Flaine, France

Visitor reviews for Flaine

• July 21, 2008
  Tom from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I'm 12, and I learnt to ski in Flaine. I soon got the hand of it with the very efficient and fun ski school ( I used SEI - Ski Ecole International - because the lessons were generaly 3hrs in the morning or afternoon. The other ski school was ESF and you got 2hrs morning AND afternoon! This was a pain!)
  The buildings are just plain ugly but thanks to the beautiful tree lined slopes you couldn't see them.
  Difficulty wise, there were very few green runs but some cracking nursery slopes for absolute beginners. The blue runs from 'Les Grandes Platieres' (2450m) were fantastic and lead all the way to the bottom of the resort. Red runs varied; the gentle 'Mephisto' from the gondola was great as a starter and the ominous 'Faust' was a challenge, despite it's beauty as it cascaded it's snowy body down to the village. The red runs were definitely the largest percent of pistes (perfect for intermediates) but there were only about four black runs. These however were fab, if not terrifying like the short 'Combe de Veret' or the longer 'Styx'. But, by far my favourite was the 'Diamond Noir', a narrow, thrilling,dangerous, mogully and horrendous piste which had well earned a notorious reputation!
  Check out the 'Grand Massif' website or Flaine homepage for loads of info on the new changes to the resort e.g. more green runs and links to the amazing blue runs of the Aujon area where the silent, forested runs amaze you with their peacefulness and tranquility.
  If you take the cable car to 'Les Grandes Platieres' you get the best views in the Alps, if not the Planet(!!) of the Mont Blanc Massif. The resort layout is cleverly designed so that you can navigate the whole resort with a few lifts. The button lifts can be a pain but the charlifts are great. The ski-to-door factor is the best bit (no carting round heavy skis after a day on the slopes) and I would reccommend Hotel Le Totem for this.
  Food is great and, except for a few restaurants can be quite expensive. (But definitely worth it!!).
  All in all, great snow, great skiing and a great holiday!!!
  Would reccommend this to anyone!!

• April 05, 2008
  Rick Paris from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  In 25 years of skiing all over the French Alps I have never fancied Flaine; didn't like the name! What a mistake. Just got back on 5th April 08; what a week, fresh snow most days, just about something for everyone and the Flaine bowl is very pretty. The runs are all very interesting, with enough challenge. Just give it a chance, you will be mighty impressed, I was.
  Rick Paris

• March 19, 2008
  Mark from FRANCE
  

  I have never read the reviews page of this site, but am compelled to respond to the description given to Flaine by your snow forecast title page. I would suggest you do your research correctly before putting off potential clients to this incredible resort by calling it ugly. It may not have the panache of La Clusaz, Megeve or Courchevel 1850, but "it has" won awards for it's architecture. The famous Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer, who taught the architecture dept at Harvard University designed much of the resort and is responsible for its amazing totum poles. Having owned a transport company in the Alpes for the last 10 years, I've snowboarded more than once in almost every single resort in the Alpes - North & South. Admittedly, the concrete structures in the centre of Flaine are not beautiful, but are no worse than anything in Avoriaz or La Plagne.
  Flaine is a purpose built resort, hence concrete, and for this reason has the best functionality of any resort in France, and probably some of not only the best off-piste on the planet, but the best untracked off-piste on the planet. As for not challenging, the person who commented on this clearly did not take on the blacks in the Lac Gers towards the sixt section of the Grand Massif. The on-piste skiing is amazing, from the motorway wide reds and blues to the tree lined pistes off the white eggs. You don't get much better than the skiing in Flaine. Believe me I live in Morillon and have lived in Les Gets for 8 years previous to that. When you put this package together then tell people that the transfer time from Geneva is less than one hour during the week, it can't be beaten. It really does irritate me that people in responsible positions like this site bang on about things they know nothing about. I own a 100 person plus business here and irresponsible reporting can affect greatly my business in this part of the Alpes.

