Photo by Ben Hodson
Before you book · planning
Hiring a car for the French and Italian Alps: six winter checks
Confirm border permission, winter tyres, fitting chains and live road information before committing to a ski holiday hire car.
Snow.Holiday
Stories and useful advice for your next mountain holiday.
Explore the French and Italian Alps, choose where to go, and find people who can help you plan the trip.
From the publication
More stories
Photo by CK Morrison
Your first day · planning
A smoother ski holiday arrival: the checks before your first morning
Bring key collection, luggage, equipment and lesson meeting points into one arrival plan, with a clear way to update it if travel is delayed.
Photo by Giusy Laria
Winter destination guide · resorts
Bardonecchia ski guide: a railway town with two mountain choices
Choose between town and lift-side stays, understand Colomion–Melezet and Jafferau, and plan an Italian ski week that works beyond the piste map.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Plan the total · planning
How to compare ski holiday quotes and build a useful budget
Compare the same group, dates and services, then check accommodation extras, baggage, ski products and supplier terms before deciding.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Winter destination guide · resorts
Col du Lautaret winter guide: touring, snowkite and choosing a base
Plan a high-pass mountain day with the right professional, flexible conditions and a winter journey that works from either valley.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Plan a ski week · planning
A family ski week: a routine for different ages and abilities
Coordinate lessons, childcare, lunch and adult ski time with a simple daily plan, plus room for afternoons away from the slopes.
Destinations
Find your mountain base
The places we cover, with useful details and links to help you plan.
Italy · Piedmont
Bardonecchia
A Piedmont railway town, wooded skiing and a separate Jafferau sector.
Photo by Giusy Laria
France · Hautes-Alpes
Cervières
An Izoard village for Nordic skiing, snow walks and guided touring.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Italy · Piedmont
Cesana
A Piedmont village base with access toward both sides of Vialattea.
Photo by Francesco Alberti
Italy · Piedmont
Claviere
An Italian mountain village where Vialattea meets Montgenèvre.
Photo by Ben Hodson
France · Hautes-Alpes
Col du Lautaret
A high-pass starting point for guided touring and snowkite.
Photo by Ben Hodson
France · Hautes-Alpes
La Grave
High mountain freeride, with a village and more than one way to ski.
Photo by Thibaut Blais
France · Hautes-Alpes
Montgenèvre
A village base on the French–Italian border, with the practical details that make a ski week work.
Photo by Ben Hodson
France · Hautes-Alpes
Névache
A Clarée village for Nordic skiing, guided touring and small alpine slopes.
Photo by Carlos Ortolá
France · Hautes-Alpes
Pelvoux-Vallouise
A smaller alpine area beside a valley with its own Nordic rhythm.
Photo by Thibaut Blais
Italy · Piedmont
Pragelato
Nordic skiing and village life, with alpine access through Pattemouche.
Photo by Tom Audagna
France · Hautes-Alpes
Puy-Saint-Vincent
Three village levels, one alpine ski area and the Écrins on the horizon.
Photo by Corentin Bruneau
Italy · Piedmont
Sansicario
A woodland Vialattea base with distinct Borgo and Alto settings.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Italy · Piedmont
Sauze d’Oulx
Woodland skiing and a lively village on the Italian side of Vialattea.
Photo by Ben Hodson
France · Hautes-Alpes
Serre Chevalier
Choose your valley base first, then build the ski week around it.
Photo by Ben Hodson
Italy · Piedmont
Sestriere
A high mountain Vialattea base with Olympic skiing heritage.
Photo by Dean Cunningham
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