100 Top Ski Holidays: Weekend Breaks and Powder Pigs
The Telegraph - Saturday, 11th October 2008
Sainte Foy: Val and Tignes regulars come here for the superb powder. It has developed a lot in recent years but that doesn’t change the quality of the terrain. Chalet Bouquetin has great views and sleeps 14. £699 with Premiere Neige, excluding flights.
Ski & Spa
The Journal - Saturday, 11th October 2008
The setting for our ski foray was absolutely idyllic, a beautiful little resort called Sainte Foy in the French Alps. Very French, featuring pretty, panoramic views of snow-covered peaks and fir trees, and oodles of traditional mountain village charm... Première Neige, bespoke catered and self-catered chalet specialists in Sainte Foy, offers a choice of more than 30 properties in the resort, with everything from comfy, cosy self-catered apartments with wooden beams, cosy sofas and mod cons to the most fantastic catered chalets... We loved the little touches, like a newspaper in the morning and fresh croissants and pain au chocolat delivered to the door for breakfast.
An Alpine Adventure in the Summer Sunshine
Parents' World - Tuesday, 15th July 2008
With prices ranging from as little as £350 for a week in a 2 bedroom apartment, an itinerary which can include being as active or inactive as you like, taking in restorative pursuits such as Pilates to adrenaline adventures such as paragliding, a holiday with Première Neige ticks all the boxes for even the most diverse of families.
All the White Moves
The Pulse, Scotsman, Spring 2008 - Monday, 10th March 2008
The pistes of the Sainte Foy area are perfect for beginners. Unlike the nearby jam-packed resorts of Val d'Isere and Tignes, falling over is not akin to lying in the middle of a motorway... With a plethora of pistes overlooking the magnificent Tarentaise valley, Sainte Foy is a snowsport paradise, with plenty of scope for those with more experience to extend themselves off the beaten track.
Travel Clinic
The Sunday Times - Sunday, 11th November 2007
Over February half-term, when snow conditions are likely to be good, a small resort such as Ste Foy Tarentaise is a belter for beginners, with lift passes cheaper and queues far smaller than they’d be not far up the valley in Val d’Isère or Tignes.
Fashionista's Secret
Eve - Thursday, 1st November 2007
Première Neige probably has the best accommodation in the village, with luxurious self-catering and catered chalets that tick all the right boxes. You'll find log fires, saunas, jacuzzis, modern bathrooms with Elemis beauty products and huge, soft bouncy beds, clad in crisp white linen... There's also an excellent crèche run by fully qualified nannies.
Skiing with a Seven-Week-Old Baby
Times Online - Friday, 19th October 2007
We went with Première Neige, the Sainte Foy specialist, who provided fantastic childcare (something I have struggled to find anywhere else) – Freddie loved the crèche and fell in love with the wonderful nanny who looked after him and Arthur. The other draw to the resort is is less than half an hour by road from Tignes, Val D’Isère and La Rosière, and within very easy reach of Les Arcs. This means its own pistes are pretty much deserted, there are no queues for the lifts, and if you fancy something more challenging, it’s a short hop to another skiing area. If you have your own car, so much the better, but Première Neige were happy to drive us wherever we wanted to go – they call this service “Ski Safari”. The catered chalet we stayed in was very relaxing and sanity-restoring, and we even took advantage of the in-chalet massage service.
Alp Yourself to the Good Things in Life
The Weekender - Friday, 24th August 2007
In addition to producing and serving exceptional cuisine, the [Première Neige] hosts offer an excellent information and concierge service; from local knowledge to restaurant bookings, wine upgrades and heliskiing trips, they are readily available to help for any requirement.
Sitting On Top of The World
The Courier - Wednesday, 28th February 2007
The tiny village of Sainte Foy high in the French Alps may only be a stone's throw from one of the world's classic ski resorts at Val d'Isère, but it is rapidly gaining a reputation as an oasis of peace and tranquility which also offers direct access to some of the finest off-piste skiing in Europe... The off-piste possibilities are legendary, with some slopes capable of taking skiers through their first gentle turns in virgin snow and other offering some of the most testing extreme adventure... No matter your level of experience, your taste in food, your desire for friendly company or your wish just to relax and enjoy the mountains, the Première Neige experience comes highly recommended.
A View to a Thrill
The Herald Magazine - Saturday, 17th February 2007
Skiing, boarding and helicopter trips are just some of the adventure activities on offer in Sainte Foy Tarentaise. Remarkable for its authentic rustic atmosphere and lack of ugly concrete building that characterise so many ski centres, Sainte Foy is an exclusive resort of attractive wooden chalets... For those looking for something other than skiing, the resort offers a range of escapades including husky rides, snow-shoeing, and ice-climbing.
Bling Free Resorts
The Sunday Times - Sunday, 4th February 2007
Ste-Foy-Tarentaise, France: The profile of this tiny, four-lift resort may be rising, but it’s still a welcome refuge from the crowds at the larger French ski stations. People love it for its sense of calm and complete lack of flash. Première Neige (0870 383 1000, www.premiere-neige.com) offers high-grade chalets here...
Small is Beautiful
Sunday Herald - Sunday, 28th January 2007
Nestled amongst trees in a sunny bowl high above the Isere valley, this little-known resort is an off-pister's paradise, with acres of untracked powder to be found just a few metres from the beautifully groomed pistes, which thanks to a north-facing aspect tend to remain in pretty good nick all day.
Weekend Pass
Scotland on Sunday Spectrum - Sunday, 21st January 2007
Why go there? To escape the thousands of British skiers who descend on better-known Alpine destinations. Sainte-Foy is close enough to Tignes and Val d'Isère (20 minutes by car) or Les Arcs (a ten-minute drive) to be able to spend the day there, but is a welcome and peaceful retreat come 5pm. It's worth skiing a couple of days in Sainte-Foy itself to appreciate its uncrowded slopes.
The Secret's Out
Spavox - Tuesday, 5th December 2006
Ooops! The secret is out. For those in the know, seeing Sainte Foy en Tarentaise named in The Sunday Times as the number one ski destination in the world will have brought more than a hint of dismay. Long guarded as the place to go by those in the know when the hoards get too much in Val d’Isère or Les Arcs, it is the perfect French ski resort, with its friendly, authentic village atmosphere and pretty, traditional Savoyard architecture. Because of the stringent building regulations, each new development has to have the look and feel of an old style French village – there are no ugly hotels or concrete here.
Snail Tart on Slopes of Sainte Foy
The Financial Times - Friday, 24th November 2006
If you are crazy about offpiste skiing, have a young family and are set on staying in a chalet in one of the prettiest modern ski villages in France then Sainte Foy is the place for you... But once there you may find it hard to leave this jewel of the Tarentaise, close to the Vanoise national park. For small family ski resorts are coming back into fashion and Sainte Foy has almost everything you might need: the right skiing mix for experts and learners; good facilities for children; fine food and a high standard of accommodation.You can even buy your own apartment or chalet.
Straight to the Top of the Piste
The Sunday Times - Sunday, 24th September 2006
But where do you go to find the best of what the skiing world can offer? Right here. To stoke the fires of our collective anticipation, we’ve brought together our pick of the world’s top 10 ski resorts: 1. STE-FOY TARENTAISE, France Size doesn’t always matter — and Ste-Foy Tarentaise is a case in point. A tiny, four-lift resort, it has long been the preserve of off-piste guides, who bring their clients over when the powder in nearby Val d’Isère has been ground to crud. Now, however, thanks to some sensitively handled redevelopment, the place has been reborn — as a cute and quietly luxurious retreat for families (or anyone else who’s tired of the mega-resorts).
