Expert guide to Flaine
Flaine’s resort village falls into two main sectors, Flaine Forum and Flaine Forêt. The former is based around a big traffic-free square, and both give easy access to the lifts to the slopes. Two funicular-type lifts running all day and all night link the two sectors, and both areas have a share of restaurants and bars. The original mainly ski-in/ski-out Bauhaus blocks designed in the 1960s form the core of the resort village.
The vast majority of accommodation, both in Flaine and in the lower Grand Massif villages of Les Carroz, Samoëns, Morillon and Sixt Fer à Cheval is in apartments. Some of these are very smart with pools, saunas and hot tubs. However the Hameau de Flaine is an attractive collection of Scandinavian-style wooden chalets, 2km from the original Flaine, and between the two, the Montsoleil apartments were built in chalet-style.
Hotels are few and far between but there are some enticing ones. For example Lapiaz, a renovated mountain hut on the piste and only accessible by snowmobile, a few minutes walk from Flaine Forum. Opened for 2021/22 is Rockypop Flaine, a four-star hotel with several restaurants and a Nuxe Spa with swimming pool in Flaine Forum.
Hotel Le Flaine
In Flaine Forum, a 200m walk from the pistes, Hotel Le Flaine is run by the French MMV group, it’s family-friendly with basic bedrooms and child-care facilities, and meals are served buffet-style. There’s a spa area with steam room, two hot tubs and a sauna.
Price:£
La Forêt
Located 100m from the nearest piste and lift, Pierre et Vacances La Forêt in Flaine Forêt offers clean and convenient no-frills apartments.
Price: £
Le Centaure
A residence of well-furnished apartments right by the main gondola out of Flaine Forum, Le Centaure has a ski-in/ski-out roof terrace and a spa with indoor pool, children’s pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and fitness room.
Price: ££
Les Terrasses d’Helios
Part of the Montsoleil area apartment residences, Les Terrasses d’Helios are the nearest to the centre of Flaine, around 500m away, and right beside a piste. Apartments are spacious and well-furnished, and there is an on-site restaurant, ski rental shop, laundrette and mini‑supermarket with bakery. There’s also an indoor pool, sauna, two steam rooms, outdoor hot tub, fitness room and five spa treatment rooms.
Price: ££
Hotel Terminal Neige Totem
One of the original hotels in Flaine Forum, Terminal Neige Totem is the smartest Flaine has to offer. With modern furniture and woollen fabrics in ethnic patterns, the 96 rooms and suites. There’s a gym, sauna and outdoor hot tub, and spa treatments are available.
Price: ££
Les Servages d’Armelle
In Les Carroz, this four-star hotel is the smartest in the Grand Massif ski area, right on the piste, with great views of the mountains and a short walk to the village. Les Servages d’Armelle is beautifully built in traditional chalet style using old wood inside and out. Many of the spacious rooms and suites have their own fireplaces and Jacuzzi baths. The restaurant is one of the best in the Grand Massif area and has two Gault-Millau toques, serving classic French cuisine and Savoyarde specialities.
Price:£££
Booking.com rates above are guide prices per person per night, please note that packages can differ across accommodation. Please check the properties’ websites for further information on what’s included.