8 Undercover tips for surviving your holiday in Courchevel

 

There is no discussion about Courchevel being the best ski resort in the World.

It’s a combination of the best snow and trails with a super posh village. So, if you a love skiing or snowboarding, why would you have to miss these slopes?

 

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Here you’ll find some tips for not returning home broke specially if you’re traveling with your kids.

 

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• 1-  Nowadays there are numerous options for your stay. With Airbnb booming you have plenty of chances to find somewhere to stay that adjusts to your pocket.

Anyway, hotels are still a comfortable option, mainly for skiers. For non-skiers I’d always recommend considering an apartment or chalet because hotel rooms are considerably small compared to U.S. standards and for me, they work out only for people that wake up put on their ski gear and leave the room. And then come back just to bathe and go to sleep. Almost all hotels in Courchevel include breakfast in their rates and most offer dinner, which is great if you really want to indulge in the real holiday. On the other hand chalets and apartments give you more than a room. There are notably bigger places where you can hang around if anyone in your party is not a skiing addict and prefers to relax part of the day watching the mountains from the inside of your vacation home sitting comfortably in the couch while sipping a glass of fine French wine.

 

 

• 2-  Take some time ahead to study the prices of ski passes. There are options for each group, by number of days, size of your group or if you want to stay only in the Courchevel Valley or you want to adventure to the Meribel and Val Thorens.

        You will find all the information at their website. Go to  Ski pass Courchevel.

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• 3-  Consider renting skis in advance online. When you arrive, you’ll just have to go to the ski shop and take your skis. Moreover, you can change sizes or even change the brand, but when you rent it in advance you receive a 10% and up to 15% discount. Check out  Ski Set. It has shops all over the resort.

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• 4-  These may sound funny, but beware of mineral water bottles everywhere. In Courchevel it is safe to  drink tap water, just ask for a "carafe d'eau" (an garaf do). Soft drinks are also expensive.

 

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• 5- "Stick to the menu". When having lunch, ask for the daily menu (Menu du Jour), which is composed of an entrée and a main dish and sometimes a dessert too.  It’s always much more affordable  than ordering à la carte.

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• 6-   Avoid taxis. Courchevel has a bus that takes you up and down between stations and within them and it is FREE. Ask for the information at the Tourist Office and you’ll get the stops, the exact times it passes and the places where it circulates. Apart from this, almost all hotels that are a little further away from the center of town have their private 'navette' that goes up and down from the hotel during the day. Check the route and timetable here: Navette Gratuite

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• 7-  Beware of group dining. When the group is large ordering drinks and/or food may become out of control. When you get the bill you won’t be able to recognize what each person had. This happens frequently when going out to have drinks at the popular Le Tremplin, La Mangeoire or Les Caves. Same applies to La Folie Douce up in the slopes of Meribel.

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• 8-   Finally, if you have teenage children: tie them up !!!!! The consumption capacity of the younger crowds is limitless. Drinking age in France is 18 years old.