 Poster: A snowHead
|
So daughter number two has a job in Courcheval. We have never been there but seems that’ll be our go to destination this season.
To start with we are looking for s/c accommodation for Xmas week 21/12-28/12. We are looking for advice on x5 adults staying at 1850 (daughters chalet there) or 1550 (her accommodation is there). Looking at piste map 1650 seems on a spur so that doesn’t look any good given she’ll be shuttling between 1550 & 1850.
Any advice on best websites for accommodation bar obvious booking.com etc?
Tips on where to eat also appreciated.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 27-10-24 21:00; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
The road between 1550 and 1850 goes through 1650, shuttle buses run until late.
You could try the central reservation service to look for an apartment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Thanks @rjs. Hadn’t read the piste map that way so great on the ground advice- I was thinking a windy piste was the road between 1550 & 1850!
1550 & 1850 seems better linked by pistes and a direct gondola though- I wonder if that runs late as well?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Doccam, well Courchevel 1850 is going to be the most expensive but most convenient base for skiing. It's also the liveliest for apres and nightlife. As you'll have spotted, there's one direct gondola between Courchebel Village 1550 and 1850, which also runs into the evenings. You can ski directly back down from 1850 to 1550, on a not too difficult piste, though it can get mogully through heavy ski traffic by the afternoon.
By contrast, a bit of skiing + a couple of lifts are involved to get from Courchevel Moriond 1650 to 1850. Or else a free bus, which from memory takes about 15 mins between 1650 and 1850 and again runs into the evenings.
There are quite a few apartments not far from the gondola in Courchevel Village 1550. The village itself is small and a bit limited for restaurants, bars, shops, etc (though it's close to much larger 1850).
Courchevel Moriond 1650 is at the extreme end of the 3V area. Larger than 1550 and also has a few apartments dotted around. Noticeably more hotel beds and chalet beds than 1550 though. It has a few better value restaurants I'd say than 1850. Not especially good apres or nightlife but some bars and cafes certainly.
Tips on where to eat depend on where you end up staying. Nowhere is cheap but 1850 is definitely towards the extortionate end of the scale for food and drink.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@PeakyB thanks that’s great. It’s mainly about seeing MissDoccam so being close to her base best. Our nightlife is definitely catered for by one bar that sells beer wine and Aperol so 1550 should suit I’m guessing. Her siblings can explore the delights of late night 1850 and work out their own way back (although it might involve my credit card so the pain will still be felt!)
Thanks again that’s very helpful info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Doccam, if you end up in 1550 l'Oeil de Boeuf is good. (https://loeildeboeuf.com/). Quite small, so worth booking in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@ecureuil great thanks- just about to push the button on 1550 so that’s appreciated. Looks amazing - can’t open the menu on the website (for some reason often can’t on French websites) so can’t see prices but guessing it’s not Hawksmoor so that’ll be fine!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Doccam wrote: |
So daughter number two has a job in Courcheval. We have never been there but seems that’ll be our go to destination this season.
To start with we are looking for s/c accommodation for Xmas week 21/12-28/12. We are looking for advice on x5 adults staying at 1850 (daughters chalet there) or 1550 (her accommodation is there). Looking at piste map 1650 seems on a spur so that doesn’t look any good given she’ll be shuttling between 1550 & 1850.
Any advice on best websites for accommodation bar obvious booking.com etc?
Tips on where to eat also appreciated. |
If this is your daughter's first time as a chalet girl I don't think you'll see much of her over Xmas week, one of the busiest of the season.
Ask if she needs a Xmas cake brought out with you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Doccam, the Grangettes gondola between 1550 and 1850 runs until 11.30pm and the bus service till 1.30am but I don't know many seasonaires that would contemplate partying in 1850 unless it's on someone else's tab.
1650 is the number one destination for seasonaires with by far the most "normal" bars and I'd be surprised if your daughter doesn't end up as a regular on the bus service rather than the gondola so she can stop off there on the way home. The main haunts are Le Pelican (was Katie's place - La Boulotte), Le Schuss and the infamous Funky Fox for late nights but there are others.
The main alternative to nights out in 1650 would be to get on the bus and go to Pub Le Ski Lodge or La Taiga in La Tania for apres and/or evening live music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Kenzie quite possibly- she’s only been at home for the last 6 weeks and it’s clear she’s had enough of mum and dad time- don’t even go down the ‘can you empty the dishwasher’ can of worms!