  [Note from the database editor at SF: Please accept our apologies for any upset caused by information within our summary of Flaine. The content shall be reviewed in order to maintain an honest and unbiased approach.]

• March 18, 2008
  lisa from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  28th February 2008.
  Stayed at Le Totem hotel and it was brilliant. Advertised as 'ski to door' and it certainly was. Step out of the hotel and you are right on the door step for all the slopes from black runs to the nursery slopes. Flaine caters well for everyone of all abilities. I haven't skied for 20 years and felt at ease on the blue runs! Fantastic for kids and we are certainly returning next year this time with the kids!! Despite other reports of lifts closing early, we never found this to be a problem. As the skiing was so good during the day we were knackered in the afternoon so looked forward to returning for afternoon tea at the hotel late afternoon. Highly recommended!!

• March 10, 2008
  Mike from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just got back from a weeks skiing in Flaine. Having been there I'm more than a little annoyed when I see quotes saying it's the ugliest resort in the Alps. Obviously some people have never been to Val Claret (Tignes), Val Thorens or Les Arcs 2000.
  This is a family resort. The local tour office put on a "feature" every evening from 5-7pm in Flaine Forum and this usually involves free Vin Chaud or free hot chocolate (with a drop of Chartreuse for adults).
  There's a decent indoor swimming pool and a bowling alley within the resort. There's enough eateries to keep you going for over a week. Check out the Perdix Noire. It's easily the best restaurant I've seen in the Alps - excellent.
  Skiing wise, there's not much to challenge somebody who wants to race down blacks all day long but given it is a family resort and there seemed to be an enormous amount of children learning to ski so it's great to know that that kind of idiots who skis irresponsibly won't be attracted to the resort.
  The area is linked to Les Carroz, Morillon and Samoens and I was really surprised at just how good the pistes were in these resorts and that they were easily accessible.
  Nightlife is on the quiet side, but again, this resort is not pitched at the heavy apres-ski brigade. However, this did not stop us being woken up at 3am by some blind drunk louts shouting whilst walking down the road. Bet you can't guess the nationality? That's right - Brits abroad.
  The only let down was the 14km run (Cascase), right from the highest point in the resort down into Sixt, was closed all week due to lack of snow at the bottom.
  All in all, it's a good resort and I would advise anyone with a family looking for somewhere suitable to take youngsters and feel safe (in the fact that they will kept amused off the piste and safe on it).
  If you want heavy apres-ski and are a bit of a liability on the piste then go somewhere else ... Please.

• February 18, 2008
  sally from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  January 6th 2008. We stayed in new apartments, Les Pleiades, very good quality. Ski bus stops outside. Found the piste plan a bit strange, but no queues. Two lifts closed at 3.30 so watch out if you go to Morillon/Samoens. Lots of snow, expensive ski pass, area not connected very well. Prefer other places to ski but had a good time.

• February 17, 2008
  Mark from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Returned yesterday (16th Feb) after a week long stay in Flaine (w/c 9th Feb) and had a great time. The snow was great quality considering it hasn't snowed since the 6th Feb now, the sunshine was fantastic - even got a tan whilst there.

  The resort itself offers lots of steep groomed red runs perfect for the talented piste skier, very few black runs on offer for the more demanding. Also not a great deal of green runs in Flaine itself for complete beginners, the 2 accessible greens were always packed.

  If you're taking children be wary of the ski school, they seem to have no problem packing as many as 16 kids into one class - far too many. In the US there seems to be a 7 max limit. The ski-school itself was very serious for children, compared with the US schools where the emphasis is on fun. It was a little odd to see my cousin pushed so hard on skills for a child (9) - he didn't want to go back for his 4th or 5th lessons (and didn't), I imagine the situation is better off-peak though.

  Food is very expensive on the mountain, a couple of steals to be found though if you shop around the on-mountain bar/restaurants. After skiing, restaurants are nice and lively but family orientated, mostly.

