Sharing the amazing Espace Killy area with neighbouring Val d’Isere, Tignes has been purpose built to offer doorstep skiing to one of the world’s great ski areas. No other French resort has a better opening record. In fact, it’s the only French resort open for most of the autumn, with skiing guaranteed on its glacier slopes from early October through to May. It’s even open for a few months in the heat of summer.

Tignes is big enough to offer something for everyone – beginners, piste-mile-crunching intermediates, freestylers looking for the best terrain parks and even the most demanding advanced skiers. Adrenaline junkies will revel in the numerous unusual attractions including a recently added bungee catapult rope – ski, board, or sledge off a downhill ramp and into the void – with the famous elasticated ropes attached. Who could resist that? Off the snow the choice of restaurants, cafés and bars continues to grow, making Tignes an ever more vibrant and comprehensive choice for the complete ski break.

Learn more about Tignes at skiweekends.com

• Jump on the Marias chairlift and go right to the top of the Aiguelle Percee. This is where the Eye of Needle is located - Tignes's famous rock formation.

•  From the top of the Aiguelle Percee, enjoy the beautiful long runs down to Les Brévières.

•  On the way down from the Grande Motte glacier, take the red rather than the blue. The red is a nice and wide run down, but the blue is quite flat so snowboarders beware!

•  If you want to make the most of the Espace Killy ski area, head over to Le Fornet in Val d'Isere. Make sure you leave enough time to get back though because the buses and taxis will cost!