Snowsure: 4.5
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Isola 2000 is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Isola 2000 Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 30, 2012
Alex from
France
Alex from
France
Isola2000 is a very decent ski resort near Nice, around 1h30min drive from Nice airport (windy mountain roads last 30 minutes of drive). This resort tends to have good snow (not at time of writing), is high up (2650m) and has a much better chance of sunshine. They have a decent amount of lifts, including 2 gondola's and another 6 person lift, which are excellent. Snow's augmented with 300 or so snow cannons. There are a number of places to eat during the day, but I had the feeling the place went pretty dead after last lift closure (17:00), it may be different during weekends and school holidays.
Overall, the resort has improved a lot over the years and is great if you want to combine this with visiting Nice. I would not choose this resort for a whole week of skiing, as it's too small and lacks choice of accommodation and apres-ski. But certainly for a day or long afternoon it's excellent and would choose it over Auron or some of the even smaller resorts nearby.
January 21, 2012
Clare from
United Kingdom
Clare from
United Kingdom
I have been skiing in Isola since 2001 and I love it for it's simplicity. Having skied in loads of resorts mainly in France and a little in Switzerland I am always completely relieved to get back here. You can ski in and out of almost all the accommodation available, you can ski down many slopes almost alone (mid week) and everyone is friendly and helpful. It's not a place to come if you're single and looking for nightlife but fantastic for families. My son first skied here when he was 3 and went to the Piou Piou club - I felt very happy with the level of care he received and he learnt to ski well. He is now 11 and whizzing down blacks.
The cow club is lovely, so are the restaurants opposite them. This year we are staying in the Cela Isola apartments and have it on good authority that they are much better than other apartments. I have also stayed in the Druos which is basic but a fantastic setting and the Pas de Loup which I'd avoid at all costs - rooms are small, water cold and the management are awful. Having skied in Switzerland earlier this year which included a mile trek everyday to the slopes or a crowded bus holding onto your skis - I can't wait to get there and ski without the hassle.
December 15, 2011
Angus from
United Kingdom
Angus from
United Kingdom
My wife learned to ski in Isola 35 years ago when she was 4. I have been going there for over 10 years with her too. Isola is a very underated resort. It is at altitude and every year we have been we have had good snow and all runs open (sometimes a couple might be closed on a day but it's nothing to do with lack of snow). The resort is well catered for with 2 if not 3 supermarkets, 2 bakeries, many bars and a good selection of restaurants. There's plenty of places to get a refreshment on the slopes too. Yes it can be a bit rough looking in places - it’s a 70's design after all! That I think adds to the charm. They've made significant investments in their new lifts and all of them are hard to fault. The remontee mechanics (lift guys and girls) are always helpful don't be fooled by other reviews! Plenty of ski instructors if you need a lesson. Great fireworks at New Year and Christmas. All in all its not perfect but I love going there and I'd encourage anyone to visit Isola 2000. And you get the Cote d'Azur sunshine to boot. What more can you ask for?!
July 12, 2011
Brian from
United Kingdom
Brian from
United Kingdom
Having been going to the resort shortly after the development of Isola2000,in the early 70's.
Reading other reviews they are in the main accurate.
Get a 50% ski pass reduction (outside school holidays)by logging on to their website on a Tuesday at 9.00am (8.00 local),and choose Vente Flash.
For apartment rental France Location offers very good value.
Hotel Druos is run now by a family who have a large Ski shop in the resort and is now fully renovated. Don't be put off by the 2* rating.
Over the years Cow Club, on the piste, offers good value, both for lunch and dinner.
March 23, 2011
Louise from
United Kingdom
Louise from
United Kingdom
Really interesting reading the reviews, especially from those from English speaking countries. I've been living here since 18 December so I hope my review's fairly accurate! Firstly the skiing. Having been here for over 3 months & skiing most days, I can safely say it's a wonderful resort. It either snows or it's sunny - fact. It has one of the best snow records of all of France, which I can personally vouch for & often snows more than forecast. The slopes are immaculately groomed & for those that say it's boring & you can ski it in a day - you clearly have never tried the off-piste. As a veteran of Chamonix, Val D'Isere etc, yes, they are bigger but the resort offers some stunning off-piste & tree skiing, easily accessible from the slopes. As for the level of ski instruction, we have some of France's top skiers here & Isola just came 3rd in the inter ESF junior champs, so we can mix it with the big guys. If you are an average one week a year skier with limited off-piste skills then being confined to the runs will limit your enjoyment as it is small, so ideal for long weekends with such easy & cheap access from Nice. If you are a beginner, it is fantastic as everything is linked & the slopes are accurately graded - no Val D'Isere 'blues' here!! So you can't really get into trouble. And there are a few cracking little restaurants here too. Also, there are hardly ever any queues on the lifts except at peak holiday times when the main resort return lifts can take you a few minutes to get through. The downside - the accommodation is the pits! No getting away from it. The resort was built in the early 70s so is a concrete carbuncle & most of the hotels/lettings have had little done to them since - dire. Even the better ones are very cheaply finished & poorly maintained/serviced. Don't be fooled by the 4* rating of one hotel either - think that rating must be from the 70s too! Such a shame but it keeps the crowds away!! The resort buildings/accommodation & management really does let the place down, however, due to a long running dispute, this will not change anytime soon, so it's a case of grin & hear it! So in summary, great little long weekend resort, you won't want to stay in the accommodation any longer anyway!! Finally, a word on friendliness, well I speak French & have made some fantastic friends here but yes, like any French resort, the 'service culture' has yet to arrive for many - but it's worse at EuroDisney, trust me! However, I have cringed on a couple of occasions when I have heard how English speakers treat the French - they are people too!! If you can't be bothered to learn the French for please & thank you, then go to the States!
