Many have felt that President Macron has been bruising for a bust-up with Boris and us Brits. But now that there is a green light for tourists to travel to all parts of the country once more, habitués of French ski resorts can get back to doing what they love best: appreciating the French in and around the fluffy white stuff. Because nothing, for me at any rate, deepens my love of France and its people more than a few days in the French Alps. 

With a little studious planning, you will discover that France not only has some of the best ski and après ski in the world, but that the experience has vastly improved over recent decades. Yes, you can now get comfy boots, great food and drink, and modern, warm and dry lifts near beautiful accommodation, but there are also technological advancements. Passes work more practically than ever before and allow wider areas to ski in. Perhaps most importantly, it would seem that, remarkably, the French – even those at high altitude – have got friendlier.

A revolution in attitudes has seen the spirit of service soar so that these days the guys shovelling snow, manning lifts and renting out equipment actually give the genuine impression that they are pleased to see you.

It all helps to make a ski trip to France that much more enjoyable, especially when you are introducing new, er, talent – young or old – to the glories of skiing. Indeed, skiing in the French Alps has never been so varied and accessible and so well catered to different budgets.