 Poster: A snowHead
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@v1cky24, Ah so nice! I’ll ask them if they met your kids. We probably also saw you at Roc 7!
@Je suis un Skieur, Next year planning on 3V again but will also have cross country skiers. Would you recommend LM for Xmas/ early season? Hard to predict if it will be a low snow year….
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Abbers, as a Christmas veteran I would say two things - yes it's hard to predict what conditions will be and things can change very quickly.
I can however recommend Les Coches (or Vallandry) - which came into it's own again this year. It has has the most extensive piste tree skiing that I know of, either side of the Vanoise Express. And the links are good.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Abbers wrote: |
| @Je suis un Skieur, Next year planning on 3V again but will also have cross country skiers. Would you recommend LM for Xmas/ early season? Hard to predict if it will be a low snow year…. |
That's an interesting one. It's not my discipline but with cross country skiers I think you'd be much better off in the lower parts of Courchevel or Meribel. My intuitive pick would probably be Meribel as there's a lot of XC infrastructure around the Altiport area including biathlon and it's where the French championships are held but I don't think there's much in it. Both Courchevel and Meribel have over 60km of XC trails compared to 25km in LM but it's more spread out with Courchevel across the villages. You could just as easily argue that that gives Courchevel more variety and changes of scenery for XC and so is better for a tourist.
Some of the XC trails are between the two (in particular La Tania and Meribel Altiport) but bear in mind there is not usually any connecting bus service so if they take one of those routes, they'll need to plan a way back too. There are bus services throughout Meribel and Courchevel, just not in-between. You can see a map of trails here: https://downloads.ctfassets.net/4a1jxa5u6hbl/1x7Koqp6rARUDD1kZbjHSu/ce3632b4fdddad37b584ef1f51a3bed6/Plan-ski-de-fond2023.pdf
In both cases, I think it's much easier for the alpine skiers to get higher than it is for the XC skiers to get lower so it would make sense to me to base yourselves in favour of the XC skiers. Meribel Centre, La Tania or Le Praz should work well but basically anywhere other than C1850 or Mottaret.
I agree you can't really predict a low snow year but I perhaps used the wrong terminology as it's freezing level that's actually more important. The 3Vs has copious snow-making capabilities but the freezing level has to be low enough to run the cannons. I was out for the 10 days before Xmas week and the levels were extremely variable but it's normally more reliable. There is restricted lift opening prior to Xmas week but not usually in Xmas week; in any case the big lifts will always be open allowing direct upload and download to 1,900m+ if you stay in one of the lower areas so I wouldn't be too concerned about it.
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@Je suis un Skieur, thank you so much for the thoughtful reply! That is all tremendously helpful. We will be on the lookout for the best place for Xmas week for our mixed group and your suggestions are very much appreciated. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Hi All, As this thread is here I hope you don't mind me sharing our 1st experience of LM too (27th Dec-3rd Jan - Fri-Fri).
Parking at the hotel was a nightmare to start with but as people started to leave about 5pm ish we was able to get a spot rather than having to go park down the hill in the town.
It was our 1st ski trip and with a party of 8 we all really enjoyed it. I know we have nothing to compare it to, but we thought it was great. A rarity I am sure but sunny all week till the last evening when it dropped a foot of snow.
There are ample lifts, ample runs, ample places to eat and drink day and night, alternative activities like the rock and bob and snow-mobile, alternative town options which are free linked with buses and swimming. Chair lift/ gondola running in the evening to get you up and down the hill was great touch.
Being new to skiing we just got the LM/St Martin pass. Started on the green runs and by day 4 ventured more to the blues that link nicely back into the greens. There are so many runs we didn't do and reckon would take us a good couple years to cover them and do them well  . Found a couple nice little loops of runs to do which gave options and at different paces.
Fav restaurant was Jacks and we ate in different places each night.  lots of variety and pleasant.
We had lunch at the top of Roc1 each day apart from the day we went to up to De Masses, with the clear sky and sun out was amazing.
I would highly recommend one evening you do the snow-mobile which takes you up to Meribel with view of the town below, we had a clear night and with no light around you just see stars. But just to ride them was an experience but and down the mountain.
A good mix of people and families, no matter the ability people always offered help/ stopped to see if people where ok after a tumble or walking with there skis.
I could write so much more but I think this gives a good indication that LM is def worth a visit and does not deserve the down grading it gets, people have there opinion and that's great and fine but def a place worth visiting and we will be going back.
