La Plagne - A Superb Late Season Ski Destination
Gareth, August 2025
Work commitments and school holidays mean my family and I usually have our annual ski trip in the Easter holidays. As it’s towards the end of the season, we’re always looking for a high-altitude resort with snow-sure conditions. So in April 2025 we packed our bags and headed off to La Plagne.
This high-altitude, multi-village resort in the French Alps offers fantastic skiing all season long and is an ideal choice for a late season trip. It’s a huge ski area and has terrain to suit all abilities. With 19 people in our group, keeping everyone happy is not an easy task, but La Plagne made it effortless.
© Olivier Allamand
Our Apartment
I’d recommend staying slopeside at the beautiful Residence Manaka. From the ski locker door you step right on to a blue slope (Jean Marie), which takes you down to the Mélèzes lift. The residence offers two and three bedroom apartments and some of the best leisure facilities in the resort. In the evening, the view over Mont Blanc from the swimming pool is absolutely amazing! Kids and adults will love the hot and cold pools and there is a sauna and steam room to ease those over-worked muscles.
Leiseure facilities at Residence Manaka
The Slopes
Our week of skiing was unreal. Each day was warm and sunny and because the slopes are north-facing and most sit above 2,000m, the snow stayed in great condition. Seeing the groomers take to the slopes after the lifts closed each night shows how much effort and pride the resort takes in keeping the slopes in amazing condition.
We started each morning in La Plagne Centre where some of the kids and adults were taking lessons with Oxygene Ski School (they were brilliant and everyone loved their experience). From here the full 225km of slopes were easily accessible as the lift system is so efficient. It allowed those of us not attending ski school to get maximum miles in without constantly looking at our watches to see what time we needed to head back.
The kids having a great time on the mountain
Food, Drink & Après-Ski
Eating on the mountain was good. We ended up all too often at Le Croq’Neige as it was close to ski school drop off and the kids (and adults) were ‘starving’. Food was good, prices reasonable and the service was fast and friendly. We ventured out one day to Chalet des Dolines and had a very long and lazy lunch in the sunshine. It sits just above Plagne Villages and this was without a doubt our lunchtime highlight. The food was excellent and the service very friendly. Definitely worth making a reservation here!
We had great fun towards the end of the day at La Bergerie – the best après ski spot in town. Some of those new to skiing thought it was madness to dance on the tables in ski boots … until they tried it (and then we couldn’t get them down!!)
Enjoying the apres at La Bergerie
Our evenings tended to be quiet. We were all exhausted after fine food, lots of sunshine and masses of skiing. We largely chose to shop at the well-stocked Spar and cater for ourselves. We had a lovely group meal at La Terrasse in Aime 2000 and some lovely beer and wine at Le Vins & 1 in the same village.
So if you’re looking for inspiration on where to travel for a late season ski holiday, look no further than La Plagne. Our holiday could not have been better. The weather, the skiing, the people – all of it was amazing and La Plagne in April works so well. In fact, it was so good we are going back again in April 2026!
For more information, please contact our Ski Specialists today on 0131 243 8097 or Enquire Online now.