This is really a collection of 10 small resorts, comprising 6 high-altitude, purpose-built ski-stations connected by lifts and 4 more traditional-style villages at lower altitude. Plagne Centre (measuring ½ ml by 300 yds) remains the hub and is the liveliest base, with a reasonable selection of hotels, shops, restaurants and amenities, all connected by covered walkways or underground passages; although built in an era of unsympathetic architecture, efforts have been made to overcome this with a renovation programme, which has smartened up the resort but not removed the incongruity of high-rise blocks in an alpine setting. About 1 ml away and at a higher altitude are the more upmarket, chalet-style apartment blocks of Plagne Villages (comprising a strip around 600 yds long) and tiny Plagne Soleil (300 yds by 200 yds). Aime la Plagne (300 yds by 600 yds) is the highest satellite at 6,890 ft and a little farther out is Belle Plagne (½ ml by 600 yds), with its modern chalet-style buildings. Below Plagne Centre are the uninspiring Bellecote - a rather grim, linear development, ¼ ml long -and Plagne 1800 (¼ ml by 600 yds). Some 14 mls away by road lie the lower valley villages of Montalbert, Montchavin and Les Coches, with Champagny at the entrance of Vanoise National Park. Lack of altitude makes these less popular, but they have a more attractive alpine ambience.

Popular with international middlemarket groups and families, owing to a preponderance of apartment accommodation and children's facilities. Wide range of skiing for all levels, although intermediates will benefit most.

Predominantly purpose-built concrete blocks, with large self-catering apartments far outnumbering hotels, concentrated in Plagne Centre. Some units being used by UK operators as chalet-style accommodation.

Each village has its own complement of shops, ranging from small, rather pricey supermarkets and souvenir outlets to the usual sports goods and ski-hire. Plagne Centre has the most choice, although Belle Plagne is more upmarket. Little to satisfy nonskiers.

Daytime: downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, snowshoeing, winter walking (19 mls of groomed paths), paragliding, snowmobiles, snow-tubing, Olympic bobsleigh run, speed-skiing run and dog-sleds. Indoor and outdoor swimming pools; gyms and fitness centres; indoor climbing wall; squash; paintball; cyber centre; video games. In summer, a variety of sports, minigolf, mountain biking and hiking, roller skating and nature walks. Nightlife: centred on numerous bars and restaurants, with some hotels offering in-house entertainment; cinemas and unsophisticated discos in the larger villages; bowling at Belle Plagne. English-language video and DVD hire in Plagne Centre.

The main villages offer a variety of eateries, ranging from simple pizzerias and creperies to Tex-Mex, French cuisine and Savoyard specialities. Several hotel restaurants; handful of slopeside and mountain restaurants.

Regular free transport service between the 6 high-altitude resorts; free cable-car linking Belle Plagne with Plagne Bellecote and Aime la Plagne with Plagne Centre. Charge for cable-bus from Plagne Centre to Plagne Village. Frequent buses to Aime's railway station for high-speed TGV and Eurostar connections. Coach services to Geneva and Lyon airports.

Limited. Skiing trips to nearby Trois Vallees and Espace Killy resorts such as Meribel, Courchevel, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d'Isere; Moutiers and Albertville, the nearest principal towns.

In SE France, in the Savoie region, close to the Italian border. 36 mls SE of Albertville. 20 mls SW of Bourg St Maurice. 94 mls SE of Geneva (Switzerland) and its airport. 122 mls E of Lyon and its airport. 75 mls E of Chambery and its airport.

A scattered cluster of little resorts high above the double-headed Tarentaise Valley, spread over a wide mountainous area at various high altitudes. The original and principal village is known as Plagne Centre.

Post Code: 73210
Website: www.la-plagne.com

Airport : Geneva
Airport Code: GVA
Flight time from ther U.K.: 1 hr 30 mins.