3 Vallees: The Ski Area that Has Everything

The Three Valleys is one of those resorts that just doesn’t go out of style. The reason for that is the fact that across Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens (without even mentioning the smaller off-shoots) this is the ski area that has everything.

If you’re looking for gitterati and glamour, you can head to Courchevel 1850. If you want traditional chalet style buildings, family friendly environment and a lively après ski scene, head over to Meribel. And finally, if you’re looking for ski in / ski out convenience, go to Val Thorens. For those who are interested in the ski area but want to look outside those options, there is a whole family of smaller, quieter and more traditional resorts to choose from.

La Tania is home to ski in / ski out property and a charming resort centre that is slightly akin to Avoriaz in design. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, of course, but it offers a level of convenience that can’t be found down the road in Meribel. As with many ski areas, the smaller villages in the Trois Vallees are often overlooked.

In the case of Meribel Village and Courchevel Le Praz, it’s a real shame because they both have an excellent selection of cosy local restaurants and the sort of traditional charm that often gets lost once a resort gets bigger and more popular. Likewise, the slopes around St Martin de Belleville benefit from being quieter than others around, while La Bouitte boasts three Michelin stars and should be attracting far more attention than it is.

Whether you’re looking for lively nightlife, great restaurants or slope-side convenience, the chances are that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in the Trois Vallees, and it isn’t necessarily going to be in one of the big names. Somewhere like La Tania, with its convenient central position between Meribel and Courchevel, could be exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for. After all, the Three Valleys are about more than just the big three.