The key feature to Les Trois Vallées, the largest ski area in the world, is diversity. Composed of eight distinct deluxe resorts—Courchevel, la Tania, Meribel, Bridge-les-Bains, Les Menuires, St.-Martin-de-Belleveille, Orelle, and Val Thorens—with more than 200 interconnected lifts and 375 miles of marked runs, skiers can find exactly what they want, no matter what their skill level. For the average skier, Les Trois Vallées offers plenty of wide-open, relatively easy trails, all groomed to perfection, especially at Courchevel. Meribel is also largely composed of intermediate trails and offers easy access to the other ski areas in the region. Val Thorens and the newer resort of Les Menuires are the experts' destinations of choice. Val Thorens also offers some of the best summer skiing in France.
Joint lift tickets valid for all area resorts run around $160 per week (prices are lower if you stick to a single resort). Most skiers stay in ski apartments, which outnumber hotel rooms four to one. Expect to pay about $550 per week for a small, two-person chalet. Comfortable rooms in luxury hotels cost $700-1,400 per week. Both apartments and hotel rooms are discounted heavily during special "Winter Weeks."
* Resort expense has been estimated by rating the cost of a daily lift ticket during the prime, non-holiday season (
$60 or less;
$60-75;
$75 or more ), this basis also offers some insight to approximate lodging and dining costs, but transportation (airfare, car rental/shuttle, etc.) has not been factored into account.
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