The French Alps offer some of the world’s most expensive ski resorts. Think luxurious chalets, Michelin-starred restaurants, horse-drawn carriages and incredible scenery, in some you can even arrive by private jet. Here’s a round-up of a few ski resorts renowned as some of the most expensive in the French Alps.
COURCHEVEL 1850
Courchevel 1850 is the place where A list celebs go skiing. They often fly by helicopter or private jet into the Altiport, which is Courchevel 1850’s very own airport. The resort is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the French Alps and an attractive place in Les 3 Vallées (the largest ski area in the world).
Courchevel 1850 enables skiers to access Les 3 Vallées and explore 600 km of pistes. The ski area in Courchevel is accessible to all levels – you don’t need to be a great skier to enjoy it, although you will need a few quid. The area covers more than 180 beginner ski runs and 140 intermediate and expert ski runs. The area also has some of the most efficient and comfortable ski lifts in the world.
Although not all accommodation is completely eye-watering, some of the chalets are outrageous. Prices at Chalet Edelweiss in Courchevel 1850, range from €100,000 – 350,000 per week. There are however plenty of five-star hotels, more reasonable chalets and about six Michelin-starred restaurants.
If you are looking for more wallet-friendly options, the self-catered apartments in Courchevel 1650 and Le Praz are a lot cheaper. Plus if you don’t mind dining al fresco, you can always take a packed lunch up the mountain. Just look out for the pique-nique areas on the piste map.
MEGÈVE
Megève has long been attracting elite Parisians who love to visit one of the most fashionable and expensive ski resorts in the French Alps. A classic ski destination, its horse-drawn carriages give the place a chic atmosphere and oodles of Alpine charm. The ski area is part of the Evasion Mont-Blanc with varied terrain.
Offering stunning views of the Mont Blanc and Valley Blanche, Megève has an easy one-hour transfer from Geneva. It’s perfect for those looking to celebrate an occasion or a romantic skiing break. Megève is relatively undiscovered by skiers from the UK. You won’t find coach loads of holiday makers there. The town’s boutiques and restaurants are of a similar style to those found in the exclusive Courchevel.
VAL D’ISÈRE
Val d’Isere also has a reputation as one of the most expensive ski resorts in the French Alps and rightly so. This is regarded as one of the world’s greatest ski areas with fabulous views. Skiing in Val d’Isere gives you access to the Espace Killy, alongside Tignes. It’s a wonderful, traditional Savoyarde village and offers over 300km of pistes.
There’s plenty of additional off-piste powder fields too. The ski season starts late November and continues until early May, plus the resort has high-level snow cannons. Après-ski is generally quite pricey so look out for designated ‘happy hours.’ Intermediates can enjoy the easily accessible off-piste areas.There are plenty of five-star hotels and four Michelin-starred restaurants in Val d’Isère.
CHAMONIX
Located on the Swiss and Italian border, Chamonix is a luxury ski resort situated in France. Chamonix is home to Western Europe’s highest mountain, Mont-Blanc, and visited by the rich and famous. The resort offers special views from the Aiguille du Midi, a 3,842m mountain in the Mont Blanc massif. This is a popular tourist destination and can be accessed by cable car. The Chamonix centre itself has many luxurious shops and restaurants plus expensive chalets and hotels nearby.
Although it’s known as the adventure capital of Europe, the resort tends to get mixed reviews. It tends to suit more advanced skiers who enjoy exploring off-piste. Chamonix is quite separated and the areas are quite small. Intermediates often spend a long time on buses because the area isn’t linked.
One of the big reasons people ski in Chamonix is the famous Vallée Blanche. This is an off-piste ski route and you can hire a guide to explore. The area is 20km long with a vertical descent of 2700m. This is not for the faint hearted and is only for competent skiers, because once you start there is no turning back but the views are spectacular.
MÉRIBEL
The British love Méribel, so much so, it’s sometimes called “Little England in the Alps”. Smack bang in the middle of the Three Valleys, this resort is less expensive than others on the list. It’s a lively, charming ski resort with incredible skiing and its central location makes this resort a fantastic choice. There’s plenty to entertain all levels and beginners can easily navigate greens and blues.
For Après-ski there are many venues with live bands playing. It is lively in the centre at night however the chalets further out offer peace and quiet, for a price. The full Three Valleys lift pass is one of the most expensive in the Alps. It covers 600km of pistes though so there’s plenty of bang for your buck.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, head to Châtel in the Portes du Soleil and stay at Chatel la Fontaine.