Trois Valless

[Mike]

Here is some info about trois Vallees for those who are thinking of going there this season:

Trois Vallees offers some of the best skiing in France (French equivalent of Verbier & Zermatt), It has the largest skiing area in the world with 650 kilomters (406 miles) of runs. The three main valleys are Courcheval, Meribel and Val Thoren.

Meribel
Meribel (at 1400m) is a British enclave, it is situated in the middle, very convenient. It's a purpose-built resort but much more attractive than others such as Tignes, Les Arcs and Val Thorens as all the buildings are in chalet style. Meribel prides itself on being funky and trendy, with some really smart bars and a good atmosphere. The riding is fantastic, and Meribel should be especially praised for its two superb parks. Mottaret is not as charming, and has only a minimum of services. However, it does have good access to the slopes.
It is ideal for advanced intermediates who want to ski everything. If you have beginners in the party choose Meribel Centre rather than Mottaret (the nursery slopes at Mottaret are impossible), otherwise there is no skiing reason for choosing between them. The main disadvantage of Meribel is the altitude of the main lift station, only 1450 meters. In an average year one safely skis to the bottom from mid-December to early April, but in poor years there will be weeks when the day starts and ends on grass. Timid intermediates would probably prefer Courchevel. All of the satellite villages are charming but are to some degree inconvenient for those expecting easy access to the lifts or the certitude of skiing back to the village

From the Chaudanne lift centre at 1450 and from Meribel Mottaret higher up the valley, lifts rise on either side. To the east, gondolas take you up to 2738m at Saulire for a choice of descents towards Courchevel and La Tania. Mountainside back down to the resort is criss-crossed with mainly blues, benign reds, and an assortment of chairs. To the west, more gondolas and chairs rise to the long ridge that separates the valleys of Les Allues and Belleville. From the top you can ski towards Les Menuires, St-Martin-de-Belleville, and Val Thorens.

Accomplished skiers head for the more challenging terrain off the Mont de la Chambre. Mont Vallon, and the Col du Fruit at the head of the valley, a huge, steep snow field below the Aiguille du Fruit (3051m). Take Telesiege Les Creux Noirs, then negotiate a long narrow ridge with rather disturbing crops on both sides. Finally ski down beneath a rocky overhang to the top of the Col.

Courchevel
Courchevel is the most French, the most chic, and the most expensive. The valley also has the prettiest views and the most varied skiing. The resort is split into various villages: 1850, 1650, 1550 and 1300, 1300 also known as Le Praz, a traditional Savoyard village where the Olympic ski jump dominates the town.

Courchevel 1850 has a reputation for attracting the rich and famous. This brings with it inflated prices, 2 Michelin starred restaurants, exclusive and well-hidden cocktail bars and plush chalets.

Courchevel 1650 is great. It is less cosmopolitan than 1850 and has the best skiing. It is quiet and secluded but should only be considered by intermediate skiers. Skiers who come to 1650 tend to be attracted by the friendly community and convenient access to the slopes.

Courchevel 1550, which is geographically directly below 1850 and now served by a new six-person chair, is becoming a satellite of its sophisticated sister.

The original farming village of Le Praz (or Courchevel 1300) lies at the bottom of the mountain. This is a delightful place to stay with good accommodation, one of the best restaurants in the area, and easy access by gondola to the other areas.

Courchevel appears to be the most westerly resort in the region, when it in fact it is the most easterly. From the hub of La Croisette at 1850 a network of gondolas and a cable-car take you up to 2738m Saulire. You can either ski down the far side to Meribel and further into the Trois Vallées, or return towards Courchevel. For accomplished skiers, the black Les Suisses is particularly enjoyable. In the right snow conditions it is possible to ski from Saulire all the way down to Bozel below Courchevel – a vertical drop of over 2000m.

Val Thoren
Belleville is the third valley, has two very different resorts: Val Thorens and Les Menuires. Val Thorens is the highest village (2000m), and therefore the safest for snow (summer skiing is possible). At one time it was the most secluded and quietest area but now it is unpleasantly crowded at peak times. Val Thorens is probably the best resort for dedicated off-piste snow boarders. Les Menuires is the least fashionable village. But, It is easily the cheapest and has enormous numbers of modest self catering apartments.

Val Thorens is the highest resort in Europe at 2300m (top 3300m), making the snow as reliable as it can be. The blocks of ugly flats seriously damage the ‘resort charm' factor, but it's not all ugly: the cluster of newer developments at the top of the resort contains much prettier, traditional chalets. Val Thorens is also very compact so many hotels and residences have the ski-in ski-out facility and you are never too far from the bars, restaurants and lively nightlife.

A chair-lift and the Bouquetin gondola provide the link to the Col de Chambre and the long run down to Meribel-Mottaret. Pistes lead from the village to the Peclet Funitel gondola, which takes you up to the glacier and to a network of fast chairs and gondolas that criss-cross the mountainside below the ridge separating the Belleville and Maurienne valleys. A gondola and a cable-car, reached by a blue piste below the resort, rise to the 3200m Cime de Caron. This is the starting point for the Combe de Caron, one of the most testing black runs in the area. Wonderful long continuations lead down through 1400m vertical to Les Menuires. From the far side of the Cime de Caron, two chair-lifts take you up to the 2300m Sommet des Pistes, which accesses two high-altitude runs down the Glacier de la Pointe Renod.

Access / Transport
Les Trois Vallees is situated 160kms away from Geneva. The journey from Geneva by train or road takes three to four hours. The most convenient way of reaching the area is by taking a train from Paris or London (via Eurostar) to Moutiers Station, only 30kms away, and taking a bus or taxi to your chosen resort in Les Trois Vallees.

By train
The most convenient way of reaching Les Trois Vallees is by taking advantage of the direct London-Moutiers Eurostar service, and a bus or taxi from Moutiers to the resort of your choice. Alternatively, it’s possible to take a train into Paris, and connect with a local train from the capital to Moutiers. Train travel is affordable, efficient and comfortable, and considering the fact that Les Trois Vallées is a lengthy distance from any intl. airport, it is by far the best option.

By car
Driving to Les Trois Vallees is another option, but bad weather conditions combined with congested roads can often turn the journey from Geneva or Lyon into a 4- or 5-hour ordeal. However, if you do decide to drive, Les Trois Vallées is accessible by means of the A43 motorway to Albertville, and the RN90 to Moutiers. From here it’s a further 18km to the resort.

Hotels and Restaurants
Trois Valles have some of the best restaurants in a ski resort.
Courchevel 1850 - 2 restaurants with 2 Michelin Rosettes - Bateau Ivre in Hotel Pomme de Pin and le Chabichou.

Val Thoren - Jean Sulpice, of Oxalys restaurant in Val Thoren's four star Residence L'Oxalys, has earned the highest star in Europe awarded by the famous Michelin guide. Another high quality dining opportunity is l'Epicurien within the four star residence Village Montana.

Down towards the bottom, just above Saint Martin in the village of Saint-Marcel, is La Bouitte, a small "restaurant with rooms". Recognised by the Michelin and Gault Millau guides for its very modern, creative cuisine, La Bouitte was 2006 Best Resort Restaurant in The Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide.

Some of the best hotels in Trois Vallees are: Hotel Byblos, Hotel De Charme Les Airelles, Hotel Le Melezin, Hotel Le Kilimandjaro (all in Courchevel 1850) and Hotel Mont Vallon in Meribel.

Pros
Excellent skiing, largest ski area in the world
Excellent choice of restaurants in Courchevel (expensive ones as well)

Cons
Expensive
Traffic on the road can be very heavy

Ski Pass
A 6 day ski pass costs Euro225
http://www.les3vallees.com/on-line/skipass.28/

[Mike]

There are 2 very "Black" runs in Trois Vallees:

Couloir in Courchevel – “Couloir” is a deep mountainside gorge or gully. The run beneath the radio mast can seriously damage your health. You climb a rope ladder up a cliff at top of La Saulire, then trudge up a steep ridge in deep snow clutching a rope in one hand and skis in the other. From there, a horrifying steep and narrow gulley awaits you.

Col du Fruit in Meribel - a huge steep snow field below the Aiguille du Fruit (3051m). Take Telesiege Les Creux Noirs, then negotiate a long narrow ridge with rather disturbing crops on both sides. Finally ski down beneath a rocky overhang to the top of the Col.

