Tignes is part of the large Espace Killy ski area that is linked with Val d’Isere.  Tignes is one of the highest ski resorts in Europe, therefore with its glacier it is one of the few SnowSure resorts.

Tignes offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding for all abilities. The nursery slopes in Le Lac and Lavachet are ideal for beginners and then there is a great selection of green, blues and reds for quick progression all the way through to world renowned off piste.

There is a great range of pistes with superb views. Heading up the funicular and cable car to the Grande Motte is well worth a visit for a stunning panoramic towards Mont Blanc. The piste down from the top allows 1500m vertical of uninterrupted skiing.

Tignes is a year round resort, it is a purpose built resort for skiing but it is perfect for walking, mountain biking and summer skiing on the glacier.  It is also known for having the highest golf course in Europe.

Tignes hosted the first ever Europe Winter X-games in 2010 and the event will continue to grow for at least the next two years. It is a busy time in resort so you need to book up quickly but it has an amazing atmosphere with over 65,000 people in attendance last year. There is so much to see with the half pipe, huge kickers off the side of the pistes along with snow mobile competitions.

There are so many things to do in Tignes both in summer and winter, here are some of them below:

Activities

During the winter there are many non-skiing activities, these include:

Cinema in both English and French, Bowling, Ice Skating, Husky Rides, Paragliding, Ice Diving, Helicopter Rides, Skidoo Rides, Snow Shoeing, Ice Driving, Rock-climbing, squash. You can also go to the Lagon, which has a Swimming Pool, Wellness Centre, Gym and a selection of exercise classes.In the Summer there are activities such as mountain biking, walking, 4x4, Climbing, Golf on the highest golf course in Europe, Bike park, Sport beach, Tennis, Trampoline, Archery, Rafting, White Water, Water sport centre on the lake.  Skiing on the glacier for those keen skiers. The Lagon is also open in the summer.

Eating Out

There are many restaurants in Tignes for all tastes. Within all parts of Tignes there is a selection of Savoyard restaurants where the local cuisine is an option. This is the time to try Tartiflette – bacon, potatoes, cheese and cream – amazing served with a green salad and perfect after a day on the hill. These restaurants also serve fantastic pizzas and pasta dishes.

In Val Claret, Couloir is renowned for fantastic food from Kangaroo to-Fajitas, something for all with a great atmosphere and a bar downstairs if you fancy a drink beforehand.

Saint Jacques next to Couloir is another favourite for a Pierrade – Chicken and Beef cooked you on a hot stone. It has amazing fish including mussels and if you fancy some French Cuisine try the Frogs Legs. If you don’t want to eat there it is well worth a visit for a Kriek (Cherry beer) or a choice of 40+ Belgian beers.

Down in Le Lac, we have the Loop that is a great place for lunch or dinner. It does get very busy so worth an early lunch if you fancy it. Burgers, Wraps, Nachos – a good filing lunch after a hard morning on the hill.

Next door to Loop we have Tignes Cuisine – at lunch offers a selection of delicious noodles. In the evening if you want a night in why not order a take away.

For Kids

There are a couple of options for children. In Le Lac there is Les Marmottons, which accepts children between the ages of 2-6. Val Claret has Les Marmottons Children’s Village that takes 3-8 year olds. This is a safe area where children can have fun on skies and snow.

Another option is to use a private nanny service. We work with T4 Nanny who are reliable and have a fantastic team within resort. For more information visit their website.

A third option would be to book your children into ski school. There is the option of half day or full day lessons.

Bars and Nightlife

Couloir is a great place for après, dinner or late night drinks. They have a extensive list of vodka shots available.

From Couloir you could move onto Saloon Bar with a party atmosphere and a huge menu for cocktails and shots.

A good place for après is The Loop in Le Lac with live music with the sun terrace looking over the lake. They have a pool table inside and live sports are shown on TV

Bagus Bar is a great place for late night partying with a great selection of cocktails and a great atmosphere.

