Despite posting elsewhere that we are looking to go to somewhere other than France for our 2nd ski hol, we are quite tempted to jump on the ski train (day version) out to Moutiers and then get a quick 30 minute transfer up to the 3V. It's likely to be either that or a local flight to Innsbruck and a resort near there (I might set up another topic for that one)
So for the 3V I would appreciate some advice re. best locations/accommodation.
For various reasons we are highly likely to be heading out the weekend of 8th/9th Feb for a week.
It will just be me + better half (we're abandoning the teenagers!). I'd describe myself as an upper immediate and my wife an intermediate. Using Val d'Isere as a guide I'm pretty good on nearly all pisted runs (although not keen on moguls). My wife confident on greens/blues, generally confident on reds (although she takes it slowly) and is yet to ski a black run. She is improving all the time though and is keen to 'push on'.
We will want to ski a wide area and meribel seems to make sense in that it is in the middle. We're not party animals and wonder if Meribel Mottaret would suit us? We would want to be able to get into Meribel centre in the evening though - I presume there are frequent free buses inbetween?
Quite keen on ski in ski out if at all possible and will pay a bit more for this. We're not that keen on hotels and would prefer a catered chalet option (but avoiding tour operators).
Any tips/clues/advice from you good people?? I suppose choosing the resort in the 3V area is the first biggie.
I'll post up a topic re. resorts near Innsbruck as well (I'm sure you are all bored and itching to give out some sound advice!)
Merci :D
3 valleys - which resort to choose?
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Many thanks. I think they need to upgrade their website! - info is very lacking.....and it's not on trip advisor for some reason.
I'll drop them a line for some more details - looks like they include transfers (which probably explains the off-peak £1,000 pp cost)
Andy - great stuff. Thanks for the detailed reply.
I've looked at VT before but struggled to find accommodation that would suit us. Lots of apartments and hotels rather than chalets? Will have another look. Very interested to hear about time to get across to Courchevel - obviously difficult to assess just from a piste map.
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Started by Bedrock barney in France 20-Oct-2013 - 35 Replies
Bedrock barney posted Oct-2013
slippy slidey snow......me likey!
Dorset Boy
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
Stay in Meribel rather than Mottaret if you want Meribel in the evenings. Be careful as there isn't a vast amount of slopeside accommodation, but you could try http://www.skiblue.co.uk/index.html
Two excellent chaslets in an exclusive position across the piste from the pub steps.
I helped run Tapia nearly 20 years ago, and it's a great spot. The other chalet is 100m further along the track.
Two excellent chaslets in an exclusive position across the piste from the pub steps.
I helped run Tapia nearly 20 years ago, and it's a great spot. The other chalet is 100m further along the track.
Andyoneil
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
Having done the 3V a few times as well as the EK several times I can tell you that you'll love it BB!
