Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/958047
38 maltatoday SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2018 Travel ≠≠ CITY BREAKS Saint Tropez has to be one of France's top summer destinations with its beautiful beaches, top- notch restaurants, high- end shops and rocking nightlife. Come winter, travellers leave the Mediterranean shores and head up to the mountains for some more revelry, this time in the snow. Of course, the majority of people travelling to Les Trois Vallées in the French Alps are going for the skiing. The largest linked ski area in the world, Courchevel is renowned for its efficient lift system that is virtually queue-free, even at the busiest times of year. NEED TO KNOW How to get there Air Malta offer regular flights to Geneva in Switzerland or Lyon in France. Both airports are just over 1.5 hours away by car. Best time to visit Skiing is best in Courchevel from December through to April. Which month suits you best depends very much on personal preference. Christmas and New Year in the mountains are very popular, while January and February are much quieter as the temperatures are pretty cold. March is a much warmer month so if you are looking for a skiing holiday in the sunshine then March or April are the best times to visit. Currency As part of France and therefore the EU, the currency used in Courchevel is the Euro. Visas European citizens do not need a visa to travel to France. Courchevel : winter's answer to Saint Tropez WHAT TO DO Courchevel makes it onto almost every top ski destination list. Connected to Les Trois Vallées, the skiing options are endless. If that's not enough, you can jump out of a helicopter and ski down slopes untouched by other skiers. Enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains and then jump out onto remote mountains of powder. If you're not going to ski, there is plenty to do in the winter won- derland. Grab a sledge and hit the 2km run from the top of Ariondaz to Courchevel Moriond village – the perfect run for thrill seek- ers as you can reach speeds of up to 30km/h. Try out your spins on the ice rink that's open on certain afternoons of the week with skates for hire. Another fantastic adven- ture is to make your way around the mountains in a sled led by huskies. Take charge of your own sled or let a guide do all the work while you sit back and take in the calm of the Courchevel forest after the ski slopes have closed for the evening. Jump out of a helicopter onto remote powdered mountains untouched by other skiers