 Poster: A snowHead
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Organising next year's trip. Most likely to be March 10-17, 2012.
Looking closely at Les 3Vs -- and tempted by Val T. Partly because of the altitude (after the issues at certain times last season). Have also heard that it can be less expensive that other 3Vs resorts.
But never been before.
Critically, what are the slopes like (group likely to have some beginners to advanced, and both skiiers and boarders)?
What are the downsides? People say Val T isn't so pretty, but hopefully it has a few decent bars and restaurants?
Appreciate the views/opinions/recent experiences of all Snowheads
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Courchevel - Best slopes for beginners and some real gems for the more advanced.
Meribel - Perfectly decent ski area but other valleys are better. Best place to stay if you want to make the most of your 3 valleys pass as its in the middle. You can be at the top of Saulire before anyone saying in Courchevel.
Val T - Bit of a trek to get to the rest of the area but big area in its own rights. Very good skiing but featureless village.
I'd pick Meribel for access to the area and apres at the Ronny.
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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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CharlieL, for me Meribel-Mottaret. It's not a particularly nice village, but it's right in the middle and therefore the most convenient place from which to access the further reaches of the whole domain. If you stay there, you really can ski the whole domain - the efficient way the lift systems in the 3V join up is second to none - seek out the most suitable slopes for particular needs and move around according to weather conditions (to find north or south facing slopes, or slopes in the trees, as required, in any of the valleys). Mottaret has perfectly adequate bars and restaurants.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Don't rule out the Les Menuires valley - easy access to Val T and Meribel + great skiing of it's own. The resort itself is not pretty but the satelitte areas such as Reberty and Bruyeres have some nice looking accom and decent places to eat and drink.
Reberty 2000 is only 300m below VT resort level and has plenty of chalets (we, cough, have 3 there but other chalet operators are available ...), a big MGM residence and a decent hotel (Kaya). From a position of enormous bias  I think it's a great 3 Valleys base.
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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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Val Thorens = expensive
Meribel = more expensive
Courchevel = most expensive
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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CharlieL, if you have beginners I'd say go for Courchevel. If the advanced skiers like off piste, get a guide for a day, there is loads out there for advanced skiers.
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"I think it's a great 3 Valleys base. "
Les Menuires - I concur. Have been there twice and access to other 3V resorts is easy most of the time. It was only when conditions were very poor at the end of last season that you had to get up to Val T early to avoid the queues. Access the other way to Meribel etc is never a problem unless all is shut
A group of friends and I go to the Skilt. Ski in/out. Right at the bottom of the main slope into town. Skibound. Cheap if thats what your after. Don't expect anything great but clean and friendly. Reberty 2000 is up above resort and a nice quiet area. PS I don't know ctskifam - if you want to PM me with your weblink may be interested some time during the season.
There is nothing much in Menuires apres wise. But once I have been skiing and had a few pre-dinner beers and then my supper I have pretty much had it anyway. I am out in the 3V from 30/12 to 14/1 all being well. 
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My vote goes to Les Menuires. Almost central to the 3Vs, good local skiing at all standards (IMHO better than Val Thorens), inexpensive and La Masse. The only downside I can think of is that the main bowl gets too much sun and can become slushy in the afternoon. VT is a bit remote from the rest of the 3 vallies, as is Courchevel 1600.
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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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Courchevel 1850 = most expensive but pretty and good restaurants
Meribel = most convenient, right in the middle
Val Thorens = most ugly
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Sorry my comments were a bit glib! I concurr with the comment that have been made. I like Meribel because of it's central location and the main drag is quite nice.
There are some great runs in Courchevel and the Bel Aire is in a lovely spot and good value, however it is very easy to feel ripped off in the Courchevel valley and I am not a fan of the behaviour of some of the skiers, notably Russians. As you work toward the VT valley prices get better, some of the St Martin restaurants offer far better value than Courchevel.
There are some classic runs in all three valleys, I particularly like those above St Martin, including Jerusalem. You will barely scratch the surface of the 3 valley possibilities in one week. The advantage of Meribel or Moteret is that there is less chance of being wrong valleyed at the end of the day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd vote for Courchevel 1650, or Mottaret. Meribel isn't the easiest for beginners, in my view.
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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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I enjoyed Courchevel 1350 (1 lift away from 1850) but beginners would need to go down a final bubble (red or black only down to 1350)... 1550 is also only 1 lift from 1850 (which has some lovely green and blues). More advanced skiiers can easily explore all the rest of the 3 valleys (we made it to Orelle and back comfortably). Would happily go back to 1350 but would also be keen on the Menuires valley or Val Thorens. Not sure how easy Val Thorens is - the blue through the middle was pretty chopped up and bumpy by lunchtime and quite steep in places. Not mad on Meribel other than because it is easy to get to everywhere - we seemed to spend more time passing through than skiing the area for its own sake. Seemed to suffer from the sun more than Val Thorens and Courchevel.
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I think I'm on my own here but I'm really not a fan of the skiing in the val thorens/les menuires valley, Courchevel has the best and then Meribel IMO. Also remember that while VT is the highest and therefore the snow melts less it is also the most prone to violent winds stripping the slopes bare. Been there before when the meribel valley had really nice conditions and the VT valley was just ice with stones (OTH have had really nice conditions in VT and slush and grass in meribel).
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks everyone - what's the nightlife like in Val T? 
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