In the centre of the 650km Portes du Soleil area, Avoriaz is another one of those ticks-all-the-boxes ski resorts that France does so well. I was already sold on the high-altitude slopes, but the charming resort and ski-in, ski-out accommodation were happy bonuses. Plus, it’s just an hour and a half from Geneva Airport!

The resort

Perched at 1,800m, Avoriaz is the highest of 12 ski resorts in the Portes du Soleil ski area and was built back in the 1960s. It’s car-free too, so all vehicles have to be left in the village entrance car park. We got off our coach here and jumped in a snowcat, which whisked us and our luggage up to our accommodation. You can opt for a horse-drawn carriage if you’d prefer something a little more whimsical! If you’re travelling with tots, this is a fab choice for families. There’s a kids’ ski area and the Aquariaz water park, where you’ll find slides, jets and whirlpools.

The slopes

This snowy spot is geared up for all abilities, but it’s especially good for intermediates. We spent the first few days getting our ski legs back on the blues and reds around the Les Choucas and Le Fornet chairlifts. The Lac-Intrets lift gets really busy in the morning, so I recommend getting here before 9am to beat the rush. You can also hop on the Stade chairlift instead, which is usually quieter.

Once we were feeling more confident, we ticked off the runs in Morzine, Les Gets and Châtel. You can also head over the border to Switzerland, either via the tricky mogul field known as the ‘Swiss Wall’ or chairlift. It’s best to do this in the morning, as that’s when the slopes on this side get the sunshine. There’s a great freestyle park in Les Crosets too. My favourite run was the Stash. Though at first glance this may seem like a tranquil cruise through the trees, there’s everything from ramps to rails to conquer along the way.

The après

Everyone knows that the French are big on après and Avoriaz is no exception. For starters, there’s La Folie Douce. The party kicks off here around 3pm and there are different events and DJs playing throughout the week. The fact it’s in the resort and not on the slopes means non-skiers can join in the fun too! Le Yak stays open until the early hours and there are more than 30 restaurants if you’re looking for somewhere to eat. Restaurant L’etage is your best bet for mountain specialties like fondue and tartiflette.