Arc 1950, village resort in the French Alps, launches its Summer Season with a series of Wednesday Activity Days running throughout the summer high season.
Arc 1950 The village opens on 7th July with the first ‘activity Wednesday’ taking place on 11th July.
Focusing on a different theme every week, visitors to the village of Arc 1950 can enjoy FREE entertainment not just on these special themed Wednesdays but also throughout the week. Families with children of all ages can enjoy games, workshops, shows, watersports and more.
Activity Wednesdays during July:
Ø 11.07 – Sports week
Ø 19.07 – Bike week
Ø 25.07 – Al Andalus with Armutan Theatre Company
Activity Wednesdays during August:
Ø 1.08 – Water day
Ø 8.08 – Mountain Festival
Ø 15.08 – Climbing week
Ø 22.08 – Arc 1950 fairground
Ø 29.08 – Space Odyssey
New for Summer 2018 the ‘Outdoor Card’ for stays of over five days includes three free activities – choose from a half day guided hike, an intro to mountain biking for 8-12 year olds, a fitness class, intro to golf or an archery session.
Arc 1950 also launches New ‘Arc en Scene’ Thursdays, with different bands and theatre groups performing in the village every Thursday over the summer holidays.
Arc 1950 Le Village is a car-free, family-friendly resort where everything is planned to ensure that guests of all ages can make the most of their summer holiday.
Pierre & Vacances Special Accommodation offer: Save 20% on summer stays in Arc 1950
image: c Andy Parent/arc1950.com
Spring brings warmer temperatures, sunshine and ideal skiing conditions for a great end to the season in Arc 1950, closing on 28th April 2018.
Despite the current low currency exchange rate, with French Mortgage rates held at a very low rate – 1.5% – purchasing a French property is still be a great investment.
Erna Low Property pick their Top 5 for the winter ahead:
SAMOENS
Le Pre d’Anne Cloe is a brand new development in Samoens, a short stroll from the town centre located by a quiet stream and is the ideal place to enjoy a holiday with your family and friends, in both summer and winter.
This small residence will be made up of just 24 apartments divided into 3 stand-alone chalets. 18 of the apartments will range from 1-3 bedrooms and six will be triplex semi-chalets of 4 and 5 bedrooms. Samoens is a fantastic dual season resort with lots of sporting activities on offer. With the new longest six seater chair lift in Europe opening in Flaine this winter, this ski area is one to watch. Prices from 244,500 euro.
Over the next 4 years, huge infrastructure improvements are planned for the ski areas of Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes. The most prominent addition will be a new gondola which will link the two domains, creating a ski playground of 475km making it the 3rd largest ski area in France (that’s bigger than the Paradiski, Tignes & Val d’Isere and the Flaine Grand Massif)..
Les Edelweiss, in Vaujany (close to Alpe d’Huez) is made up of 50 apartments over five buildings just a 3 minute walk from the village centre and 250m from the main ski gondola.
Now is a fantastic time to invest in one of these already popular areas and Erna Low Property have brand new developments in each, offering large, luxury properties and easy access to the slopes. All properties, from studio to three bedroom, just minutes from the village centre and main gondola, are south facing. Prices from 142,000 euros.
Les Chalets de Montriond will be new development in the traditional Savoyard style using reclaimed wood and natural stone.
The two separate chalet buildings that make up the development have been cleverly designed to allow each apartment to benefit from the fantastic Alpine views. Every new owner will be able to customize their apartment with a wide range of materials to match their taste and requirements.
Located a short stroll from village of Montiond for all the amenities on offer and also on the road to the Ardent telecabin, for access to the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil and Avoriaz. 1 to 4 bedroom apartments available Prices from 350,000 euros
Les Chalets du Chantel is a collection of 4 chalets, construction of which began in April with a delivery date expected in the 2nd semester of 2018. Each property will feature a garage and outdoor parking with a minimum of 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms / shower rooms. The architecture of the chalet will respect the Savoyard style with a mix of stone and woodwork on the facades and large bay windows opening onto very generous wrap-around balconies – everything needed for a modern and stylish, yet traditional, luxury ski property.
