Les Menuires - any experience?

It's a long time and a painful memory of when I first learned to ski in val thorens. Since then I've never returned to the 3 valleys, and never really considered it either. I've been offered the chance to stay in Meribel and turned it down for a different resort, but the other half and an old mate who was with us in VT have both said they'd go back.

Anyway, I've been looking for a march holiday and stumbled across some very well priced catered chalets in Les menuires. I've done my research on the resort and area, and it seems to be a well positioned place to access the whole area and high enough to get great snow in march. But I don't know anyone who has stayed here who can offer any insight into the local skiing, the resort itself (not that we will need much as we'd be fully catered), local prices on the slopes and snow reliability in march.

Anyone been or know the area particularly well who could recommend a visit?

I'm looking at either booking my own flights, and either relying on public transport/shuttle to resort or possibly hiring a car at geneva or chambery, or driving from the uk so again any useful info would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

I have just come back from the 3V and had a great week. Skied Les Menuires a few times. As you say it is high enough for snow in March, I think the biggest criticism I would have of Les Menuires is its location for skiing, the local area is very small - I have not stayed there so cant comment from that perspective.

The skiing area in LM itself is quite small and to get to Val Thorens, Meribel and Courcheval is a long way round - there is a few linked runs but they get busy. Skiing back to LM at night will be busy due to the limited connectivity. However, when the sun comes out I would argue that it is the best place in the 3V to ski, the lift map even has little suns on it to show how great it is! I had a fantastic bluebird day over there.

You also wont be able to get around the prices of the 3V that I know you love:

Beer - €6
Coffee - €3-4
Spaghetti bolog - €14 (!)
Pizza - €8 -18

Stay in VT would be my choice - there are some great bargains there at the minute. :thumbup:

We stayed at Les Menuires a few years ago and had no problem with the location. We managed to get to all distant corners of the 3V and back to the hotel easily enough. I cant remember individual runs to recommend but we had a great time there. You will have no trouble seeing the whole area and getting home before the lifts shut. I'd really recommend it and would love to go back again.

I've been to Les Menuires twice - and it has the easiest access to the best skiing in the Three Valleys - La Masse. This is a big mountain with a mixture of steep reds, blacks and off-piste. It's generally quiet and great fun. Easy to hop into the Meribel valley from Les Menuires and to get down to the very beautiful St Martin de Belleville. I think Les Menuires is infitely superior to Val Thorens, which I think hugely over-rated. But each to their own...

Stayed in Les Menuires a couple of times and really liked it. It is on my list of possibles for this Easter. I remember my ski instructor telling me that he always headed for La Masse on powder days.

peeps...LM is what it is - a a purpose built resort, that if you are tolerant, offers all what you may want from a resort to enable you to ski...outside of that the world is your oyster..miles and miles to ski you wont be bored...

Thanks all positive with the one exception. I'm going looking for a week of good quality skiing in good conditions not a pretty little village so don't mind the architecture.
There are no bargains in VT anything like what I've
Found in LM by the way.
I also read that LM offers easy access into the 3v area and seems the people who've stayed there agree so looking positive.
Thanks everyone

Not the best location to access the whole of 3V from, but it's still pretty good. The lift system is so good throughout 3V.
Horrible looking place, but I'm with you on that not being a huge issue.
If you've got a good deal go for it.