120km of pistes in Flaine itself. Green 13% Blue 37%, Red 42% and Black 8%, 265km and part of the Grand Massif that includes Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens, Sixt Snowguns cover 218km of pistes
By Train Cluses train station is 30km away and links to the Eurostar book your bus transfer with www.altibus.com
By Car A40 Motorway Geneva-Chamonix, exit 19 Cluses centre. Turn right onto the N205, towards Sallanches and leave the N205 after about 2 km (1.2 miles) at the left turning signposted Flaine, on the D106. This takes you to Flaine via Les Carroz! http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp?database=E
Taxi Bonnet (04 50 34 74 08)
Looking for an airport transfer at a good rate? www.skitransfers.com offer an excellent service. English-speaking drivers greet you at the airport and then drive you to the resort. Their vehicles range in size up to a 19 seater minibus. Child seats also available.
About The Resort..
Ski Flaine
OK it’s not the prettiest resort with its 1960s Bauhaus-style concrete blocks, reminding you of Eastern Europe. There are some nicer areas though they are a trek from the slopes and village like Hammeu-de-Flaine with it’s wooden chalet style buildings. Also not everyone can boast sculptures by Picasso, Vasarely and Dubuffet in their ski resort.
Recently Intrawest the North American Ski area developer has come to town and is creating 2500 new beds in the faux hamlet of Flaine Montsoleil. What makes Flaine so great is that it really is close to Geneva at just over one hours drive. Further up the hillside is Faline Foret with it’s own bars and hops and the bus service runs this far.
The resort is child friendly with the main areas being car free and with play areas. There are further villages around with links to the main lift system and both Les Carroz and Samoens are two of the more beautiful ones. If you travel by car you can easily reach the Portes du Soleil ski area which includes Chamonix, Megeve or Courmayeur in Italy.
Resort Restaurants
Flaine Restaurants
Flaine Foret Perdrix Noire (in Flaine Foret) – British run serving with interesting food in a refined Alpine Décor
Flaine Forum Les Chalets du Michet - A la carte and menus, local and refined traditional cuisine in a genuine shepherd's hut ! Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 80 08
Pizzeria Chez Pierrot - Restaurant & pizzeria. Savoyard specialties, braserade, home-made pastries, pizzas to take away. Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 84 56
Chez Daniel - Local and traditional. Pancake and Savoyard specialties, next to the ice skating rink - cosy Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 81 87
Le Grand de Sel - serves decent meals Tel: +33 450 90 89 64
Brasserie Les Cimes - it comes recommended and has a good atmosphere Tel: 0450 90 89 64
Le Hammeau de Flaine
L'Ancolie Traditional and local specialties. Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 87 94
Nightlife..
Flaine Bars and Apres Ski
White Grouse Pub – English/French pub with Guinness on tap – live music
Flying Dutchman - head here between 3 and 7pm
Perdrix Noire – good for food but also has copy fires and good bar
Diamant Noir – good for watching live football and playing pool.
Cuban - for later on when you are looking for a nightclub
Other Activities
Flaine Winter Family Activities
Pedestrians can take the Grandes Platières cable car takes you from 1600 to 2500 m in only 12 minutes. Stepping out of the cabin, a magnificent view over the Mont Blanc will take you aback. Bar & restaurant with sun terrace at the top to meet your friends at for lunch.
A free shuttle service runs all day long between the resort centre, Le Hameau and Le Col de Pierre Carrée (Cross-country and walking trails)
Indoor heated swimming pool
Tel: 04 50 90 84 99 (water 28°C/82°F, air 26°C/79°F) with pool measuring 10m x 25 m (33 x 82 ft), paddling pool and water garden for toddlers. Swimming school with state-qualified instructor: introduction to the water from 3 years, advanced tuition in the 4 swimming styles, relaxation, aqua-aerobics.
Cinema Studio 1600
Indoor Climbing @ Flaine Foret Ice Skating (dec – march) @ The Forum Gym – TopForm Centre - 2 Finnish saunas, weights room (20 workout points), also cardio training, UVA solarium, relaxation room, physiotherapy and massages available.
