What You Need to Know for Your Family Ski Holiday in...

Essential Holiday Guides

Flaine

If you are looking for an outstanding ski resort in France suitable for all the family then look no further than Flaine.

Boasting 265km of the finest ski pistes in France,

this car free ski resort is as famous for its stunning

panoramic views of the Grand Massif ski area and

picturesque pine forests as it is for contemporary

art and architecture. There are a huge variety of

spacious and luxury apartments available to rent

and in addition to the skiing there are kids clubs,

nurseries and a wealth of exciting outdoors activities

for all ages to try, making it an ideal family ski

holiday destination.

Contents 3 Choose Where You

Want to Stay: Flaine Apartments

7 Choose How You Want to Travel

9 Now Choose Your Holiday Package

10 Buy or Rent Ski Equipment

11 Things to Book Before You Depart

12 Excursions – What Else Would You Like to Do?

13 Other Helpful Tips to Consider

14 A Quick Checklist

Ice Skating

Flaine Apartments Child Care Services

12

3 9

Flaine Apartments

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Choose Where You Want to Stay

Think about how many people are travelling so you know how many rooms you require and whether one apartment can accommodate all of you and if so, how many bathrooms one apartment can offer if you are a large party. If you have young children you may want to look for an apartment that is not just a ground floor so they can sleep away from any evening entertainment. If you are travelling with an infant be sure to ask if a cot can be supplied, if required.

Decide roughly when you would like to go away and search online or with travel agents to see if any ski special offers are available before booking. Off peak seasons tend to be cheaper, if your children aren’t at school yet, but you can sometimes find some great group deals.

What do you want from your Flaine apartment? Stone and timber apartments with a cosy and elegant feel or would you prefer a funky modern interior? Look at the full layouts of apartments and décor, considering if you will be comfortable staying there, before booking. Make sure the accommodation is child friendly too. Some of the apartments have a lovely large reception with an open log fire and play area for the children.

Location, location, location! What will you be doing on your Flaine holiday? Ski school? Dog sledding? Ice skating? Look for an apartment that is a convenient walking distance from all of the amenities you are interested in. If you have young children you may want to be a little further from the main entertainment centres and bars that can be noisy. Most apartments are ski in/ski out so proximity to the slopes is the one location point you don’t need to worry about.

Think about how much time you will spend in your apartment and what you will need from it. If you are likely to need the internet then you will require luxuries such as Wi-Fi. If your evening entertainment will include family movie nights in, check that the apartment has a DVD player and a microwave for the popcorn. Some even provide board games!.

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What To Consider

Les Terrasses d’Eos is a Pierre et Vacances 5* Premium Residence offering a range of luxury apartments in Flaine Montsoleil.

The advantages of choosing this premium residence include:

Easy access to the slopesA more spacious apartmentA resort spa with a Jacuzzi, heated outdoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gymA car free resort

Residence Le Foret is a classic 4* Pierre et Vacances Residence offering a range of apartments in Flaine Forêt, perfect for a family ski holiday.

Great features of the Le Foret Residence include:

Ski holiday apartments with funky interiorsClose proximity to Flaine centreSki in/ski out apartments at the foot of the slopes, 100m from the ski lifts

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Les Terrasses d’Eos

Residence Le Foret

Train – Travelling by rail is a good, environmentally friendly, option but will require change overs. If you haven’t experienced the Eurostar yet then you can think of this as an opportune moment because it is the quickest transportation by rail into France. This does only stop at an exclusive list of stations so check if there is one near you prior to booking. Don’t worry about weather delays though as France is equipped with snow trains to help transfer you as close to your resort as possible.

Fly - Flying is a very quick method of transportation which is easily accessible throughout Europe, and is advisable for short stays so you can maximise your holiday time. You can often save money by opting to pay for your accommodation and transport method separately, as you may be able to find some cheaper flights with the airlines direct. Before booking any flights it would be worth checking with your resort the distance between them and your preferred airport so you can determine your transfer method and the best times to fly.

Ferry – If flying isn’t for you and you have the time for leisurely transportation then going by sea could be a good option. This option is great for socialising if you are in a group. You can take your car, with all your ski gear, toys, buggies and children’s essentials packed in the boot so you don’t have to worry about lugging it around. Your holiday can start as soon as you board, just remember if you do take the car that some areas of Flaine are car free so check if this applies to your resort and find out where the nearest car park is in advance.

