About Serre Chevalier
The top half Serre Chevalier’s 250km ski area is all open bowls, with plenty of tree-lined trails lower down. It gets 300 days of sunshine each year – bluebird days, here we come – and there are plenty of high-altitude, north-facing slopes where the snow stays crisp all winter long. Long blues and reds make up most of the mountain, while advanced skiers won’t want to miss the ‘Luc Alphand’ black run. And at the other end of the scale, you’ll find three separate nursery areas dotted along the valley bottom.

When it comes to where to stay, neighbouring Chantermerle and Villeneuve are your classic alpine spots, dotted with hotels, apartments and a smattering of bars where you can sip a vin chaud. Or for somewhere slightly different, you could try Briançon. At the mouth of the valley, this is a proper working town with heaps of history on show. Don’t miss exploring the UNESCO-protected Old Town perched on the hillside above the centre – just hop on the NBC1 bus to get there in a couple minutes.

For some off-slope R&R, check out the Grands Bains thermal spa in Monêtier-les-Bains. Or to keep the thrills coming, how about sliding down the twists and turns of the 4km Deval’Bob toboggan track?

Just so you know, Chantemerle and Villeneuve are sometime known as Saint-Chaffrey and La Salle Les Alpes, so you might hear these names being used while you’re in the resort.

Accommodation

• Quiet location, 5 minutes’ walk to the cable car.
• Round off the day with a swim or spell in the steam room.
• Order fresh bread and croissants from the reception.

The Résidence Aquisana is the perfect blend of high quality and budget friendly, in an excellent location. It’s in a quiet residential area just outside the village of Villeneuve, but still just a 5-minute walk to the cable car – or you can hop on the residence's own shuttle bus and get there even quicker.

The apartments are finished to a high standard, in a cosy mountain chalet style – so expect natural wood and warm red tones. Each of them has a kitchenette, where you can whip up a quick meal. And if you fancy a cosy night in with a film, then the comfy lounge with its settee and flat screen TV is just the thing.

An added bonus is the indoor pool, where you can soothe those ski muscles or just have a splash about. There’s a steam room and fitness room too.