10 pin Bowling - 04 50 90 93 96 Ice driving by renault circuit Snowmobiling Dog sledding
Accommodation
Flaine Accommodation and Hotels
Lack of hotel choice your best be is to to contact the tourist office www.flaine.com Here are a couple of places we suggest staying at
Hotel Aujon (0450 90 80 10) Totem a Crystal-run hotel (04 50 90 80 64) Club Med (04 50 90 81 66)
Hotel Flaine T: 0450 90 47 36 will remind you of those Eastern blocks whilst offering little in way of service. You see we are struggling to suggest anything here but maybe you would be better off heading down the valley to Les Carroz
Just 2 kms outside the centre lies an enchanting hamlet made up of 70 luxury Scandinavian-style ski chalets "Le Hameau de Flaine".
Good news for Flaine is that the Canadian developer Intrawest are investing in Flaine and will be building high quality apartment ready from 2008 with completion by 2012. They are renowned for the developments in Whistler, Squaw Valley, Mammoth Lakes and more recently Arc 950.
Ski Companies who go to Flaine
There are lots of British ski companies who go to Flaine. These include Action Outdoors, Alpine Answers, Altitude, Classic Group, Crystal Ski, Crystal Finest, Erna Low, First Choice Ski, Independent Ski Links, Interactive Resorts, Inghams Ski, Lagrange, Neilson Ski, Ski Collection, Ski France, Ski France4less, Ski Freshtracks,Ski Holidayextras, Ski Independence, Ski Leisure Direction, Skitracer, Ski Weekend and Thomson Ski
About The Mountain
Ski Flaine
The Grand Massif is as good as it sounds. All levels of boarders and skiers are catered for in this wonderful area. Flaine has access to over 265 km of pistes. The lift system is hands free and they are constantly improving the lifts themselves. You can access the villages of Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens & Sixt. The greater part of the ski area does lie outside of Flaine and the links can be closed by high winds coming off Mont Blanc. Queues are less and less a problem than they used to be
For beginners This is a good resort to learn to ski in. There are some great accessible slopes close to the traffic free centre Once you have found your legs you can head up to the Les Grandes Platieres on the jumbo gondola to take a blue back down to the village. It's a bit of a shame there aren't that many in-between greens to take you from the nursery slopes to the blueslopes. Saying that just make sure you have a good teacher and study hard.
For Intermediates A lovely place with lots of slopes in the Grand Massif to improve your style on. Snow conditions are acceptable because the majority of Flaines slopes are North and North West and tend ot retain the snow
For Advanced There is some seriously challenging runs in Flaine and the extended area but mostly this is of the off piste variety. Take a guide to get the best out of it. The Flaine bowl has a lot of crevasses and potholes which can cause as much problems as a glacier.
Snowboarders There is varied terrain including wooded areas and some great offpiste to satisfy boarders, so hook yourself up with an instructor or off piste guide.
There’s basically three Jamparks across the Flaine area o The Kid's Park at Morillon (kids 5 - 12 years) o The Septimountain Jampark in Samoëns (Intermediate freestyle zone) o The Pro Jampark à Flaine, for advanced freestylers Head to the Aujon area and you will find the ‘Pro Jampark’ Its on the Calcedoine run. There’s music pumping out of a sound system with a DJ and you’ll find free special events, BBQ’s and snowparties held here. It’s groomed daily by specialist staff. It has a half-pipe boardercross course, tables, rails quarters.
The only drag is in fact ‘the drag’ it’s notoriously bad so watch out
Cross Country The Grand Massif offer 64km of trails with around 17km of those being in Flaine alone.
Mountain Restuarants
Flaine Mountain Restaurants
Not the No. 1 spot especially in the bowl. Skiers and boarders frequently head back to there lodging to grab something to eat.
The Blanchot is a rustic place with good staff and food to match but tens to get busy early.
Chalet Bissac – head to the start of the Balacha Draglifts. – old alpine chalet with charm
Eloge – good for après ski with live music. Basic snack food
Les Chalets du Michet – in resort – good food and table service and good for après ski
Le Desert Blanc – great sun terrace – food self service
Ski Schools
Flaine Ski and Snowboard Schools
Ecole du Ski Francaise Tel: 0033 (0)4 50 90 81 00
Ski Ecole International www.skiecoleflaine.com Tel: 0033(0) 4 59 90 84 410 They are well organised and you'll find smaller classes of 6-7 students.
Moniteurs Independants are a co-op of teachers and have come recommended. Contact Guy Pezet on Tel: 0033 (0)607 19 56 09
Weather
Flaine Snow
What's the weather like in the ski resort of Flaine?
Flaine is part of the ski region that forms Le Grand Massif mountain area. Resorts in the ski region of Le Grand Massif include Flaine, Morillon, Samoens, Sixt et Les Carroz providing fantastic skiing and snowboarding for all levels of ability.