[Mike]

Piste map of Trois Vallees:

[Mike]

Restaurant to patronise next time you go to Val Thoren:

Jean Sulpice, Head virtuoso at the Oxalys restaurant in Val Thorens has been awarded his 2nd Michelin rosettes. :)
At only 31 years old, he was already one of the youngest chefs in France to have been awarded a 1st rosette.

http://www.thewebconsulting.com/medi...guide-michelin

[laiccp]

Very detailed and useful information, Mike. i have stayed in le Lana and Hotel Mercure. Both hotels are less expensive than say Byblos but of course byblos belongs to another league. Anyway, hotels in Courchevel 1850 have high standards.

[saikee]

Have skied Trois Vallees loads of times but never stayed there. Only staying at the two ends of either Albertville at the front or Bourg St Maurice at the rear.

A few years back in BSM we paid 56 Euro for B&B for 2 per night and managed in another year to find self catering studio flat for 33 Euro per night. Last time I stayed there I visited Trois Valley on 4 separate days to cover Courchevel, Meribel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. It is a full day job just to check out each one alone. It is reasonably relaxing to ski the 3V based on accommodation in BSM as the road is clear in that direction.

Albertville is at a similar distance of 17 miles from Moutier (accessing 3V) but the traffic can be heavy in the morning. There are loads of cheap hotels there. For example Formula 1 charges 32 Euro per room to sleep 3. Etap charge 36 Euro for the similar room but with en-suite facilities. This is the current prices hot off the press. Hotel charges in Albertville are not seasonal. It is of course a big town with major shopping and dinning facilities at the very affordable prices.

HK visitors visiting 3V should be aware of 3V offers only 600km piste of the 1600km skiing in Tarentaise Valley. Everything starts from Albertville and there are 4 locations separated by 17 miles apart. Moutiers is the first 17miles from Albertville. This exit serves the 3V (with separate branches to Coureheval/Meriberand and then Les Menuires/Val Thorens) and also a sizeable beginner-friendly resort called Valmorel. A further 17 miles into the valley is Boug St Maurice where Les Arcs is based. Les Arcs is of course has a next door neighbour La Plagne forming the mighty 425km piste domain Paradiski. BSM also has two local resorts Ste Foy and La Rosiere. The former is known for its off piste (or the owner seldom if ever grooms the piste) while the latter is linked with the Itaian La Thuile. The next 17 miles, from BSM, brings the visitors to Tignes and Val D'Isere which is of course known as Espace Killy with its own 300km piste domain.

A two-week stay in BSM and you can ski all of them, as reported here. The hotels in BSM might have gone up since more visitors are aware of its potential. The cheap self catering flat was booked with a forum member who since sold all his entire season accommodations to a tour operator.

[Mike]

作者: saikee HK visitors visiting 3V should be aware of 3V offers only 600km piste of the 1600km skiing in Tarentaise Valley. Everything starts from Albertville and there are 4 locations separated by 17 miles apart. Moutiers is the first 17miles from Albertville. This exit serves the 3V (with separate branches to Coureheval/Meriberand and then Les Menuires/Val Thorens) and also a sizeable beginner-friendly resort called Valmorel. A further 17 miles into the valley is Boug St Maurice where Les Arcs is based. Les Arcs is of course has a next door neighbour La Plagne forming the mighty 425km piste domain Paradiski. BSM also has two local resorts Ste Foy and La Rosiere. The former is known for its off piste (or the owner seldom if ever grooms the piste) while the latter is linked with the Itaian La Thuile. The next 17 miles, from BSM, brings the visitors to Tignes and Val D'Isere which is of course known as Espace Killy with its own 300km piste domain.... ....The hotels in BSM might have gone up since more visitors are aware of its potential. The cheap self catering flat was booked with a forum member who since sold all his entire season accommodations to a tour operator.

I have skied all the resorts you mentioned above except La Plagne & Valmorel. If given a chance, one should spend a whole season skiing in this area (wishful thinking :))

Last time I went to Meribel, me and my friends were staying in a self-catering apartment which was big enough to sleep six persons with a fully equiped kitchen (doesn't mean you have to cook though). Renting a self-catering apartment is certainly cheaper than staying in a hotel or a chalet.

[saikee]

La plagne is the bigger of the two in Paradiski and is the second most crowded resort in the Alps while Meribel takes the No. 1 position.

Valmorel in my opinion would suit most HK skiers as it has a lot of green runs, much more than any resorts in Tarentaise Valley. It is very long. The wife and I normally just ski to the far end and back and that is a day. Think the green runs cover all the way to St Francis Longchamp so it is ideal for early intermediates.