Skiing… the word conjures up images of log cabins, exhilarating days, and warm nights spent by blazing fires. There is nothing better than whizzing down a piste in the company of family and friends, or enjoying the camaraderie and laughs of ski school.

Arguably, the best skiing available in Europe is to be had in France. Consider Les Trois Vallées in the French Alps. With more than 370 miles of interlinked ski slopes, it is the largest dedicated skiing area of its kind in the world. In this area, surprisingly competitive ski deals are usually available.

The valleys are Allues, Saint-Bon, and Belleville, but despite the name there is a fourth valley too, the Maurienne. There are eight resorts in the Three Valleys area, but Méribel, nestled in the outstandingly beautiful Tarentaise Valley, offers the most rewarding runs for beginner to intermediate level skiers.

Even the most frost-hardened veteran will find challenges here too, the attraction of the Les Trois Vallées interlinked ski area is that access to adjacent slopes is simple and smooth. The interconnected resorts regularly upgrade their connected ski lift system, so gaining access to a slope that meets your requirements is never more than a lift-ride away.

The runs from Tougnète to Méribel are fast and exhilarating. Back in the early 1990s, a run was created for the women’s Olympic downhill race. Is it time to see if you can go for gold too?