Top 5 Runs
Flaine Top 5 Ski Runs
The Cascades Piste - Head to the top of the Grand Platieres gondola and take the blue Cascades run down to the edge of the Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval Nature Reserve. The run is a 14km descent and though you have to take a free bus journey back to the main cable car in Samoens, it’s worth it.
Also at the top of the Les Gran Platieres is a challenging black, Diamant Noir – for the brave as not only do you have to contend with a steep black, moguls and crowds you also have an audience overhead.
Head to the top of Grans Vans chair – beautiful picturesque run down to the attractive village of Les Carroz.
Ski & Snowboard Hire Shop
Flaine Ski and Snowboard Hire Shops
We recommend ski hire and snowboard hire at one of the following four shops in Flaine.
1) Flaine Sports - in residence de la Foret
2) Snow Service - in Galery Marchande de la Foret 3) General Sports - in Le Hameau de Flaine 4) Skiset Flaine Forum - in Place du Forum
If you book online here at Snowbrainer you can make big savings on the recommended retail price for all your winter equipment. Your equipment will be waiting for you in the shop on your arrival.
It's what we call a No Brainer - so book here now!
Ski Books, Snowboard Books and Ski Holiday Information Books
Looking for some information before you go on holiday or looking for a book to read when you are there. Here's some books we recommend. They're worth a read before you head off on your winter holiday or they can make great presents for skiers and snowboarders.
Top 5 Things To Take
Easy to use Piste Maps & Ski Trails Looking for high detailed piste maps for your GPS? Snowranger sells affordable quality digital maps that are great for any ski or snowboard trip. For those of you who’ve ever wondered which run gets you back to France from the Swiss side of Portes du Soleil or you’re racing the clock to get back from a Courchevel lunch to Val Thorens before the lifts shut this is invaluable kit. No more wrestling wet paper maps with frozen fingers! There are over 500 ski resorts piste maps in Europe and North America available. Go to Snow-Forecast Snowranger Film your Mates Jumps, Tricks & Shameful Ski / Snowboard Moments. We love the JAMCAM – it’s a head camera that allows you to capture your days skiing or snowboarding on the mountain. You can rent or buy the kit so for more details head to www.jam-cam.tv If you take the JAMCAM rental service in resort they include a host to record your day. The alternative is to rent before you leave, taking the equipment to the ski resort of your choice and posting back on your return. Gift vouchers are available via the website offering an unusual Christmas or Birthday present for your ski & snowboard mad friends.
What's an easy way to carry skis? Well we found the ‘THE HANDLE’ . This nifty little device allows you to carry your skis around without causing major injury to yourself and other members of the public. It’s incredibly easy to use – no Velcro just a click buckle. It’s also light and small enough to put in your pocket. www.ski-walker.com
Reviews
Just had a quick 3 days in Flaine and what a great time to go. Ok there could be a bit more snow,but there wasn't that many people around so it was fine. It is part of the Grand Massif ski area and as such there is a lot of skiing to be done. Make sure you don't bang your head on the Sixties Bauhaus buildings like my friend did and you will have a super ski holiday and he was only a beginner!
Looking for an airport transfer at a good rate? 
OK it’s not the prettiest resort with its 1960s Bauhaus-style concrete blocks, reminding you of Eastern Europe. There are some nicer areas though they are a trek from the slopes and village like Hammeu-de-Flaine with it’s wooden chalet style buildings. Also not everyone can boast sculptures by Picasso, Vasarely and Dubuffet in their ski resort. 
Pedestrians can take the Grandes Platières cable car takes you from 1600 to 2500 m in only 12 minutes. Stepping out of the cabin, a magnificent view over the Mont Blanc will take you aback. Bar & restaurant with sun terrace at the top to meet your friends at for lunch.
Lack of hotel choice your best be is to to contact the tourist office 
The Grand Massif is as good as it sounds. All levels of boarders and skiers are catered for in this wonderful area. Flaine has access to over 265 km of pistes. The lift system is hands free and they are constantly improving the lifts themselves. You can access the villages of Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens & Sixt. The greater part of the ski area does lie outside of Flaine and the links can be closed by high winds coming off Mont Blanc. Queues are less and less a problem than they used to be
For beginners 
For Intermediates
Snowboarders
Not the No. 1 spot especially in the bowl. Skiers and boarders frequently head back to there lodging to grab something to eat.
The Cascades Piste 
