Tips for when La Plagne is busy

Pretty much all ski resorts the world over suffer from lengthy lift queues and crowded pistes during the busy holiday periods of Christmas, New Year, the February mid-terms and Easter. However, with La Plagne holding the distinction of being the world’s most-visited ski area, these issues become all the more exacerbated through these times (read our article on when is La Plagne quietest for more information on the best times to visit). If you’re looking for ways to deal with a busy La Plagne (or any major ski area for that matter), below are our tips for when La Plagne is busy.

How to make the best of La Plagne when it’s busy

For many skiers and snowboarders, the only time they can take a ski trip is in the holiday periods noted above. In particular, February tends to be the busiest time in resorts across the Alps – and La Plagne is no exception. Note – although you should always have La Plagne ski / snowboard insurance for your trip, it becomes especially important over these busy periods as accidents can (and frequently do) happen. Also, if you’re doing a La Plagne season, the information below will help you get the best out of the area even in the busiest times.

At any given point through February, at least one of the major European countries will be on holiday (normally, many more) meaning the ski resorts get rammed. This is particularly true for the bigger French resorts – though all ski areas get noticeably busier through the month.

Although the video below was produced some time ago it contains several tips and tricks that are equally applicable today in any major Alpine resort. It also references February specifically but, again, the rules still apply. Note: there’s way more information in the written version below but a video makes for easier viewing.

Ride when others don’t

Restaurants always get busy over lunch in ski resorts (particularly in France) so, while it might sound obvious, staying out when the hill is quiet is going to increase your time riding. It never fails to amaze me how many people don’t clock this idea quickly.

Continentals (and, particularly, the French) are almost fanatical about stopping for lunch, resulting in deserted slopes between the hours of 12.00 and 14.00 each day.

Rather than stopping when everyone else does, stay out for some serious mileage and laps on quiet pistes. Not only will you benefit from queue-free lifts, you’ll also save time waiting to be served in the busy restaurants (eating later or earlier avoids this).

Pistes are generally quietest first thing in the morning (before 10.00), through lunch (between 12.00 – 14.00) and at the end of the day (approx 15.30 onwards).

Pack a baguette and eat on the lifts

Eating on the lifts makes a chair ride feel considerably shorter and can give you the chance to fill up without stopping. Packing a mix of snacks, baguettes, drinks, etc in your backpack will mean you minimise downtime and avoid the dreaded restaurant queues (not to mention prices). Click for La Plagne supermarket locations or you could also think about shopping in La Plagne’s valley supermarkets to save money.

A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to maximising your time on the hill and packing a jambon fromage baguette to eat on the chair can be a great time-saver. If eating on the chair or gondola isn’t your thing, think about stopping at the side of the hill to take in some of the best La Plagne views.

No matter where you choose to eat, it’ll be much quicker than eating in one of the on-hill restaurants. Chuck a couple of beers and some food in your backpack and take a break whenever you get hungry.

Buy food in supermarkets or from village stalls

Larger, purpose-built French ski resorts like La Plagne are perfect for easy access to supermarkets and food stalls selling far cheaper (and quicker) takeaway food for lunch stops. As above, stop when you’re hungry and buy some cheap nosh to see you through the day.

Resorts like La Plagne, Tignes, Les Arcs, Avoriaz and Val Thorens lie at the foot of the pistes with a lot of ski-in/ski-out accommodation. This makes access to town (and cheaper food stalls) considerably easier. Actually, in the case of VT and La Plagne, you can even ride through many parts of the resort.

As an example of cheaper food lower down, there’s a food stall at the base of the Roche de Mio gondola in Belle Plagne which used to sell saucisses frites (sausage and chips) for 5€ – compared to around 15€ further up the hill. Also in Belle Plagne, there’s a Spar supermarket – directly accessed from one of the runs through the village – which sold a full, cooked chicken for around 12€. Way cheaper than prices in on-hill restaurants.

Shop smart, stop less, ride more.

