Les Menuires: Ski Access For Less

By Author: Boštjan Hozjan
Total Articles: 3764
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The once chock-a-block apartments were purpose built in the early 1960s to attract a multitude of skiers. Back then, there wasn't the same regard for aesthetics and environment as there is today. The resort has grown over the last few decades, however. The huddled and muddled apartments of then are slowly being replaced with a more alpine aura today. This means more wood, rocks, natural materials and a reduction in the boxy character. In fact, home- and landowners are given grants to renovate their buildings. This creates lesser sprawl and an initiative to improve the resort's look.

Though currently not the most beautiful of France's ski resorts, Les Menuires is likely one of the most sensible and practical. When skiing can be crowded in the other Alp resorts, Les Menuires is uncrowded and unclouded. And, with a slight lower elevation than Val Thorens, Les Menuires' 1,850 meters of altitude suddenly becomes more attractive. Les Menuires is known for the bright smiles of the residence and the sunny rays of the open slopes.

Almost everywhere you decide to stay in Les Menuires-from chalets to apartments-is right on ...
... a piste. Though you may pay hundreds of dollars less than the expensive cottages, for instance, this doesn't mean that your ski accessibility will be worse. Since the resort was built with skiing (and skiing access) in mind, you'll have just as much access staying in one of the many cheaper lodging quarters. The lifts stay open during the high season until 11 o'clock. You can ride the free shuttles to and fro to all the apres ski venues.

The Les Menuires tourist's center is where to pick up short- or long-term ski passes. You can buy the Trois Vallees ski pass here too. This enables you to ride the hundreds of lifts this ski area has to offer. You'll be able to walk along the boardwalks and window shop or jump on a bus to another destination.

Les Menuires French ski resort offers some high times. Specifically, the resort proper starts at 1815 meters. There are longer, straighter runs elsewhere, but you'll have one 5 km ride with the highest lift reaching over 3200 meters. This elevation range provides skiers with 600 total kilometers of pistes throughout the Three Valleys. If you are a newbie to the whole snow scene, the ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais) has more than 200 ski instructors. The ESF professionals range from mountain guides to snowboard instructors to kid's teachers. The whole family, no matter individual skill level, can take a course or two with this renowned ski school.
Les Menuires only has one snowboard park. However, it's big enough to provide ample space to all types of riders. You won't feel like your skills are unimportant as you'll have plenty of snow and non-snow covered obstacles. Skiers, on the other hand, will never have to worry. Even if Mother Nature doesn't agree that your holiday needs fresh snow, the whole area has over 400 snow makers in the Belleville ski area. The whole valley has near 1500 in all. A little over 40% of the slopes are layered in artificial snow.

Intermediate skiers will have the most pistes choices, as there are almost 150 runs. Coming in a close second, beginners will have access to over 100 runs. If you're truly an advanced skier, you might be let down to know that there's only 28 advanced runs. However, these runs are considered quite a challenge and may send you back humbled and sorer than ever before. With all the slopes and lifts, Les Menuires (in all the valleys) can handle almost 250,000 people per hour. Les Menuires itself has an uphill capacity of 50,000 skiers/boarders with 5,600 ha of landmass.

Aside from skiing, Les Menuires has all the amenities of any good ski resort in the world. In fact, with the Trois Vallees, there's more to do on the apres ski itinerary than can possibly be done in a couple weeks. You'll have cinemas, pubs, restaurants, discos, cafes, bars and all the gregarious nightlife. Additionally, you'll have access to all the other activities found anywhere else: from tobogganing to snowshoeing to cross-country skiing to indoor fitness center, pools, saunas, and ice skating rinks.