Review of Courchevel

14th April 2008 by Libby Lamb 

We stayed in 1850 for the first week in March. In recent years we have tended to go to 1650 instead so this was our first stay in 1850 for a few years. One big disadvantage of 1850 is the transfer. Tour buses drop you at the bottom of the village and mini buses take you to your hotel. This meant that on the way home it took an hour from leaving your hotel to leaving 1650!

Our hotel was Les Ducs du Savoie. We have stayed there several times before and would do so again. It is a comfortable, friendly hotel in an excellent position in the Jardin Alpin area (ski in, ski out). It would not suit those who wanted to spend their evenings in the village, however, as it is a reasonable walk after the gondola closes at 8 p.m.

We had good weather and lots of snow, but after skiing in other areas this year, we got the impression that Courchevel was not spending much money on upgrading lifts. There are still some slow lifts and which are very cold and would benefit from hoods and the two very long Pyramides pomas in 1650. Also it is a pity that the link from the bottom of Suisses up to Pralong was removed a few years ago because if you come over from 1650 you have a long run down to the Pralong chair before you can get over to the main 1850 area.

The village at 1850 is getting very pricey and ‘ordinary’ shops are being replaced by those selling fur coats and designer clothes.

I like skiing the Three Valleys, but I don’t think I’ll be returning to 1850 in a hurry!

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