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.'
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.
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.
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.