Where to stay in the Three Valleys: best villages and hotels
Wondering where to stay in the Three Valleys, France? You’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide you’ll find highly curated recommendations on the best resorts, villages, chalets and hotels in Les 3 Vallées. I know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many options. After all, this is the largest skiing area in the world comprised of 7 resorts. But I’ll help you consider interests and budget and pick the best lodging for your trip to the French Alps.
Picking the right accommodation in the Three Valleys is crucial. You may find yourself constricted to the area you’re staying in case of adverse weather conditions. So, it’s better to aim for a valley you would enjoy on its own. It’s also important to consider interests you may have, such as enjoying après ski, exploring restaurants or spending time at the spa. Which can vary significantly between the resorts in the Les 3 Vallée. But let’s start with the basics, introducing you to the resorts and their characteristics:
Best resorts to stay in the Three Valleys
Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens are the quintessential resorts to stay in the Three Valleys. With a wide range of accommodation options, including luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy Airbnb studios, these resorts cater to diverse preferences and budgets. Not only do they offer excellent lodging choices, but they also provide easy access to other resorts, bustling après-ski scenes, and a myriad of dining and spa options. So, let’s talk about each one of them in more detail:
Courchevel
Courchevel is actually a collection of five different alpine villages: Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1300, and Courchevel St Bon 1100. They are fairly close to each other and connected by lifts and bus service. But it’s important to make a distinction between them so you’re aware of commuting and difference in costs.
Courchevel 1850 is renowned for its upscale atmosphere, while the other villages offer a more laid-back experience. Judging from what I had heard over the years, I expected Courchevel 1850 to be an extremely expensive destination. But I was surprised to find out that it’s possible to find democratic options to eat, stay and play in Courchevel 1850.
It’s a perfect resort for couples, those who like to ski in runs surrounded by pine trees, and or appreciate high-fashion and upscale environments. Courchevel is the epitome of old money vibes and has plenty great restaurants. Here are some of my hotel recommendations:
Hotels in Courchevel
- Budget: Lodge Les Merisiers or Lake Hotel Courchevel 1850
- Mid-range: Ecrin Blanc Resort Courchevel, Les Trois Vallées, a Beaumier hotel
- Luxury: L’Apogée Courchevel, Hotel Le Chabichou or Lys Martagon
La Tania
Perched between Courchevel and Méribel, La Tania stands out as one of the most idyllic villages to stay in the Three Valleys. It’s well connected during the days and calm during the evenings, making for a perfect base for families and couples who prefer to relax in the evenings instead of enjoying the nightlife.
Hotels in La Tania
Méribel
Méribel is a picturesque alpine village surrounded by majestic mountains. It has the most strategic location in the Three Valleys, as it stands between Courchevel and Val Thorens. The network of lifts and easy connection to other resorts make of Méribel one of the top choices in Les 3 Vallées.
The village of Méribel is comprised of stone and wood chalets and it’s very calm during the evenings. Méribel Centre is the liveliest area boasting lots of hotels, restaurants, bars and spas. Meribel Mottaret has similar chalet-style architecture and offer plenty ski-in, ski-out apartments. On the way down, you’ll find Les Allues with charming chalets and Brides les Bains which is a great option for budget travalers.
Hotels in Méribel
- Budget: Les Carlinottes
- Mid-range: Hôtel Le Chamois d’Or or Hotel Mont Vallon
- Luxury: Le Kaïla, Hôtel l’Hélios or Hotel Le Coucou Méribel
You can stay in Brides les Bains for less than 200€ night! It’s one of the best budget option in the Three Valleys!
Val Thorens
Val Thorens is the highest resort in the Three Valleys and boasts one of the longest skiing seasons in the world. The snow is pretty much guaranteed between November until end of April, which makes of it a great destination for early and late skiing trips. The village is immersed in the mountains and has the most wonderful views. Nothing beats being completely surrounded by the Alps at such an altitude!
Val Thorens is undoubtedly one of the best picks in the Les 3 Vallées and caters for basically everyone. From a skiing perspective, as well as budget perspective. There are luxury hotels with high end spas, chalets and apartments to choose from. Here are our favorite options:
Hotels in Val Thorens:
- Budget: Résidence le Dôme de Polset
- Mid-range: Montana Lodge, Le Val Thorens, a Beaumier hotel or Hôtel Marielle
- Luxury: Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge or Altapura
Les Menuires
Les Menuires is a smaller resort in the proximity of Val Thorens, surrounded by majestic mountains and bathed by sunlight until late in the afternoons. It’s very well connected to Val Thorens and Méribel, but it comprises a great variety of runs on its own. Since most accommodations are ski-in, ski-out, you’ll have no problem accessing the lifts and the 12 green and 38 blues runs surrounding the village, as well as the resort of Val Thorens.
