Magical Skiing at Les Menuires
The scenery is breathtaking, the clear sunny skies unexpected, and the atmosphere wonderful.
We have fallen in love with Les Menuires – a resort in the French Alps close to Trois Valleys. We have good friends of ours who own an apartment in this resort – which is where we stay. The “resort” is modern, but still has charm. All the facilities, ski school, lifts, restaurants and bars, are all in the same place (around a horseshoe shape) so for ease of getting about it's great. We "self-cater", but there are plenty of restaurants should you fancy eating out too. We love self-catering here, and it's all part of the enjoyment of our holiday….we take it in turns to get the fresh croissants and warm bread each morning for our breakfast from the bakery, and we buy fresh produce (there are 2 good butchers, grocers, and a really good choice of locally produced food) for our lunches and evening meals.
Our children attend the ski school which we have found to have excellent facilities. The school, for the younger children, is particularly well organised, with its own private slopes, and other activities also laid on throughout the day – such as entertainment, face painting and crafts.
There are no problems with hiring equipment - here you will find the usual array of hire shops, with all shapes and sizes catered for.
The runs are also excellent, (wide too) and can accommodate a range of ski levels. I enjoy the gentle greens and am “happy as Larry” taking the gondola right to the top, and then making my way down at a leisurely pace. There are blue and black runs for the more adventurous. You can even ski to nearby St Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and also Meribel...
Accessibility to this resort is easy too. We took the highly recommended combined Eurostar/Ski train from Ebbsfleet in Kent, via Paris and then overnight to Moutiers. From here we took a taxi for our last 30 minutes ride up the mountain. The train from Paris is an overnight “sleeper” train with couchette carriages - each sleeping 6 persons – it left Paris at about 10pm and we arrived into the heart of the French Alps the next morning at 8am. It is worth mentioning that travelling by train gives you two extra full days skiing because as you are arriving into the resort, most other people who are travelling by air are only just setting out from the UK! Alternatives to the train would be by air & bus or air & hire-car or finally driving down from the UK "under your own steam", which we are planning on doing for 2009.
Overall Les Menuires is a good all-round resort for families, couples and singles alike….especially if you’d like to be able to ski straight to the door of your accommodation…!
I can arrange the ski train, book flights, or even organise your ferry or Eurotunnel crossing ! I have access to various types of accommodation within this resort too, so contact me if you fancy giving it a try !
It's highly recommended !