La Clusaz Information

Apres-ski

La Clusaz is one of the livelier French resorts thanks to its long-standing status, year-round operation and international clientele.

La Pressoir (tel: +33 450 026 410) video bar, which has a selection of nearly 100 beers – is one of several bars regularly open to 0200. Those who want to party later still should try L'Écluse (tel: +33 450 026 441), which is the coolest nightclub in town and open until 0500 each morning.

Come nightfall, there's weekly floodlit skiing, and the resort has built a reputation for its 'Full Moon Evenings' where guests ski by moonlight on the Crêt du Loup and Crêt du Merle areas from 2100 to 0100 once a month.

Eating out

There are more than 70 restaurants to enjoy in La Clusaz, the vast majority of which serve traditional local Savoyard dishes, including ever-popular fondue and raclettes dishes made with the local Reblochon cheese.

La Ferme (tel: +33 450 025 050; www.lesfermiers.com) is one of the most popular restaurants in town, serving large traditional dishes with ingredients supplied by the region's farmers.

The family-run L'ourson (tel: +33 450 686 489; www.resto-ourson-laclusaz.fr) is another good choice for traditional fare, providing high-quality cuisine and a tasty house digestif - making sure the evening finishes on the right note

For high-end gastronomic specialities, the best options are Le Cinq (tel: +33 450 015 001; www.hotel-aucoeurduvillage.fr) in the 5-star Hôtel Spa Au Coeur du Village and La Scierie (tel: +33 4 5063 3468).

However, it doesn't all have to be about cheese in la Clusaz, with a number of international options too. Chez Khean Saveurs D'Ailleurs (33 chem Pre de Foire) is an affordable Thai restaurant and L'Outa (tel: +33 450 024 535) serves superb pizza.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

As one of the largest year-round resorts in the French Alps, there is plenty to do besides ski and board in La Clusaz. Visitors will find several indoor spa and fitness centres, including Espace Aquatique des Aravis (tel: +33 4 5002 4301) with its indoor pools and state-of-the-art spa facilities. There's also a cinema, library and games room. Outdoors, the ice rink is a popular attraction, while the resort touches on its agricultural origins with farm visits and village heritage tours several times a week.

Back on the snow, options include snowshoeing, snowmobiling (tel: +33 4 5032 3537) sleigh rides, winter hiking, dog-sledding and paragliding. Many of these activities are provided at the nearby Confins Lake.

There's also an ice driving circuit on the edge of the resort (tel: +33 634 127 571; www.circuit-glace-laclusaz.fr), offering visitors the chance to gleefully slide round a course in a small electric vehicle designed specifically for the slippery conditions.

Family fun

Childcare facilities are well-organised in La Clusaz. A nursery service is available for full or part days for babies aged from eight months. A ski school run by L'Ecole du Ski Français (tel: +33 450 024 083; www.esf-laclusaz.com) helps to keep children aged four and up entertained in a specially created and protected 'snow garden' at the base of the slopes. There's also an increasing range of family attractions off the slopes, particularly the swimming pool complex.

The Club des Mouffets (tel: +33 4 5032 4891), which offers indoor play, music and arts and crafts, is located above the tourist office. It's wise to book early and remember to bring along the child's NHS booklet documenting vaccinations, as this is required by the facility.

Retail therapy

La Clusaz has around 150 shops for visitors to browse, most of which line the bustling main street running through the village centre.

Those who love fresh, local products and handmade crafts shouldn't miss the weekly market each Monday morning, offering many local delicacies including the famous Reblochon cheese. Among the stores to look out for in town is the Morand Chocolaterie (tel: +33 450 034 126; www.chocolats-morand.com), which sells a mind-boggling array of delicious confectionary items.

Splashing out

The Espace Aquatique des Aravis (tel: +33 450 024 301; www.espaceaquatique-laclusaz.com), a swimming pool, spa and leisure complex, is open year-round. Spend a few hours or a full day here being pampered by body treatments in the spa, or explore the indoor and outdoor pools, fitness centre, saunas, steam room, hammam and various hot tubs.

Hotels

As a traditional resort, La Clusaz has always offered a wider choice of hotel accommodation options than most of its competitors in the French Alps, which generally consist of a majority of apartment-style accommodation. In fact, the resort has more than 20 hotels in all categories, as well as a large choice of apartments.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap