Les 2 Alpes

The pretty village of La Grave, notorious for its challenging off-piste terrain is about 30 minutes away by road - ride the old gondola for some of the most spectacular mountain views in the region. The ride up to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez an hour away offers views of distant Mont Blanc. Further afield you can tour the Chartreus distillery at Voiron on the other side of Grenoble, visit the museum and grounds of the chateau at Vizille on the D1091, or take a ride on the old funicular railway at St Hilaire du Touvet towards Chambery.

In the winter the resort is host to a number of freestyle events in the snow park and also in the summer where ski camps and racers come to train. Summer snowcamps and freestyle competitions take place on the galcier every year, attracting teams from all over the world.

In winter 2 Alpes and neighbouring La Grave are renowned for their incredible ski areas - on and off piste. There's something for every level of skier or snowboarder, plus a snow park and access to the glacier. The glacier can also be skied in summer when the resort transforms into a mountain biking and hiking mecca. There are so many summer activities to choose from, including golf - the nine-hole course at Deux Alpes starts appearing out of the snow around May, and is open for business when the resort opens for summer in June. Golfers looking for more of a challenge should head for the course at Uriage les Bain near Grenoble, just over an hour's drive away.

Deux Alpes caters for everyone from the gourmet to the fast food fan. At the top end, the Chalet Hotel Mounier offers tasting menus and an extensive wine list, and the Raisin d'Ours is owner-run by the Mounier's Michelin-starred former chef. Les Sagnes serves excellent crepes and a range of local specialities in a rustic atmosphere in front of a roaring log fire. Tribeca at one end of town and l'Etable at the other both have great pizzas, and anyone looking for a decent burger 'n' chips need look no further than the British-run Le Takeaway in the centre of town.

Deux Alpes has a well-deserved reputation as a party town. The fun starts daily at the Pano Bar at 2,600m, with a regular DJ. Later you can find live music and DJs at British-run bars Smithy's Tavern, Smokey Joe's and The Secret, and follow it up with a visit to the popular Avalanche nightclub next door to Smithy's. The Boardroom is popular with French seasonnaires, instructors and lifties, the Red Frog and Smokey Joe's show big screen sport, and the Brasilienne has a late-night club atmosphere.

There are a small handful of chalets to choose from in 2 Alpes and the surrounding villages.

There are literally hundreds of apartments to choose from in 2 Alpes, mostly self catering, suiting couples right up to large groups of 18 or 20 people.

There are a number of hotels in 2 Alpes from chalet-hotels with traditional fixtures and fittings to the more contemporary ones with swimming pools and spa facilities.