The location of the development is just outside the village of La Rosiere in a truly unique location. Access to the ski area is quick and easy, with a regular ski bus stopping just 50m from the chalets. At the end of the day, it is possible to ski right back to the door.
The 4 chalets are sold classic (standard purchase) freehold and there is definitely a strong potential on the rental market for this type of property. The largest chalet can be split into 2 sets of 3 bedroom apartments, but can also be sold as a whole in excess of 200m2. The other 3 chalets will be between 113m2 and 123m2 in size and very competitively priced – starting at €399,000.
At the foot of a 60-metre high waterfall amidst a hundred-year old pine forest Intrawest created a five-star traditional Alpine village called Arc 1950. Situated at the heart of Les Arcs, Arc 1950 is a unique and luxurious mountain village with direct access to Paradiski; one of the largest skiing domains in the world. Built at an altitude of 2,000 metres, the village offers panoramic views of Mont Blanc; the highest mountain in Europe.
The popularity of this unique high altitude village resort ensures
that year on year it enjoys an occupancy rate of over 90% during the winter. This makes for a strong rental market and an attractive proposition for investors. Erna Low Property have a selection of apartments for sale from €165,000.
Erna Low Property was established to offer customers the opportunity to purchase properties in some of the world’s most beautiful and desirable locations. Whether looking for snow or sun, Erna Low Property helps buyers to choose the perfect property for holidays, retirement or investment.
With over 80 years’ experience, Erna Low Property has a strong knowledge of the French property market at large, with a particular expertise in the French Alps. Erna Low Property specialises in leaseback properties, as well as classic freehold and bare ownership purchases.
Erna Low’s ongoing relationship with top Canadian resort developer Intrawest (well-known for pioneering Whistler and Mont Tremblant in Canada and Arc 1950 Le Village in France) led to the launch of Erna Low Property in 2003. Arc 1950, a brand new ski village in the French Alps and Intrawest’s very first project in Europe, was the first key property sales project for Erna Low and over the past few years, Erna Low’s property sales service has gone from strength to strength. Erna Low Property has its dedicated Estate Agency to sell properties all over the Alps and the South of France to property investors
Erna Low Property now holds a sizeable portfolio of properties from the French Alps, across Europe and beyond. With their background as a specialist, niche tour operator, Erna Low has been hugely successful in introducing many clients to both property sales and holiday rentals.
Arc 1950 was designed with families in mind. Built just 13 years ago, it is the newest ‘village’ in the French Alps.
All accommodation is ski in-ski out making it so easy for a family ski holiday, as I discovered on my visit there with my family before Christmas. Here are 10 not to miss family ideas well worth exploring when you get there:
The Village – this little village of Arc 1950 has its own charm and is small enough to wander safely around in the evening. There are no cars – they all park underground. The village is lit up with all you need, two children’s toy shops, various ski stores, lovely bakery, a little supermarket , and a selection of bars and restaurants if you want an après ski apero en- famille or a meal out.
The Crèche – with different sections for 9 months to 3 years and 3 years to teens the ‘Cariboo’ is ideal if your little ones are too young to ski or if they just want a bit more looking after than the Ski School itself. Or combine with ski school for lunch so you can have a longer ski day ‘sans kids’! Again right in the middle of the village taking your little ones there is as easy as it can get. www.cariboo1950.com
Ride the Rodeo Park – for over 12s – this 400m sledging ride runs beside the Cabriolet chair just above Arc 2000. Helmet and toboggan are provided, just turn up and enjoy the long and fast ride down.
Fireworks – every week Arc 1950 has an activity programme – from Russian week to Frozen week, Spring week to fashion week! One night of the week watch the firework display either from your apartment balcony or watch from the village centre.
Night skiing – The Marmottes chair is open every Tuesday and Thursday evening. If you have any energy left and your children can ski without an instructor, this is great fun and included on your lift pass. Take the fast chair lift up and you have a long flood lit ski down past Arc 2000 and the entrance to Arc 1950 back down to the chairlift base again. We managed four runs in 40 minutes
Jump off the giant air bag. Just above Arc 1950 is a giant inflatable bouncy castle type set up. With a lower level for younger children and a higher level for teens and over this is a great adrenaline buzz to add to your ski day – four euros per jump
Breakfast at La Brasserie – yes you will have all the facilities in your apartment to cater with; but give yourself a break and visit La Brasserie for breakfast. Fresh fruit and pastries, cooked breakfast and coffee on tap! It’s open from 7am so plenty of time to get in and back to your ski locker room to be kitted up for ski school: 17 euros per adult and 8 euros per child.
