Autrans Méaudre

Most of the praise goes to the cross-country network: the Vercors is called the capital of French nordic skiing, and its Olympic-era trails are rated above the downhill side. Alpine skiers like that it is cheap skiing without the usual trade-offs, with nursery slopes and respectable blacks. Living villages instead of concrete blocks, frequent ski buses to the lifts and small mountain cafes all score well.

Snow is the sore point: cover at village level is poor and skiing depends heavily on the weather, with only the higher Geve sector holding reliably. The alpine area is small and stronger skiers exhaust it quickly, while Autrans and Meaudre are not linked on skis, so moving between them means taking transport. Evenings draw regular complaints: once the lifts close, very little happens.