Coach – Travelling by coach is the longest method of transport but you can sometimes strike lucky with cheap tickets and once you are on board you can sit back and relax until you reach Flaine.

Bus – The cheapest transfer method, but not great if you have small children as well as luggage.

Taxi – You may want to arrange for the travel agent or airline to book you a taxi in advance or check the standard cost but usually there will be taxis lined up at the airport.

Car Hire – This will definitely need to be pre-arranged and a deposit will need to be paid before you depart. It may be obvious but you will need your driver’s license and don’t forget Flaine Montsoleil is a car free resort, once you get there.

Minibus Hire - The most common way to get to your resort is with Flaine minibus hire, a great option if you are a big family or are travelling with another family so you can all chip in and share the cost. View transportation and transfer methods online

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Choose How You Want to Travel Transport to Your Resort

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Think about what it is exactly that you want from your holiday. When travelling as a family it doesn’t mean that you all want to be together all of the time so look at whether there are any children’s clubs available and whether you really want to cook and do the shopping for the whole of your holiday.

Full self-catering or half board – Some of our luxury Flaine apartments are available with the option to be half board where we will provide you with breakfast and dinner. We can also provide you with cleaning kits, baby kits, housekeeping and Wi-Fi.

Food Shopping: Stocking Up – If you haven’t been to Flaine before on a self-catering ski holiday then you may want to check with us before departing where the local shops are, if you want to save some pennies by shopping off site, although there are shops in a close proximity to the resort. However, to

make things a little easier we do offer to order your shopping for you and have it delivered. A little like online food shopping! Just contact us to put together your order in advance and we can try and arrange for this to be delivered upon your arrival (one less thing to worry about) especially if you have hungry children in tow.

Child care/ Crèche Services – Pierre et Vacances provides a fabulous day nursery for children from 6 months to 3 years old but there are numerous day care clubs and services for children offered by some of the ski schools in the area.

Swimming – Les Terrasses d’Eos has a panoramic Jacuzzi, heated outdoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a gym. Both Pierre et Vacances residences have a sauna and offer massage treatments at an extra cost, if you need a bit of R&R after a long day skiing.

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Choose Your Holiday Package

Benefits of buying equipment

If you ski or plan to ski regularly then purchasing your own ski equipment can save you money in the long term as you won’t have to regularly pay the cost of hiring fees.

Your equipment can be custom fit to your body and weight from your ski’s or snowboards to your coat, salopettes or ski pants, goggles, boots etc… Which you may find supports your confidence and skills as a skier or snowboarder. Having your own ski equipment also means that you can just head straight to the slopes on arrival in Flaine.

If you are going to buy your own ski equipment we would recommend you check with the airline you are flying with (if you are flying) how best to transport your equipment and whether there will be any additional costs involved.

Benefits of renting equipment

You don’t need to worry about transporting your equipment to your resort as it will already be there (or close to it).

This is a cheaper method if this is your first ski/ snowboarding holiday or an activity you won’t participate in that frequently.

Often you can rent everything that you need in one place so you don’t need to worry about researching the best brands or what size you will need, let the experts take care of all of that for you.

Although you can hire the majority of your equipment there may be some items that you would prefer to own such as goggles, sunglasses, hats and gloves.

NOTE: You will be required to pay a deposit prior to renting. Some rental places take a financial deposit but some may also exchange your shoes for your ski boots, like you do at bowling, so be sure to check this before you depart (and perhaps pack an extra pair of walking boots).

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Buy or Rent Ski Equipment

Going on holiday should be a break from everyday life and certainly shouldn’t be any more stressful than necessary (once you get there). So whilst it’s not essential to do this you may want to consider pre-booking some of these before you get to Flaine, so you can cross them off the long list of holiday preparations and have peace of mind when you get there.

Renting of ski or snowboarding equipment – For ski or snowboarding equipment, you can book what you will need with us in advance to ensure that you have secured the necessary equipment required for your holiday. The company will need to know the dates and times of your arrival and departure, and will fit all of your equipment and clothing to you once you arrive.

Ski and snowboarding lessons – If you will require the aid of a ski or snowboarding Instructor be this within a social group or for a private tuition, it can be a good idea to book this prior to your departure, for all members wishing to participate including children. This will probably require an additional payment up front and you will be allotted specific times of the day with a professional instructor. We usually advise to allow at least 5-7 days for a ski holiday if you will require tuition.

