IT’S (L)A PLAGNE: Meribel and La Plagne top list of best weather ski resorts

• New ‘Bluebird Index’ analyses best weather days at 30 popular European skiing destinations to determine the best time to go
  

• La Plagne and Meribel top the chart, averaging 4.2 historical Bluebird days during the second week of March – the most of the resorts analysed
  
• The second week in March offers the best chance at getting the most Bluebird days in a given week throughout the season

---

Fun-loving holidaymakers in search of glorious ski days may want to consider jetting off to the French slopes of La Plagne and Meribel, as a new report reveals both resorts have the highest number of ‘Bluebird’ days on average.

Leading holiday operator, Sunweb, has created the Bluebird Index – historical analysis of weather conditions [1] at 30 of Europe’s top alpine destinations – to help snow sports enthusiasts decide the best time to plan their trip for optimal weather conditions.

A Bluebird day – a day with great skiing conditions, blue, cloudless skies, and sunny weather – is often hard to predict on skiing holidays.[2] Sunweb’s Index reveals that the second week in March offers the best weather conditions on average across the resorts analysed.

French resorts, La Plagne and Meribel, top the charts averaging 4.2 days of clear blue skies and good snow conditions, which typically fall in the second week of March. Following closely behind, Val d’Isere/Tignes (3.8 days), Val Thorens (3.6 days), Les Deux Alpes (3.4 days) and Italian resort Sauze d’Oulx (3.4 days) also have their best weather conditions during the second week of March.

Top 10 European destinations by average historical Bluebird days

Rank	Destination	Number of Bluebird days in a given week	Best week for Bluebird skiing (top of the mountain)
= 1	La Plagne, France	4.2 days	Second week of March
= 1	Meribel, France	4.2 days	Second week of March
3	Chamonix Mont Blanc, France	3.9 days	Third week of October
4	Tignes/Val d’Isere, France	3.8 days	Second week of March
5	Val Thorens, France	3.6 days	Second week of March
= 6	Les Deux Alpes, France	3.4 days	Third week of November Second week of February Second week of March Third week of March
= 6	Sauze d’Oulx, Italy	3.4 days	Fourth week of December Second week of March
8	Alpe d’Huez, France	3.3 days	Third week of November
9	Les Arcs, France	3.2 days	First week of March
= 10	Solden, Austria	3.1 days	Third week of November
= 10	Kronplatz (Dolomiti Superski), Italy	3.1 days	First week of January

For the experts wanting to experience the longest black run in Europe – La Sarenne, in Alpe d’Huez – research shows the best week to head is the 3rd week of November where the destination has an average of 3.3 Bluebird days during the week – one for a last-minute trip! However, lifts don’t open until the first week of December so any skiing would have to be done by hiking up yourself.

Sauze D’Oulx, home of freestyle skiing at the 2006 Olympics is the highest-ranking Italian destination. The resort in the Milky Way, a ski area spanning parts of France and Italy, averages 3.4 days of pristine conditions in both the fourth week of December and the second week of March. 

Martine Langerak, Head of Communications for Sunweb Group, said: “There’s so much that goes into planning a skiing holiday, but the one thing that we can’t control is the weather. 

“We hope the Bluebird Index will assist families and friends who are looking to get their fix of the slopes this winter, by offering a little insight into the weather conditions.  And if all else fails, there is always Après if the conditions are not in your favour!

“For those wanting to heed the advice of the Bluebird Index, Sunweb has offers in both La Plagne and Meribel from less than £60 per person per night for the second week of March. All holidays booked through us include ski passes for your entire trip, so that’s one less thing to think about while you enjoy the weather.”

Notes
– Snow-forecast.com defines a Bluebird day as a day with “Average snow, mostly sunny, light wind”

30 resorts analysed for the Bluebird Index

Rank	Country	Resort	Bluebird Week (top of the mountain)	Duration
1	France	La Plagne	Second week of March	4.2 days
=1	France	Meribel	Second week of March	4.2 days
3	France	Chamonix Mont Blanc	Third week of October	3.9 days
4	France	Tignes/Val d’Isere	Second week of March	3.8 days
5	France	Val Thorens	Second week of March	3.6 days
6	France	Les Deux Alpes	Third week of November Second week of February Second week of March Third week of March	3.4 days
=6	Italy	Sauze D’Oulx	Fourth week of December Second week of March	3.4 days
8	France	Alpe D’huez	Third week of November	3.3 days
9	France	Les Arcs	First week of March	3.2 days
10	Austria	Solden	Third week of November	3.1 days
=10	Italy	Kronplatz (dolomiti superski)	First week of January	3.1 days
12	Italy	Breuil-cervinia	Second week of February	3.0 days
13	Italy	Bardonecchia	Fourth week of December	2.9 days
14	France	Valfréjus	Fourth week of December Second week of March	2.8 days
15	France	Avoriaz	Second week of March	2.7 days
=15	Andorra	Grandvalira	Fourth week of December	2.7 days
17	Austria	Obergurgl	Third week of November Second week of January	2.5 days
18	Austria	St. Anton	Third week of November	2.4 days
19	France	Flaine	First week of January	2.3 days
20	France	Les Sybelles	Fourth week of December Second week of January	2.2 days
21	Switzerland	Meiringen-Hasliberg	Third week of November Fourth week of December Third week of February	2.1 days
22	Andorra	Vallnord	First week of January Second week of February	2.0 days
23	France	Les Gets	First week of January	1.8 days
=23	France	Samoens	First week of January	1.8 days
=23	Austria	Zell am See	Second week of January	1.8 days
26	Austria	Olympia Region Seefeld	Second week of February Second week of March	1.7 days
27	Austria	Kitzbühel	Second week of March	1.6 days
28	Austria	SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental	Second week of March	1.6 days
29	Austria	Alpbachtal	Second week of February	1.6 days
30	Austria	Achensee	Second week of January	1.6 days

About Sunweb Group 

As one of the largest holiday operators in Europe, Sunweb Group is the driving force behind multiple brands across seven international markets – in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, France, UK, and Germany. With around 500 employees and more than 300 tour guides and area managers in local destinations, we’re always there for our more than 1 million customers each year.