 Poster: A snowHead
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Any thoughts on what Les Menuires would be like for a non skier? To complicate things, this is a non skier who is scared of heights so won't go on ski lifts  They'd not be looking for any particular things to do. I'm more wondering on the logistics of meeting skiers for lunch, etc.
I'd been thinking Val Thorens, as it's a reasonable sized town and there are a couple of piste side restaurants that you can walk to (if you're so inclined).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There is a good sports centre in Les Menuires, I think there are more shops inside La Croisette than the Centre Commercial in Val Thorens.
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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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I've not skied the 3Vs for a good while now, but Les Men always struck me as an ugly nothing of a place. The 3Vs on the cheap.
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"non skiers" covers such a wide range of people. Some need entertainment, others good at entertaining themselves. Some will want "shops", others definitely not. I am now a non skier. Don't need much to entertain me for a week but we're self-catering in a pretty smart place and happy to do some chalet-maid stuff in between a lot of sitting with my feet up with a book, and going everywhere you can go on the free ski busses. If your non skier is as paranoid as I am about icy pavements, and paths with with uneven snow make sure they have good footwear, crampons, and maybe walking poles. Maybe meet skiers for lunch at the bottom of lifts.
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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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Really wouldn't be somewhere I'd choose for a non skier. My wife is one and Les Menuires hasn't got a lot going for it. Personally think it's better if you have somewhere with more of a villagey feel to it.
St Martin de Belleville in the same valley would be more pleasant, longer lifts to the good stuff for you but a decent compromise perhaps if you want to be in that area.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think it's quite rude to go to a desolate place like Les Menuires with a non-skier your group!
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| Rowlski wrote: |
Really wouldn't be somewhere I'd choose for a non skier. My wife is one and Les Menuires hasn't got a lot going for it. Personally think it's better if you have somewhere with more of a villagey feel to it.
St Martin de Belleville in the same valley would be more pleasant, longer lifts to the good stuff for you but a decent compromise perhaps if you want to be in that area. |
Agreed.
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Sorry, looking at the replies I should have been a bit clearer about the question. I'm specifically interested in whether it's feasible / straightforward for a non skier who won't go in lifts to meet skiers for lunch etc. Obviously, I assume that as with most resorts the skiers could drop back into town but are there other places that can be walked to? (I know of several other resorts where this is possible but for various reasons am specifically interested in Les Menuires in this case.)
Last edited by After all it is free  on Fri 29-11-24 23:59; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Rowlski, @Mollerski, also agreed, particularly if the non-skier isn't
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looking for any particular things to do
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On the other hand, as a keen skier, I wouldn't want to keep going right down into St Martin itself for lunch too often.
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| KSH wrote: |
@Rowlski, @Mollerski, also agreed, particularly if the non-skier isn't
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looking for any particular things to do
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On the other hand, as a keen skier, I wouldn't want to keep going right down into St Martin itself for lunch too often. |
Particularly not in April, which is when I'm looking at.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@sugarmoma666, indeed. I often ski down to Le Corbeleys for lunch in April, but that's as low as I'd want to go at that time.
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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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Regarding meeting for lunch, it would be possible. But it would limit the terrain you cover.
Les Menuires is literally on the side of a hill, part way up. Everything is pretty much vertical. Lifts, ski lifts, pedestrian lifts take you up and down. And it's ugly. If someone is seriously scared of heights (can't go on a balcony) and plans on leaving their apartment I would probably plan to stay elsewhere. Even Val thorens would be a better bet. Sorry to not be much help!
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I should have put that dependence on lifts to get to lunch depends on exactly where in Menuires you're staying. There's roads to everywhere but it can be the long way and without a pavement, or might involve walking on a piste.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@sugarmoma666, I often praise Les Menuires as a good base to ski from, which frequently arouses derision from some.
I really wouldn’t want to be based there as a non skier who doesn’t like lifts.
It may be possible to walk to some lunch spots to meet up but not easy. In April in France I can really only think of Val D’Isere that would be good for late season snow and also be enjoyable for a non-skier. Maybe Tignes Le Lac too.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Canuck, that's exactly the sort of info I was looking for. I've skied thru Les Menuires but never stayed there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wow. Some seriously inaccurate answers here showing the usual anti LM prejudice.
| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| I'm specifically interested in whether it's feasible / straightforward for a non skier who won't go in lifts to meet skiers for lunch etc. |
Yes it is. Les Menuires was originally designed as a pedestrian access resort and it's strapline is "friendlyMenuires" precisely because it's easy for a non-skier (e.g. a family member babysitting toddlers etc.) to get around. Almost all of it is accessible on foot or via the multiple resort shuttle buses that run all day. Almost all of the restaurants in the croisette area are accessible from both piste side and either the pedestrian walkway that's all around the front of the croisette or from within the centre commercial that is behind/underneath the croisette.