January 15, 2011
alex from
France
alex from
France
Isola 2000 is definitely the best resort in that area, better than Auron because the lifts are quicker/better and the slopes are wider. The weather is usually better than in the French Alps and every time I have been the snow has been better as well. This, combined with the sights and restaurants that Nice has to offer, makes it a definite winner. The only drawback I find is the windy 1.5 hour drive that will make many kids quite dizzy in the back, so make sure you bring some medicine to counteract motion sickness.
December 08, 2010
Arthur Heine from
France
Arthur Heine from
France
Been to Isola 2000 twice and absolutely worth the 4 day trip. The flight to Nice combined with the 1.5 hour drive up the mountain is for sure shorter then the regular 9 hours drive to other places in the Alps from Amsterdam. (Definitely less boring and exhaustive.)
The combination of palm trees at the airport and snow on arrival up mountain makes it quite an extra ordinary visit.
The Mediterranean Sea is often responsible for serious snow dumps early in the ski season. The total length of pistes is for sure not comparable to Tignes or Val Thorens. But the 85 euros for a 4 day ski pass, excellent food and the convenience to get there, make it a lovely get away for a long weekend. According to me it's one of the best (public) winter secrets so close to the Mediterranean Sea. One thing is really important to do there: reserve a table before dining!
April 13, 2010
Rune Christensen from
Norway
Rune Christensen from
Norway
Just arrived back from a great holiday in Isola 2000. For me, as a beginner on skis, this place is ideal with a lot of wide slopes where you can improve your skills. But also the rest of the party who are experienced on skis found it to be very nice. No waiting time at the lifts so plenty of skiing!
We stayed at Les Adrets II, which is a very basic apartment accomodation but it had everything we needed and there was a very friendly atmosphere. And then it is only 50m from the shops and the slopes.
We even tested the medical centre (no ski accident) and also there we were met by an efficient doctor with qualified help.
If you are looking for the great after ski parties this is not the place. But if you like to sit down to have a beer or a glass of wine and maybe watch a football match this place (Isola 2000) offers several options.
December 07, 2009
Barry Bethel from
United Kingdom
Barry Bethel from
United Kingdom
We first visited Isola 2000 in 1997 (4.5 metres of snow at the top that year !) and since buying a couple of weeks there we have been every year since. It is truly a magical place. A small heaven in the Southern Alps for sun worshipers. An oasis for powder hunters and one of the best resorts around for kids and beginners.
We have been at every time of year. I have never waited for than 10 minutes for a lift, school holidays or not. Lift passes don't require a second mortgage to be taken out either.
Upon arriving at Nice airport you get the bus at 1 Euro per person...yes that's right... 1 Euro per person... up to resort at 2000m. The nightlife is limited, but the skiing and the sun are spectacular.
As someone who has worked whole seasons in the 3 Valleys and visited every Alpine resort of any note, Isola 2000 is right up there with the best. If you have a family learning then go to Isola...but be prepared to truly hook them with the skiing bug for life as they will have been well and truly spoiled !
December 04, 2009
George Cook from
United Kingdom
George Cook from
United Kingdom
We ski every year in Meribel for a week and as often as possible in Isola 2000 as we have a studio in Nice.
We love both resorts, Meribel for the long spectacular runs and Isola 2000 for the sheer exhilaration of constant skiing without queueing and the convenience of catching the bus from Nice; either the early morning one, the 30 euro cost of which includes a ski pass for the day, or the later scheduled one which costs 2 euros return and allows half a days skiing. The resort is ideal for young families with some wide easy runs low down and tougher runs at the top for the ambitious members of the family.
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