Jacks Club in Le Lac is open till 4am if you fancy a late night and a bit of a laugh with 70s disco, 90s rock with Val Claret offering the Melting Pot and Blue Girl to finish the night.

Tignes Directions

Drivng from the UK
From Calais it is about 680 miles to Tignes. There are two autoroutes/peages that can be taken, these are the French motorways. The autoroutes are toll roads, payment can be made by credit cards or Euros 
 
Route 1

From Calais follow the A26 towards Reims and onto Troyes. Follow the autoroute towards and around Dijon and join the A6 at Beaune towards Lyon. On to the A43 at Lyon towards Chambery and follow the autoroute to Albertville. Follow the N90 to Moutiers.

Route 2
From Calais follow the A26 then A1 to Paris. Follow the ring road onto the A6 towards Lyon. On to the A43 at Lyon, towards Chambery and follow the autoroute to Albertville. Follow the N90 to Moutiers.

From Moutiers follow the road to Bourg St Maurice
Drive straight through Bourg St Maurice and then follow signs to Val d'Isere/Tignes, through the villages of Seez and St. Foy Tarentaise.
Where road divides for Val d'Isere & Tignes - take the right fork and keep following signs for Tignes
Once in Tignes you will reach a round-about by a filling station with a number of options here plenty of sign posts direct  you to either Tignes le Lac. Or Tignes Val Claret. (via the tunnel – be careful there are two)

Note: The roads are normally clear of snow until Bourg St. Maurice but from then on, it may prove necessary to use chains. It can snow at any time, even in late Spring, and the police often stop vehicles before they start the climb to the resorts in order to ensure that chains are on the wheels. Vehicles that do not have chains will not be allowed to commence the ascent.

When driving in France it is essential to have the following:
1. Green Card - the international comprehensive car insurance. This is normally given automatically on request from your Insurance Company.
2. Spare set of car light bulbs.
3. Warning triangle.
4. All documentation relating to the car - registration, insurance, MOT etc..
5. A 'GB' sticker on the rear of your vehicle
 
Note: The roads are normally clear of snow until Bourg St. Maurice but from then on, it may prove necessary to use chains. It can snow at any time, even in late Spring, and the police often stop vehicles before they start the climb to the resorts in order to ensure that chains are on the wheels. Vehicles that do not have chains will not be allowed to commence the ascent.

Speed cameras both fixed  and mobile are increasingly more common in France. North of Paris is a hot spot and Be  careful on the road into Moutiers. It goes from a fast two lane road to a slightly twistier fast two lane road and the police are there nearly every Friday and Saturday with a speed gun and a book of 90 euro fines. The limit here is 90kph. You should go slower from 5km before Moutiers on the RN90 from Albertville, just after you go past the turn for 'Grand-Coeur'.

On the way out of Moutiers the big tunnel has a speed camera right in the middle of it and the limit is now a ridiculous 70kph on what is essentially a motorway. Lots of cars realise the camera is there at the last moment and slam their brakes on right in the middle of the tunnel creating obvious hazards. Be careful.

Driving from Chambery Airport 

On leaving Chambery airport turn onto the N201 following signs for Albertville (initially also signposted Grenoble). continue following the Albertville signs eventually turning onto the A430.
Once at Albertville follow signs to Moutiers and the N90
From Moutiers follow the road to Bourg St Maurice
Drive straight through Bourg St Maurice and then follow signs to Val d'Isere/Tignes, through the villages of Seez and St. Foy Tarentaise.
The road divides for Val d'Isere & Tignes - take the right fork and keep following signs for Tignes.
Once in Tignes you will reach a round-about by a filling station with a number of options here plenty of sign posts direct  you to either Tignes le Lac. Or Tignes Val Claret. (via the tunnel – be careful there are two)

Note: The roads are normally clear of snow until Bourg St. Maurice, but from then on, it may prove necessary to use chains. It can snow at any time, even in late Spring, and the police often stop vehicles before they start the climb to the resort in order to ensure that chains are on the wheels. Vehicles that do not have chains will not be allowed to commence the ascent.