The shuttle buses run into Bruyeres which has a similar setup to the croisette and a pedestrian bridge linking it into the Reberty area. The buses run into Reberty and almost all of the restaurants that are piste side in Reberty are accessible from the road also. Highly rated restaurants such as La Ferme, La Marmite, L'Etoile, l'Ours Blanc are all piste side with easy pedestrian access.
In April, the roads will be clear. Lower down on the other side of the boulevard is the lake with all the summer hiking trails that will likely be starting to clear also. There's also a pedestrian only bus service between LM and VT which opens that up as a possibility but I think there's far more choice for a meet-up in LM and it's less likely that the roads will be clear in VT for easy walking due to the altitude difference. The bus service goes to St Martin too but as you've said, you may not want to go lower.
The full LM layout and bus service routes are here: https://static.lesmenuires.com/files/plan-Menuires-hiver.pdf
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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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I've been to virtually all resorts in the French Alps in over 60 skiing weeks
-ValTho 2 times
-Les Menuires 4 times
There's a lot of LM bashing around. That is not justified. But there are far better options in French Alps in April, for a combo of avid skier and non skier.
Val d'Isere would be my first choice.
1. The best skiing area in the Alps, with 60+ skiing weeks, I prefer it over 3V.
2. Nice reasonably authentic village that is alive and inhabited 12 months a year
3. Flat valley floor with lots of options for beautiful walking
4. Below the tree line
5. Some cabins and funicular for those with fear of height
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@Je suis un Skieur, that's the sort of thing I was thinking of, but don't know LM. I don't think I've ever stayed anywhere for a ski holiday where there weren't restaurants within walking (no lifts) distance of accommodation, where people could meet for lunch. When I said "meet at the bottom of the lifts" I meant "the lifts the skiers will have walked to to go up the mountain". Not the bottom of the entire domain. Most ski lifts cover more vertical distance than any non skier other than a serious mountain walker would want to toil up for lunch. A pottering morning (maybe stay in bed till all the clattering people have finally left) maybe a walk out for a coffee, lunch with my friends and an afternoon reading or trip on one of the ski busses would do me fine, as a non skier. With the proviso that there was somewhere properly pleasant and private to sit around and relax. Not a choice between a poky hotel bedroom and a public bar where every cup of tea costs me pounds, thanks.
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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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@sugarmoma666, worth considering staying at the Ours Blanc in LM given your requirements. Not only is it right next to a ski run, it has a great spa, indoor outdoor pool, library, restaurant and south facing terrasse. Free tea/coffee/hot choc in the lounge, free board games, books, table footie etc, live music a few nights each week. Great location.
We’ve stayed there in April with non skiers (and also some “not very keen skiers”) in our group and it worked really well. They could chill out, but could also get to restaurants (or we could get to the hotel) to meet.
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@sugarmoma666, if your non skier is a walker, then there are some lovely winter walking paths that would get them about.
In Les Men beyond the Croisette (which has finally had a revamp, though I’ve not seen it yet) the restaurants up in Reberty and Bruyères are easy to get to. A walk down to and round Plan de L’eau is lovely and then meet at Le Setor (would require the skiers to come down Bvd Cumin from VT). I think there’s a path up to the top of Roc 1 for Roc 7 restaurant.
Take a bus down to St Martin and hike the path to La Loy (from the car park opposite Notre Dame de la Vie church on the main road) or the top of St Martin 1 to Le Corbeleys for lunch (La Loy is 20 mins on foot, Corbeleys about 45 mins to an hour). Or walk the valley footpath to St M for lunch in the village and get the bus back. For the latter 2 you’d need to check the bus times.
I was off games last winter with a broken arm, so did loads of hiking, though I also used the lifts. I visited the pool and spa once and it was great but quite pricy for a single trip to the pool and spa combined , thought you can get a multi day pass for it. I was never bored (based in St M).
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My wife is a non skier, she has been to Meribel, Meribel Village and 1850 on the understanding that we could meet for lunch, my conclusion is that it is a pretty miserable way of spending a holiday, traipsing around meeting skiers up a mountain for lunch … probably as bad as attending a sailing championship … all we talk about is the skiing (or sailing) and most mountain restaurants have poor access for walkers, even if it looks ok for us skiers.
