The Official 2012 Snow Calendar

Visitor reviews for Peisey/Vallandry Ski Resort

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• January 19, 2012
  John Ludley from United Kingdom
  

  I have owned an apartment here for about 4 years. Peisey Vallandry (made up of the side by side villages of Plan Peisey & Vallandry) is a fabulous ski area with lots of wide motorway red runs through the trees. Only 2 black runs which aren't all that hard & some lovely blue runs. The place to head to in bad weather with the wide tree lined runs.

  If you stay at Plan Peisey you are right next to the Vanoise Express lift giving you the option to ski at either Les Arcs or a quick hop over to La Plagne for the day. Les Arcs is a huge area on its own & I rarely find the need to go over to La Plagne.

  Peisey isn't the liveliest place & it's described as a family resort - that said there are a handful of bars (Mont Blanc is the liveliest & usually busiest) & a decent choice of good restaurants. If it's wild nightlife you are after this won't suit you though you can "walk" to the livelier Arc 1800 but it's half an hour away along a ski road & a dodgy trip back after a few too many sherberts. You can also catch the free lobster pot lift down to the old quaint Peisey village which is a traditional mountain town with a few bars & restaurants & some people choose to stay here for the cheaper accommodation, but it's a lift away from the slopes & quiet if quaint. Watch you don't get stuck if you do visit the old village as the lift back stops quite early, though there is also an infrequent free bus service.

  The main lift from Plan Peisey takes you to about 2400m & that's where the nursery slopes are so its a great place for beginners who get to go right up the mountain to feel part of the skiing & are guaranteed better snow with a massive area to progress to when leaving the nursery slopes.

  The snow is usually excellent as it's a pretty high resort & there are plenty of snow cannons for the poor years. Les Arcs area seems to be getting new fast lifts every year (brand new Mont Blanc fast 6 person lift opened in 2011/12 at Arc 1600) & there are almost no drag lifts & very few old slow lifts. There are several fun boarder cross tracks in Peisey & Les Arcs & a luge track over at Arc 2000. La Plagne has a bobsleigh track for the more adventurous & Arc 1800 has its avalanche park with loads of jumps, a waterslide & an airbag for the adventurous.

  Snow to date in 2011/12 is fabulous - probably too much on occasion with most lifts shut the weekend before Xmas 11 - that said there were still enough open for a decent days skiing when I gather the likes of Tignes/Val were totally shut due to the weather.

• Peisey/Vallandry Ratings

  Based on 3 votes. Vote

  Access: 3.7 (1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Peisey/Vallandry.	Public Transport: 4.3 (1) There are no buses or taxis to Peisey/Vallandry, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
  Scenery: 4.3 (1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.	Accommodation: 5.0 (1) No places to stay in/near Peisey/Vallandry, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
  Cheap Rooms: 4.7 (1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.	Luxury Hotels: 5.0 (1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Peisey/Vallandry.
  Ski in/Ski out: 5.0 (1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.	Childcare: 4.7 (1) There are no child care facilities at Peisey/Vallandry, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
  Snowsure: 4.7 (1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Peisey/Vallandry is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.	Snowmaking: 4.7 (1) Peisey/Vallandry relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
  Snow Grooming: 5.0 (1) There are no snow groomers at Peisey/Vallandry, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Peisey/Vallandry are groomed daily.	Shelter: 4.7 (1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Peisey/Vallandry is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
  Nearby options: 4.7 (1) If snow conditions are poor at Peisey/Vallandry, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.	Regional rating: 4.7 (1) Peisey/Vallandry usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
  Lift Staff: 4.7 (1) The staff at Peisey/Vallandry are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Peisey/Vallandry are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.	Crowds/Queues: 4.0 (1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
  Ski Schools: 4.3 (1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.	Hire and Repairs: 4.7 (1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
  Variety of pistes: 5.0 (1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Peisey/Vallandry has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.	Beginners: 4.3 (1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
  Intermediates: 4.7 (1) No intermediate terrain at Peisey/Vallandry, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.	Advanced: 4.7 (1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
  Snow Park: 3.3 (1) Not even a kicker at Peisey/Vallandry, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.	Off-piste: 4.0 (1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
  Cross-country: 5.0 (1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Peisey/Vallandry, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.	Luge/Toboggan: 3.0 (1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Peisey/Vallandry has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
  Mountain Dining: 4.3 (1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.	Eating: 4.3 (1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
  Apres-Ski: 3.0 (1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.	Other Sports: 3.0 (1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
  Entertainment: 3.0 (1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.	Winter Walks: 3.3 (1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
  Ski Pass Value: 4.0 (1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.	Value (National): 4.0 (1) Overall, Peisey/Vallandry is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
  Value (Global): 4.0 (1) Overall, Peisey/Vallandry is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

