Getting Around Les Menuires (evening, staying in different accommodation)

A snowHead

I don't know Les Menuires well. I've only had one week in L3V and that was in Val Thorens. We obviously skied down to and out of Les Menuires but didn't spend much time there.
I seem to remember it being a fairly long and thin resort spread down the valley.

Anyway, some friends are going in a few weeks and are staying at Residence Le Hameau Des Airelles (which I think is at the 'top' of the resort). I've looked at joining them with my daughter and the most suitable hotel for us looks to be the Hotel Belambra "The Bruyères" (which seems to be at the 'bottom' of the resort).

I'm not worried at all about skiing together, we're well capable of agreeing where we want to meet, when and getting there. The issue is that we would like to meet up in the evenings too. Can someone who knows Les Menuires let me know how far apart they are (a) from each other and (b) from a resort 'centre' and also how easy it is to get around in the resort - is it walking everywhere or are there any shuttle buses or similar? I don't want to end up with us on the same holiday in the daytime but different holidays in the evening.

A snowHead

It's all on here: https://static.lesmenuires.com/files/plan-Menuires-hiver.pdf

Shuttle buses run till 11pm; the blue line connects the two residences in question.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi, I stayed in Les M in Jan last year in the Les Bruyeres area and walked/ took the bus into the main town...

- Les menuires has a central quarter (La Croissette) and then satellite bits (some of which merge into the main bit) - the two locations you mention are on opposite sides of the resort. Here is a map: https://static.lesmenuires.com/files/plan-Menuires-hiver.pdf
- When I was there I walked from Les Bruyeres into town and it was probably about 20 mins and it looks like a similar walk from the other place: so I can believe the google maps suggestion of a 40min walk between the two hotels.
- As long as you can each handle a 20 min walk to the main Les Menures centre you can meet up.
- The bus links are pretty good and looks like the blue line goes just where you need it to between accom: https://static.lesmenuires.com/files/horaires-navettes.pdf
- Its easy enough to get one lift up from Les Bruyeres and then ski down to the town centre (and same on way back). Suspect it'll be similar on the other side.
- Les Bruyeres has its own strip of restaurants and shops which is actually pretty nice. Don't know about the other place...

As an aside I had a great trip and was astounded how cheap the accom was and how quiet the mountain was outside of school hols (albeit this was 2nd week of Jan)

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I’m in Les Menuires now.
The two accommodations couldn’t be any further apart.

Les Bruyeres is a great location with bars and restaurants, a 20 min walk to le Croisette which you could call “the main town” and bottom of the ski resort.

Your friends are even lower, not an area I know.
To meet up I’d suggest meeting in the middle at Le Croisette.
Shuttle bus is easy. Runs every 20mins until 20:00 then every 40 mins ish.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks all.
I'll have another look for hotels and see if I can find somewhere suitable near their place. But if not, it looks workable.

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@Higs, why not a self-catering place for you too?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

Quick update and request for info if anyone has any local knowledge...
When I came to book the hotel, they only had one room so I've looked again and can find somewhere suitable in Residence Péclet in La Croisette. One (and only one) of the reviews mentions a noise problem being opposite bar/restaurant «le capricorne». Anyone know if this is a particularly rowdy part of town or if Le Capricorne is a particularly noisy establishment?

I wouldn’t call La Croisette as rowdy. Menuires is classed as a family resort.
La Croisette is a kind of a horse shoe at the bottom of the slopes.
Shops, bars, restaurants, with accommodation above.

Le Capricorne is a bar restaurant. I’ve not been so I can’t comment on the noice. It closes at 11pm.

What I do know is Jacks bar which is close by do apresfrom 4:30pm, but they don’t use full bands due to accommodation above. They only use solo artists.
Whether this is the same in other bars I don’t know.

Menuires always seems quiet to me. However I’m not out drinking all night.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@Higs, I've stayed in Lac du Lou facing the front de neige which is right next to Le Capricorne I believe with no issue but we were on an upper floor.

I suspect the review is over cooking it or perhaps had a room that was particularly close to the noise.

I don't think there is a "particularly rowdy part of town".

Do you suffer particularly from noise when sleeping?

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Thanks both. I didn't think it would be an issue and didn't want to put too much weight on a single review. I've not really spent any time in Les Menuires (and not at night) but I didn't have it down as a party town.

snow reports

Long shot but we have a last minute addition to our ski trip in Les Menuires.

Owing to personal circs, he could only confirm today and would be out there Wednesday 5th March to Sunday 9th March.

Our hotel is full and we can’t find him accommodation as a solo unless it’s eye-wateringly expensive.

Don’t suppose anyone has any contact who’d want to rent out a to a solo for those few days? He’s had a bum couple of weeks and really needs the trip.

Cheers.

He could always try staying in Orelle in a studio and meeting you every day for skiing. Just looked and yes even remaining studio appts are still toppy for the week now in LM.

You know it makes sense.

@Reezo Theres a room available just down the valley at St Martin De Belleville - which has a ski lift / bus connection to Les M I think: https://www.booking.com/Share-gVuIldp

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I know skiing between Les Bruyeres and La Croisette is very straightforward but is walking it in the evening/at night easy?

Is there a path? Google maps/streetview makes it look like an unlit road with no pavement.

A snowHead

@Faz, what are you trying to achieve? Why do you want or need to?

Reason I ask is I don't believe it will be easy to do so.

Here is a plan of Les Menuires: https://static.lesmenuires.com/files/plan-Menuires-hiver.pdf

It says the dotted lines are "Only snowshoes" but from what I recall are perfectly walkable in normalish shoes. So I think you could make your way through Fontanettes if needed. But it comes back to my first question.

A snowHead

The bus is the answer.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I'm looking at Les Bruyeres for next winter. Stopped there several years ago and nice enough (good location), but very quiet at night.

Thought we'd probably visit the "bright lights" of the La Croisette but would rather walk than get a bus (depending on weather). Plus I'd be worried about missing the last bus or it not turning up.

So it's definitely a "want" rather than a "need". A previous poster had mentioned it being a 20 minute walk but my recollection was that it would be difficult to walk, especially at night.

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@Faz, I would simply stay in Croisette.

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Getting Around Les Menuires (evening, staying in different accommodation)

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