 Poster: A snowHead
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Courchevel has been recommended a few times the last few weeks but...
I have never been as my parents always said it is too expensive, but now that I'm working (most of the times), should I go, is it a "must go" or just over hype?
I know it is expensive but are there chalets, hotels, pubs, restaurants that are reasonably priced?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What do you want from a resort?
You can with a little searching (on here) find more reasonably priced hotels, pubs, restaurants, sandwich shops etc etc
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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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| kitenski wrote: |
| What do you want from a resort? |
I just like to ski but the mrs likes easy, well groomed slopes with a bit of shopping thrown in 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Depends what you are looking for in a ski resort and whether you are talking about Courchevel 1850 or not.
On the plus side Courchevel has extensive and high quality piste skiing for all levels including some nice long tree runs in the trees.
On the negative side (for me) Courchevel 1850 has lots of upmarket (overpriced) hotels, shops, bars and mountain restaurants which make it popular with the wealthy crowd. The prices are a step up from the rest of the 3 Valleys.
Satellite villages like La Tania and Courchevel 1550 or 1650 offer a cheaper way to experience the Courchevel ski area but do not have as many facilities or the glitz of 1850.
You could also consider other resorts in the 3 Valleys from where you can easily access Courchevel eg Meribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville. Each has a different feel.
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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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| Louis wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| What do you want from a resort? |
I just like to ski but the mrs likes easy, well groomed slopes with a bit of shopping thrown in |
Sounds like it will be a perfect fit then!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Louis, one should
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| Louis wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| What do you want from a resort? |
I just like to ski but the mrs likes easy, well groomed slopes with a bit of shopping thrown in |
I'm sure your Mrs would enjoy the slopes of C1650.
The grooming is usually excellent and the slopes are great for building confidence (sorry but cannot comment on the shopping as I've never purchased anything more than a baguette and a can of coke whilst stopping there for lunch!)
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If she's going shopping in Courchevel she'll need to take A LOT of money! (likewise sitting taking it easy in nice cafes and restaurants!).
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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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I lived in 1650 for a season and loved it!!
Once you get past the its "its so expensive" tag you can have a really good time there.
Loads of skiing, on and off piste with a decent uplift service, a load of shops, pubs and places to eat across all heights of Courchevel.
1650 and 1550 is cheaper to eat, drink and shop in, a lot of seasonal workers lived in 1650 when I was there and it was no more expensive than the other big French ski areas.
That being said, if you wanna spend a shed load of money stay in 1850!!
La Tania is also a great option worth looking at.
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I would stear clear of staying in Courcheval, the russian olligarchs have taken over 1850 and its horrid. But the three valleys have excellent skiing, go to merribel instead and ski all 3 valleys with ease.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Its expensive, but the skiing is exceptional. However, as the poster above says, Merribel is a suitable alternative.
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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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Louis, You could do worse than LaTania, easy to access Courchevel, and you also shave the choice of going to Meribel and its cheaper than both, have a look at www.latania.co.uk, just noticed sparkzter, mentioned it as well, the shopping is very limited though, unless you want ski gear 
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Been to Courchevel a quite few times and last year the prices has increased in all resorts. Even the cheap baguette shops in 1550 were charging 5 euros for french fries.
In 1850 we were paying around 8.5 euros for a beer, 1550 around 5 euros at happy hour. Someone had a JD & Coke in 1550 and was charged 7.5 euros! The lift pass was also very expensive 180 euros for 4 days.
Saying that the Ski area is very impressive and the lifts first class, though they can get a little busy.
Due to feeling ripped off last year I won't be going back again, the rich Russians are welome to pay the crazy prices
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You know it makes sense.
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Haven't stayed there, but skied across twice from Val T and found the skiing to be superb. I didn't this the mountain restaurand to be any worse than the rest of the 3V.
Would love to spend a week there, but deals are pricey in comparison to other places.
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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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No, unless you fly in... 
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Poster: A snowHead
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in preference to all the other possibilities available through out the Alps - probably not.
just because you fancy it or you like the sound of it - probably yes
personally there would be a few other resorts on my list to visit
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| mojito wrote: |
| the russian olligarchs have taken over 1850 and its horrid. |
you know what, last season wasn't so huge for the russians as the season before. they still celebrate russian new year, but last year 1850 was just full of rich people from everywhere, parisians, germans. all sorts, all knowb, all crap drivers, all chauffers parking getting in the way.
but courch has great skiing (on and off), 1650 is ace, la praz is ace as is la tania!
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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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We stayed at La Praz earlier this year. It's cheap(ish), very pleasant and quiet. The ski area is fantastic. Chalet mates had stayed in La Tania the year before and said that was really good as well. Just do it!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I have been in Courchevel for a week now and really need a shower that isn't going to cost me €80!
Is there a hostel with shared dorm rooms in the whole of the 3 Valleys? Meribel or Val Thorens?? Really appreciated if you know of one.
-Thanks!!
-j
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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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| Quote: |
the russian olligarchs have taken over 1850 and its horrid
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yeah all nine of them  no one skis in courchevel except for russian billionaires. everything is overpriced and the skiing sucks dont bother... bulgaria is much better value the gulash is wonderful, the skiing world class, and everything costs less than it does in bolton..
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My son worked in the 3 Valleys last season - cooking initially for a private French chalet in Meribel, then one in Courchevel 1850. He had far more Arab clients than Russians (though he enjoyed the Russians, one of whom was the sister of that journalist who was murdered the Kremlin). One of the other people working in the chalet was a snowboarder, a rather better one than my son, who knew the valley well from a previous season. He really enjoyed the boarding there, especially having an expert guide to follow around. He infinitely preferred 1850 to Meribel, despite having liked very much his French boss in Meribel.
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Had a couple of nights in 1650 last week and rated it. Good base and prices didn't seem crazy - just standard French Alps expensive! Lots of nice wide open pistes that can be accessed easily and not too vast a hike if you want to go further afield and explore across to Les Menuires / Val Thorens. Certainly preferred the vibe to Meribel which felt a bit like Guildford high street masquerading as a ski resort and hosting a "pose off" between a couple of dozen second rate public schools ... but I may have caught it on a bad night!
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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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Louis, Absolutely, as well as La Tania, have a look at Le Praz and 1650, have a look at silverski or Ski World as well as latania.co.uk and Ski Amis. Agree with the statement on Meribel.
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I really liked Courchevel Le Praz, had more of a real town/village feel to it while still being pretty/alpine type. La Tania also has a nice feel. Preferred the uplift in the Courchevel/Meribel areas to the Val Thorens/Les Menuires - everything felt like it would have been comfortable for people 6 inches to a foot taller than me (at 5'6!) - footrests on chairlifts and perches (meh, spoilt by the seats in Courchevel and Meribel) in the gondola lifts were definitely made for people who are taller than me! Pistes were in good condition, lots of an intermediate to do, and it looked like off piste would be good with the right snow conditions. Also loved St Martin de Belleville, although not so sure about the potential for early morning lift queue issues with there being only the one lift out of the village!
Oh, and the lift queues were tiny in Courchevel compared with Val Thorens/Les Menuires - the difference between a resort where people go to be seen and a resort where people go to ski. Quite nice going to ski in a resort where people go to be seen!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
the lift queues were tiny in Courchevel compared with Val Thorens/Les Menuires
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Interesting comment above. What time of the season did you suffer lift queues? We have been over the past few seasons for Boxing Day week and not had any significant problems.
In fact we have found the 3 Valleys to be one of the few areas that seems to cope comfortably with crowds at peak times - hence our reason to buy there.
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