Upmarket ski resort gets a lift
Bev Fearis checks out a major new lift development in Val d’Isere, which has not only reduced queues and opened up new ski areas, but is also helping to make this upmarket resort more affordable.
The Solaise lift development cost €16 million, has taken 18 months to build, and has one of the fastest gondola lifts in Europe, carrying up to 3,600 people per hour. The new 10-man cabins have wi-fi, heated seats and two even have transparent floors so you can get a whole new view of the slopes. It connects with two covered futuristic magic carpet lifts (one pictured above).
At the top is a new day lodge with a cafe and, unusually for European resorts, an indoor picnic area where skiers can bring their own food and drink and heat snacks and meals up in a microwave. There’s also table football and a kids corner where they can watch cartoons (pictured here) – all part of the resort’s efforts to cater for families and be more affordable. The day lodge has fantastic views, too, even from the ladies and gents toilets (see picture below).
The new lift has opened up a new beginners area with its two covered magic carpet lifts, so much easier than the drag lifts before. It better connects with chairlifts taking you further into the slopes too.
To mark the development, Val d’Isere is offering a special lift pass for the Solaise area of 35€ a day, compared to €55 for a combined Val d’Isere/Tignes pass. It’s an area that provides enough for a day’s skiing for beginners, intermediates and accomplished skiers alike.
Already known for its large and efficient snow-making operation, Val d’Isere has been blessed with some great early snow this season. The World Cup men’s downhill, giant slalom and Super-G competitions, which were due to take place in Beaver Creek, Colorado, were moved to Val d’Isere earlier this month.
View from the ladies toilets – and there’s even a viewing bench
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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