Driving from Geneva Airport 

Ensure your hire car has a Motorway Vignette especially if you are renting in the French sector of the airport: ( currently £27.00GBP if bought via the net). Hire companies can include this in hire charges, be sure to ask.
If you want to avoid the motorway tax you will have to pick up your car French side and then stay in France making the journey a little complex to start your trip unless of course you have good local knowledge.
See web sites such as:-
http://www.gva.ch/en/Portaldata/1/Resources/fichiers/publications/af.pdf  (good map explaining clearly how to access motorways to Tignes)
http://www.genevaairport.net/French-Sector/Bypassing-Geneva.php
On leaving the airport follow the green signs for France.
These signs lead you, via the motorway/duel carriage way, to the Swiss/French border.
Once past the two custom posts follow signs in blue for the autoroute marked “Grenoble, Annecy”.
Leave the autoroute at Junction 16, “Albertville”.  Once through the peage / toll booth (cost in Nov. 2009, 6 Euors) follow the green signs to “Albertville”.
Just before reaching Albertville start to follow signs to “Tarentaise, Chambery” this route bypasses the town centre.
Then follow signs for Moutiers, Tarentaise.
From Moutiers follow the road to Bourg St Maurice
Drive straight through Bourg St Maurice and then follow signs to Val d'Isere/Tignes, through the villages of Seez and St. Foy Tarentaise.
The road divides for Val d'Isere & Tignes - take the right fork and keep following signs for Tignes.
Once in Tignes you will reach a round-about by a filling station with a number of options here plenty of sign posts direct  you to either Tignes le Lac. Or Tignes Val Claret. (via the tunnel – be careful there are two)
.
Note: Do not attempt to drive to Tignes via the Mont Blanc tunnel. Some web sites promote this route . It is only available for a very short time in high summer on the SS26. All mountain passes from Italy are closed in winter and use caution with 'Sat Nav' systems as they may try and direct you this way.

Always contact our ski chalet  in Tignes before organising a transfer as we can often arrange a private minibus transfer more cheaply than the established skiing and snowboarding resort transfer companies.
http://hundredhills.com/travel-transfers-val-disere/

Web sites with options for cheap transfers:-
Train from the UK
http://www.snowcarbon.co.uk/ski-resorts/tignes/tignes-journey

Eurostar
http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en_EN/flash/

Bus from the UK
http://www.skibusuk.com/

Air seats search engine
http://www.skyscanner.net/
 

Bus from Geneva
http://www.altibus.com/

Train from geneva
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?

Bus from Lyon
http://satobus-alpes.altibus.com/index.aspx

Bus transfers from Chambery and Geneva
http://www.snowbus.co.uk/

When you have booked your holiday, please ensure that you read this section carefully, as it contains information which will enhance your holiday and provide the details that you will need before and during your stay!

Please browse the information in the Directions tab for directions to the resort (if you’re not sure of the way, please take a printed copy).

Before you arrive in resort please contact your Resort Manager, Elaine Quinn 0033 6 22 40 79 55(mobile) to advise on your expected time of arrival and also if you will be delayed at all.

When you arrive in resort you will need to meet one of our key holders to pick up the keys to your apartment.The meeting place is in Tignes Le Lac. We will give you more details of where this is situated in the booking confirmation.

Please ensure you bring a print out off your booking confirmation to prove your identity then you will be provided with keys and given directions to the apartment.

We request you leave the apartment clean and tidy, remove linen from beds and place them with the towels in a bin bag at the door. Ensure that you remove any rubbish, including empty bottles and dispose of them in the local bins outside.

Our Resort Manager or their assistants will meet you at the checkout time of the property you have booked. They will check the apartment with you – make them aware of any issues you may have encountered during your stay. Hand the keys back to them and they will prepare the apartment for the next guest and lock up for you.

If you are leaving early, you must arrange with them to meet you at your specific time of departure, or ensure that they are fully aware of your departure plans.