  Based on 3 votes. Vote

• December 04, 2011
  Ricardo from Brazil
  

  I stayed a week in January 2011 in Peisey/Vallandry. I was so surprised with the very good lifts and the scenery from the mountains. The snow was few but the mountain tractors did a very good job and every morning was brand new pistes.
  I was at Club Med with my wife and 2 sons. I recommend Peisey/Vallandry!

• October 11, 2010
  Chris Selvik from France
  

  I have now lived in Vallandry (Peisey/Vallandry) for just over 10 years. I have done ski seasons in other resorts, and skied throughout Europe, over the last 30 years.
  I have to say that for the advanced (off-piste) skier, there are very few places in the world to match the Paradiski area, unless you have a helicopter at your permanent disposition. Ski in/out, easy access, and a huge domain (one of the largest in the world!).
  Come stay in our luxury self catered chalets (catering available), just visit pvr-rentals.com

• September 25, 2010
  Snowbeanie from United Kingdom
  

  Stayed at Peisey/Vallandry with hucksterslodge.com last season and had fantastic doorstep skiing. Large area with skiing to suit all. Their lodges are great value for money and you can travel by coach from the UK and ski for eight days.

• August 29, 2010
  Chris Franklin from United Kingdom
  

  Can't agree more with the other reviews, Vallandry (Peisey/Vallandry) must have one of the most perfect positions in the world of skiing, it has truely doorstep skiing! Just be a bit careful when booking as some of the accom in the lower villages do need a minibus trip to the slopes! We stay with hucksterslodge.com at the Mont Blanc itself and walked out the door straight onto the slopes; amazing.

• March 05, 2008
  David Pomeroy from United Kingdom
  

  Have just returned from a week skiing in Peisey/Vallandry. The skiing is excellent as you would expect from a resort of this size linked to the Les Arc area. The fact the Vanoise Express gondola was not working did not affect the holiday in any way.
  Intermediates are extremely well catered for here with a huge variety of runs from smooth cruising blues to changeling reds. Beginners slopes could be a little better although there were beginners in our chalet who got on very well.
  The accommodation we found at Le Villaret (Plan Peisey) was excellent. Operated by a small company, called Go-Alpine, they really made you feel welcome and they catered extremely well for our young children (we travelled with two four year olds).
  The aim of the holiday was to get our four year olds on the snow and it certainly worked. Our chalet host found us a personal instructor (not as expensive as you may think) for the kids and they adored him. He did a fantastic job and represented ESF extremely well - so thank you David Vernay, our boys thought you were great!
  One negative point was the lack of a decent nursery slope – the boys loved having to go to the ‘top of the mountain’ but the nursery slope here was not ideal as it was a little steep in places.
  I would recommend this area for anyone and if you like the typically French villages to stay in then I think Plan Peisey would be perfect for you.

• February 13, 2008
  Matt from United Kingdom
  

  Can't say enough about the place, would well recommend it after spending a season there! Intermediate and advanced skiers will love the place - the trees above Vallandry are insanely fun especially when it's chucking it down with snow and you can't see your way around the pistes! The amount of great skiing to be had in and around Les Arcs and La Plagne is immense. There's challenging stuff with cliffs, moguls, steeps and trees to explore and dominate everywhere you care to look.
  For intermediates, the abundance of smooth, well groomed fast red runs to carve your way down above Peisey and Vallandry will be a bonus, while beginners should find the couple of long but gentle slopes at the top of the Peisey lift adequate to get to grips with snow on - be warned though, the beginners area is up at the top of the mountain, the terrain down near the resort itself is significantly harder.
  Being situated bang in the middle of the "Paradiski" area (encompassing something approaching 20 individual resorts in Les Arcs, Peisey Vallandry and La Plagne on one lift pass), you can't really beat it for accessibility to one of the biggest and most varied ski areas in the world. There's plenty of accommodation both in Peisey and Vallandry with chalet companies like Ski Beat and Ski Esprit among others and to save money you can even stay down the valley in rustic Peisey-Nancroix, getting a lift up to Plan Peisey at 1600m, where the lifts up to the slopes, Les Arcs and across the valley to La Plagne are.
  Evenings should be spent in the Mont Blanc Bar in Vallandry and / or the Flying Squirrel in Plan Peisey, Shiva Bar up from the Squirrel is also worth a look for "alternative" fun.
  Best months are March & April when the snow is still great up top, and the sun is out, it's beautiful.