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It depends on the non skiers preferences but I’d say if they want a relaxing holiday doing not much but pottering, reading, the odd spa trip, short strolls in the mountains etc. but be part of lunches and apres; then LM is about as good as it gets. Particularly if the non-skier won’t get a lift
As others have said the place is designed to blend access on foot with access on skis and it does this very well IMO. So it’s easy for the pedestrian to get to piste side restaurants and for skiers to access pedestrian ones. And being at the heart of the 3Vs it not going to feel like a chore for the skiers to get there for lunch either.
And it has about the same level of non-skier stuff to do as any high altitude ski resort. Which is not a lot. But also is as much as the supposed prettier places such as Val D’isere that was mentioned.
If the non-skier wants genuine touristy things to do like going places for the day, shopping etc. then they’ll maybe prefer a town that has access to skiing. But then meeting up for lunch will be a pain for both groups.
A non-skier on any type of ski holiday will be ok if that person genuinely likes to spend a day alone and can make their own fun, be that reading, walking etc. And LM is a good place for that. But if they’re not, then there are precisely zero places in the world to satisfy blending skiers and non skier on the same holidays without significantly compromising one or other aspect.
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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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If it's the fear of heights issue you're mostly concerned about, can I suggest you and your companion find your accommodation on google maps and trace the pedestrian route to the front de neige roughly here https://maps.app.goo.gl/m3w6NvM8mZQemY336 so that you can check that it avoids lifts, pedestrian bridges (one has see-through grill bottom), terraces with drops, busy pistes etc. As a previously debilitating sufferer of fear of heights after a ski lift incident, and still very much recovering from it, I can understand that simply being in the wrong location could ruin your companion's holiday. If you're staying right at the front, you should be fine 
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@snowdave, having said I wouldn’t recommend Les Men as a base for a non skier, I might make an exception if I could rough it at L’ours Blanc for a week 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@PeakyB, +1 
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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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Same, I think St Martin is a much nicer place to spend a week than Les M although as a skier I’d happily stay in LM and my girls have done/doing school trips there. Corbeleys / La Loy are indeed a good place for lunch if based in St M. we go regularly in early April and only last year was the bottom run shut for first time in a few years. However being based in a very smart hotel could definitely make it passable in LM. Otherwise it’s just LM is a bit grotty and the shops a bit sh*t and the public pool is too small for the resort.
I have non skied in Val d’Isere and lunched at Folie and all that and that was really not bad at all as much as it pained me to miss out!
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@PeakyB, for the last week of the season (when we usually go) L’Ours Blanc is fantastic value IMO. When I looked for 2025 it was roughly cost neutral with an apartment in VT.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Je suis un Skieur and @Perty, thanks for the detailed responses - I may come back with more questions. @Canuck, I'm only really concerned with avoiding ski lifts, and even some of those might prove to be OK in the end.
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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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There is a lot of unnecessary mean-spiritedness on here about Les Men.
The Pedestrian access for Les Men is layed out really nicely, and its very easy for skiers to meet non-skiers at different restaurants over the course of a week.
Jacks, or Brasserie de Belleville Restaurants (both in the Central "La Croisette" section) have HUGE Terraces which are lovely if the sun is out.
The covered commercial centre is also great, with 3 or 4 places to eat, have a coffee, or visit sausage and cheese shops. There is also a delightful creperie.
If your non-skier is feeling brave and willing to try a bubble lift, the restaurant "Roc 7" at the top of Roc 1 lift is great, and has stunning views.
Your non-skier can very easily get the bubble lift back down to Les Men after a lazy lunch at Roc 7
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Poster: A snowHead
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@UtahGetMeTwo,
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There is a lot of unnecessary mean-spiritedness on here about Les Men.
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+1
i was quite "snobbish" about les men when i worked in Meribel, only used to ski through it to get to la masse and thinking it was a concrete jungle (to be fair it still is), but after staying there a few times recently, i was impressed with the resort, and have changed my mind.
as you say, the croisette area is really well equipped, both inside and outside, there are several facilities for non skiers, along with a good network of walking paths.
even if staying in the preyarand area, it is well served by a pedestrian lift, though whether the OP's friend would be willing to use this is another matter, but it is an easy walk without the lift.
but as skiers, the benefit of les menuires is that a great deal of the accommodation is ski in/out
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes - les men isn’t ideal for a non skier who won’t use lifts. Its main attraction is its lower cost accommodation and good base for higher altitude skiing. We live in Meribel centre in the season and love the vastness of the 3V - there are some really great lunch spots near VT, st M and les men way but all would need your non skier to at least get into a bubble.
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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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FAQ