@Je suis un skier interesting thoughts on 1550/1650 night life divide. That’s a dilemma as even if mum and dad aren’t fussed her sibs will be keen on the apres.
@PeakyB that’s super useful- now I’ve worked out village=1550 and moriand= 1650 (that’s right?). So 10mins by bus between each. Runs til late every 30mins down the hill (hourly up the hill- makes sense as guessing no one will apres lower down than they stay)
Thanks all. Much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Doccam,
You should offer a bit of advice - she should be begging to do ALL the domestic chores in order to get up to speed (as much as is possible) for being a chalet slave, including cooking breakfast & evening meals (on electric if possible).
This is serious advice. Many 1st time seasonnaires find the shock of the first few weeks overwhelming, and a fair chunk don't survive. This is compounded by Xmas & New Year weeks being at the start of the season - not a good couple of weeks to be learning on the job in a chalet, especially given the premium guests pay for those weeks - they'll be expecting the service to match.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Sun 27-10-24 16:16; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
If this is your daughter's first time as a chalet girl I don't think you'll see much of her over Xmas week
|
+1 Any offspring of mine who expected free accommodation whilst refusing to do anything to help would be in for a rude awakening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Doccam wrote: |
@Je suis un skier interesting thoughts on 1550/1650 night life divide. That’s a dilemma as even if mum and dad aren’t fussed her sibs will be keen on the apres.
@PeakyB that’s super useful- now I’ve worked out village=1550 and moriand= 1650 (that’s right?). So 10mins by bus between each. Runs til late every 30mins down the hill (hourly up the hill- makes sense as guessing no one will apres lower down than they stay) |
My view (as an aging ex Courchevel/Meribel seasonaire and La Tania "local") is that seasonaires do apres wherever their mates are and/or the cheapest beer is and/or their favourite band is playing. It's not unusual at all to take the bus home whether that's up or downhill or even to do apres in Meribel and take the last ski lift home from La Folie Douce or the Ronnie (Rond Point). Apres on the hill in C1850 is bloody expensive. Much cheaper in La Tania, C1650 or Meribel where there are happy two hours. Seasonaires can get a worker's discount card for the Folie Douce and for the group of British pubs that own the Ronnie.
I'm not aware of a similar scheme for Courchevel but there might be, at least in C1650. Your daughter's employer should know and help her get the card/wristband/keyring if there is one. There isn't one in La Tania because people just "know" if you're an LT seasonaire or not. She could join Courchevel Saison Fun as proof of being a worker but I don't think it specifically covers bars for discount. https://www.saisonfunasso.com/
Your real issue is with where your kids go at night if you stay in 1550. I can only think of two reasonably priced bars in 1850 which are in the two "budget" hotels, L'Olympic and Le Tremplin, which will mostly have residents in them, and there's one "British" pub - The Gatekeeper. Other than that the place is Michelin starred restaurants, fancy bistrots, wine bars and nightclubs that don't wake up until 1am. There's only one real bar in 1550, Le Caterail, so if you want to go on a bar crawl, you go to 1650 which is 7 minutes on the bus. You can see a summary of the most popular apres venues here: https://courchevel.vip/apres-ski-courchevel/
Live bands are usually playing somewhere on the bus route every week night except Mondays (DJ sets) so people move about but the majority of evening live music is in La Tania or 1650. L'Elephant in Le Praz usually has one night too.
There is a Courchevel seasonaires group on Facebook which she should join and start asking questions. I dare say there are Instagram etc. ones too. It'll soon become obvious where the "hot" spots to hang out are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I wouldn’t rule out Le Praz at 1300. It’s an 8 minute gondola upto 1850. It might be a bit early for good skiing back to 1300 but again, the gondola system is brilliant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Having stayed more than once in every ‘village’ in 3V, I think La Tania has a lot going for it. Nicely laid out accommodation, almost all with very easy piste access. Good lift access to the rest of the area.
Easy to get around the village on foot. A more down to earth feel than anywhere else in 3V. Not many choices of bar or restaurant but what there is meets most needs, I think, unless you’re an all night clubber.
