Located in the southern French Alps, Isola 2000 ski resort is only 90kms from the Mediterranean and Nice. This high-altitude, purpose-built resort created in the 1960s, features mainly beginner to lower intermediate slopes and is a favourite with families for its small size and excellent snow and sun record.

Isola 2000 actually sits at 2,000m above sea level, virtually guaranteeing village level snow; the top station rises to 2,610m at the summit of the Sistron. Isola has a convenient complex of shops and supermarkets adjacent to the slopes. Accommodation is in two- to four-star hotels, chalets and apartments and there are numerous shops, cafés and restaurants, along with bars and clubs.

Isola 2000 ski resort has an impressive 47 ski and snowboard runs that stretch over 120kms of excellent and varied terrain, ranging from 1,800 to 2,610m. Twenty-four ski lifts operate over all slopes and have a capacity for 20,000 people per hour. Isola also features snow cannons that guarantee snow consistency on much of the field.

Away from the slopes, Nice, capital of the Cote d'Azur, is a vibrant town with a distinct character. Its narrow streets are busy with cafés and restaurants, while museums abound. On the hills above Nice is Cimiez, with Roman remains including baths, an amphitheatre, and an exotic Russian cathedral. Monaco is east of Nice, and Cannes and Antibes are west.

The ski season at Isola 2000 runs from late November to May and cheap deals are offered in mid-December and from late March to mid-April (not Easter). The most common and practical way to get to Isola is to fly to Nice and take the dedicated Skibus to the resort.