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"one of the great smoothies of the skiing world"
Courchevel, France review
Image credit: © Courchevel Tourist Office
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The well-maintained pistes above Courchevel 1850: wide, beautifully groomed, and a joy to ski at quiet times of the year.
The Combe de la Saulire red - one of the world's great intermediate runs.
The beginner-friendly terrain over in Courchevel 1650, with good chalet and apartment accommodation nearby.
The freeriding at the top of the resort - offering lots of easy-to-see, easy-to-follow lines.
The way the layout of the ski area is so easy to understand, even if you don't have a piste map.
The northerly aspect of Courchevel's high bowls - which means the hold their snow well.
The lift system - for the most part fast, efficient and well-planned.
The wide range of independent ski schools available in the resort.
The cheaper accommodation available in villages beneath Courchevel 1850.
The bedrooms in the Mélézin - the swankiest of the many swanky hotels in Courchevel 1850.
The stunning views
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The fact that so many people want to ski here - in high season the slopes are a moving carpet of humanity.
The race to the best pistes each morning. If you don't get to them in the first hour in high season, the corduroy's all gone.
The standard run over into Méribel-Mottaret, in the next valley, from the top of the Saulire cable car. It gets hammered by the sun and is often icy or slushy. It's best to miss it out altogether and ride the telecabine down.
The Three Valleys hype - yes Courchevel is just one part of the world's largest lift system, but a lot of the best skiing is here. You don't want to waste too many days schlepping about on long itineraries across the entire system looking for something better.
The stupid prices - not just in the hotels in Courchevel 1850, but in most of the bars and restaurants too.
The substandard nightlife - for a resort of this stature Courchevel should buzz at night. It doesn't.
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3/2/2010 22:24 | |
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Ski Chalets in Le Praz & La Tania Courchevel The magnificent Courchevel Valley is one part of the "Three Valleys" in France. The picturesque resort has four villages named after their altitudes all with ski in ski out accommodation and a very reliable snow record. The skiing and snowboarding terrain in the Courchevel Valley is superb. Expect to find off piste open treeless powder bowls, steep chutes, cliff drops, mogul runs and many long wide intermediate groomed cruising trails and gentle beginner slopes all serviced by an efficient lift system. |
11/1/2010 15:54 | |
| Cannot be bettered! |
19/12/2009 18:27 | |
| Over priced and over rated |
3 comment(s) |
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