I've always stayed in VT so cant really comment on Meribel other than my observations: it is more central which should be a good thing but is not a deal breaker to be honest as you can get from VT to Courchevel in about 2 hours without pushing too hard and no black runs involved. Equally whenever I've skiied through Meribel or Mottaret then I've always thought "some of this accom seems a long way out". It may not be - the paths may be more direct than the pistes, the bus may be frequent but its an impression I have had and hence have never bothered staying there as VT suits me better (There's a VT review thread that I've contributed to)
Piste grading in the 3V is more consistent than EK so the better half can be assured that reds really are red and that some of the black runs are very manageable (that said if you ever go back to EK then the black "Trolles" into Tignes is very "do-able" with only the last bit steep but then there's a long, flat run out to recover oneself on)
I digress though: you'll love the variety in the 3V and, even more than EK, the feeling of travel as you cover some almighty distances with options at every turn if you're (the Royal plural!) feeling tired or less confident at any point. Avoiding moguls is usually ok in 3V though, because its such a big area, they can't piste it all so some of the black runs are left "natural" and thus get bumpy but you can usually spot these from the lift (as a reference in EK think of the red Arcelle run of the side of Solaise - the black next to that is not a problem IF it has been pisted but I'd always do the red first and then come up the chair over it to check out the condition)
Get thee to the 3V, wherever you stay you will LOVE it
If you want any more info then PM me
Andy
I've always stayed in VT so cant really comment on Meribel other than my observations: it is more central which should be a good thing but is not a deal breaker to be honest as you can get from VT to Courchevel in about 2 hours without pushing too hard and no black runs involved. Equally whenever I've skiied through Meribel or Mottaret then I've always thought "some of this accom seems a long way out". It may not be - the paths may be more direct than the pistes, the bus may be frequent but its an impression I have had and hence have never bothered staying there as VT suits me better (There's a VT review thread that I've contributed to)
Piste grading in the 3V is more consistent than EK so the better half can be assured that reds really are red and that some of the black runs are very manageable (that said if you ever go back to EK then the black "Trolles" into Tignes is very "do-able" with only the last bit steep but then there's a long, flat run out to recover oneself on)
I digress though: you'll love the variety in the 3V and, even more than EK, the feeling of travel as you cover some almighty distances with options at every turn if you're (the Royal plural!) feeling tired or less confident at any point. Avoiding moguls is usually ok in 3V though, because its such a big area, they can't piste it all so some of the black runs are left "natural" and thus get bumpy but you can usually spot these from the lift (as a reference in EK think of the red Arcelle run of the side of Solaise - the black next to that is not a problem IF it has been pisted but I'd always do the red first and then come up the chair over it to check out the condition)
Get thee to the 3V, wherever you stay you will LOVE it
If you want any more info then PM me
Andy
Bedrock barney
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
Dorset Boy wrote:Stay in Meribel rather than Mottaret if you want Meribel in the evenings. Be careful as there isn't a vast amount of slopeside accommodation, but you could try http://www.skiblue.co.uk/index.html
Two excellent chaslets in an exclusive position across the piste from the pub steps.
I helped run Tapia nearly 20 years ago, and it's a great spot. The other chalet is 100m further along the track.
Many thanks. I think they need to upgrade their website! - info is very lacking.....and it's not on trip advisor for some reason.
I'll drop them a line for some more details - looks like they include transfers (which probably explains the off-peak £1,000 pp cost)
slippy slidey snow......me likey!
Bedrock barney
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
andyoneil wrote:Having done the 3V a few times as well as the EK several times I can tell you that you'll love it BB!
I've always stayed in VT so cant really comment on Meribel other than my observations: it is more central which should be a good thing but is not a deal breaker to be honest as you can get from VT to Courchevel in about 2 hours without pushing too hard and no black runs involved. Equally whenever I've skiied through Meribel or Mottaret then I've always thought "some of this accom seems a long way out". It may not be - the paths may be more direct than the pistes, the bus may be frequent but its an impression I have had and hence have never bothered staying there as VT suits me better (There's a VT review thread that I've contributed to)
Piste grading in the 3V is more consistent than EK so the better half can be assured that reds really are red and that some of the black runs are very manageable (that said if you ever go back to EK then the black "Trolles" into Tignes is very "do-able" with only the last bit steep but then there's a long, flat run out to recover oneself on)
I digress though: you'll love the variety in the 3V and, even more than EK, the feeling of travel as you cover some almighty distances with options at every turn if you're (the Royal plural!) feeling tired or less confident at any point. Avoiding moguls is usually ok in 3V though, because its such a big area, they can't piste it all so some of the black runs are left "natural" and thus get bumpy but you can usually spot these from the lift (as a reference in EK think of the red Arcelle run of the side of Solaise - the black next to that is not a problem IF it has been pisted but I'd always do the red first and then come up the chair over it to check out the condition)
Get thee to the 3V, wherever you stay you will LOVE it
If you want any more info then PM me
Andy
Andy - great stuff. Thanks for the detailed reply.