  We took a snow-shoe walk one night, for a couple of hours, which was absolutely fantastic, seeing the back non-skiing part of the mountain in just the moonlight is well worth the money (something like 35Euros each including a delicious 3 course dinner)

  In summary...
  Advanced: 3/5
  High Intermediate: 5/5
  Intermediate: 5/5
  Beginner: 2/5
  Ski School: 2/5
  Eating: 4/5
  Scenery: 5/5

• February 14, 2008
  Jim from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  +ve's
  A great resort for the family
  Lots of non skiing activities.
  Easy skiing for all abilities.
  Fab ski conditions (w/c 4 Feb)

  -ve's
  As everyone says, not an attractive resort !
  Skiing is easy/if your experienced you'll find better a bigger challenge elsewhere in the Alps.
  Ski runs and lifts don't feel as well arranged as other resorts.

  In summary a great resort to learn to ski or to take a young family too but there are bigger challenges at other resorts both on and off the piste !

• February 10, 2008
  sue o'neill from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Flaine is a brilliant place in every way - love the atmosphere, the snow and not least, the architecture ... of course, we pay a little more for food but then it takes navigating 58 hair pin bends to get it there so the odd extra Euro to eat well is nothing ...... will continue to go as often as possible.

• January 30, 2008
  Anji Th from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Got back from a long weekend a couple of days ago and had a fabulous time. Been to Flaine before but never took advantage of the full Grand Massif ski area. There are some beautiful runs 'over the top' and in Flaine itself; really wide and tree lined. Lovely terraces to drink vin chaud, catch a few rays & relax. If you're worried about the architecture being awful, don't... you can't see it when you're skiing!!
  I'm quite a fussy skier and I can't wait to go back.

• January 03, 2008
  chris anderson from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Flaine is a brilliant place to ski. I have been going there now for a couple of years and I think it has the best snow record in Europe. There are a few brilliant restaurants and I think it is the best resort I have ever been to. We drive and even though it is 700 miles away, it is worth it.

• December 22, 2007
  Filoo from UNITED STATES
  

  Flaine is one of the rare resorts to have been designed from the get go around ski and nothing but ski by Olympic champion Emile Allais. It is known as "Flaine ski aux pieds" , you litterally jump on your skis right out of your hotel and ski non stop till dark. Because most of the resort is located at the bottom of the huge natural Alps basin, you can get to the very top right before lifts stop, and safely make it down for dinner within a few hours. Flaine is not a quaint chalet village, never intended to be. It's simply all about top notch ski!

• January 23, 2007
  Tony Wade from FRANCE
  

  Great skiing, but quite simply the ugliest architecture in the Alps. Looks like someone took a particularly bad section of Salford or Harlem and whacked it into the Alps. Absolutely criminal.

• January 04, 2007
  callum from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I went to flaine last year in April it was fantastic. There was plenty of snow and the instructors were brillant. It was my first time and really got the hang of it. I am going back this year in January and hope it is the same. I'm not sure, but January I think is at the height of the season but hopefully we are as lucky as last time and had to queue very little. If anyone is thinking of going skiing here is definetly the place to be. Nice views, good accomidation and exellent skiing.

• December 09, 2006
  Cyril Stocker from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I have been going to Flaine with my family since 1999 and generally go twice a year (xmas and Easter). I have stayed in Hameau and the main resort. To be honest it has become very expensive over the last two years in particular, I have always gone self catering. That said, I don't mind paying, the food is always good and the standard of restuarants is good and accomodating. The most surprising thing has been the increase in costs of the supermarkets, best thing is to bring the essentials with you, cereals, coffee and so on and stock up before you reach the resort.

  If you are coming from Geneva make sure you call into a supermarket close to Geneva or call off into a town on the way, once you get near Cluse there are no real opportunities.

  Anyway, hope you enjoy your holiday, I cannot fault Flaine, it is great for kids and the ski scholls are excellent (Green Mouse club for the younger children is very very good). The resort is a little ugly in terms of the buildings but the mountains, skiing etc is superb and is really idela for families.

