The Official 2012 Snow Calendar

Visitor reviews for Risoul Ski Resort

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Ski Resort Rating: Rate Risoul

• September 29, 2011
  Matt from United Kingdom
  

  I've been to Risoul with a group of friends (mixed ability) for the last 2 seasons, and we found that the ski area was fantastic for all of us. There's some good off-piste, the park in neighbouring resort Vars is great, and the setup was also great for beginners. The area is below the tree line which means that it's also really attractive to ski around and it's extensive enough that we never got bored.

  The resort village was also great - plenty of services/small supermarkets etc. The bars were cool and there's a nightclub in town that was great fun.

  Only drawback is that it's a little bit difficult to get to - but that's probably why its such good value and makes it even better once you're there :)

• November 29, 2010
  Glyn from United Kingdom
  

  We stayed in Risoul in January 2010 and found it ideal for our mixed ability group. Like many others I was surprised by the extent of the skiing, but as others have said this is not the 3 valleys/Portes du Soleil etc. Sun was shining 4 out of the 6 ski days we had. Recommend you do Vars side in the morning and slopes around Risoul in the afternoon. Some good off-piste if you want it. There are quite a few button lifts around, but these are easily avoided if you want with a bit of planning, it doesn't take long to remember where they are. Saying that none of them are too long or violent, I have been on a lot worse. Stayed in Balcon du Sirius apts where you can step out of the boot room virtually onto the piste that takes you down to the lift area. Apts are nice considering you're in France, and again have stayed in much more basic ones with less amenities. If you are after a resort that is party central, this isn't it, though there is a club in the town and a couple of bars where the boarders tend to hang out. There are plenty of places to eat at quite reasonable prices, but the menus don't vary greatly from each place. Supermarkets are fairly small but will cater for most things if you are self catering. If you drive over stop at a larger supermarche and stock up before you arrive. All in all, the resort suited us, skiing conditions were great, enough variety for our group, nice quiet slopes generally and very few queues on the lift system. Don't be put off by the transfer, it's not as bad as it sounds, once we had dropped people off in Serre Chevalier there were only 7 of us heading to Vars/Risoul. We're heading back in January.

• April 26, 2010
  Bryan from United Kingdom
  

  Recently returned from Risoul having stayed in Club Hotel Morgan 10th - 17th April 2010. I feared that this was risky, being so late in the season and so far south, but it was cheap so we went for it and were well rewarded. The ski area was bigger that expected and excellently laid out with a choice of 3,4 or more runs from each lift. We had fresh snow three days and there was plently of challenging off-piste to be found. We have skiied in St Anton, Meribel and Les Arcs recently but were not bored or restricted in Risoul. The lift pass is much cheaper and the lift system was fine with no queues.

  The Hotel was basic, but the staff helpful and the food fine. We just had to cross the road to the pistes and a choice of 4 lifts up. Yes, it is a long transfer to Risoul but well worth it.

• March 26, 2009
  Steven from Netherlands
  

  After having skied in some of the main areas in France (Val Thorens, Portes du Soleil, Tignes) we now went for Risoul in the Southern Alps. Although having some doubts on the snow conditions after reading the resort has a record of 300+ sunny days a year, we booked a week for mid March anyway. And what a pleasant surprise it was to see fully snow covered mountains combined with wonderful weather. The skiing area is great. Sure, you mustn’t compare it with Trois Vallees on size or infrastructure and Tignes for the fantastic ski lifts (Risoul has many tow lifts, but if you don’t like them you can easily plan your way around them), but you can have a great week of skiing or boarding. There are more than enough slopes to keep you busy for a week. For people who like to do a bit of jumping and such, this is properly sorted with a bunch of fun/freestyle parks (2 in Risoul, a large one in Vars). Here you’ll find boarder cross and ramps for all levels. If you travel with kids, they will probably have a good time, with a wide variety of facilities provided for the little skiers in both Risoul and Vars.
  On the village: if you don’t like large, purpose build apartments, don’t go to Risoul. But then again, you shouldn’t go to France anyway. However, in comparison to other purpose built ski stations, it is just a bit cosier. Night life isn’t all that much, people tend to stay in and make their own noise. If you like to have a quiet stay, you shouldn’t stay in appartements Melezes (very noisy) or Constellation Foret Blanche (we’ve stayed there and it can be quite noisy sometimes) but on the left side of the station, away from the bars at the right side it is quiter. The Sara residences are sufficient, but typically French. So some refurbishment would be nice. We’ve stayed with 4 in a 6 persons appartment, which was ok.
  To sum up: we’ve had a great time in Risoul. Great skiing, great weather (the best chance of good weather in the French Alps) and all of that for a very reasonable price. I don’t have to mention again that ski passes are relatively cheap. Also the slopes are kept in very good conditions, not crowdy (even at the key connection lifts) and you can make a nice tour skiing through the trees to Vars and back. Regarding all this, there is a good chance for me to return there (and I usually don’t visit the same resort twice).

