuff on a variety of features. To continue the party scene, head to Pano, which draws the crowds to the Jandri mid station with its south facing terrace. Or, try something different from the never-ending list of activities, with firm favourites including husky sledding, ice dodgems and visits to the Ice Cave.

For starters, it doesn’t get higher than this: At 2300m, VT nabs the top resort altitude in Europe, meaning the snow history is incredible. It doesn’t get bigger than this either: You’re in the largest linked ski area in the WORLD, and we’re yet to find anyone who’s left out in all its 600km of glory (newbies, veterans, freestylers, freeriders, XC skiers, winter walkers…). This is one of the most convenient resorts too. Being purpose built, nearly the whole thing’s ski in, ski out – keeping trudging to a blissful minimum. The après isn’t bad either, it kicks off at Folie Douce on the sunny south side of the hill, or if you’re meeting on the northern side, 360 is just as lively. As the name suggests, Le Rendezvous is an awesome place for crowd-pleasing brunches, lunches and evening pizzas. If that’s not enough to get the pulse racing, check out the Tyrolienne – a whacking great 1300m zip wire all the way over the valley to Orelle.

With a huge, high ski area and all sorts of accommodation, Tignes is a brilliant all-rounder. The local slopes are a tad more intermediate friendly than neighbouring Val d’Isere: Blues and reds weave back down to base and the ones on the Grande Motte glacier are so snow sure they’re skiable in the summer. With the Espace Killy pass in hand, the opportunities go on and on… deep powder tree runs, top-to-bottom descents and meeting points on and off the mountains. Speaking of which, Le Loop bar is a favourite (just off the learner’s slope) and Folie Douce (towards Val) has to be experienced at least once. There are some weird and wonderful activities for the whole group to get stuck into: from ice diving to the awesome Bun J ride - a combination of a ski jump, bungee jump and zip wire. Indoors, Lagon in Le Lac should have something to keep the whole bunch happy with pools, slides, a huge spa and a gym (and if these don’t crack a smile, knowing access is free with the Espace Killy ski pass sure will).

Whichever of Les Arcs’ altitude villages you stay in - the ‘original’ 1600, lively 1800, American-style 1950 or sky-high 2000 - you’ll be up and out on the glorious Paradiski each day. And what a place - 425km of slopes see mixed ability groups well provided for: from the wide blue groomers to the steep Aigulle Rouge descents and the cool Rodeo Snowpark. Share a private instructor if some of you are learning or improving, or get a guide to lead the 20 minute hike from the Grand Col chairlift for awesome off piste. There’s many a way to let your hair down at the end of the day, from cheap drinks at the Red Hot Saloon in Arc 1800, to skidoo tours. Or for something really special book an evening in a Mongolian Yourte, where you’re greeted with a flickering fire and a decadent Savoyard dinner…

Occupying one of the sunniest, snowiest spots in the Alps, only an hour from Grenoble Airport, Alpe d’Huez is a well-placed people pleaser. You’ll find a huge range of accommodation scattered around, from the upbeat old town to the Altiport chalets on the outskirts. Beginners can take their first glides in the learner areas by the Ront Point du Pistes, while experts head straight to the Pic Blanc where the 16km Sarenne is the world’s longest black run. For even more of a mettle-tester, give the 8000m Everest challenge a go - skiing all four descents off the mighty 3036m peak... The Folie Douce sees the mountain rocking come afternoon, and downtown you’ll find quirky bars like the Underground, plus quirky activities like snowy laser tag.

Each of Cham’s ski areas has its own character: There are four beginner zones, with Balme hogging the bulk of the gentle slopes. Brevent’s spot on for intermediates, while the Grand Montet’s expert territory, with the black Point de Vue run and some of Chamonix’s best off-piste. Share the price of a mountain guide and you can tick off the legendary Vallee Blanche (an awesome 22km glacier descent). But skiing’s just one of MANY pastimes here: others include snow-kiting, speed-riding, ice-climbing and winter-walking. Hop on the Montenvers cog-railway to Mer de Glace for a tour of the spectacular Ice Cave, or just spend all day exploring the town. With so much to do all over the valley, it’s the norm to split up, spend the day wherever suits you best and re-group later on: Chambre Neuf has loud après ski down to a T, and with restaurants serving pub food, Savoy classics, Italian, Chinese, Mexican… even a Maccy D’s, there are plenty of options for group suppers.

When a resort has ELEVEN villages with so many kinds of accommodation (apartments, chalets, hotels of all ratings), it shouldn’t take long to find a base that suits everyone. There’s just as much choice in the ski area: beginners and intermediates can get the local pass for an impressive 225km, while more adventurous skiers almost double the terrain with the Paradiski pass. Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne have a multitude of bars, restaurants and cafes - like Saloon Bar where they mix tasty house cocktails until 5am. The ‘Snakegliss’ sees you all sweeping down the hill in a line, or you can rack up speeds of 70km/hour on the legendary bob sleigh.