How to do a ski holiday in La Plagne with meals, booze and flights included for just £1k

OUR home away from home in the heart of the French Alps made for the perfect relaxing winter holiday.

At Ski Beat hosted Chalet Laurier in La Plagne, my buddy Hughie and I felt our problems just melt away.

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A selection of homely treats laid out for us after an exciting day on the slopes were devoured on comfortable sofas by the comfortably warm wood stove.

And our rooms, left in a horrible mess in our morning rush to the chairlifts, were tidied and made up, ready for another night of much-needed sleep.

Simply put, everything has been taken care of.

The beauty of a chalet holiday is that you can focus on skiing – with the price you paid, meaning you don’t have to budget for all your food and drink.

Canapes and the first of many drinks were served on arrival by delightful hosts Naomi and Sam before we were settled in our wood paneled mountainside home.

That set the tone for a week of sensational service from the pair.

We were woken each morning to the sounds and smells of Naomi and Sam preparing a traditional full English breakfast – complete with imported Heinz Baked Beans.

And if the bacon, sausage, and egg combo isn’t for you, alternative options have been offered, including fruit, porridge, cereal, bread, yogurt, and cheese.

Afternoon treats consisted of homemade cakes with lemon drizzle, carrots, coffee and walnuts and of course a classic Viccy sponge.

And the dinners. . . Impressive.

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Appetizers included baked camembert, zucchini crumble and feta, and goat cheese salads.

Then came hearty entrees of Provençal chicken, parmesan-crusted salmon, pork stroganoff, roast duck and beef casserole.

All accompanied by mountains of fresh vegetables and various side dishes and sauces.

But the Tartiflette was by far the piece of resistance.

A hot pot with cheese, bacon, potatoes, onions, cream and white wine. Enjoyment at the highest level.

Of course, I always made sure to leave room for dessert.

Peach crumble, Bakewell tart, brownies and panna cotta were the highlights.

But if all that meaty and cheesy food isn’t for you, don’t worry because vegan Hughie has been very well catered for.

As for the slopes, La Plagne is perfect for a mixed-ability outing.

It’s challenging enough for an experienced skier like me.

And there are plenty of wide, expansive greens and blues for Hughie, who had only landed in snow once before.

With 52 percent blue pistes, 44 percent red or black pistes, plus 18 fun zones and snow parks, a boardercross run, toboggan runs and a water slide, you won’t get bored.

And with 70 percent of runs over 2,000 m and two skiable glaciers at 3,000 m, we don’t have to worry about a lack of snow.

It was definitely worth spending the extra £30 for a full Paradiski pass giving access to Les Arcs as well as La Plagne for 265 miles of downhill skiing in one of the world’s largest ski resorts.

The annoyingly charming and annoyingly handsome Julien, the director of the Oxygene ski school, took us on a tour that made sure we were educated on the best slopes and lifts and found our way around.

Some of our group also went to daily classes and quickly improved thanks to the patient, kind and professional approach of the teachers.

Located in the heart of the Alps, La Plagne offers stunning views of Mont Blanc and stunning open landscapes with snow-capped peaks poking through the clouds.

For those like me who enjoy a drink or four between runs there are plenty of watering holes scattered around.

We drank loads of pints, but our personal favorite was “water to warm you up” – Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

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La Folie Douce – famous for its wild après-ski parties – opened its first Les Arcs spot in 2020 and is a must-see.

Just like the perfectly positioned Bar La Bergerie with its DJs, live music and lots of precarious table dancing.

Skiing down to the chalet, just in time for a pre-dinner dip in the hot tub, always seemed a little easier after a few late-night slacks.