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Our writer Sarah White – and frequent skier – discovered stunning views and thrilling activities on a family trip to the French ski resort of Les Arcs

On arrival at Arc 1800, one of five resorts in the Les Arcs ski region in southeast France, we were surprised to discover a 4ft dump of snow had fallen overnight. Skis were parked up, snowmen were being built and snowballs were flying through the air like scenes from a Christmas movie.

Although the extreme snowfall had temporarily closed some of the ski lifts, it freed up time on our first day to explore the village’s bustling pedestrianised centre. It’s well equipped with restaurants, bars, ski shops for the inevitable lost gloves, and patisseries with fancy cakes that wouldn’t look out of place in a capital city.

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What to do in Les Arcs

Our apartment at Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence Le Roselend offered impressive views of Mont Blanc direct from our balcony. Our daily ritual quickly became an early morning walk down the hill to the village bakery to buy delicacies for our afternoon tea. The steps back up to our accommodation were a steep but short journey, and were a good warm-up for the day of skiing ahead.

Part of the Paradiski ski circuit, Arc 1800 gives you easy access to Les Arcs’ highest slope at 3,226m, at the top of the Aiguille Rouge mountain – and with 70% of the ski area above 2,000m, you can expect fantastic snow coverage throughout the season.

As you would expect, the views from the top are truly impressive, and they’re not the only attraction at the summit. There’s a new awareness area where skiers can learn how the glacier has evolved over time and discover the problems surrounding its existence, so you can educate yourself while taking in your surroundings on the Varet panoramic terrace.

Also up here is an eco-friendly café, where the produce is organic and locally sourced, alongside another popular attraction, the Aiguille Rouge Zipline. This exhilarating ride is a speedy, 1.8km descent from 2,680m, offering breathtaking views of the Alpine landscape – if you have your eyes open, that is!

Adrenaline levels still pumping? You might want to seek out some après ski at Folie Douce for an unforgettable experience. Nestled into the mountain near the Arc 1800 village, it’s easily accessible by skis or by foot via the Villards gondola and Dahu cable car. It boasts the world’s highest cabaret show and a 360° stage for performing dancers and aerial artists.

DJs provide first-class entertainment while revellers dance on tables, making dancing in ski boots look ridiculously easy. Families are welcome to join in the fun or you can sit back and just enjoy the people watching, as we did. A little tip: remember where you put your skis upon arrival if you want to avoid playing an Alpine edition of Where’s Wally? at home time.

What else to do in the Paradiski area

Les Arcs makes up only half of the Paradiski area, so you might also fancy skiing over to neighbouring La Plagne. Make a day of it but check the weather conditions before you set off.

Ski down to Peisey-Vallandry, where stunning forested slopes meet tree-lined runs that connect you to the Vanoise Express cable car for your onward journey to La Plagne. Ensure you have the accessible Paradiski lift pass to get to the other side of the mountain, otherwise your journey will end here.

The Vanoise Express is the world’s largest double-decker cable car, with two levels that can carry 200 people across the valley at once. The crossing is 380m above the ground, giving you a birds-eye view of the snow-capped scenery, and the journey takes less than five minutes. Travel in the lower level for the thrill of seeing the valley through the glass floor.

Do check lift closing times with the brilliant Yuge app, a must when skiing in this area. It gives you live information to avoid busy periods, instant GPS tracking and live weather updates, and you can even buy passes and reserve activities through it. All this saves you precious ski time and aching legs when searching for those sometimes hard-to-find ticket offices.

After each full-on day, we would head back to Le Roselend, prise off our ski boots and enjoy the well-deserved afternoon tea and cakes we purchased in the morning. Also on the agenda was a swim in the residence’s indoor pool, a sauna or hammam to help our muscles recover and planning the next day’s activities – including which cakes to buy.

Five best things to do in the Paradiski ski region

• The Mountain Animals Museum: A museum dedicated to mountain fauna with more than 30 animal species on display, including wolves, deer and bears.
• First Track event: Be among the first to carve your line on freshly groomed runs. Take in the sunrise at the top of the slopes and share breakfast with the ski patrol.
• The Illuminated Murals of the Aiguille Rouge: An immersive installation inside a converted ski lift garage, where you can experience all the seasons of the mountain in a light show.
• Aerolive: A gondola like no other! Strap on a harness, clip onto the open-sided gondola and feel the fresh mountain air rushing around you. You’re completely exposed to the elements on your ascent with no windows to block the view.
• Icefall: Scale the 24m-high artificial ice tower, suitable for beginners and experienced climbers alike.

How much does it cost to visit Les Arcs?

2026 rates at Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence Le Roselend start from £1,357 for a seven-night stay for five people. For more information on Les Arcs, click here.

For more ski holidays to Les Arcs, have a browse of Neilson’s and Iglu Ski’s offerings.

Black Friday is a great opportunity to snap up a discounted holiday, whether you’re looking for a European getaway or to finally book that long-haul flight, but there’s one blunder to stay clear of

Black Friday deals are now in full swing, and there are some fantastic holiday packages available at a discounted rate. However, amid the excitement of booking that next getaway, a travel expert has outlined the one mistake you need to avoid.

From today (Friday, 28 November) the internet is ablaze with tempting offers during the annual Black Friday event, with many discounts also available before and after this date. Some of the most appealing offers are those related to our next holiday, whether that’s booking a tropical getaway for early next year or a last-minute trip to explore a charming European Christmas market.