It would be my first choice, with Moriond 1650 as second.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Can you correct the spelling in the title to Courchevel so it will come up in searches?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Can you correct the spelling in the title to Courchevel so it will come up in searches? |
Hmm good point. That’s my U in French ‘O’ level rearing its ugly head again!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
How? Sorry!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Doccam,
If daughter lasts past the New Year cull then she should be the source of cheap accommodation, if she socialises with seasonnaires outside her employer group. And can she not get you discounted accommodation through her employer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PeakyB wrote: |
| Not many choices of bar or restaurant but what there is meets most needs, I think, unless you’re an all night clubber. |
I agree with the nightclub comment but there are seven different restaurants in LT plus the deli for roti chicken/takeaway pizza and a 24hr pizza machine for midnight munchies. How many do you need for a one week holiday?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Absolutely amazing feedback thanks to all. I’ve fed back lots of the above to her. She may not empty the dishwasher at home but she’s really hard working and focused outside the family environment in everything she does so she’ll be great.
Ferry crossing and accommodation booked. We’re probably more excited than she is about getting back to 3V. Mrs Doccam was chalet girl in Meribel late 80’s and is still great mates with the girls she met back in the day. I went that same season with a bunch of pals and possibly and quite rightly got the brush off from her at Le Pub before getting together a few years later- who knows! We haven’t been back since with our family skiing over the last 25 years or so being mainly Pyrenees Austria and Italy. Super excited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Je suis un Skieur, that’s more than enough restaurants! I hadn’t realised there were so many. Probably as I’ve usually returned to the same couple that I liked.
Are there any you’d especially recommend, without them being very expensive? I’ll be there 7 weeks from now. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Doccam wrote: |
| How? Sorry! |
Edit the first post and you can edit the title
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@PeakyB, I own an apartment in LT so tend to eat in Tim's places when I'm there because I get local's discount off him. But...
The one that I'd absolutely want to try is the Bistrot Machet (used to be the Chrome Bar) which is run by the same family that own Le Farcon. Julien Machet is the chef at Le Farcon and he oversees what goes on in the Bistrot Machet. I have eaten a couple of times at Le Farcon and it is fantastic; it's also extremely well priced for a Michelin starred place if you do fancy a splurge. The Montana's changed hands umpteen times so you tend to lose track of whether it's any good but it usually does evening 3 course "menu" deals so is probably worth looking into. La Taiga does menu deals too.
This is the full list of LT eating options in very approximate price order:
Marmottons - Pizza
Ski Lodge pub - burger & chips/international pub grub
La Ferme - Savoyard/a la carte
La Taiga - a la carte
Hotel Montana - open to non residents a la carte
Bistro Machet - French gastronomique
Le Farcon - 1* Michelin French gastronomique
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sun 27-10-24 21:02; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Doccam wrote: |
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Can you correct the spelling in the title to Courchevel so it will come up in searches? |
Hmm good point. That’s my U in French ‘O’ level rearing its ugly head again! |
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Doccam, I got a U as well, along with the rest of the class! Much better now....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| @Doccam, I got a U as well, along with the rest of the class! Much better now.... |
Mais oui!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@Doccam, bien sur, d'accord
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@Je suis un Skieur, that’s a useful grading of La Tania restaurants, thanks.
It’s La Ferme and La Taiga I’ve eaten at, which I’d rate as good and not too expensive.
The food looked OK in the Ski Lodge pub but the place has always felt too rammed for eating to me (great for a drink though and really buzzing on Paddy’s Day). Also lively when any rugby international on.
Never thought of eating in the Montana, though have been in for a drink occasionally. I recall friends staying there saying the food was acceptable but nothing to write home about. So it’s a different menu offering for outsiders, compared with hotel residents, but wonder if it’s a big step up in quality?
My next trip is in a catered chalet with the usual one night to try local eateries. Maybe the Bistro Machet will be possible, as long as it’s not nouvelle cuisine. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@PeakyB, looking at their website the current iteration of the Montana looks like a chalethotel setup. Not a la carte anymore and not clear if they take non-residents so maybe take that one off the list.
You can always take the bus to Le Praz - there are 5 highly rated restaurants down there plus the pizzeria and the tapas bar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@Je suis un Skieur, OK thanks, hadn’t been aware Le Praz was so well served with restaurants, so will look into that.
Will also checkout what’s happening with the Montana.
Great heads up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
