Les Arcs self-catered apartments

When planning your break away to the mountains here are a few things worth thinking about before you decide what to go for.

Book early
We recommend you book your apartment accommodation as soon as possible. Apartments usually sell out quite quickly and a lot of people book as early as January for the next winter season. Book it before buying your flights or train ticket, the reason being that availability may be limited and arrival/departure dates are not always as flexible as travel options.

How long you want to stay
Most apartments in Les Arcs are rented on a weekly basis only. You’ll find that Saturday to Saturday rentals are most common, but increasingly with the times being as they are, dates can be flexible and some chalet companies may provide a mix of Saturday and Sunday changeovers.

Plus shorter and longer breaks are becoming more and more popular, so some companies may be flexible on their rental dates on request. Summer bookings in Les Arcs are generally much more flexible on dates and length of stay, especially outside the peak months of July and August. This means that you can come for a long weekend, for ten days or for a few days mid-week more easily.

Size matters
Apartments to rent in Les Arcs range from small studios to large chalet-apartments, making them suitable for all sorts of parties, from couples looking for a romantic escapade to families or groups of friends. Before booking your apartment, you’ll need to know the exact number of people and the ages of the children coming with you on your holiday.

Know your wants and needs
There are literally hundreds of apartments on offer in Les Arcs, some providing simple accommodation at the foot of the slopes and others boasting five-star luxury facilities. Most come with WiFi as standard, but check before you book if it's important, some have ski-to-door access and state-of-the-art boot warmers, some don't, and if you need a large terrace with breathtaking views, a cinema room, designer décor or a pet-friendly property, make sure you book as early as possible.

You'll also find that many high-end companies offer concierge services who’ll take care of everything, from your ski passes to your lessons, your equipment hire, chauffeur services to take you to and from the slopes or drive you around resort, private chefs and spas with massages on demand. You're spoiled for choice in Les Arcs!

Apartments in Les Arcs are generally rented out on a self-catered basis. However, this doesn't mean that you need to take care of everything yourself since many accommodation providers offer a wide choice of add-ons to boost your holiday experience.

Catering
Catering is often top of the list of add-ons and can range from private chefs, welcome packs for your first day, or grocery shopping to fill your fridge and pantry before you arrive. There are plenty of private chefs and catering companies working in Les Arcs, so take your pick – you can hire them for the length of your stay or just a one-off special dinner. Also, in the post-Covid world, food and drink delivery services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

What else is there?
Accommodation companies offer numerous add-ons to make your holiday as hassle-free as possible. When booking your apartment, you can often include lots of other services for an additional fee, from ski hire to ski passes, ski lessons, transfers, activities and anything else you can think of. This means that you can relax knowing that all the different bits of your holiday will be taken care of. Some may even offer a bespoke concierge service through which you can book high-end treats such as a 24-hour chauffeur, massages or private tours.

Apartment rental rates depend on many things:

• facilities and services
• location within the resort
• desired dates
• size of your party
• length of your stay

In general, you can benefit from discounts if you're booking early and outside the main busy holidays (Christmas, February half-term, Easter, July and August).

Millions of euros have been invested in the tasteful development and renovation of former hotels and apartment blocks giving a real boost to the self-catering accommodation market in Les Arcs without damaging the mountain feel of this magical place. Many of these renovations, as well as some of the new-builds, boast five-star facilities including indoor swimming pools, spa rooms, terraces with mountain views and even private hot tubs.

Where can you find luxury apartments in Les Arcs?
The highest of Les Arcs villages, Arc 2000, also sits at the higher-end of apartment accommodation in terms of quality. Many of the apartments here have been recently renovated and provide the perfect base for skiers looking for a place with swift and easy access to some of the best skiing in the area. The two main apartment residences located in Arc 2000, Les Arolles and Les Cimes des Arcs, both offer top quality self-catering accommodation with the additional option of having croissants and baguettes delivered to your door every morning.

If you’re looking to organise a corporate trip or a holiday with a big group of friends, Les Arcs is a great place to host it. With great nightlife and plenty of choice when it comes to group accommodation, Les Arcs has lots going on and it’s situated in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

Where can you find big apartments for groups in Les Arcs?
Arc 1800 is the liveliest of the Les Arcs villages. Popular with younger crowds, it's perfect for groups of friends who want to ski hard and play hard. Arc 1800 offers lots of mid- and low-budget apartments, as well as a few self-catering accommodation options at the higher end of the scale. Arc 1950 also has a number of spacious apartments that are ideal for larger groups.

Les Arcs is really well set up for mountain-loving families, with plenty of activities for all ages and a host of family-friendly apartments. Family holidays tend to have their own unique requirements, and services for families in Les Arcs can range from providing cots and highchairs to babysitting and childcare services. Depending on what is going to make or break your family holiday, make sure you discuss it with your accommodation provider before you book.

Where can you find family-friendly apartments in Les Arcs?
The North American resort developer Intrawest built the pedestrianised ski village of Arc 1950 in a traditional American style with a perfect Christmas-toy village feel. The apartments here are generally top quality while facilities in the town are excellent, making Arc 1950 a superb choice for a self-catering holiday. Families, in particular, will really enjoy the village as they put on regular, child-friendly entertainment. Plan Peisey, Vallandry and Peisey Nancroix are somewhat quieter than the other resorts, making them ideal for a family trip. These villages offer a more traditional style of accommodation, which is generally pretty good value. Apartments are normally tour-operator run and are popular with families or those looking for a more low-key ski holiday with great access to the huge Paradiski ski area.

Well-known for being a more affordable winter destination, there are some great bargains to be had in Les Arcs.

How can you save money on your Les Arcs accommodation?
The original Les Arcs resort is Arc 1600 which was built in the 1960s. Its main architect, Charlotte Perriand, was inspired by the likes of Le Corbusier in devising a cutting-edge architectural project, opting for apartment blocks instead of chalets and aiming to perfectly blend them with their surroundings. Renovation projects have been in place to bring the interiors to the 21st century, although a few retain the original 1960's décor, while others are now a bit outdated. If a traditional feel is not a priority, then Arc 1600 may provide a good accommodation option, particularly if you're looking for a cheap self-catering apartment. The 1600 village also has the additional benefit of being really close to the Apocalypse terrain park, so it can be a good choice for young groups of riders.