Courchevel - Opinions Please!

A snowHead

Further to my post yesterday, just curious to get views on the above, I've heard all the usual stuff about the place i.e. its cheap, unpretentious and a bit run down etc!......have never been to any of the three valley resorts so was considering it this year, may be swayed by expert views of the snowheads!

A snowHead

Great skiing, huge and varied piste network, some very good (but expensive) ski schools, lift pass not good value for money if you'll only ski a small fraction of the domain, eating and nightlife can be very expensive although you don't have to spend a fortune if you choose the cheaper places to eat and drink. My favourite resort.

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The skiing is great. It is made up of several seperate villages: (very) generally the lower the village, the cheaper, and the worse the nightlife.

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I think Courchevel has some of the best skiing in the 3 valleys. If you don't want to pay the prices of 1850 it is worth investigating 1650 and 1550 which still both give you really good access to the slopes. Have stayed in 1650 before and there are a couple of lively bars worthy of a night out!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I'm with Rob. I'e been 3 times twice 1850 and once 1550. 1850 most convenient/ expensive. I don't think I spent any more money there than say Alpe d'huez. All ski resorts are generally expensive. There is the opportunity to spend a great deal of money if you can afford to. Its a grat place to ski for all levels of skier. I'd sooner stay in Courchevel than other areas of 3 Valleys. There is some scope for skiing in the trees in bad weather conditions that doesn't exist in Val Thorens-great skiing there too. The Meribel skiing I'm less fussed on, although there are good runs there to (Mt Vallons although there are always queues). I could be tempted to stay in St Martin de Bellville also. I stayed there last March and had fantastic conditions-two weeks of snow and sunshine from the day after we got there Very Happy

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Fab place. Great skiing. Yes expensive to eat and drink in 1850 and on mountain. Good pistes for all levels. Great access to 3 valleys. I'd go tomorrow...... Highly recommend. Has to be done at least once...

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Glengooly-Guy, it very much depends on what you're looking for. IMHO, Courchevel 1850 is a great place to stay for a week - convenient access to skiing and some very nice restaurants. The only place I definitely wouln't go back to in the 3Vs is Meribel/Mottaret - too much of a rat run between the other two valleys. I'd generally pick Courchevel for skiing and eating, VT for snow (particularly at the beginning or end of season), and Les Menuires for economy. St Martin looks nice but is smaller. I've done two seasons in VT so it's naturally a bit of a favourite for me but would have been happy to go to Courchevel.

After all it is free

If nightlife is your bag the ignore Reberty, if not then it has some excellent chalets and accomodation and doorstep skiing, The skiing in the Belleville Valley is fantastic.

Not a good choice unless you can use miles and miles of superbly linked skiing of all types. If you like the idea of hundreds of km of superb piste then it is the best and priced accordingly. Can't wait to get back there in February.

Frosty the Snowman's, point is very valid. If you get around at reasonable speed then it doesn't matter much, from the skiing point of view, where you are in the 3V. If night-life is important to you then that is another story.

I love the 3V.

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I'm a big fan. always stay at La Tania as it is cheaper, smaller and gives very good access into Courcheval or to Merible and Val T.

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Pros – well managed and reliable snow; extensive slopes; trees; possible to budget more reasonably than commonly held perception; Supreme ski school; convenience; well-linked areas; masses going on (ski-wise)
Cons – eurotrash atmosphere of 1850, impersonal, stratospheric costs if you don’t watch out; limited appeal to non-skiers; could be anywhere – no real ‘French’ feeling.

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Have stayed at the Hotel Courcheneige on the Bellecote piste several times. Great hotel which was run by the Heully family, but I now believe it has been sold to new owners - any reports please? Particulary like the the ski-ing above C-1650. I would recommend that you search out "Le Chapelet" red run right on the eastern border of the ski area. I agree with previous comments in that Meribel is not even close to Courchevel for the ski-ing.
In spite of the hideous architecture of Les Menuires (only the French could build a place like this in the mountains), I reckon the ski-ing here is particularly good on the "Fasse" area - good black runs quite challenging but not that difficult for the moderate intermediate.

I liked Courchevel. When we went a couple of years ago, it was our first foray into the unknown without ski school. We skied over to Val Thorens and back, a little bit of Meribel in the middle. We also skied down to St.Martin. I thought the skiing in Courchevel was the best of the 3V - better snow than Meribel. I particularly liked the skiing above 1650 as well. My favourite run was Les Creux .We stayed in Le Carlina, on the home run. Very convenient. A guy carried my skis out every morning and all I had to do was step into them! However, the food wasn't great and I felt it was overpriced. I'd really like to stay at the very top of 1850 or in Le Praz.
We had a private lesson and then a 2 day clinic with New Generation - really good. The ski instructor gave us a good tip. You give your 'stance' a number on a scale 1 to 5, 1 being your tallest stance and 5 being your 'lowest'. We did different runs/turnsetc. and had to tell him what our stance numbers were and he told us what they should be. I'm bad at explaining, but the technique was something that helped.

You know it makes sense.

Glengooly-Guy,
I'm not a massive fan of purpose built and haven't been for a while. Having said that the skiing is great for pretty much every level of skier with a very good variety of slope and you certainly have to try it some time. Personally I would avoid high season if at all possible as it can get pretty crowded. (I am sure someone will contradict me by saying not if you know it wink

) But if it's your first time you won't.

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

Courchevel is very nice - my favourite French resort

I'd echo earlier comments about 1650, it's a good place for both moderate nightlife and excellent direct access to the snow without being as expensive as 1850.
Skiing above 1650 is really quite good and normally reasonably quiet (compared to, say, Meribel).

The only difficulty that I see is the "rat run" feel of Meribel is a bit of a nuisance and I wouldn't stay there uness I had to.

A snowHead

Love it. Been to 1850 twice, beer prices not much different to London, food extortionate on some bits of the mountain, but you can pick your places.
The slopes are fantastic. (Rather too much of the golf course visible on the Verdon when we popped over for the day, but it was the end of April Wink

Have one in Le Bar Jump for me Very Happy

A snowHead

Courchevel January 04:

Expensive Sad

Snobby

Crap snow

Awful accomodation Sad

Long transfer Sad

Poor tuition Sad

Male stripper at Ice Hockey Laughing

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

marmalade ok what's that about

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marmalade wrote,

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

fraserp, I'd agree with most of what you said. I stayed in 1850 this year and all in all found the place to be fine.

There is no doubt that the skiing there is fantastic, which is why it is pricey - in particular 1850. If I was to go back I would go to 1550 as it is only a short ride by telecabin or chair lift and its cheaper than its higher rival.

I have also stayed in Catina and while I agree it is a little shabby, it is good value for money.

Ski school - I used Supreme there and found them to be very good.

I would agree with fraserp about Courchevel, it is a very good resort and I would recommend it to anyone

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Courchevel - Opinions Please!

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