I have been living in Europe now for five years, and absolutely love it. I have found the girl of my dreams in Paris, and have been able to set myself up as an English teacher and am having nothing but good times.
Except when it comes to winter. I don’t know what it is – something about the freezing cold weather, the “all cold no snow”, as they say in French, the dark dark days and nights. Coming from a country like Australia, where sunshine is a religion, I have a tough time during the cold months.
So last winter, with the help of my girlfriend, we decided to make a change. Rather than spend another dreary winter in Paris, we decided to embark on an alpine adventure, and enjoy a snowfilled adventure, skiing in the Alps!
After a little bit of deliberation, my girlfriend and I decided to head to Alpe d’Huez, which we had heard as an amazing combination of snow sports and nightlife fun. We weren’t disappointed. Below is a quick list of some of our favorite moments in the Alps. Hopefully it can give you a bit of inspiration to escape your dreary city this winter, and make the most of what the cold has to offer!
- Skiing is believing – Whilst there is more to the Alps than just the snow, particular emphasis has to be placed on just how good these ski conditions were. Situated in the heart of the French Alps, Alpes d’Huez is something of a Mecca for snow worshippers. With hundreds of runs available for every type of skier (from me the amateur, to my girlfriend the pro), Alpe d’Huez has got you covered. Highlights included heading to the winter sports park for some half pipe fun, and a night sledding adventure run by the mountain staff (for more info on tours, head to www.allchalets.com/alpe-d-huez).
- A chalet to remember – Whilst my girlfriend and I began in a modest apartment the French Alps, after making some friends on the mountain, we quickly joined forces and rented one of the many luxury Alpe d’Huez chalets. Our place was ridiculous to say the least, complete with a hot tub sauna, and our own personal chef who cooked our meals! There was nothing better than enjoying a hard days skiing, only to come home to soak in a hot tub and enjoy a prepared cheese fondue with some mulled wine. The perfect life.
- Friends and fun – As I mentioned earlier, my girlfriend and I had super luck finding some great friends whilst enjoying ski lessons, and these people really made our trip. We did everything together, from falling over endlessly on the mountain to having one too many beers at one of Alpe d’Huez’s many pubs – we were all brought together by a want for something more from Winter.
So there you are, a couple of good reasons why you should embrace a winter adventure this year, and get the most out of the mountains you have access to in Europe. For more information on where you can plan the adventure of a lifetime, head to www.allchalets.com/france and find yourself a ski apartment in France!