• November 22, 2008
  Matt from British Indian Ocean Territory
  

  I spent my very first season in Vars. It's an awesome place and I love it! I agree with what most people say about Vars but if you are a good skier then you will prefer Vars then Risoul. I have never been to a ski resort where there are so many opportunities to ski off-piste. Every where you look you can ski.
  It does have a really bad lift system, but you get over it. Night life is poor but February is mad.
  

• March 31, 2008
  kate from United Kingdom
  

  Have been to Risoul 15 times because each year if I suggest a change all my group is in uproar, especially the kids who feel they own it! We have all abilities (beginner to competition, snowboard, telemark, age 3 to 80) and there is always enough to do. This year, the off-piste, through the trees and in the open was just perfect. Because the pistes all end up in one place it's very convenient to arrange to meet up with others who have had lessons, want to ski a different sector etc etc. The s/c accommodation is fairly spacious compared to some resorts, but getting to be in need of some refurbishment. Easy to book online (Sara-residences).
  Travelling to Marseille on cheap flights is a bonus, as is the 'navette blanche', the ski shuttle bus from the airport to the southern alps resorts. Look on the Marseille airport website for details. Also, no mountain passes to worry about if there's been a dump of snow. If driving, go south of Grenoble to Gap, it avoids the Col de Lauteret at 2050m (only 1100m or so over the Col de la Croix Haute: look it up on the map and you'll spot the easiest route). About 10 hours from Calais or Zeebrugge.
  Very friendly ski schools, unfortunately the ESI with smaller groups has shut this winter but ESF has some fun instructors too. For ski rental 'Skiset' in the Melezes apartments are super value and very friendly too (tell them I said so!!).
  Nightlife is low key (I agree about the noise late at night, why do some people insist on shouting in ski resorts?) but enough shops to s/c easily and not too expensive. Lovely butcher in the main street.
  I have never queued in Risoul for longer than about 3 minutes (I don't even usually use the 'fast' queue) and the lift system is getting better. In fact, the first 8 man lift in France is now a couple of years old or so. The tows are more gentle on the body than they used to be! Vars is more crowded with no soul to it, in fact, I hate it, but you can quite easily spend a morning in the sun on their slopes without ever going to the village and come back for the better snow in the afternoon to Risoul. Lift pass is CHEAP compared with main areas of France, don't know why someone on this site said it was expensive (I've just paid £63 for the whole area by booking it with the apartment).
  Please don't go, you'll take up my space on the slopes! and won't be able to resist going back for the good value.
  I've just come back and, apart from Easter Day, had quite a few slopes to myself early morning, early and late afternoon - I mean that literally. How nice to ski down a whole run without seeing another soul! and they look after the snow superbly, know when to bash it and when to leave it alone for a bit of fun.
  I've been to plenty of bigger resorts too, but you can't beat Risoul for value and fun skiing.

• January 27, 2008
  John Harris from United Kingdom
  

  As this was my first skiing holiday I can't compare with other resorts (though I've seen the dead, purpose-built ones) but in general I can confirm most of the points already made:
  Plus points:
  1) Nice resort with a French feel - great if, like me, you hate being in a kind of 'Little England' abroad.
  2) Pistes good for all - I was with a party of 8: 4 of us were complete beginners, the other four expert skiers. As one of the beginners I was carving (is that the term?) easy reds & blues by the end of the week, but the expert skiers had equal challenges with harder reds, blacks and moguls.
  3) Excellent for those with children like us: a) all accommodation within walking distance from the pistes and b) all lifts at the bottom are in pretty much the same place, so if both parents and children are in classes, pick ups are easy.
  4) Nightlife is limited which is fine by me, though I was still woken up at 02:00 every morning as the doors closed on the "music bar".
  Minus Points:
  Yes, the transfer from Turin is long (3 hrs), but for me this is offset by the only 10-minute drive from my local airport.
  General:
  I stayed in the Hotel Morgan. Staff service excellent, though for the first 4 days of my stay the food was appalling (though soon rectified following a discussion with the manager).

• March 26, 2007
  melanie lazenby from United Kingdom
  

  A nice & quiet, albeit small resort with good doorstep ski-ing, mostly tree lined, don't be put off by long transfer comments, as you don't normally ski the first day anyway, so there's no hurry. We stayed in the Le Morgan hotel which is run down, but the staff were really nice & so was the food. Good snow record & no lift queues:-) Just about enough to do in a week if your used to ski-ing the big resorts, like Espace killy & 3 Valleys etc. We did enjoy it.

• January 19, 2007
  alun evans from United Kingdom
  

  Went to Risoul skiing for 2 days. We stayed below in Guillestre and traveled up to the resort..the road is along way up and windy. Once there the skiing was excellent. Wouldn't stay in the resort but ok to travel there etc.good if you have young kids as all the lifts and runs end at the same place near enough.what i would suggest is stay below like we did then do a few resorts nearby,such has sierra Chevelier, Puy St Vincent and so on..

• March 04, 2006
  Chris Rogers from United Kingdom
  

  Quiet, civilised, cheap with a relaxed French atmosphere. Limited resort facilities, lots of chairs and unexceptional piste skiing. Fine for a week and if it snows. Mind blowing tree skiing amongst larches for those of you who know what that means.