Ski Passes – It is advisable to book your ski passes prior to departing as regardless as to whether you have booked and paid for ski tuition, you will not be permitted entry onto the ski slopes resort without your pass as security at the resort is very strict, so that you can enjoy a safe holiday. Find out how you can

book your ski passes with us. Free ski passes are often available for children and there are often discounted ski passes on offer for adults too.

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Things to Book Before You Depart.

Flaine has a lot more to offer close to our apartments if you feel like taking a break from skiing and snowboarding:

For the Family

Snowshoeing- Have a go at this very simple sport where you wear specially designed gear on your feet so you can walk on the snow without breaking it. Many people say “if you can walk you can snowshoe” and it’s a popular family sport as it’s so easy for small children too.

Ice-Skating - It wouldn’t be a winter holiday without a little ice-skating! Flaine has an open air ice rink and is fun for all the family.

For the Kids

Kids Club– There is a kids group in one of the club hotels for ages 18months to 14 years and two major ski clubs in Flaine have a specialist children’s school. There is also a local library with a youth corner and reading lounge.

For the Adults

Paragliding – If you have ever wanted to know what it feels like to fly then paragliding is the excursion for you and what a breath taking view to experience than the view of the snowy slopes and mountains in Flaine.

Nordic Walking – For anyone that enjoys hiking or doesn’t fancy skiing, this excursion lends an opportunity to still experience the fresh mountain air and views.

Special Events

The Flaine resort offers some astounding events for free all year round. Enjoy a stunning fireworks display over Christmas and New Year or watch the amazing Sled dog race that passes through Flaine in January. The occasional poker nights are well known to cause a flutter and there are plenty of free music concerts to enjoy throughout the year.

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Excursions – What Else Would You Like to Do?

What to Pack

Sun cream – Easy to forget about when you are surrounded by snow but your face will need a good sun cream as the rays are reflected by the snow and you may find yourself a little pink if you forget. You will want at least SPF30 if possible and ladies, if you want to avoid extra packing you can purchase an SPF moisturiser to keep your skin soft and protected.

Lip Balm – To stop those luscious lips of yours chapping from the wind it is worth getting a good quality lip balm. If possible it would be good to purchase one with some SPF protection as an extra precaution.

Clothing and Footwear – Just because there is snow everywhere it does not mean you only need to pack the thickest jumpers you own, as you actually get quite hot skiing. For a week’s holiday we recommend perhaps 3 fitted jumpers and leggings (or trousers) to wear under you salopettes with some thermal draft tops. Even in the evening you’ll most likely stick to your ski clothing.

Bureau D’Exchange

Research the best currency exchange rate – look for agencies that allow you to exchange your euro’s back into sterling.

Don’t change your currency at the airport as their exchange fee is quite expensive.

Holiday Insurance – To Help Save You Money

For travel – This is essential as it will provide medical insurance for you whilst you are away (and accidents can happen).

For equipment – We do offer private ski equipment lockers but you may want to safe guard any equipment you are hiring or have purchased from theft or breakage. For cancellation - Because the unexpected can happen and sometimes unfortunately, we have to cancel our holidays.

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Other Helpful Tips to Consider

Are you ready for your family ski holiday to your Flaine Apartment? Are you really sure? Why don’t you check…

Have You...

…Checked your passport is valid and packed it in your hand luggage? …Booked your accommodation and checked what’s available in it? …Booked your transport to France and transfers to the Flaine resort? …Hired your ski or snowboarding equipment before departing? …Purchased any additional clothing you cannot hire? …Booked your ski or snowboarding lessons? …Purchased your ski passes? …Changed your currency (spending money)? …Got EHIC cards for everyone, for free emergency health care? …Booked your excursions such as your Spa treatments? …Checked where to purchase your food from or arranged a food delivery?

Of course! I’m on it…

What do you take me for?!

The shops are still open…Have You Packed...

…Sun cream and lip balm (SPF30) …European converter plugs …Light jumpers and any additional clothing purchased you cannot hire … Your driver’s license if you are planning on hiring a vehicle

(best kept in hand luggage)

…Your travel tickets (best kept in hand luggage) …Some movies or evening entertainment eg: Playing cards for nights in

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A Quick Checklist

Visit: www.pv-holidays.com | Call: 0870 0267 145 | Find us on:

Have a great family ski holiday!