Saint Jean d'Arves

There is a good selection of runs around St Jean d'Arves itself, with particularly good facilities for starters and intermediates among its 35 pistes. In fact, new skiers can easily enjoy a good few day's skiing on just a beginner's pass. There are three lifts to the easiest green runs. The first step up is likely to be to the Rouet lift and the Lieves blue run.

Le Corbier has good blue runs, including Torture, which isn't nearly as frightening as its name suggests. Pirouette is a good, short red run, but strong skiers will want to head higher for a glide down the Frite run. The J N Augert run is a good descent, from 2,265m down to 1,800m. The local terrain park is challenging and varied, and excellent cross country trails run between St Jean and Le Corbier.

Les Sybelles

The wider ski area, Les Sybelles, offers more than 300km of pistes and it will be a very demanding skier who cannot find plenty to their liking in this high quality domain. In the whole ski area there are 135 runs, 23 of them green, 56 blue, 39 red pistes and 10 black. Seventy-four lifts will get you to where you want to go. More than 500 snow canons help keep snow cover up to scratch throughout the season. There's a huge variety of terrain to try.

The Vallee Perdue is a great start for beginners, not least for the stunning views. At the other end of the scale, the Bartavelle piste from La Balme is a challenging black run. The off-piste and ski-touring offering has been beefed up in recent years and there are three terrain parks across the ski area. Cross country skiers have 20km of trails to try around St Sorlin, Le Corbier and La Toussuire. There's even 18km of distance skating for an interesting and different way to enjoy the slopes up to 1,700m.

Other Activities

St Jean d'Arves may be small but there's plenty going on to interest visitors. In the resort you'll find an outdoor ice rink, plenty of winter hiking trails and snowshoe treks, snow mobile hire, ski joering, a paragliding school, ice climbing, trampolines, and laser shooting in the snow. There is a cinema and 10-pin bowling for indoor fun and a relaxation and beauty centre. For something different, the cheese dairy is also open to visitors.

There's genuinely good regional cuisine in and around St Jean d'Arves, but also plenty for kids who like their own favourites. It's worth arriving early to get a seat on the terrace at La Grenouillere, where good quality French cooking matches the views.

Les Melezes is good for children. Oule Rouge makes the sort of home-cooked dishes that are typical of good French country cuisine. Le Chalet, Le Bouj and Le Skwal, with their wood-fired pizzas, are also good. There are plenty of good mountain restaurants around the Les Sybelles ski area. Most are traditional in appearance and atmosphere and serve classic Savoyard food. Try Le Barock, on the Choseaux chairlift; Le Fontaines de l'Ours in Le Corbier; La Petite Ferme in Saint Sorlin d'Arves; or Chalet le Foehn above La Toussuire, where you should certainly try one of the excellent hot chocolates.

Nightlife

Like most French family resorts, St Jean d'Arves doesn't cater to the up-all-night crowd, but most of the village restaurants offer the chance to enjoy a noisy drink or two. Le Skwal is friendly, and Le Bouj has a good choice of drinks. If you do want some livelier fun, try a trip to St Sorlin for the d'Sybelles nightclub. Transport links between the local villages and resorts are very good.

Ski Season

The Sybelles ski area is usually open from 19th December to 15th April, depending on snowfall. The lifts are open from 9am to 5pm each day in the winter season.

Lift Passes

You can buy passes for Saint Jean d'Arves and Le Corbier or the Sybelles ski area. Passes can be bought for periods of between 4 hours and 8 days. Children under 4 years and adults over 75 years can ski for free. There are pass discounts for families and separate rates for children from 5 to 12 year olds, adults, and over-65s. Students also get a discount. The beginner's pass is particularly good value thanks to the excellent slopes it opens up.

Ski Equipment Hire

There's plenty of choice among St Jean's six ski and sports shops, including an Intersport outlet.

Lessons and Ski Schools

There is a branch of ESF, the largest French ski school, in St Jean d'Arves, offering English language lessons and tending to keep Anglo kids together in groups. Children can join Club Piou from the age of 3 years. There are group and individual lessons for most levels of skiers. There's a wider selection of schools and private instructors across the Sybelles ski area.

Childcare and Family Facilities

The resort nursery is in La Chal, the resort's tourist information centre. It can take 30 – 35 children aged between 3 months and 6-years-old between 8.30am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. You should book if you are going to need nursery care. There is a secure children's play area for under-12s and a sledging area at La Chal.

Parking

There are several car parks in the village and most accommodation comes with its own car parking. Remember that parking in snowy mountain conditions comes with some dangers. Park with your wheels pointing to the curb, wipers clear of the windscreen, and a very clear idea of where you are. You will need snow chains at least for driving in the Alps, and the police may stop you to check that you have them.