Flaine Village
Flaine is divided into three inter-connected villages that boast good facilities for self-catering but little else. The selection of shops in Flaine is poor and the clothes and equipment shops stock only what is necessary, rather than providing a good selection.The main village of Flaine is divided into three levels, each of which is connected by walkways and modernist land lifts. Flaine Foret is the highest at 1,700m, Flaine Forum, which is the main heartbeat of the whole resort, is at 1,650m and Flaine Front de Neige is at 1,500m. There are also two outlying suburbs which are really mini-resorts – Hameau de Flaine and Flaine Montsoleil – which are built in a much more attractive syle, if, like most people, you are not a fan of post-modernist architecture.
Flaine Forum is a completely pedestrianised zone, while Flaine Foret and Flaine Front de Neige are relatively traffic free. Flaine Montsoleil is situated at 1,750m and is easily walkable from Flaine Foret. It laso has its own lifts and pistes. Le Hameau de Flaine, which includes Le Refuge du Golf, is at 1800m. It is 1km from the main resort, but there is a good bus service. In normal snow conditions you can reach it on skis, via unofficial tracks.
There is plenty of accommodation in Flaine (most of it located for maximum convenience) but you can also stay in neighbouring Les Carroz and Morillon, as well as Samoens.
Ski hire and equipment rental in Flaine
There are plenty of ski rental shops, but their prices are quite high if you simply walk into them when you arrive. Some hotels and tour operators have recommended shops, but they rarely offer the best value even if they give a small discount (usually 5% or 10% at most) to the hotel or tour operator’s guests. Generally, if you want to save money, you’re much better off booking in advance with a reliable service provider like the one below.
SKISET has four outlets in Flaine covering Flaine Foret, Flaine Forum and Le Hameau de Flaine, and more in the lower villages, so one should be close to your accommodation. It will give discounts of up to 50% if you book online here.
ALPINRESORTS.COM also works with four shop in Flaine, and more in Les Carroz and the other surrounding villages, and can secure discounts of up to 60% if you book online here.