24 Hours in La Plagne: A Whirlwind of Family Fun

The French ski resort of La Plagne – just a three hour drive from the airport with Shuttle Direct’s Geneva airport ski transfers – has always had a well-deserved reputation as a family ski destination. But if you are looking for the best snow and the best choice of restaurants and cafés, then the resort’s highest village of Belle Plagne (2500m) is your best bet.

There is so much to do in Belle Plagne that you would struggle to do everything in a week, perhaps even two. To give you a snap-shot of what’s on offer, here’s a chock-a-block itinerary for just 24 hours of fun in the snow.

Morning: Get Your Pulses Racing on the Bobsleigh

If you want to start your day off with a blast, head to Plagne 1800 for an extreme bobsleigh experience. Take the Taxi Bob and a professional driver will take you and two others down the hair-raising track at speeds reaching up to 100 kph! And if you really want to impress the kids with your bravery, why not try the Mono-Bob, a single-seater, so that they can watch you tackle the course alone? (Age and health restrictions apply, however.)

Lunch at Le Chalet du Friolin

All that adrenaline pumping around your system is going to build up quite an appetite, so be sure to head over to Montchavin les Coches’ traditional Alpine Chalet du Friolin Restaurant after your bobsleighing experience. You’ll need to get your skis on because this picturesque local restaurant is set in the mountains between La Plagne and Les Arcs. If the sun is shining, you can sit outside and enjoy the stunning mountain views. If the weather’s bad, however, the wonderfully inviting roaring log fire and cosy wooden interior will give you the perfect environment to spend a couple of hours enjoying the excellent food and local wines.

Hit the Slopes

All that Savoyard cooking is going to give you plenty of energy for a hard afternoon’s skiing or boarding, and Belle Plagne’s access to the extensive Paradiski skiing area is the perfect place to stretch your ski legs. Take a lesson with ESF or one of the other ski schools, or hire a private guide for a couple of hours and scope out the perfect snow. The skiing here is extensive, with lifts joining the La Plagne villages with the neighbouring Les Arcs offering more than 400km of runs.

Dinner in the Resort

There is a good selection of restaurants in the resort, serving plenty of familiar food for fussy eaters. If you are exhausted after your day’s skiing and don’t want to venture too far, you can literally ski into La Godille Restaurant at the foot of the pistes and enjoy an excellent selection of Savoyard cuisine or pizza, crepes and ice cream – the choice is yours! For a slightly more formal dinner, the traditional cuisine of Le Matafan in the centre of the resort boasts stylish but cosy Alpine decor and a great locally-inspired menu.

After Dinner

If you’re not ready to just collapse into bed, I’d suggest playing some board games by the fire back at your accommodation and an early night, because there’s plenty to do again tomorrow… And the best part is, all of this is just a three-hour drive from the airport with one of Shuttle Direct’s Geneva Airport ski transfers.

Getting There

Flights from the UK take just 90 minutes and there are a wide range of airlines offering regular flights to Geneva Airport. Ski transfers with Shuttle Direct can be booked in advance online and offer a range of services, ranging from standard to executive, so that you and your family can travel in comfort.