Overview of Les Menuires:
Les Menuires is the undiscovered hub of the Three Valleys. Located at 1850m it has an enviable snow record and offers tremendous value for skiers of every level. The keen skier can be in the Meribel valley in 20 minutes, but even better can be on the chairlift to the empty slopes of La Masse in less than 10! Being based in Les Menuires means you get the best of the snow on these slopes before others arrive. There is plenty of off-piste here for the adventurous, as well as runs of all grades and several mountain bars too. Getting to Val Thorens takes an intermediate skier about 20 minutes from Les Menuires and given normal snow conditions you can ski all the way back to the chalet taking only one lift at Les Menuires. Alternatively, take the blue runs down to the lovely village of St Martin, enjoy a generous lunch and return via the recently opened 8 person gondola.
From this you can see that Les Menuires really is an excellent base from which to explore the fantastic Three Valleys.
Exciting new investments in Les Menuires:
Les Menuires has recently made significant investments, replacing older lifts with state of the art detachable covered chairs and greatly increasing the capacity to get skiers and boarders up to high altitude. If you don't like lift queues, Les Menuires will suit you well!
In 2004-5 the new Granges chair was commissioned, and a new 8 person gondola opened right in the village centre at the start of the 2005-06 season. The second stage of this - right to the top of the Meribel ridge - opened in December 2007, making access to the rest of the Three Valleys even easier.
A magnificent new sports centre with swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, hammam, squash, dancing and training facilities opened in December 2005. This opens for longer hours if the weather is bad, and with the ice rink, the cinema and the extensive shopping, restaurants and bars and there's always something to do in Les Menuires!
NEW - Opening 7 January 2009: a 3.5 km long toboggan run suitable for children and adults.
Other facilities:
The village has numerous bars and restaurants in a sunny bowl and benefits from numerous snow cannons that help the resort stay open when many others have closed for lack of snow. The Metz-e-Ry restaurant offering good food and entertainment is only a few minutes walk from the chalet and an even closer new bar-restaurant opened in late 2007. The closest equipment hire shop is just two minutes walk from the chalet. The ski-school, with English speaking instructors, operates from the village centre and there are protected nursery slopes and a crèche that takes children from a young age. Independent instructors can be hired and will even start your private lessons from the chalet should you wish, brushing up your off-piste technique, your snowboarding or other winter sports skills. Lift passes for Les Menuires and St Martin, the whole of the Belleville valley or even the entire Three Valleys can now be ordered on line and delivered to your home before you even leave for France!
