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LucyHB
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Ignore the architecture - look at the views!
La Plagne has never been considered to be a particularly 'fashionable' ski resort, and ski-snobs often like to poke fun at some of the town's less than chic architecture. Let them scoff. While some of the resort's apartments might be less than visually stunning, the scenery more than makes up for it. The resort is at such a high altitude (pistes up to 3,500 metres), that snow is assured throughout the season, and the tree-lined lower altitude slopes are absolutely beautiful too. For those who come to ski and to take in the view, rather than to assess the architecture, La Plagne is an underrated gem. Happily, the fact that it remains somewhat underrated means that prices are kept competitive here, making it among the best value ski resorts in Europe, and certainly the best value in the French Alps
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LucyHB
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Not for the faint hearted!
If your idea of fun is to hurtle along in a bob sleigh at 80 miles per hour, then you're in the right place. The bobsleigh track at La Plagne was built for the Olympic Games in 1992, and the Olympic team still trains here. As the only significant bobsleigh track in France, the track at La Plagne is in demand with bobsleigh teams from across the country. In the evenings, however, it is free for use by the public, who queue up to experience the terror, or as some might see it, thrills, of hurtling along the twisting, turning track. As a professional wuss, I was far too scared to have a go, but friends who are somewhat braver than me assured me it was the adrenaline rush of a lifetime.
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LucyHB
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Fancy some pampering?
Those aching muscles, that bruised behind - taking to the slopes for a few days can leave you in dire need of a bit of looking after. Luckily, there's plenty of opportunity for pampering in La Plagne. Many of the hotels boast pretty impressive spa facilities, and there are also plenty of places offering massage (not the seedy variety!), hot stone treatments etc. There are Turkish baths in the resort too, and I found these to be perfect for unwinding and trying to ease the pain of taking a few falls too many! There are any number of places offering beauty treatments too - so if you want to look your best for taking in the apres-ski then help is at hand!
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LucyHB
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Dining out in La Plagne
La Plagne has a reputation for being at the more affordable end of the ski resort circuit, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the prices in many of the restaurants here. For a two-course formal meal you're looking at upwards of 35 euros per head, without wine. Gulp. If you add wine into the equation then the bill will be more like 50 euros. The quality is generally pretty high though, and if you're looking for something a bit more cheap and cheerful then there are a few options available. The simple pizza joints and creperies serve tasty, filling food for just a few euros, and the mountainside self-service buffet restaurants are good for filling up at lunch. In the villages themselves, look out for places offering fixed price lunch and dinner menus - you can often get delicious, high-quality food for around half the price of eating ala carte.
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