As with most things you can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want, we found it pretty fair on price (food/ drink/ shops/ activities and accommodation).
Appoligies its long but thanks LM 
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@v1cky24, We stayed in SOWELL Pierre Blanche Building, it has a small pool and ski/boot room, with Ski hire shops inside and mini mart for essentials. As you looking up at the main slope, its to the left at the back. Can ski right into it from either the green run down from Roc 7. or the Tortollet lift takes you to it. We ended the day on either of those runs into the hotel. From the hotel there is a small lift that takes you up/down to the centre.
We got the local lift pass knowing we wouldn't be able to ski much of it till possible later in the week depending how we got on. But that said even when we go back we would still get the local pass because there is so much we didn't ski, like the Masse side at all, and beyond Roc 1.
Lunches we just got from the bakery and took it up in the gondolas and just ate with the views. Roc7 was good though.
How did you find ski school. we opted not to.
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Hi, I am heading to Reberty this Saturday. Can anyone point out the must do's, best pistes or key attractions of Les Menuires for me? Ive looked on their website which obviously lists them all, I was hoping for first hand experience or local knowledge.
Thanks.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@dh900, regarding "best pistes" - to some degree might depend on standard/conditions but...
On a sunny but fresh day going up La Masse and checking out the views off the back first before skiing down is a must. Often the top half (Fred Covill or Bouqetin) are a lovely ski whilst the further down you get the more sketchy and survival mode comes in. You'll probably want to go twice.
Mont Vallon is always a winner. Two pistes down - both red, both nearly always in excellent condition. Lot's of variety of pitch and terrain, great views down the valley.
Less well known is Croissant. Great piste IMO.
Closer to home if conditions aren't too icy Douillet is a great run.
TBH though, you will have a great time exploring.
I don't know much about the "attractions". My kids did the long tobaggon out of Val T which was a lot of fun. The zip wire looks fun if you have the money and like to get the adrenalin going.
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+1 for masse, a really nice area. Skied down the Fred covili run after the big snowfall before Xmas and it was a joy!
I enjoyed orelle tbh. The views from the ridge are quite something. Really nice feel about that place. And the ski lift back up is a bit more thrilling than the usual ones. (Rosael)
Skied croissant and over the peclet lift too. Nice over there.
The red run down before branching into VT is quite nice too. Alpage I think. I also enjoyed the runs under the pas du lac lift in meribel
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The black down the Masse was a bit bumpy over Christmas, both Fred Covilli prefered.Bouquetin is a nic easy long run.
If you go up Bruyers to the top there is plenty of long fast runs to pick from, and can ski down to Bruyers 1 and repeat, food in the restaurant is pretty good at the top.
Douilett a fine run, Leo Lacroix was tricky even with the heavy snow.
Roc 1, then roc 2 ( with a bot of polling) opens up the option for the runs down to Saint Martin.
Plenty of food options in the centre of Les Menuires, I like La Ferme up in Reberty, and Folie Douce in Val Thorens is fun if it is sunny.
If you are self catering the Sherpa does roast chicken you order at lunch time, and can do you a raclette set/cheese and meats.
There is a lift pass office next door to collect your passes.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Runs are very much dependent on the conditions and what you like. E.g. @v1cky24, says that the runs under Pas Du Lac are nice, she's right, but they all funnel down into Aigle which is somewhat renowned as a horror show home run for people returning to Mottaret from Saulire/Courchevel. Similarly Croissant in VT last week was narrow, lumpy and scraped down to the grass in quite a few places, challenging fun rather than swooping down a fast piste type fun.
I'd also recommend La Masse in the morning, lovely runs with variety from wide blues to fast swoopy reds and some decent black runs. And in the AM it catches then sun first, hence being good in the morning. But by the afternoon the lower slopes down to the lifts can be horrid. Depending on your level that is just smashing through crud and avoiding beginners for a few mins, or it is so bad it's not with going up La Masse in the afternoon. But a photo in front of the big Les Menuires sign up there is a must do for the holiday, and a visit to the museum if that is your thing. And it is a LM specific thing as well since you can get up there first thing while it's out of the way for everyone else in the 3Vs
Jerusalem always gets a mention and it is a great blue run down to the Saint Martin mid station. I like Allemands red down from the top of Roc 2/Granges towards LM.
