  Airport
About Les MenuiresAs the cheapest base from which to explore the Three Valleys, the world's largest ski area, Les Menuires is a great choice for a good value short break skiing in France. The resort offers fantastic local slopes and extensive snowmaking ensures good snow reliability. Good prices and uncrowded, sunny skiing attracts younger, less pretentious crowd, and families. Les Menuires is divided in to 'quarters' - although there are eight of them. The main facilities are in La Croisette, the original centre and les Bruyeres.Les Menuires and Saint Martin de Belleville, with pistes peaking at an altitude of 2850 m, benefit from an exceptional natural snow cover. This is reinforced by more than 400 artificial snow making machines covering 40% of the ski area. They offer a great snow guarantee, which means that if less than 80% percent of pistes are open due to lack of snow and this makes you decide to leave the resort, you can be reimbursed for your accommodation and ski passes (Les Menuires / Saint Martin de Belleville) for the unused days. Pretty sweet deal! In Les Menuires you'll find skiers travelling with families and those looking for steep runs. The skiing is wide open on the west-facing slope with lifts running up toward Val Thorens. An abundance of beginner and intermediate runs pass picturesque shepherd huts on the way down the valley toward the traditional village of St. Martin de Belleville. The east-facing side of the valley offers more challenging skiing from Pointe de la Masse (9,213 feet), which can be reached quickly by riding a combination of two high-speed lifts. In the afternoon the area is deserted as skiers follow the sun. The off-trail skiing from here and nearby Cîme de Caron is exceptional, especially in spring when skiers can drop over the backside of these mountains with certified guides. One of the best family spots in the Les Trois Vallées, there is a lot on offer - from hot outdoor pools to a snow castle that kids can slide down. Take in a little history as well with a visites aux flambeaux de Saint Martin. You'll visit the village of Saint Martin by torchlight and learn its history by discovering its buildings, heritage and secular traditions. For beginners
A special beginners area has been created in the centre of the resort to provide better security for skiers. (La Croisette). This area has been specially developed and protected. 4 moving carpets have replaced the beginner drag lifts Preyerand, La Croisette et Les Bruyères. It's only a small step to move from the moving carpet onto the white ground. It's new, easy, fun and free! In addition, parents can play with their children, even if they don't ski themselves! Also try skiing to and from the Masse sector and the top of the Mont de la Chambre. You can also ski down to St Martin, discover the village and enjoy the wide open spaces. For intermediates
Le Mont de la Chambre (2850m) with its numerous blue and red pistes is ideal for fun skiing as well as its direct access to Val Thorens, Méribel and St Martin de Belleville. Wide open area resorts, Les Menuires and St Martin offer long, wide pistes spread over a huge area. To enjoy the morning sun, go to the top of the Masse, and enjoy a descent which takes you down over 1000 m. Then go up to the top of Mont de la Chambre and ski down to Bruyères before going onto the magnificent area of the Becca. Go back down to the resort on the red Stade piste or the blue piste, Les Petits Creux. The runs are often less crowded here. On the other side of the valley above both Les Menuires and Val Thorens, the runs are generally intermediate, rather wide-open cruisers with an expert run named after Marielle Goitschel, the Olympic darling of the valley. One of our absolute favourite runs for intermediates is the mogul-studded connector path leading down to Méribel from Mont de la Chambre above Les Menuires.
For the advanced
Les Menuires has some fantastic steep black skiing, and draws many advanced skiers looking for adventure. With its long technical pistes, its three little-used black pistes and its exceptional snow conditions (north facing), La Masse is Les Menuires' hidden treasure. From the top, the recently opened red piste, named after the Les Menuires champion Fred Covili is another descent not to be missed. From the top of the Masse, you can join several legendary off piste itineraries in the direction of the Lac du Lou, the Teurre, the Col de la Fenêtre or the Vallée des Encombres. Summits with breathtaking panoramas over La Vanoise, les Ecrins and even le Mont Blanc, these all offer unforgettable descents in infinite open space. For experts, one day and half day off-piste tours of the Three Vallées are available and the Company of Guides, which is attached to the ski school, in the winter offers additional off piste courses and tuition, ski tours and glacier treks. Ski school
E.S.F. Après Ski
What makes up a good night in Les Menuires? The après-ski vibe is not as varied and lively as some of the other resorts in the Three Vallees region, but there's always something happening. After a re-invigorating drink in the early evening at a local bar, try tasting one of the delicious local dishes, listen to a classical concert during Les Rendez-Vous Musicaux des Belleville, combine a good meal and a show in the cabaret-restaurant, or relax by watching a movie in the cinema of the Bruyères district (2 times 2 movies a day). If you're after something a bit more happening, pop along to a live concert or a DJ evening in a bar. Continue on the dance floor of one of Les Menuires' two small discos, packed with the very young, tucked into the basement of the massive apartment buildings. The best is Leeberty in Les Bruyeres.
Off the Mountain
Besides skiing, you can take a walk on foot or with the snowshoes, soothe your aching muscles in the 17 m outdoor heated swimming pool or work up a sweat in the sports and wellbeing centre. Discover a little local culture or take in a classical concert at night. At the top of the Roc des 3 Marches cable car, children and adults alike will enjoy the new tobogganing slope. There are several invigorating spas, including Espace Spas et Beauté in the residence Les Clarines where you can try traditional body modelling, hot stone massages and face and body treatments. Kids will love Le Château de la Glisse (the snow castle) snow structure made sliding on sledges, the fun park in the sports centre (trampolines, bouncy castles, and plastic ball pool), a swimming pool and a merry go round. Take in a little history at the Museum at Saint Martin. Installed in a typical ancient farm in the valley, the museum invites you to share the memory of the community of the valley of Belleville. It talks about the history of Saint Martin during the last 150 years and about the evolution of a small village becoming one of the most important touristic communities. Also on the list: driving ski buggys, cross-country skiing, flying microlights, watching the traditional making of cheese at a farm, guided visits to the Santuaire Notre Dame de la Vie and the village Church and shopping in the two most important centres of Les Menuires - La Croisette and Les Bruyères.
Getting there
By air
The closest airports are Geneva (149 km.), Lyon (180 km.) and Chambéry (110 km.). A welcome desk is operated by the region at the Geneva Airport. This season regular air service will connect Courchevel with Geneva three times a day, four days a week. Buses and trains leave daily from the Geneva airport. The cost is about €64 one-way or €109 round-trip. Call Société Touriscar (04 50 43 60 02). Weekend bus service connects the region with Lyon for about €86 round-trip on Satobusalps (04 37 25 52 55). The Chambéry bus with Transavoie Transport (04 79 35 21 74) costs €70.13 round trip. The Airports: Airport transfers
Taxi Station +33 (0)4 79 00 69 54 By train
Head to the train station Moûtiers Salins Bride les Bains, 27 km away from Les Menuires. You can easily get a connection by bus to Les Menuires. French Railway Company: SNCF By car
If driving, follow the signs to Chambéry and Albertville, then take the four-lane road to Moutiers and up to the Les Trois Vallées - At Moutiers, take the exit n°40 (D117) direction Saint Martin de Belleville/Les Menuires. Don't follow your GPS if it tells you to go via St Laurent de la Côte (the D96 is a very difficult road).
Resort rating and reviews
Resort ratings out of 10
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Weather and snow report
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Outlook: clear Snow amount: 0 Wind speed: 5kph Max temp: 10ºC Min temp: 7ºC
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Outlook: some clouds Snow amount: 0 Wind speed: 5kph Max temp: 13ºC Min temp: 11ºC Jump to |
Skiing Holidays in Les MenuiresPhoto
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