Brides Les Bains: Small Town Means Big Ski Chances

By Author: Bostjan Hozjan
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When the French doc prescribes two weeks at Brides Les Bains, the patients know they can recuperate and relax; an ambience of "well-being" is one of the major attractions and has been for over one hundred years in this part of France. The local spas have been used as medicinal therapies for even longer. Brides Les Bains, France is as accommodating to patients as it is to holiday skiers.

Brides Les Bains has a steady population of around 600 people. Given the enormity of the area and surrounding ski resorts-namely Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens with the Vanoise National Park just minutes away-of the Trois Valley (or Three Valleys), Brides Les Bains maintains a hushed quietude of birdsong and nature. If you're looking to book a room here, however, you best do it in advance of the high tourist ski season, as you'll find valuable euro-saving deals here versus the other more centralized ski resorts.

An Olympic cable car was built nearby in Meribel, giving access to over six hundred kilometers of ski trails. However, you don't have to leave Brides Les Bains French ski resort to find some classy trails and runs. ...
... There's something for all levels of skiers here.

For beginners, there are runs aplenty to train your balance. If you're a bit better than beginner, then you can roam endlessly on and off-piste on the blue and red runs dotting the area (and maps found in the tourist office). If you're one of the few visiting experts, then you'll have the trails and frozen-over moguls all to your lonesome, as these runs are especially reserved for the experts. The runs are as accommodating as the hotels. They're all fixed up too as in 1992 Brides Les Bains was where the winter Olympians called home.

Brides Les Bains isn't as high as other resorts in the Three Valleys ski area. If you're booking at Bride Les Bains France, then you'll want to do so at any one of the locally run hotels. Giving money back to this smaller community ensures people to stay and work in the future. At any rate, you'll rest easier at night in your accommodation knowing that you've only got 600 meters of atmosphere below you. The highest you can actually go in Brides Les Bains is 3200 meters (this is the highest lift in the area).

Knowing that family resorts are on the rise as far as popularity, Brides Les Bains considers itself a family ski holiday resort. That said, you'd find mostly intermediate runs here to accommodate the family guest. It's no exaggeration to say that there are well over 200 runs just for intermediate skiers. Plus, there are not quite 50 runs for beginners and not far off of 40 runs for experts (with just as many cable cars and more chairlifts). Moreover, you'll never be left without your fair share of fresh powder as 1300 snow cannons fire snow as needed throughout the ski region.

There's plenty to do here too. Thermal resorts dot the local area and Thermes d'Orsi has trained doctors, masseurs, psychologist and all the curative amateurs and experts between. You can dip into hot waters, cold waters, muddy waters and curative waters. In addition, you'll dip your toes into hammams, saunas, showers, and ice fountains. If you've got an ailment of any source under the sun, the tonic waters at Bride Les Bains will accommodate the sickliest of ailments.

Additionally, apres ski options fill the tourist brochures. With a few discos, a large casino to blow your savings, general nightlife of restaurants, bars and eateries, the area offers no real historic or cultural educational opportunities. Most likely, nature walks, snowshoeing and skiing top the To-Do List. You can visit more hot springs than resorts and visit churches, statues and other architectural anomalies farther out in other towns.