La Plagne has 11 villages at very different heights, from about 1,250 m to 2,100 m, so choosing the right one matters more than anything else. One thing to know up front: La Plagne is mainly an apartment resort. There are only a handful of hotels, so book early for school holidays.
Best areas to stay in La Plagne
Plagne Centre
The hub of the ski area, at 1,970 m. Buildings line the big snow front, so many places are ski-in/ski-out. It has a covered shopping gallery, a cinema, bowling and an ice rink, and the Télémétro to Aime 2000. The best choice if you want après-ski and the most lifts on your doorstep.
Plagne Aime 2000
The highest village, at 2,100 m. Its main building, nicknamed the “ocean liner of the snows”, is listed as 20th-century architectural heritage. You can step out of your residence onto the slopes, and the shops are under the same roof. Its altitude makes it a good bet for snow.
Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil
Plagne Villages, at about 2,100 m, is a quiet, chalet-style village built in 1972, with ski-in/ski-out access, a ski school, a snow garden and beginner areas close by. The tourist office describes it as ideal for families. Plagne Soleil sits nearby, on the sunny Dou du Praz plateau. The Télébus links both to Plagne Centre.
Belle Plagne
At 2,050 m and built from 1981 in Savoyard style, with stone, wood and slate. It’s completely pedestrian, and it’s hard to find a place to stay here that isn’t ski-in/ski-out. It has direct access to the Roche de Mio gondola, a 1,500 m² Deep Nature spa and an easy-to-reach snow garden. A good choice for families who want a prettier village.
Plagne Bellecôte
At 1,930 m, a pedestrian village of 10 levels built in 1974, right on the snow front. It has a snow garden and an ice rink, and the Roche de Mio gondola gives access to the Chiaupe glacier.
Plagne 1800
A former lead-mining village at 1,800 m, with chalets and residences. Calm and quiet, with a beginner area for children.
Montchavin-Les Coches
Two lower villages: Montchavin (1,250 m), a traditional village with wood-and-stone chalets, and Les Coches (1,450 m), more modern and a few turns from the Vanoise Express to Les Arcs. Both have the Famille Plus label. The trade-off is lower snow and an earlier closing date: 17 April 2027.
Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montalbert
Champagny (1,250 m) is a traditional village on the sunny side, with a gondola up to the ski area, a swimming pool and the Espace Glacialis glacier centre. Montalbert (1,350 m) is a friendly, pedestrian village with the Famille Plus label and a gondola to the Fornelet. Both close on 17 April 2027.
Best ski-in/ski-out hotels in La Plagne
- PopAlp La Plagne, Plagne Centre: four-star, at the foot of the slopes with direct access to the pistes. Scheduled to open from 11 December 2026 to 18 April 2027.
- Araucaria Hotel & Spa, Plagne Centre: four-star, at the foot of the slalom stadium, with a 450 m² Nuxe spa and a heated pool.
- Hôtel Carlina, Belle Plagne: at the foot of the slopes, with an indoor heated pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room.
- Club Med La Plagne 2100: all-inclusive and ski-in/ski-out, at 2,100 m.
- SOWELL Family La Lauzière, Montalbert: you can put your skis on at the hotel and ski straight onto the pistes.
Best family hotels in La Plagne
| Hotel | Village | Why families like it |
|---|---|---|
| PopAlp La Plagne | Plagne Centre | Family rooms and suites, arcade games, and travel cots, high chairs and baby baths to borrow |
| Araucaria Hotel & Spa | Plagne Centre | Family rooms and family suites, a heated pool, at the foot of the slopes |
| Club Med La Plagne 2100 | 2,100 m | All-inclusive family resort, ski-in/ski-out |
| SOWELL Family La Lauzière | Montalbert | A children’s club, ski from the door, in a Famille Plus village |
For ski schools, nurseries and the free beginner lifts, see La Plagne with kids.
Luxury hotels in La Plagne
La Plagne isn’t a luxury resort, and the tourist office lists only four four-star hotels. The most upmarket choices are Araucaria Hotel & Spa and PopAlp in Plagne Centre, and Hôtel Carlina in Belle Plagne, all close to the slopes.
Good-value places to stay in La Plagne
Apartments and residences are the norm here, and for families and groups they’re usually the best value, especially in the high villages, where many are ski-in/ski-out. The lower villages, such as Montchavin, Montalbert and Champagny, often cost less, with small hotels like Hôtel L’Adray in Montalbert and Hôtel Les Glières in Champagny. Just remember they close a week earlier and the snow is less reliable.
Tips for booking a last-minute stay in La Plagne
- Go high late in the season. After 17 April 2027, the lower villages and the Vanoise Express close, but the high area stays open until 24 April.
- Check whether “La Plagne” means a high village. Some listings are in La Plagne Vallée, the valley villages around Aime, which are a drive or bus ride from the slopes.
- Look at the early and late weeks. Lift passes are 15% off in the week before Christmas and the final week of April.
- Book the right station. Aime-La Plagne for the high villages and Montalbert, Landry for Montchavin-Les Coches, Moûtiers for Champagny.