Explore the Village Igloo – just above Arc 1950 take a tour around the ice caves in the village igloo, 350m2 with carvings of dragons and werewolves! Or just have a drink from the ice bar and hang out while your children jump off the airbag next door (see no 6!)
Go swimming! Every residence has an outside pool and the Princes des Cimes Residence also has an indoor pool – for a small additional fee you can guarantee an apartment in this building if your kids love swimming. Otherwise the small outdoor pools are great fun, if a tad on the chilly side.
Ok so this isn’t for families – but for parents. Leave your children in the crèche, or sneak off while they are at ski school and spend an hour or two in the Deep Nature Spa. Book a massage in advance with incredible window views looking out to the snowy peak of Mont Blanc.
Essential Facts
Save up to 40% off apartment bookings in Arc 1950 with Erna Low. Save up to £998 on a two-bedroom apartment in the Prince des Cimes Residence for dates 7/14/21 January and 15% off for half-term weeks 11 and 18 February – call 0207 590 1720.
There has been a shortage of snow at many resorts in the Alps over Xmas, but does that mean fun can’t be had? PlanetSKI reports.
Is the glass half-full or half-empty?
There hasn’t been a decent amount of fresh snow in this part of the Alps since the middle of November.
Certain sections of the media are reporting an Xmas washout.
But I beg to differ.
There are hardly bumper conditions but there is more than enough snow at Arc 1950 for some fun.
It’s five years since I have skied before Christmas with the family and with a full week of school holidays before Santa dropped in this seemed like the perfect chance to squeeze in an extra ski trip.
Having watched the early season snow, or lack of it in recent weeks, we were feeling slightly smug with our booking in Arc 1950.
Bourg St Maurice seemed especially green as we left the valley for the climb up to 1950.
I’d been watching the webcams and knew there was snow in the village which, sitting at 1950m literally just below Arc 2000, was great to see when we arrived late in the evening.
Snow up high
I haven’t skied in Les Arcs since going with my parents when I was about 12 years old.
Arc 1950 wasn’t even conceived then, only being built from 2003 onwards. Originally built by Intrawest, the village was cleverly designed to be ski in out but in a more traditional style than the 60s and 70s block buildings of the other neighbouring ‘Arcs’.
Over our five day stay, we loved being able to ski to the door and having everything you need literally on your doorstep makes skiing as a family so easy. No buses to catch or cars to negotiate whilst steering small people around in heavy ski boots. The children were so safe going out each morning to buy fresh croissants from the fabulous L’Arc Dore bakery.
All the pistes above Arc 1950 were in great shape despite no recent snowfall. The little snow we did have mid week freshened the slopes but not enough to cover the bare patches in the lower villages.
Despite the lack of snow, we loved the runs down to Peisey Vallandry, mostly on man made snow but catching some early season sunshine they were surprisingly soft and easy to ski on. We also took the incredible Vanoise Express over to La Plagne which was a great adventure day out to make from Arc 1950.
From the top of the Aiguille Rouge at 3226m, the red run down was icy in places but we easily found some grippy snow along the edges and taking the Lanchettes chair above Arc 2000 we could see the black ‘Genepi’ looked skiable (we didn’t make that run with our youngest). Black ‘Combes’ under the Lanchettes was fun with just the odd stone/rock to hop!
Giant Airbag
Restaurant Bulle, the huge luge run and the Igloo village with giant airbag make the ski area above Arc 1950 under the Arcabulle chair a fun place to hang out.
In addition every evening Arc 1950 had a selection of activities -ski joering, remote controlled cars, night skiing and more, the highlight being Santa’s visit with reindeer giving sleigh rides around the village.
Santa in town
Perfect for a few days family skiing in the run up to Christmas.