Boasting great hotel rates, plenty skiing runs and prime location, Les Menuires is a top choice for families!
Hotels & ChaletS Menuires
- Mid-range hotels: ho36 Les Menuires or Hillary Hotel
- Luxury hotels: Ours Blanc Hotel & Spa
- Chalets: Chalet Hotel Kaya or Le Chalet du Mont Vallon Spa Resort
- Apartments: Chaleureux studio, Résidence Le Necou or Sowell Residences Pierre Blanche
Saint Martin de Belleville
Saint Martin de Belleville is an elegant resort, surrounded by imposing mountains and a classic aura that’s hard to beat. I’d definitely recommend it for couples and families who enjoy sophisticated stays, great gastronomy and relaxing evenings. Here are my recommendations of best hotels:
Hotels & Chalets in Saint Martin
- Hotels: Hotel Restaurant La Bouitte, Hôtel Saint-Martin, M Lodge & Spa, Lodji Hotel & Résidence
- Chalets: La Joubarbe
If you want to explore other hotel options in the Les 3 Vallées, please use our Booking.com link. When you book through this link, we may earn a small commission and you won’t pay extra for this. It’s a win-win, so thanks in advance! 🙂
Comparison of villages in the Three Valleys
All villages in the Three Valleys are great, but they’re not one size fits all. Some are more appropriate for couples and others are mor suitable destinations for families. Here are my suggestions based on specific criteria:
Best Ski Resort for couples: Saint Martin de Belleville is an extremely romantic village with great luxury hotels for a couple’s getaway. Picture the two of you exploring the slopes during the day and recharging at the Hotel Restaurant La Bouitte in the evenings, with a spa session followed by a delicious meal. It doesn’t get more romantic than that!
Best Ski Resort for Families: Les Menuires boasts lower accommodation prices and plenty green and blue runs. The convenient ski-in ski-out accommodations cater perfectly for families with small children and there are many activities planned for the little ones. If you’d decide to explore beyond the resort, it’s possible to reach Val Thorens and Méribel in less than an hour. Le Chalet du Mont Vallon Spa Resort is probably the best bang for the buck!
Best Ski Resort for beginners: Courchevel has fantastic nursery slopes and it’s a perfect base to learn to ski surrounded by magnificent mountains. When you feel comfortable enough, you’ll have fun exploring the blue runs in the resort. Creux and Folyéres were some of my favorites and you should definitely check them out. For a perfect stay, book Les Trois Vallées, a Beaumier hotel!
Best Ski Resort for Après Ski and night life: I’ll have to split this title between Méribel and Courchevel. La Folie Douce and Bagatelle are popular options and stand between the resorts. But it’s in Méribel where the crowd’s favorite The Rond Point is located. Courchevel, on the other hand, boasts a sophisticated and diverse food scene, which is best explored in the evenings!
I recommend hiring a travel insurance before hitting the slopes. Readers of the blog have 5% off when purchasing through this link, just make sure to select ski/snowsport coverage!
Best hotels and chalets in the Three Valleys
You’ve already seen some lodging recommendations organized per villages. And now you’ll see a bird-eye list taking into consideration best hotels and chalets in the Three Valleys as a whole. That’s for those who, like me, tend to pick a hotel first and then a destination. Sometimes I can’t help it and nor should you. So, let’s dream away with this curated TOP 3 selection of hotels in Les 3 Vallées:
Luxury hotels in the Three Valleys: M Lodge & Spa, Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge and Lys Martagon
Chalets in the Three Valleys: Montana Lodge, Chalet l’Épervière and Keystone Lodge
Mid-range hotels in the Three Valleys: Hôtel Marielle, Madame Vacances Hôtel & Spa and Hotel Le Hameau Du Kashmir
Budget-friendly hotels in the Three Valleys: Hôtel Le Chamois d’Or, Golf Hôtel and Les Carlinottes. Plus: Résidence Les Alpages de Reberty and Hotel Club Blanche Neige
Tips to finding the best accommodation in the Three Valleys
Book in advance: The Three Valleys is a very popular destination in the French Alps. If you want to find the best cost-benefit options, make sure to book at least 6 months in advance!
Book a whole week: Most of the chalets have a minimum stay of a week, from Saturday to Saturday. If you can fit into this requirement, it will be easier to find great deals.
I hope this travel guide was inspirational and useful to you. If so, make sure to check other posts we published about the Three Valleys and book your trip using the links below.
:: Ultimate travel + skiing guide to the Three Valleys
:: How much does it cost to spend 6 days skiing in the Three Valleys?
