The French ski resort of Tignes offers a long season and affordable holidays complete with a spectacular Alpine backdrop.

The Tignes ski season lasts from November into April and the resort attracts large numbers of snowboarders, as well as the ski crowd. With a vertical drop of 1,900m, 97 lifts and 300 km of pistes, Tignes draws crowds during peak season and is becoming increasingly popular.

The impressive lift set-up in Tignes includes two high-speed funiculars, four gondolas and four cable-cars. The resort was purpose-built and is situated near to the artificial Lac de Chevril, close to Val D’Isere.

Renowned for its excellent snow, Tignes has a number of downhill, cross-country or mountaineering runs and an array of companies offering package deals each year. With some of the world’s best skiing in the Alps, some incredible views and reliable snow, Tignes often proves a lasting hit with visitors, many of whom return year after year.

Located near the upmarket resort of Val d’Isere, Tignes represents the cheaper and more family friendly holiday option for ski enthusiasts. Linked to Val D’Isere by ski lifts, it provides an array of terrain that suits everyone, from beginners, right through to professional skiers. The two resorts together form the vast and popular Espace Killy.

Tignes has some charming chalet accommodation available to suit all tastes and excellent facilities for most abilities and age groups. For those seeking entertainment away from the slopes, Tignes is lively at night, with a number of excellent bars, a cinema, bowling alley and swimming pool. The impressive Grande Motte glacier is also nearby.

As a newer resort, Tignes has some of the best ski facilities in France and one of the best lift systems. However, it has been criticised for lacking the charm of older resorts. The shops in the resort are varied, with a number of excellent ski outlets, while the restaurants tend to be reasonably priced, friendly and of a good standard.

The resort itself comprises two villages - Tignes Les Brevieres and Tignes Les Boisses – both with some pretty villages and churches, as well as several spas and a number of nightclubs. Several of the eight ski schools provide tuition aimed specifically at children and the hotels also cater to families.

Tignes is relatively easy to get to from Lyon airport and a number of budget airlines now fly to the region. The area boasts a range of activities, excellent ski and entertainment facilities and parents can even book their teenagers supervised breaks with ski tutelage. Tignes has witnessed a great deal of investment in recent years, with the main highway now running underground and improvements to some of the less picturesque buildings.