Avoid busy lifts and hubs

The video at the top of this page makes mention of the busiest areas specifically in La Plagne but every resort around the world has central hubs that tend to suffer from the longest queues. Checking your resort piste map will give you some clues but, as a rule, look for primary access lifts – for example, the Bergerie chair between Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil or the Colosses chair, Roche de Mio gondola and Arpette chair in Plagne Bellecôte. See our La Plagne lifts to avoid article for more information.

Any lift that gives access out to other areas of a resort will normally stay busy through the day so it’s best to get up and out early to avoid the worst of the queues. All stations have these lifts e.g. the Grande Motte funiculaire in Tignes or the Transarc in Les Arcs.

Stay away from easy-access pistes

Avoid runs around the main stations (particularly beginner areas) as these normally stay busy all day. To find the quietest lifts and runs, it’s often a good idea to look at the extremities of the piste map – areas where less experienced riders will be less inclined to go. Great examples of this in La Plagne include the Montchavin sector, Montalbert sector and Champagny pistes – each of which is tucked at the far end of the piste map, but that offer great riding (particularly after fresh snow).

Avoid busy lesson times and pistes

This point is linked to the above. Although all resorts vary – and La Plagne ski / snowboard lessons can happen any time of day – generally most ski schools start around 10.00 in alpine resorts. If possible, try to be up and out long before the lessons meet to avoid the worst of the liftlines and ski schools snaking their way down the hill. In general, most beginner areas are located close to town so getting out early will help you avoid the worst queues. The same applies at 14.00, when the afternoon lessons tend to start.

Pay for a guide to show you the best areas

There’s no substitute for getting a guide if you’re looking to avoid the worst queues while also exploring wide-open, quiet expanses (and the best snow). La Plagne guides have an in-depth knowledge of the area and will be able to safely show you the secret spots and stashes you’d never find on your own.

Moreover, a good guide will also know what areas get busy and where to find the best snow at any given time of day (even late season) meaning you’ll get the best quality riding during your trip. Riding with a guide also means you’ll see the best of the resort – and avoid the dangers of avalanches.

Alternatively, try to hunt out the bars popular with saisonnaires (every resort has them) and try to hook up with locals who can show you the area. Rule number one however – if you’re attempting La Plagne off-piste, only do so with the right gear and someone who has avalanche training.

Ride poma lifts rather than chairs

They’re becoming a rare thing in most Alpine resorts these days including La Plagne but riding drag lifts can be a great way to avoid queues. Most riders are pretty lazy and, while it’s true the majority of us deep-down prefer to take a chair or gondola over a drag lift, you can save a load of time queuing by taking pomas (if possible).

Look for less obvious routes on the piste map for getting from A to B – or, if you find a particularly good run served by a poma, consider sticking around and getting some laps in. A good example of this is the Col de Forcle poma in the Bellecôte area which also serves the park or the Dou de Praz poma out of Plagne Villages which is always much quieter than the Bergerie chair. Draglifts are always considerably quieter than other types of lift.

Arrive on Saturday and ride on transfer day

In Tarentaise resorts (including La Plagne), it’s possible to ride the train overnight on Friday and arrive in-resort Saturday morning – on easily the quietest day of the week. Saturday is well-known amongst saisonnaires as the best day to go riding. While everyone else is stuck on flights and in transfer traffic, you’ve already dropped your bags at your apartment and are out riding blissfully deserted pistes.

Check our guides for La Plagne by SnowTrain, taking the train to La Plagne as well as the La Plagne valley bus schedule for more information. It’s way better for the environment, far less hassle, doesn’t take that much longer (when you factor in airport check-ins and delays) and even gets you an extra day on the hill. What’s not to like?

Avoid the holiday periods altogether

While we appreciate it’s not always possible and many skiers / snowboarders are limited to sticking with school holiday breaks, if you can, try to book your La Plagne ski holiday outwith these busy times. You will get considerably more riding for your money – plus save the frustration of being stuck in queues or riding busy pistes. Remember too that it’s not just resorts get busy at this time of year – the airports and transfer connections do too. It’s also worth noting, should you be unlucky enough to experience ski flight delays or cancellations, you could be due compensation – click the link to check.

For European school holiday dates 2024 into 2025, check the charts below produced by Eric Bonnel – https://twitter.com/ebonnel

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