If you've heard that Val d'Isère is just for good skiers - forget it!
Yes, Val d'Isère has some of the best on and off-piste skiing anywhere in the world for expert skiers, but it also offers fantastic skiing for less experienced skiers too. In fact, our purpose-built beginners' area on Solaise is among the very best learning facilities you'll find anywhere.
Most beginners start out on the nursery slopes on the Front de Neige, right in the centre of the resort beside the main lifts. The beginners' lifts here are free and Val d'Isère boasts some of the very best ski schools anywhere, making it an ideal place to learn.
Up the mountain, though, is what it's all about.
Over the last decade, the beginners' area on Solaise has been transformed. The mountain itself has been reshaped beyond recognition, reducing the gradient from 16% to just 7% - flat enough for even the most nervous beginner.
The new magic carpets are incredibly easy to use, so there's no need to worry about getting on or off the lifts, and there's a superb new lodge and viewing centre where friends and family can watch from the warmth.
When you’ve got to grips with the basics and are a little more confident and ready to take it a bit further, both Solaise and Le Fornet offer plenty of long, wide, open and sunny pistes where you can build your confidence and perfect your technique.
A must is to take the Lessières chair (the "Up and Over") on the way back - the views from the top are incredible.
On the Bellevarde / La Daille side you'll also find plenty of perfect slopes for improving skiers, a vast area stretching out in front of you and panoramic views in every direction. Skiing "up the mountain" is a whole different experience.
Just because you're a beginner doesn't mean you have to miss out on lunch in a mountain restaurant or a well-earned drink at the end of the day while soaking up the incredible scenery.
And when it's time to head home, give in to your tired legs and take the lift back down.
By the last day or two of your holiday, if you've built up your skills and confidence, why not venture over into Tignes?
Take the lifts all the way up to the Grande Motte glacier, the highest point in the ski area at an impressive 3,653 metres (almost 12,000 feet).
On a clear day you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views across the Alps, including mighty Mont Blanc in the distance.
It's the perfect way to finish your first ski holiday in Val d'Isère.
