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Courchevel, France
Gourmet skiing
and boarding - luxury après-ski scene..
Courchevel 1850
- the highest of the five components of this big resort - is the favorite
Alpine hangout of the Paris jet set, who fly directly in to the mini-airport
in the middle of the slopes. Its top hotels and restaurants are among
the best in the Alps, and the most expensive. But don't be put off: a
holiday here doesn't have to cost a fortune (especially in the lower villages),
the atmosphere is not particularly exclusive, and the slopes are excellent.
Courchevel is the most extensive and varied sector of the whole Three
Valleys, with everything from long gentle greens to steep couloirs. Many
visitors never leave the Courchevel sector; but there is good access to
the rest of the Three Valleys, too.
Le Praz is an overgrown, but still pleasant
village, La Tania and 1550 quieter and good for families, 1650 has more
of an old village atmosphere than it seems from the drive through, and
the posh bits of 1850 are stylishly woody. But overall the resort is no
beauty. Well, nothing's perfect. Courchevel's long list of merits is enough
to attract more and more international visitors, but it remains much more
French than Méribel, over the hill, as well as having better snow.
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Trail
map
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Town map
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click
on images for full-size view
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What's
Great
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What's
Not-So-Great
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Extensive, varied local terrain to suit everyone
from beginners to experts - plus the rest of the Three Valleys
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Great easy runs for near-beginners
+ Lots of slope-side accommodation
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Impressive, continuously updated lift system, particularly above
1850
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Excellent slope maintenance, and widespread use of snowmakers
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Wooded setting is pretty, and useful in bad weather
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Choice of four very different villages
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Some great restaurants, and good après-ski by French standards
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Some slopes get
unpleasantly busy
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Rather soulless villages with intrusive traffic in places
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1850 has some of the most expensive hotels and bars in the Alps
(prices in the other villages are much lower)
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Little to do away from the slopes (during the day, at least)
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Losing a little of its very French feel as more and more overseas
visitors discover its attractions
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Content
on this page by permission from
"Where to Ski and Snowboard Worldwide"
©Chris Gill & Dave Watts |
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