Another great holiday

Having travelled to the French Alps by train before (Eurostar Snow and the Travelski Express) and, on the whole, enjoyed the experience, we decided to celebrate a couple of our ‘milestone’ birthdays by doing it again. With help from Daniel, we booked the Eurostar Snow from St Pancras to Aime-la-Plagne via Lille on the outbound, and via Brussels (as our original train was fully booked) to St Pancras on the inbound.

Travelling at Easter, we left St Pancras on the 9:01 service on Saturday. Switching trains easily at Lille, we watched the ever-changing scenery go by as we travelled through the various regions of France. Together with a cheeky tipple, it was a pleasurable experience, only let down slightly by the less reliable public toilets on the Eurostar Thalys service!

Photo: David Homer

A swift, reliable and very competitively priced transfer by La Plagne’s Albert Taxis (who we’ve used before) got us to the wonderful Hotel Carlina in Belle Plagne for our week’s stay. We had actually promised ourselves this added bit of luxury a few years earlier, and although going this year sans enfant was somewhat of a different and very enjoyable ski experience, I think we actually did miss them at times!

We found Belle Plagne the perfect resort for our level of abilities: a mix of experienced beginner to advanced intermediate. There are so many blue runs and easy reds that this north-facing side of the Paradiski area is a joy at Easter time, although you will find slushier snow conditions the lower you go, e.g., into Montchavin or Montalbert. Altogether, however, it was an immensely enjoyable experience.

Belle Plagne also offered a good variety of après-ski that we haven’t always found in other La Plagne resorts. From ten-pin bowling to late-night pubs, the choice is yours!

Bluebird skies over La PlagnePhoto: David Homer

Having skied La Plagne numerous times at Easter and stayed in its various satellite villages (e.g., Plagne Villages, Plagne Soleil), I would definitely recommend Belle Plagne, and La Plagne overall remains our ‘go to’ resort.

We came back on the Eurostar service to Brussels, boarding at Aime-la-Plagne, this time in the bright sunshine. After a wonderful week on the slopes and an initially slow start through Moûtiers, Chambéry, and Albertville, we were soon speeding our way north to Belgium.

We stopped overnight at the Ibis Hotel right opposite the Gare Midi/Zuid in Brussels. Although not the most picturesque of areas, it enabled us to easily catch our 8:51 Eurostar service to St Pancras the following morning.

All in all, another great holiday and already planning our next adventure. Thanks Daniel!

Photo: David Homer