I've looked at VT before but struggled to find accommodation that would suit us. Lots of apartments and hotels rather than chalets? Will have another look. Very interested to hear about time to get across to Courchevel - obviously difficult to assess just from a piste map.
slippy slidey snow......me likey!
Andyoneil
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
No problem BB
I've chalet'd in VT before and am again this year (though with Crystal who you say you want to avoid and I probably don't blame you but not much choice at all if one flys from NCL)
Def chalets in the town (mine is on the Chalets des Neiges complex) and at Balcons on the ridge. All of these are ski in/out or near as makes no difference
I've also done a hotel in VT - the Val Chaviere which was fine (basic rooms but EPIC food and cheeseboard at night!)and couldn't be any more ski in/out as its right by the green that runs through the centre of town
I've made it to C1850 from a 9(ish) start in VT by 11:30 doing only blues as I had beginners (going this way you have to work all the way across the valley past Les Menuires to the top of St martin before dropping into Meribel. If you can ski reds then you can go straight over from VT into Meribel and thus take an hour off that. Obviously lift queues COULD slow you but I go in January so rarely see a soul
A rep mate of mine has a circuit that covers all the points of the 3V (including the 4th valley) which covers around 50 miles on piste and 25 on lifts which he says can be comfortably done in a day by a strong intermediate starting and finishing in VT. I've never been mad enough to try as it involves eating on the hoof and no hot choccy stops - I'm not a big lunch eater but I like a stop!
I've chalet'd in VT before and am again this year (though with Crystal who you say you want to avoid and I probably don't blame you but not much choice at all if one flys from NCL)
Def chalets in the town (mine is on the Chalets des Neiges complex) and at Balcons on the ridge. All of these are ski in/out or near as makes no difference
I've also done a hotel in VT - the Val Chaviere which was fine (basic rooms but EPIC food and cheeseboard at night!)and couldn't be any more ski in/out as its right by the green that runs through the centre of town
I've made it to C1850 from a 9(ish) start in VT by 11:30 doing only blues as I had beginners (going this way you have to work all the way across the valley past Les Menuires to the top of St martin before dropping into Meribel. If you can ski reds then you can go straight over from VT into Meribel and thus take an hour off that. Obviously lift queues COULD slow you but I go in January so rarely see a soul
A rep mate of mine has a circuit that covers all the points of the 3V (including the 4th valley) which covers around 50 miles on piste and 25 on lifts which he says can be comfortably done in a day by a strong intermediate starting and finishing in VT. I've never been mad enough to try as it involves eating on the hoof and no hot choccy stops - I'm not a big lunch eater but I like a stop!
Tony_H
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
Barney. I've only ever stayed in VT and it was a while back now. However, people I know say the best place to stay is Les Menuires mainly because of its ease of access to VT and across to Meribel, plus I am told there is a nice pedestrianised (ski in/out) area of chalets and apartments just above the resort (Riberty...???) and prices in Les Mens are cheaper for 3V.
Worth a look I'd say
Worth a look I'd say
www
New and improved me
Andyhull
reply to '3 valleys - which resort to choose?' posted Oct-2013
I've stayed in Les Menuires, Val Thorens x2, Meribel x2 and Meribel Mottaret
For me, Meribel Mottaret wins hands down in terms of position and accessibility.
Meribel is just a short bus ride away if you want some more lively nightlife.
I don't understand the wish to avoid TO's, they aren't all the same you know. I keep seeing people getting dreadful value for money on diy holidays and I just don't get it.
Now I avoid Crystal like the plague, but that doesn't put me off TO's. It just makes me choose one that values its customers and looks after its staff.
For me, Meribel Mottaret wins hands down in terms of position and accessibility.
Meribel is just a short bus ride away if you want some more lively nightlife.
I don't understand the wish to avoid TO's, they aren't all the same you know. I keep seeing people getting dreadful value for money on diy holidays and I just don't get it.
Now I avoid Crystal like the plague, but that doesn't put me off TO's. It just makes me choose one that values its customers and looks after its staff.
Topic last updated on 06-March-2017 at 13:09