Located south of Lake Geneva and east of Grenoble in the Savoie region of the French Alps, Les Trois Vallees (Three Valleys) ski region is one of the world's largest and encompasses seven resorts: Brides-les-Bains, Courchevel, Les Menuires, La Tania, Meribel, Orelle and Val Thorens.

Fashionable Courchevel is the top resort and has superb facilities; Meribel is more traditional with its wood and stone chalets; Les Menuires offers a cheaper alternative and is less attractive; while Val Thorens is high up and situated among huge glaciers. Shopping services and facilities throughout the villages are first rate.

There are thousands of beds available in a huge variety of prices ranges and styles, from luxury hotels to pensions and self catering apartments. Cafés and restaurants are in abundance with every taste catered for, while the nightlife ranges from laid-back to the vibrant bar-clad streets of Courchevel. Non-skiing activities include ice-skating and snowshoeing, and childcare is excellent.

Les Trois Vallees has a staggering 328 runs over 600kms of terrain, suited to all levels of skiing and snowboarding competence, with an emphasis on intermediates. There are 200 lifts, featuring chairlifts, draglifts, gondolas and cable cars, with an hourly capacity for 252,000 people. In addition, 1,500 snow cannons guarantee excellent and consistent skiing over much of the terrain.

Away from the slopes, there are several authentic Savoyard villages with some interesting sightseeing and locally run shops offering regional produce and crafts. For the architecturally inclined, there are a number of interesting baroque buildings, while the thermal springs at Brides-les-Bains offer a perfect relaxation opportunity.

The Les Trois Vallees ski season runs from December to April, with cheaper pre-Christmas holiday and end of season weeks. Les Trois Vallees is best accessed by flying to Chambery, Geneva or Lyon and hiring a car, or transferring by a train/bus combination.