This was our first skiing holiday as a family, with grandparents and smaller children. So we were looking for a spacious apartment, fitted out to a high standard, that was well-located in Avoriaz. We couldn't have been more pleased!
That view certainly is impregnable, and it's a fantastic view to wake up to in the morning. Strange as it may sound, the apartment is actually on the ground floor of a larger apartment block, but it's entirely separate from it. The front door opens up right onto the (snow covered) street, which connects directly with green and blue pistes that run through the town.
Not knowing Avoriaz previously, we were unsure of the location in Falaise, but it proved to be perfect - just a 5 min walk from the central parking area at Plateau, and a 5 min stroll into the main street (Festival). Crozats (which we'd considered) was high up, and Dromonts was lower down in town - both of which would have involved more walking up and down hills: inevitable in a ski resort, but not ideal with younger children and their kit on their first ever ski trip.
The location is perfect for skiing lessons at ESF, which are located on the gentle slopes above the Plateau meeting point. We'd looked at using Evolution for ski lessons but left it too late to book - in hindsight, it was much, much better to book with ESF, and both children and adults really enjoyed their lessons.
There was a really good slope just round the corner which was perfect for tobogganing, and the Aquariaz swimming pool complex was close by too. All very easily walkable without too much legwork, and closer than it looked on the map.
We used the Skiset shop to hire equipment, which was located 30 secs across the road - the friendliest and most helpful bunch of people I've ever come across in a ski hire shop. (Renting sledges was a great thing to do for the kids too).
In some ways, the apartment is a little odd, presumably for the very reason it wasn't originally intended as living accommodation. The downstairs is huge with lots of unused space, but the boot driers, washing machine and sauna (perfect for drying a huge amount of wet gear) were brilliant to have.
There were a couple of niggles, the main one being with the trip switch which didn't seem to like the oven and washing machine being on at the same time.
But overall we had an excellent stay, and we'd have no hesitation in recommending this apartment to others. There don't appear to be many like it!