Alps Accommodation for rent

Northern Alps Holidays for Families and Couples

If you are an Alpine or Nordic skier, snowboarder, tobogganer or snowshoer, you are certainly familiar with the Alps. Whether this is the first time you are planning to holiday there, or you have done so many times, it will forever remain a favourite of those who love winter sports. It is estimated that nearly 100 million people visit the Alps annually, the majority of whom come between December and April; however, many come during other times of the year for hiking, mountain biking and summer mountain sports.

Stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east, into Switzerland and continuing on to Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany and finally as far west as France, the Alps may not be the tallest or the longest mountain range, but they are extremely impressive. The highest peak is Mont Blanc, which is on the French and Italian border and stands 4810.9 metres (15,784 feet) above sea level, which adds to it being considered one of the meccas for any avid skier.

Apart from skiing, the area has an interesting history. In 218 BC, Hannibal, the Carthaginian general during the second Punic War, crossed the Alps, accompanied by an estimated 38 infantry (on foot), 8,000 cavalry (on horseback) and nearly 40 elephants. Of course, the area’s history stretches back even earlier and it is believed that an Alpine tribe known as the Augustus may have settled there 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.

Finding Alps ski accommodations is simple and convenient and there are many options from which to choose. The villages of Champagny en Vanoise, Châtel, Valloire and St. Sorlin d’Arves offer everything from Alps self-catering apartments to luxury Alpine chalets, as do Tignes and Vallandry. You will likely notice little difference in the services offered from one village to another. Reliance on tourism is a necessity; therefore, all are going to be top notch.

Eating in the Northern Alps offers a variety of European cuisine. For example, the ski resort of Les Menuires located in the valley of Les Trois Vallées offers 48 restaurants, in addition to its 39 ski lifts and reported 62 trails.

All of the resorts in the Northern Alps offer ski instruction, as well as trails for the more advanced skier. The resort of Les Deux Alpes, nearest to the famous town of Grenoble, sits atop a 3600 metre (11,811 foot) mountain. For their advanced skiers, they offer a 2300 metre (7,545 foot) vertical drop that is not for the faint-hearted; although many of their lower slopes are deemed to be far more challenging. For the beginner skier, the resort offers a gondola ride to the bottom of the mountain to try their bunny or nursery slopes.

Many people are familiar with the resort of La Plagne due to its connection to the 1992 Winter Olympics held that year in the nearby town of Albertville. La Plangne’s altitude is approximately 3250 metres (10,600 feet) and offers several gondolas, chair lifts and something for the advanced or beginner skier.

Most folks holiday in the Northern Alps for the skiing, but you will not want to miss the opportunity to explore the mountain villages, indulge in local cuisine and visit some of the historical and cultural sites in the area as well.