 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m considering 10 days in Courcheval in early Dec 2025 or Late Jan 2026. 1 adult 2 kids (11&13). I ski and kids snowboard, all intermediate level.
Was initially looking at 1650 but looks a little isolated compared to 1550. Would 1550 be the better and quicker location to access the majority of slopes in the 3 valleys? Or are there other resorts better placed? I hear 1850, is really pricey so probably not in my budget.
Also would likely be looking for a 3ppl family room, 2 adjoining rooms or a small apartment, if anyone has recommendations.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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La Tania is good for quick access to each of the valleys.
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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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Courchevel 1650 is possibly the best individual resort in L3Vs for skiing and as a village, while it doesn't have as much going on as 1850, it's certainly the second biggest village in the courchevel area. Between that and 1550, there is no competition, 1650 is miles better.
La Tania is also an excellent base. It's smaller than 1650 but more central to L3Vs. I'd recommend either but would not recommend 1550 tbh.
Important to note that all these villages are much cheaper than 1850, where you'll likely have heard the horror stories.
There's a free bus which connects these villages too, which is great if you're interested in going out at night.
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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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@Suemaruk, welcome to snowHeads  Early Dec is when the resort opens, so not all pistes and lifts open by then. Also risky with early snow conditions.
Late Jan likely to be better. Either La Tania or Moriond (1650) a good choice of base. 10 days is unusual for accommodation booking. Do you intend to drive over? For a 10 day booking need to research and book somewhere well in advance I’d suggest.
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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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@Suemaruk, the critical point in your request is that your kids are intermediate boarders, which is significant in where you should go. It sounds like you want to go exploring in which case the "usual" recommendations of best bases for your level don't apply. 1550 is a good choice because of the direct access to C1850 and there are a lot of apartments there.
Are you intending to go to ski/board school or just wing it? Either way, one lift, Grangettes, takes you straight into the 1850 meeting points and at night it doubles as a pedestrian lift if you want to go window (or grocery) shopping in 1850. There's not much nightlife in 1550 but I'm guessing that's irrelevant with 11 and 13 year olds.
You'll seriously struggle to get a 3 person hotel room anywhere at a sensible price; an apartment is the only realistic choice for a 10 day trip. There is one 2* hotel in C1850 (the Olympic) but that's £200/night in low season for a 3 bed room; you'll get a deal on an apartment for far less than that.
I wouldn't risk early December as an intermediate unless you go higher in the 3Vs; Mottaret, Les Menuires or Val Thorens would work. Courchevel in January would be great but if you want a deal on an apartment it will need to start in mid Jan rather than late. The agencies are flexible in low season so it's possible.
The long and short of it is that you can get from any part of Courchevel to Val Thorens (for instance) in 5/6 lifts if you know your way around but a lot of the quickest routes rely on good gliding skills to hold your speed on flats. I don't see that those routes will necessarily work for an intermediate skier with two intermediate boarding kids so some allowances need to be made.
These are the pros & cons for the other bases recommended:
C1650 - good skiing for intermediates but a pain to get out of at intermediate level and especially difficult for boarders. The quickest way out is a long green path with an uphill stretch at the end. The alternative is a button lift which needs momentum to access as it's also slightly uphill. You can take an extra lift but that leaves you with a challenging red that is usually icy at that time of year. I don't think you'd enjoy any of them.
La Tania (my home village) - easy access into C1850 on green, blue or red runs. Challenging but fun blue home. Download possible. Not ideal at intermediate level for access into Meribel. The easiest way by far is on the Boulevard de la Loze which would be fine for you with some occasional poling but your boarding kids will almost certainly come to a dead stop and it's a long path. The alternative is Pic Bleu which is very much a purple shade of blue. If it wasn't an "access" route it would probably be graded red. However, the Loze lift is a designated pedestrian lift so you can download into Meribel that way and avoid both. If you try Pic Bleu and it's too tough at least you know you have an alternative.
C1550 - wide run home with a bit of gradient to help the boarders. Download available. To get to Meribel is three straight lifts followed by a ski/board. To get to Val Thorens is two extra lifts with an easy run between. The red run from 1850 into Mottaret (Aigle) is both tough and unpopular but you can dodge it by downloading from the Pas du Lac mid-station.
For me, 1550 works, 1650 doesn't, La Tania does (with a caveat for how to get to Meribel), Le Praz does in theory but there are less apartments there and the runs home are tricky reds so you may have to download.
Feel free to PM me if you have more questions. I'm a La Tania apartment owner, ex-seasonnaire and ex 3V ski host. I used to spend 4 out of 5 days/week guiding people from LT to VT and back 
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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 am lucky enough to have a friend who has a house in Bozel, directly opposite where the free ski bus sets off, so we got a good seat every morning! It’s just 15 minutes to Le Praz from there, I think?
I thought Bozel was lovely - still relatively unspoilt and a ‘real town’… there have always been rumours of a lift linking it to 1550, and this is looking more and more likely - hopefully by Winter 28/29 in readiness for the Olympics in 2030.
In good snow years, my friend says she can ski down past Saint Bon to within walking distance of her house… global warming may make that less frequent.
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@Suemaruk, Based on a hotel that has family rooms - and if you are prepared to change resorts - I would suggest Hotel Belambra Le Diva in Tignes Val Claret, which has 3 and 4 bed rooms. Nb. There is also another fancier Club Belambra hotel in Val Claret which I haven't stayed at.
When I went with 2 kids, we were in a room that had a double bed and an alcove with bunk beds. There was a small under occupancy to pay.
The Diva is not fancy, but perfectly acceptable. The meals are self service, with a cooked breakfast and good choice of options in the evening.
It is not quite ski in/ski out, but not far off. There are hire shops beside it....we used Deep Snow (Ski Set) which provided very good quality skis.
It is a Holiday Club, so there are often other kids there, with activities for them.
For Ski School - Evo2 are very decent.
I have always gone with Crystal.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 15-12-24 15:17; edited 1 time in total
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We stayed in an Airbnb in 1550 a few years ago with two kids. It was a perfect location. Two lifts out. One which lands you directly in 1850. We could actually ski back to our balcony which was fab for a lunchtime stop. There was also a toboggan run from 1850 to 1550 which was a great evening activity. We didn’t use the aqua center but that is walkable from 1550.
It’s actually my preferred location in courchevel because you can ski directly back ‘home’ from most slopes. That was very handy when the kids were younger & suddenly decided they’d had enough.
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