• March 14, 2006
  Marco from Netherlands
  

  Last week (from 4 till 11 march) stayed in Vallandry. We stayed in the new appartment complex, L'Oree des Cimes. This was very good, near the Grizzly 6-persons chairlift. From the top of the lift, you go very easy to the Les Arcs-ski-area. This is a very beautiful and varied ski-area. 200 km piste is more than enough. You can ski between trees and from the top of de Aguille Rouge (3226 m). I found this for me a perfect place to stay.
  In the past I've been in Solden, Fieberbrunn and Chamonix. Les Arcs was the best, thanks to the very good snow conditions.

• January 30, 2006
  Ski Addict from Ireland
  

  Just returned from my first winter holiday to Vallandry (have been previously during the Summer).
  Excellent place to stay, especially in the new apartments, L'Oree des Cimes. Skied right to the door and had the 6 person Grizzly lift about 50 yards away in the morning, the perfect location. Also located about 200mtrs away from the link to La Plagne so it was easy to enjoy both areas.
  If I was based in Arc 1950 or 2000 it would involve a bit of travelling to get to this link so I wonder if one would really get much use out of a full area lift pass being based there. But Vallandry is right in the middle between the two massive areas, even though Les Arcs offered enough skiing alone for a week, and a one day extension on a lift pass to enjoy the slopes in La Plagne cost E25.
  As a vegetarian, I sometimes find it tricky to eat and usually end up eating pizza and omlette for the week. The Mont Blanc bar which is staggering distance from L'Oree des Cimes has a great choice of food. Self catering is always the best option if you have any special requirements.
  I was disappointed not to be able to get a bus to the Super U supermarket in Bourg Saint Maurice, but the local Sherpa (Convenience store) had a good choice of fresh food.
  Visited the new Club Med in Vallandry, not very traditional or my kind of holiday, but seems a popular choice anyway.
  A great place to visit, so much so that I'm going back again in March.

• January 05, 2005
  Pollski from United Kingdom
  

  Vallandry is brilliant - a small resort at 1600 with excellent connections to Les Arcs and La Plagne. Because the resort is at tree level, there are magical tree lined red and blue runs straight back into the resort.

  The skiing was great, lots of variation and very easy to get from one part to another - the lifts were excellent. You've got red moguls, black moguls, blue 'road' runs through the forests, red runs through the forests, off piste through the trees, snow parks ... you name it this place has it. You'll certainly be spoiled !!! The snow quality was good when we were there (New Year 04/05) but the place was screaming for new snow when we left. My skis were waxed and edged mid week and they need to go in for a waxing before my next trip in 5 weeks time - there is only so much the piste bashers can do to cover the rocks. In fact the red runs into the resort were being closed half day because of the depreciation of snow due to the warm weather and traffic.

  Vallandry is right next to Peisey - you can get to Peisey by going to Le Grizzly chair and skiing down the run. Peisey has the double decker 2 minute cable car that joins the Les Arcs ski area with the La Plagne ski area to make it the Paradiski area. If I were to compare La Plagne with any ski area, I would compare it to Tigne/Val D'Isere - perfect for boarders as the off piste potential is huge. Loads of connecting chairlifts and you get the sun all morning. Only downside I found was that the runs to the bottom got very icy in the afternoon and the runs were wearing very thin by the end of the day.

  The Les Arcs area is more mountainy - you go over a hill and then you're faced with more pistes, and so on and so forth - Russian Doll syndrome.

  If you're an intermediate I would whole heartedly recommend Vallandry / La Plagne. You'll be spoiled and then spoiled some more.

  An excellent restaurant for solid, cheesy lard -filled meals is La Caleche - a small family run French restaurant. For something a little more special, go to La Dalu - TRUELY EXCELLENT.

  Apart from that, there isn't that much to do apres ski apart from going to the Mont Blanc Bar which has a great atmos (and mean big breakfast for 7 euros) - but be warned - it can get very messy in there!

  Enjoy !