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maltatoday SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2018 39 Travel BEST PLACE TO STAY Courchevel is often called the play- ground for rich Russians who flock to the ski resort during Orthodox Christmas and New Year in Janu- ary. Courchevel boasts not only 11 luxury five-star hotels but also two of France's eight six-star hotels are in the tree-lined Jardin Alpin. The six-star Cheval Blanc, considered one of the best hotels in the Alps, offers 34 rooms and one 650m2 apartment, incredibly decorated spaces and highest calibre restaurants. The spa is extraordinary with an infinity pool, ice-water plunge pools and treat- ments provided by Givenchy. BEST PLACE FOR A NIGHT OUT Rather than dance the night away and spend the bulk of their mornings nursing a hangover, most skiers prefer to do their drinking straight after skiing. The best spots for après ski parties are La Boulette in Courchevel Moriond, Pub Le Ski Lodge in La Tania and L'Elephant Bar in Le Praz. BEST PLACE TO SHOP Courchevel couldn't have earned the nickname "winter Saint Tropez" without some great spot for shopping. Get your credit card ready as there are plenty of places to spend your money, from luxury boutique shops to market stalls. There are attractive designer boutiques right in the cen- tre of town starting from the Place du Tremplin. Along Avenue Montagne, there are shops for ski gear, casual wear, shoes and accessories. Brands such as Lorenz Bach, Moncler, Milady, Philipp Plein, Dior, Bvlgari, Louis Vutton, Fendi, Prada, Chanel and Blu&Berry can be found here. If you are staying at a self-catering place, be sure to stop at the local boulangeries, fromageries, boucheries and the cave à vin to stock up on the local goodies. They also make great souvenirs for family and friends or even for yourself when the holiday blues have set in. BEST PLACE TO EAT It's all well and good to spend the days on the slopes but come even- ing there needs to be a little more. In Courchevel there is plenty more. If fine dining is your thing then this is the destination of dreams. Take your pick from one, two and even three Michelin star restaurants. Le 1947 is named after Chateau Cheval Blanc's most prestigious and sought-after vintage of wine. Try the host-table and two-starred Le Chabichou at the hotel of the same name where you are close enough to the kitchen to see the magic taking place before your very eyes. If you don't want to eat like that every night, there are plenty of spots that serve traditional Savo- yard meals. Hearty by nature, many include cheese and diary or cured meats. Fondue, raclette and tartiflette, cured and seasoned meats and even some fish dishes, made with fish caught in the nearby lakes, make it onto the local menus. Now that spring is seriously under way – okay, maybe except these past couple of days – the white-spotted barbary beetle (M. busuf tat-tikek bojod) is starting to show up on crown daisies, boar thistles and other flowers. This delightful creature is quite the hippie: it's hairy, it spends its adult life sucking up flower power, and it's a champion of free love! These beetles don't just visit a flower, they practically belly-flop into the middle of it, getting a good dusting of pollen on their hairy coat as they feed on the scented goodness. After feeding themselves almost comatose they often stay put right there on the flower and nod off, swaying with every breeze on their petalled platform. But male barbary bugs are also on the look-out for females, with whom they mate half buried among the stamens and the pollen. So next time you bend to smell a flower, keep an eye open for these lusty little lovers. Join us on today from 2:00 pm till 5:00 pm at Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park. We will launch a repair cafe with 4 repair stations, one for clothes repair, one for bicycle repair, one for electronic repair, and one for up-cycling items from trash to treasure. 602. WHITE-SPOTTED BARBARY BEETLE Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 505: Check out our newsletter to register and find out more about our other events: www.foemalta.org/newsletter/1803/ Repair Cafe Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon Courchevel is home to two of France's six-star hotels. The Cheval Blanc in Jardin Alpin has 34 rooms and an extraordinary spa Fondue, raclette and tartiflette are the main regional dishes to try in Courchevel Indulge in some hard earned drinks after a day of skiing Get your credit card ready for a trip to the luxury boutique stores in Courchevel