Courchevel,
France
Gourmet skiing and boarding - and it
needn't cost a fortune.
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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 Brits ('If I could only go to one
resort, Courchevel would be the one.' says one
enthusiastic reporter), but it remains much more French
than Méribel, over the hill, as well as having better
snow.
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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 five 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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