Les Menuires, France

Resort Overview for Les Menuires:

One of three resorts in the Belleville Valley, which is itself one of the world famous 3 Vallées (Three Valleys), les Menuires has a reputation for offering the lowest prices in the area. Located above the old Savoyard village of St Martin de Belleville and below Val Thorens (Europe's highest purpose-built ski centre), les Menuires has marketed itself as 'The Smile of The Alps' because of the semi-circular arc of its main building complex and its good sunshine record.

The resort is divided in to 'quarters' - although there are more than four of them. The main facilities are in La Croisette, the original centre, and les Bruyeres. Above them are the accommodation complexes of Reberty 1850, Reberty 2000 and Brelin. Below them are les Fontanettes and Preyerand.

Much of the building is extremely functional and the emphasis has traditionally been placed on slope-side convenience rather than architectural design sympathetic to the beauty of the surrounding mountainscape. However the newer developments are more tasteful - with more exterior wood and sloping roofs and gables, and less concrete rectangles.

Another good point for many is the fact that Les Menuires is such nice family resort - definitely lacking in the fur-coated snobs which frequent some of the other resorts nearby.

The Skiing in Les Menuires:

Les Menuires skiing radiates out in all directions from the resort and it's a tough choice to decide which way to head first thing in the morning. It may depend of course on which lift ticket option you've taken: there are at least five if you include the beginner's pass.

The St Martin and les Menuires pass opens up 160km (100 miles) of trails served by more than 40 lifts and costs about 30% less per week than the 3 Vallées ticket. For a bigger area and access to the altitude slopes the Belleville Valley only pass still offers more skiing than most resorts in the world, 300km (187 miles) of trails between Saint Martin all the way up to Val Thorens, served by 75 lifts. However it's only about 5% cheaper than the 3 Vallées pass (600km/350 miles of trails) and once you hold that you don't actually have to ski in the 3 Vallées at all - for a small additional daily fee day up to six days, after which its free to 3 Vallées ticket holders, you can use your ticket in the Espace Killy (Val d'Isère and Tignes) or the ski areas of La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Saisies or Pralognan all on the Savoie Olympic Pass (the world's biggest, with 1500km / 937 miles of trails served by 600 lifts, although not all linked together).

Les Menuires own skiing in the Belleville Valley is at one end of the Trois Vallées with lifts linking directly and quickly to the skiing of Meribel or over le Mont de la Chambre to Val Thorens or back down to Saint Martin de Belleville on long pistes. The resort is perhaps best known for its 'own' ski area somewhat away from the various 3 Vallées routes - Le Pointe de la Masse, where north facing slopes offer some of the circuits most challenging skiing, notably the off piste run down to the Lac de Lou.

The Ecole de ski Français (ESF) at Les Menuires has done more than most European resorts to make a special effort for adult beginners, following the North American model of creating a 'beginners village' - an enclosed area of around 5000 square metres near the Preyerand area especially reserved for new skiers and designed to suit their needs. Beginners also have 6 free ski lifts around the resort alone and a special very low cost beginner's pass giving access to a reduced circuit of 11 key lifts throughout les Menuires. The Ecole de Ski Français (ESF) employs nearly 200 instructors in the resort who offer lessons for groups or private individuals in regular skiing, snowboarding, competition skiing and the new sport of skwal.

Snow shoe outings are guided by ski school instructors. 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. The ESF has an international section especially set up to deal with foreign guests.

Après Ski in Les Menuires:

Les Menuires is somewhat off the beaten track for après ski hedonists, but there are plenty of choices if you are not desperate for a wild time every night! The most popular establishments include La Mousse, with the Leeberty disco the main late night spot.

Ice skating, snowmobiling and the cinemas are all available in the evening.

Accommodation in Les Menuires:

Search through our database to rent private ski chalets direct from the owners in Les Menuires. Contact owners directly to make a booking. Rent ski chalet Les Menuires, France

SARA MARIE, Sleeps 16 Chalet Sara Marie is architect designed and newly built. All 7 bedrooms are ensuite, and there is a...... View details

Carline, Sleeps 4 Stay at the foot of the piste at high altitude convenient for good skiing and good snow. The apartme...... View details

GENEPI, Sleeps 10 Chalet Genepi (sleeps 10 people) is architect designed and newly built. All 4 bedrooms are ensuite a...... View details

L'Armoise, Sleeps 2 Genuinely ski/in – ski/out, you access the slopes immediately you leave the ski locker. The apartme...... View details