A vast number of airlines, travel booking websites, and hotels offer major deals and discounts during Black Friday, but there’s something we need to be aware of when planning that desirable trip. Travel expert and Managing Director at hoppa, Chris Harrington, warned that the cheapest deal isn’t always the best for value.

“Black Friday deals can be extremely tempting, with many companies offering as much as £100 off per person or 20% off overall flights. But these headline prices can often hide add-ons,” Chris shared. “So be sure to check what’s included in your deal, such as resort fees, airport transfers and cancellation policies, before comparing offers.”

To help us navigate the chaos of Black Friday deals, Chris outlined additional top tips, including how to make the most of the annual sale. A key point is to verify your flight times before confirming the booking.

He explained: “Sometimes, a deal can be too good to be true. Sure, it may look like you’re getting a steal, but the flight may be going cheap because it departs at 5am or there’s a 12-hour layover. If the deal is a long-distance flight, be sure to check both legs of the journey to ensure you’re not stuck with ridiculously long layovers or connection times that are too tight to make comfortably.”

Black Friday doesn’t just need to be for booking a new holiday, but you can also take advantage of the deals when it comes to upgrading your flights or hotel. The expert said: “In addition to bagging a cheaper deal than usual, there’s also the opportunity to secure an upgrade at a fraction of the usual cost. This can range from flight upgrades to all-inclusive resorts and hotels with more luxurious facilities. If you fancy a sweeter deal, now is the time to cash in.”

Furthermore, Chris pointed out that it’s a good idea to have a flexible booking policy, particularly for trips next year. “If you’re booking trips for this time of year, keep in mind the likelihood of weather disruptions like heavy snowfall and storms. I suggest prioritising Black Friday deals that include a flexible cancellation policy or allow you to exchange flights. A slightly higher upfront cost can save you hundreds if plans need to change,” Chris shared.

While it may seem like you need to rush to book the holiday before it’s sold out or before the end of November 28, you still need to be sensible with your decisions.

“Deals can move quickly, but keep a steady head and spend some time checking recent price trends by using price comparison websites or fare-tracking tools, as it may turn out to not be a decent deal at all. If the price has been inflated before the discount, it’s not a true saving. Something I’d suggest is to keep a budget in mind in terms of how much you wish to spend and stick to it to avoid overspending,” he continued.

If you follow these simple tips from Chris, you will help ensure a great bargain while enjoying the best possible holiday, without any hidden surprises. The expert added: “Black Friday is a brilliant opportunity to secure yourself a great deal or treat yourself to that extra bit of luxury, but take the time to do your research before booking. Compare what’s included, check the fine print, and make sure the deal supports the kind of holiday you actually want. A little diligence now can save you a lot of stress later.”

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A holiday expert revealed if your flight is delayed by a certain length of time, you could claim more than just monetary compensation – but you need to know your rights

Finding out your flight is delayed is never welcome news, but knowing exactly what you can claim from the airline can help ease the frustration of waiting at the airport. With many of us planning winter getaways to sunny locations to escape the dreary UK weather, or perhaps even thinking of spending Christmas abroad, airports are set to be incredibly busy over the coming weeks.

While we’d all love for every flight to leave and land perfectly on time, that is simply not practical, and some delays are inevitable. But what are your rights when your flight is delayed? One holiday expert has shared some vital tips that could help you next time you’re stuck waiting for your plane.

The expert, named Chelsea, shared a video on TikTok in which she stated her flight had been delayed and she was stuck in the airport. She said that before you start worrying about whose fault the delay is, there are other things to consider.

She said there are “a load of things” you could have a right to, no matter whose fault the delay is, but they all depend on how long your flight has been delayed.

For short-haul flights delayed by over two hours, you are entitled to food and drink, access to phone calls and emails, and accommodation for the night if needed, as well as transport to and from that accommodation.

Chelsea only needed food and drink this time, but when she went to get a voucher from airport staff, she found nobody working behind the desks. Instead, she bought her food and kept the receipt, saying she would be able to claim it back online once she finally got on her flight and headed to her destination.

Once her flight was boarding and her passport had been checked, she asked for confirmation on the reason for the delay. She was told it was due to an aircraft change, which means the delay was the airline’s fault – and that means Chelsea could be entitled to compensation.

However, to receive £220 compensation for her delayed flight from Tallinn, Estonia, back to London, her plane had to be three hours late. There are also very specific restrictions on that time.

She said: “It’s not about the time we land, it’s about what time the first door opens.”

Chelsea’s plane landed on the runway 2 hours and 56 minutes after it was scheduled to, meaning she had four minutes until her compensation could be paid. It finally came to a stop, and passengers began to stand up with just one minute left on the clock, and thankfully, the doors opened just a few seconds after the three-hour mark – meaning she was able to put in a claim to get her money back.

In her caption, Chelsea claimed these rules are only relevant to flights that are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.

You should always check the specific rules for the airline you’re flying with before you travel, as you don’t want to be caught off guard if it turns out your airline operates under different rules.

Chelsea added: “For both expenses and compensation, airlines will have a dedicated page on their website with the details on how you can claim your money back.”

Commenters on the expert’s post were thankful for her advice, though many shared their own stories from times their flights were delayed and they were unfortunately denied compensation.

One person said: “This is gold! Love this for you.”

Another added: “This happened to us in December 2023! They opened the doors seconds after, and all three of us got the compensation. We also got food vouchers at the airport.”

A third wrote: “This happened to us. My friend recorded the time the doors were opened on her phone. The airline refused. My friend found the airline CEO on LinkedIn… he authorised our compensation.”