Les Menuires ski resort information
One of our clients once described Les Menuires as being a bit like Croydon in the snow. It’s true the resort won’t ever win a beauty contest, the brutal architecture of the centre simply wouldn’t allow it but the resort is making good headway by improvements to several satellite villages such as Reberty 2000 just above offering a more pleasing vista with traditional chalet styled buildings.
The many who ski here every winter don’t come for the architecture or the shopping, it’s the location on the ridge between the Meribel side and the Val Thorens side in the heart of the massive 3 valleys area that’s the draw.
Les Menuires is located at 1800m below Europe’s highest ski resort of Val Thorens at 2300m so holds its snow well and with the 650km of perfectly linked runs of the Three valley ski area making it a perfect choice. This resort is also high enough to keep its snow without the frozen bite of Val Thorens on a winter’s day. Further below is the charming resort of St Martin de Belleville.
Set on the tree line much of the skiing is in open bowls with 4 link points across the valley towards Meribel.
Après ski in the ski resort of Les Menuires
Much of the night life in Les Menuires is located at La Croisette and many are in the dreadful shopping gallery and include several bars showing live sport, music bars, and a couple of discos many open till late.
Activities off the slopes in the ski resort of Les Menuires
There is little to do off the slope in most purpose built resorts, if you don’t plan on skiing or snow boarding you might find it a long week!
Beginners skiing in the ski resort of Les Menuires
Total beginners will enjoy the resorts nursery slopes but the progression slopes can get busy, particularly at the end of the day. Once the basics have been mastered it’s possible to clock up some miles without the need to use any reds or steeper blues.
Intermediates skiing in the ski resort of Les Menuires
When the snow is good, many will be content to stay on the local slopes which consist of many blues and reds. For the more adventurous the full area pass is a must, you could ski here all week without doing the same run twice. The whole of the Three valleys area is perfect for all intermediate skiers and snow boarders.
Advanced skiing in the ski resort of Les Menuires
Locally the slopes are not that steep, but the Dame Blanche is a good exception, its perfect when just groomed or after fresh snow. Advanced skiers will almost certainly want to book a full area pass, the whole area offers plenty to stretch even the best of us. We recommend that you try your hand at the off piste skiing just above St Martin de Belleville, when the snow is good it’s one of the best anywhere in France.
Snowboarders in the ski resort of Les Menuires
There is a half pipe and terrain park just above the village and the choice of off piste is excellent around St Martin de Belleville.