A weird one, the very top of Lac des Combes piste from the top of Becca is a very short but fantastic little stretch of piste. Always quiet because most people either take the Becca red or go down the pixel park fun area. It's steep enough to get some speed, wide and empty enough that you can keep it, but not so steep you're throwing on the anchors with every turn. Great for 30s of pretending you a world cup skier as you rail round the corners on confidence inspiring snow!
The La Mine attraction on the Bruyeres snow front is fun if you like that kind of thing.
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| blahblahblah wrote: |
Roc 1, then roc 2 ( with a bot of polling) opens up the option for the runs down to Saint Martin.
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A nice little bit of LM insider knowledge is that you can use Boulevard de la Becca to get across from the top of Becca to the Grand Lac run that takes you down towards Saint Martin. It is shown on the piste map but it's not obvious with the way the piste names obscure the runs. This is useful to know as it avoids the polling pain to get from Roc 1 to Roc 2 and Becca is often quieter as well in busy weeks.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks all for the piste recommendations, they are all on my list so will hunt them down on the piste map. I haven't had a trip to the 3V for about 8 years so looking forward to exploring the area. We are staying in a catered chalet so will only need lunch spots likley on the mountain or in LM centre.
I booked a pass for the La Mine run for only €4.50 which I thought was OK, it was a discounted up-sell when buying my ski pass.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Bram, how was it in the sowell residences? That was that big building up on the right yes?
Came up a lot as a good value option there. I could have booked it if I’d known my son would ski in the afternoons and not need kids club. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@v1cky24, in all fairness, it was okay, we had a 6 person room, 2 bedrooms and a living/dining/ kitchen and bathroom, inc a balcony. The reviews where a bit hit and miss but it was clean. we only used it for breakfast, sleeping and showering so was not to fussed about having lots of space. Our friends room/ apartment was a lot more spacious so really does depend on the room you get.
The reception staff where friendly and helpfully. The boot room was ideal although small so we kept our boots with us and just left the skis in it.
Local shops/ bar was useful. Couple ski hire places which was ideal and couple ski shops.
It also has a small pool, the Wife and daughter used it one afternoon to chill and said it was nice.
Bonus it has its own lift up/down to the centre.
We would use it again. Either go through the website direct or Air B&B it. I'd say v good value. For what we paid i have seen far worse places and higher prices.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| bouquetin wrote: |
| blahblahblah wrote: |
Roc 1, then roc 2 ( with a bot of polling) opens up the option for the runs down to Saint Martin.
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A nice little bit of LM insider knowledge is that you can use Boulevard de la Becca to get across from the top of Becca to the Grand Lac run that takes you down towards Saint Martin. It is shown on the piste map but it's not obvious with the way the piste names obscure the runs. This is useful to know as it avoids the polling pain to get from Roc 1 to Roc 2 and Becca is often quieter as well in busy weeks. |
This is a good tip.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Can anyone recommend any particularly good ski schools/instructors in LM, please?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Reezo, we used prosneige. Would recommend!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| v1cky24 wrote: |
| @Reezo, we used prosneige. Would recommend! |
Nice one, thank you
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Can anyone recommend any blacks over the Val Thoren/LM side for someone trying black runs for the first time?
Myself and a couple of pals are at a stage now where we feel we can push on but obviously don’t want to head down something outrageous to begin with.
Appreciate conditions can dictate but any general steer would be great. Thanks.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Reezo wrote: |
Can anyone recommend any blacks over the Val Thoren/LM side for someone trying black runs for the first time?
Myself and a couple of pals are at a stage now where we feel we can push on but obviously don’t want to head down something outrageous to begin with.
Appreciate conditions can dictate but any general steer would be great. Thanks. |
Goitschel is a good black if you want tick off a black run. If coming from LM follow the blue Pluviomètre from the Col de la Chambre crossing point where you enter VT but stay left at the fork. When you reach the junction with the blue, red and black go straight across to get onto the black. It is always groomed and first thing is normally in very good condition. Steeper than most reds but not the steepest black, wide and quite short, so therefore very achievable. If coming from VT and taking the 3 Vallées chair then don't join the black from the very top, it is a permanent mogul field, instead take the red Chardons for the first pitch and then stay left at the first junction to join the same bit of the black as if you'd come from LM.
In LM the Masse black from the top of La Masse gondola is also a good introduction to it being a bit steeper, but may want to check when it was groomed.
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Appreciate the responses, thanks.
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FAQ
broke down on one morning and we missed ski school!
