Without any doubt, France is a perfect place to spend your winter holiday. It’s an excellent place to escape from the tiresome routine you have and just indulge in the snow fun. January to February are the best months to visit France when looking for some winter sports adventure. Besides Megeve and Meribel, among other ski spots to see in France in winter is Les Menuires!
It is one of the most magnificent sights to look at and toexperience whether you are with your family, friends, or a ski team. It offers a whole smorgasbord of snow-related activities, such as cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice rappelling, snowshoeing, ice climbing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding.
With an elevation of 1850 meters, Les Menuires, situated in the Belleville valley of Les Trois Vallées between Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Val Thorens, is operated by Compagnie des Alpes and founded in 1964. Marketed as the “Smile of the Alps” and a part of the Three Valleys ski area, Les Menuires allows access to 600km of downhill skiing, with 497 marked pistes, served by a total of 180 ski lifts.
There are ski lift passes that allow you to ski not just in this resort but to the other ski areas in the Three Valleys ski resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Saint Martin de Belleville, and Val Thorens.
Les Menuires comprises the villages of Les Bruyères and Reberty. The resort has 62 trails, 160km piste, and 39 ski lifts. It has advanced ski slopes and beginner slopes. Lifts haul skiers smoothly and drop in on Méribel, which offers rapid access to Courchevel.
Visitors can have the option of dropping in on nearby Saint-Martin de Belleville or heading considerably higher in and around Val Thorens.
Les Menuires is known to have the lowest prices in the area. Although there are more than four areas, the resort is divided into ‘quarters’ with main facilities in La Croisette, the original center, and Les Bruyeres. Accommodation complexes of Reberty 1850, Reberty 2000 and Brelin, are located above, and Les Fontanettes and Preyerand are below.
In 1992, the resort hosted the men’s slalom alpine skiing event in the Winter Olympics. Besides skiing, there is a wide range of other activities visitors can enjoy.
When is the best time to Visit Les Menuires Ski Resort?
If you want to maximize your vacation in the resort, always check on the season dates and updates online to have the perfect skiing experience when you visit the resort.
You can guarantee that Les Menuires Ski resort is 80% covered with snow throughout the season that runs from early December to late April.
There are hundreds of runs from some of the major summit where intermediate and advanced skiers can ski. Freestyle skiers and snowboarders can have fun at BK Park; still, younger ones can ideally stay at LM Park.
Getting here and getting around
- By Plane
Chambéry Airport at 100 km is approximately 1 hour 25 mins.
Geneva Airport is 190 km and takes about 2 hours 15 mins.
Lyon Airport is also 190 km and approximately 2 hours 15 mins fly.
Although considered the least convenient airport, visitors can either take Grenoble Airport, which is 175 km at about 2 hours 15 mins trip.
Bus and shuttle services are providing regular coach transfers, or you can hire a private car. But a private transfer or car rental is the best bet from Grenoble.
Flying either on Saturday or Sunday, some coaches run between the airport and Moutiers operated by Ben’s Bus.
- By car
Les Menuires is only 27 km from Moûtiers, accessible via a regularly cleared and safe road. However, it would be best to travel prepared for some heavy snowfall. Once you reach the resort, many car parks are available in all areas of the resort. La Croisette has covered car parking, which costs € 50 a week.
Thre are also uncovered car parking places at La Croisette: close to the resort center near the bell tower 1/2 an hour: € 0.50, 1 hour: € 1, 2 hours: € 2, additional hour: € 2.
- By Train
Traveling by train is a practical alternative to flying. The Eurostar Snow Train arrives at Moutiers twice a day on Saturdays, and the overnight service departs from London on evening Fridays, arriving first thing the following morning. This could get you to ski for a half-day on Saturday, usually the quietest day of the week on the mountain.
For visitors who prefer staying overnight with their own bed, there is a daytime train which leaves London on Saturday early morning and arrives at Moutiers later that afternoon.