• January 16, 2004
  Ben Scales from France
  

  If you look at the piste map of Risoul you could be forgiven for thinking that it was a fairly poxy little resort. It is however, taking in Vars next door, deceptively big - not on the scale of eg Val d'Is?re/Tignes or Les Tois Vall?es, but it is certainly big enough for all standards for a week.

  I would disagree with Ady's comment suggesting it is not a lot of bottle for experts. True, the piste skiing is, with the exception of a couple of tasty black runs, fairly intermediate, but off piste opportunities are spectacular if the snow is right.

  Even over new year the queuing is very light and there are also 'quick lines' at almost all lifts so you can bypass the masses if you don't mind making up the extra man on a chairlift of random punters.

  The drawbacks are as follows:

  1. The lift system is basic, comprising button lifts and chairlifts with only one t?l?cabine system taking you up out of Vars. This is not in itself much of a problem, provided the weather is OK!

  2. As has already been said, the night life is not exactly belting, but there are a few good bars, which cater for the unwashed boarding hoardes, who incidentally would do everyone a favour if they kept off mogul fields which 9O% of them can't get down other than on their backsides (thereby shaving off the tops of the bumps and wrecking them).

  4. Quite a lot of Italians ;)

  Plus points:

  1. Relaxed southern Alps atmosphere; few English.

  2. Easy access from Marseille: 3 hours, mostly of autoroute (don't bother with Turin). Also winter flights to Marseille are cheap.

  3. Compared to the well-trodden Britpack resorts like Val d'Is?re, Risoul is very good value for the lift pass, accommodation and food up the mountain.

• January 02, 2004
  Ady Keeble from United Kingdom
  

  Some good varied ski-ing, plenty to keep most but the expert busy for a week, I enjoyed this resort. It has a real French feel about it, which is unusual for a purpose built resort, and the ski-in, ski-out convenience is a real bonus.

  Two major drawbacks - a very long transfer from Turin (4 hours+), and exceptionally quiet at night, but well worth a visit at least once.

• November 20, 2003
  Mauce from Netherlands
  

  I'm going for the first time to Risoul this januari and have been to several places in Austria before and last januari to Alpe d'Huez. I've heard a lot of good stories about Risoul and I am going to test it myself this winter I will let you know in januari!

  Greetings Mauce

• October 23, 2003
  Wiebe Koorevaar from Netherlands
  

  Last year with Christmas I went skiing in Risoul, and it was a real good experience! I've been in 10 diffrerent skiing resorts in 5 different countries, and of all those Risoul is my favorite, and this is why:

  * Great snow and lots of sun thanks to high altitude
  * Large variety of slopes, but in skill as in environment (trees, above treeline, broad, narrow and off-piste)
  * Skiing to your front door for practically all accomodations
  * Apres ski is ok, but not abundant
  * No waiting times at all
  * Nice day-routes possible

  Of the skiing lessons I don't know anything, but I can agree with the previous comment about bad English. The last disadvantage I'd like to mention is the long and time-consuming road to Risoul. From Holland (Germany, Belgium and North-France alike) the distance is very long and contains a mountain pass. Prepare for quite a drive.

  I can recommend this resort to both snowboarders (200m halfpipe) and skiers, but it only gets real attractive for people with a bit of skiing experience. Like in the most French resorts the skiing area is large, but that also means the prices for skipasses are high. When you're not experienced that much you might only use a very small portion of the area.

  Overall, very good skiing (to your front door), good weather conditions and the lack of waiting times will give you an excellent holiday!

• August 26, 2003
  Chris Hill from United Kingdom
  

  I have been to Risoul 2 times now. The runns are varied and tree lined which makes for great skiing.

  The resort staff on the whole don't speak English - as one person said to me 'Risoul is where the French go skiing' meaning that it is a very popular with people who know what they are talking about. So being English and going there ment that i did really feel that i was in France. Nightlife is too in your face, but if you go when there is a big compitition then you will have access to the music, lights and booze on the slopes too.

  I would recomend it for skiiers and snowboarders alike.

  I give it 4*

• 
  Ronald Oerlemans from Netherlands
  

  I've been to Risoul in January 2005. This is one of my favorite resorts. Almost every apartment or hotel is situated near a slope. You never have to walk a lot. Risoul lies in the southern part of the Alps. Therefore, you can receive a lot of sunshine, but also plenty of snow, due to the high altitude (1850 m). The highest point (2750m) is not something special to ski from but nice for the views. With some wind they close the lift to the top. The connection with Vars is nice and easily accessable. That area is also very nice. Many different types of slopes. Most of the slopes are wide, perfect for carving. The black ones are scarey but if you want to go off-piste you must look for it. On the lower part of Risoul between the trees, you can find some nice trails. The advantage of the fact that Risoul is in the Southern Alpes, is that the tree level is higher. You can find trees until 2100 metres.
  The grooming of the slopes was also perfect. Even with new snowfall, the slopes were like a sheet.
  Therefore, check out Risoul, you will love to ski here.