Apres ski:
For those wanting to experience gourmet French cuisine, there is a fabulous choice of restaurants, not least the Michelin starred “La Bouitte” in the neighbouring hamlet of St Marcel (3 minutes drive), which you can ski to for lunch or enjoy at night. Such is “La Bouitte’s” reputation that customers arrive by helicopter from Courchevel or Méribel. Straight off the slopes you can enjoy a vin chaud at the “Eterlou” terraced restaurant/bar at the foot of the St Martin drag lift. A gentle stroll from the house, St Martin offers a good variety of restaurants and bars including “La Voute” restaurant and pizzeria, Le Joker bar with its satellite TV, the “Pourquoi pas” piano bar with karaoke and live music at Brewskis among others. The nightlife of Les Menuires is within striking distance for clubbing.
Ski hire, lift passes and ski lessons.:
Belleville and Three Valley lift passes can be bought form the office next to the St Martin chair lift.
Nearby is the ESF office (Ecole du ski français) which provides ski lessons in English and French as well as their creche.
St Martin offers a variety of ski hire options. We recommend using the Twinners shop next to the chairlift in St Martin who will give you a 20% discount if you say you are resident at chez Prifti in Villarabout.
All the above are a 10 minute walk, 3 minute drive or 0.9km from the house.
If you want to guarantee ski lesson availability of your choice, it is highly recommended to book in advance, as lessons get booked up, especially in the busy holiday periods. Ski guides can also be booked from the ESF, essential if you want to enjoy the delights of the local off piste terrain in safety.
Getting to and from St Martin:
Flights possible to Grenoble, Chambery, Lyon and Geneva airport. Hire cars complete with snow tyres can be picked up at the airport. Most major airlines offer good value, hassle free, car hire packages at the click of a button, for example Easy Jet, Europe car. A car is essential for the enjoyment of your holiday in Villarabout/St Martin, not only to get you to and from resort but also to the lift in comfort every day. A car also affords skiing flexibility. The London/Moutiers snow train is a great option, eliminating all the hassle and leaving you 20mins from the house. By car, Villarabout/St Martin is 9 hrs and £45 in tolls from Calais with motorway all the way to Moutiers. There is a strong case for travelling by car from the UK with children. You load up your car just the once with bags, skis and children, equipped with games and DVDs for the journey, without the risk of delays and losing your treasured ski gear on the luggage carousel at the airport.
Ski:
Villarabout/St Martin de Belleville is perfectly placed for 3 major ski areas in the heart of the 3V. St Martin: A 3 min drive to the St Martin draglift or the Cochet carpark opposite the chairlift. From there you can get to all 200 lifts that service the vast terrain of the 3V, including the world famous resorts of Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires. (Average time to top of Belleville/Meribel ridge,15 mins). Fast gaining a reputation as the jewel in the 3 valleys' crown, St Martin boasts unspoilt alpine charm and freedom from the crowds. A highlight is the glorious Jerusalem red run which affords panoramic views across and up the Belleville valley. Val Thorens: only 15 mins by car, at 2300m, the highest ski resort in Europe, with its highest run at 3230m, thus guaranteeing snow even in a poor snow season. Les Menuires: a 7 min drive or two lifts will take you to the extensive lift system of Les Menuires from where to enjoy breathtaking views from the top of La Masse.
Other Activities:
Snow boarding, skating, swimming, dog sleading, toboganning,