  Enjoy, I will be there for the New Year so it must be good if I keep going back for more. I have been skiing for over 20 years and have been all over so I hope that helps.

• March 11, 2006
  Linda Mills from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  My family and I are returning again to Flaine, I absolutely adored this wonderful ski resport, it has spectacular views, and fantastic for adults and children. This is my favourite resport of all times

• January 23, 2006
  Peter Touw from NETHERLANDS
  

  Flaine is good skieen/boarden and the chairlift to the rest of the area is good.
  Offpiste is fun, but look out off the hole's, don't go alone offpiste!!
  SnowPark was good
  But, its not cheap. I think 20 % more then Les Arcs/La PLange.

• December 07, 2005
  Karen Sinclair from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Flaine is a fantastic location for a holiday for all levels of skiers. i went with my Husband and 2 children (then 8 and 5) in 2003. The ski schools are superb and the schools for the children cater for them all day. The slopes are breath taking to see and to ski were perfect. After ski activities are suitable for all ages, swimming and bowling for the kids and bars and resturants for adults. The accomodation is varied too, from basic apartments to 4 star hotels, couldnt ask for more - but get in early, they book up fast!
  

• January 21, 2005
  Michael Cooney from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Spent out first skiing holiday in Flaine for Christmas 2004. My wife and I and 2 young kids had ball. As this is my first skiing trip I can't understand why everyone keeps going on about the ugly architecture, I didn't really notice because the scenery of the snow covered mountains was awesome. The skiing was also wonderful and the ski lift operators were great and always seemed to be in a good mood. The ski hire shop gave us tobaggans for our kids to use and we all had a great time on them after a days skiing.
  The appartment we stayed was sufficient and I didn't find the shops too expensive.
  Everything within the resort is within walking distance, so we didn't step inside a car all week. I think the resort is perfect for families and would recommend it.

• September 06, 2004
  julie from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We went to Flaine In Feb 2004 in a group of 4 adults and 3 kids. I had broke my arm in an earlier ski trip and so could not ski. This did not stop a lovely holiday. Lots to do for kids, bowling alley, public swimming pool and ski school on your doorstep.

• March 20, 2004
  Pamela Mar from SWITZERLAND
  

  Flaine is extremely user-friendly, with the center of town, equipment rental shops, and main set of lifts all within 5 minutes walking distance to one another. Thus, one can arrive, rent, and be on the slopss within about a half hour, which is a far cry from many other 'ski towns'. The slopes are perfect for beginners, with lots of variations in green and blue pistes, even at the tops of the mountains. The town also has a semi-decent swimming pool for relaxing after-ski, but unfortunately, the locker rooms resemble those build for public high-schools. The only 'downside' to the town is that it was built by untalented imitators of Le Corbusier, and thus, it is all concrete and not very 'charming.'

• December 29, 2003
  Tony from NETHERLANDS
  

  We have been visiting Flaine last week of 2003 (freeride skier and freeride snowboarder with more then average experience). Flaine is village just built for winter sports, so don't expect too much of it. It is a nice family resort and ideal for beginners and people with medium experience. It is a perfect place for tour skiing (not experts), but not for freeride snowboarders. Freestylers (snowboarders) can go to one of the 3 funparks (not yet open in dec. 2003)
  When new snow falls, it is a perfect place for off-piste skiing / snowboarding. For experts the area has enough fun for a day or 3.

• December 23, 2003
  Peter Scott from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I have been going to Flaine since the mid 1970's. Having tried several other resorts in Canada, Switzerland and Italy I keep going back. Yes its modern and utilitarian looking but when you consider the convenience from Geneva, snow record and at last some decent investment it still makes Flaine my No.1 resort. Top place to stay are the Aldebaran apartments with a south facing balcony and top run is Mephisto Superior to the bottom.

• November 14, 2003
  Mike Hutton from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  A fine first time family resort, purpose built and functionally very efficient.
  The more adventurous may become restless here by mid-week as the pistes are generously graded, ie reds at Flaine would be blues at Alpes D'Huez.