Villars sits across Lake Geneva from the magnificent Mont Blanc, affording great views of the mountain from the resort’s position on the sunny plateau above the Rhone Valley. It is a relaxed village with a satisfying assortment of activities and après-ski facilities.

The village of Villars is a super-friendly resort catering surprisingly well to all manner of visitors, from couples to young groups. The resort has a typically Swiss atmosphere and character emphasised by the abundance of local visitors. Its mainly traditional lodgings and host of relaxed après-ski pastimes ensure a calming yet animated stay.

Sixty-seven slopes, totalling 100kms, offer an array of terrain for all levels and disciplines. Beginners get 50 per cent of runs, with 42 per cent of runs suitable for intermediate skiers and eight per cent for advanced skiers. Snowboarders get awesome off-piste terrain as well as two snow parks, featuring all the trimmings.

The longest slope here is 12kms, with the highest lift reaching 2,100m. There’s a total vertical descent of 900m at the resort, which has a further 57kms of cross-country terrain to challenge all levels. Thirty-five lifts service Villars and have an uplift capacity of 23,000 skiers per hour. Excellent ski and snowboard schools offer contemporary and traditional tuition.

The relatively calm après-ski at Villars manages to deliver a range of international cuisine options, romantic log fire settings and pleasant shopping opportunities. The resort has a diverse selection of non-ski alternatives such as hiking, ice-skating, mono-skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, sleigh riding, and horseback riding. Regular concerts and folklore evenings provide a cultural insight of the village.

The season at Villars runs from December to April, with the best conditions around the height of the season. There are various package deals and family discounts at the resort.

Villars is 1 hour, 30 minutes (120kms) from Geneva International Airport, which offers hire cars and a train service to the village of Brex. From there, connect by bus or train to the resort. Alternatively, catch the Eurostar from the UK to Paris and board a high-speed TGV service to Lausanne. From Lausanne, travel to Aigle or Brex and connect by train or bus again to the resort.