Les Menuires


Best value deal ski resort for families in the Three Valleys

Les Menuires sits at an altitude of 1,850 meters, located in the three Valley Ski Area of the French Alps.

Les Menuires from Masse mountain. ©Vincent Lottenberg.

Les Menuires from Masse mountain. ©Vincent Lottenberg

In this article, You will learn the most important things you need to know before booking a vacation in Les Menuires. And if you read to the end, you will get some great tips that will help you make better decisions and save time and money!

Les menuires from northwest.

Les Menuires from northwest

The closest airports to Les Menuires are Chambery, Lyon And Geneve, with transfer times of 1 hour and 45 minutes, two and a half hours, and 3 hours, respectively.

Here’s a link to the best online flight engine.

Here’s a link to the best online car rental website.

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Les Menuires has the most extensive ski pass from all the resorts in the three Valley Area with 160 kilometres of connected runs.

Masse mountain. You will fin there the best off-pistes in the three valleys. ©David Andre.

Masse mountain. You will find there the best off-pistes in the three valleys. ©David Andre

The excellent connections of Les Menuires to the rest of 3 Valleys is better than Val Thorens and Courchevel!

The excellent connections of Les Menuires to the rest of 3 Valleys is better than Val Thorens and Courchevel! la Chambre peak. One of the peaks on the ridge between Les menuires and Meribel. ©Vincent Lottenberg.

The excellent connections of Les Menuires to the rest of 3 Valleys is better than Val Thorens and Courchevel! la Chambre peak. One of the peaks on the ridge between Les menuires and Meribel. ©Vincent Lottenberg

The Village of Les Menuires is vast and separated into five residential quarters:

1.Preyerand:

Preyerand from Preyerand telecabine which connect it to La cruisette.

Preyerand from Preyerand telecabine which connect it to La cruisette.

The Village of Les Menuires is vast and separated into five residential quarters: 1.Preyerand: Preyerand from Preyerand telecabine which connect it to La cruisette. preyerand from north west

The Village of Les Menuires is vast and separated into five residential quarters: 1.Preyerand: Preyerand from Preyerand telecabine which connect it to La cruisette. preyerand from north west

2.La Cruisette:

La Cruisette from northeast.

La Cruisette from northeast.

La Cruisette from southwest. From drone ©Nicolas Folliet.

La Cruisette from southwest. From drone ©Nicolas Folliet

3.Les Fontanettes:

Fontanettes at night from northeast. Masse mountain in bkgd. ©Vincent Lottenberg.

Fontanettes at night from northeast. Masse mountain in bkgd. ©Vincent Lottenberg

4.Grand Reberty:

Grand reberty from south east © OT Les Menuires/Saint-Martin

Grand reberty from south east © OT Les Menuires/Saint-Martin

5. Les Bruyeres:

 5. Les Bruyeres: Les Bruyeres from southeast and Bruyeres1gondola village station ©Gilles Lansard

5. Les Bruyeres: Les Bruyeres from southeast and Bruyeres1gondola village station ©Gilles Lansard

Fontanettes on the left, Grand reberty in the middle and Les Bruyeres on the right. Masse 1 gondola in the front. ©Gilles Lansard.

Fontanettes on the left, Grand reberty in the middle and Les Bruyeres on the right. Masse 1 gondola in the front. ©Gilles Lansard

Each quarter has its shopping centre with all the services you would usually need.

In Les Bruyeres and La Cruisette you have indoor public pools.

In Les Bruyeres and La Cruisette you have indoor public pools. Swimming pool in La Cruisette sports centre ©Alpcat Media

In Les Bruyeres and La Cruisette you have indoor public pools. Swimming pool in La Cruisette sports centre ©Alpcat Media

La Cruisette is the centre of the whole resort and features a vast gallery. It Is very convenient, especially in the colds of the winter, but can be a bit claustrophobic

claustrophobic. Endless indoor gallery in La Cruisette

claustrophobic. Endless indoor gallery in La Cruisette

When in La Cruisette, you can see the vision of the future from the 1960s perspective, when Les Menuires was planned, giving it a real retro-futuristic vibe.

La Cruisette at night. retro-futuristic look. ©Vincent Lottenberg

La Cruisette at night. retro-futuristic look. ©Vincent Lottenberg

La Cruisette is connected with gondola lifts to the quarters of Preyerand and Les Fontanettes. On top of this, free shuttles run up until 11:30 pm connecting the quarters.

Les menuires quarters with attractions, skibus stations etc’. © Les menuires tourist board.

Les menuires quarters with attractions, skibus stations etc’. © Les menuires tourist board

Because Les Menuires lies on a slope, most hotels and apartments are ski-in ski-out or almost ski-in ski-out.

most residents and hotels in Les Menuires are ski in- ski out. Grand Reberty. ©Vincent Lottenberg

most residents and hotels in Les Menuires are ski in- ski out. Grand Reberty. ©Vincent Lottenberg

The resort itself sits across an altitude range of between 1,600 and 2,000 meters — that’s how big it is!

metres — that’s how big it is! Les Menuires at night. 400 meters vertical drop between top and bottom of village. ©Gilles Lansard

metres — that’s how big it is! Les Menuires at night. 400 meters vertical drop between top and bottom of village. ©Gilles Lansard

If you’re looking to visit one of the best Apres Ski bars in the world —the Foley Douce in Val Thorens, you don’t need to shell out the extra cash for a three Valleys Ski Pass.

Folie Douce Val Thorens. Within the reach of Les menuires ski pass.

Folie Douce Val Thorens. Within the reach of Les menuires ski pass.

After the party, ski on Plain Sud run and then continue via Val Thorens to Boulevard Cuminn run until you arrive at the Doron lift, which will take you to a point from where you can ski to just about anywhere in Les Menuires.

Doron chairlift. Last “train” to ski in back to any point in les menuires after Folie Douce val thorens.

Doron chairlift. Last “train” to ski in back to any point in les menuires after Folie Douce val thorens.

Note that the Doron lift closes at 04:50 pm until the beginning of February and at 05:20 pm, from February. Unfortunately, party animals, you’re out of luck if you expect a nightlife or real apres-ski scene in Les Menuires, as the resort is very family-oriented.

Roc’nbob sledge run. From Roc 1 gondola top station, all the way to les Menuires village. ©Vincent Lottenberg

Roc’nbob sledge run. From Roc 1 gondola top station, all the way to les Menuires village. ©Vincent Lottenberg

Les Menuires has many winter activities like the roc’nbob sledge run:

and has a special rail toboggan named Speed Mountain, in Les Bruyeres:

Speed mountain in Les Bruyeres. ©Infonews.

Speed mountain in Les Bruyeres. ©Infonews

To conclude, here are our numbers for Les Menuires:

Les Menuires panorama from southwest from drone.©Nicolas Folliet.

Les Menuires panorama from southwest from drone.©Nicolas Folliet.

These ratings are based on a trip including the 3 Valleys Ski Pass

  • Beginners: 8
  • intermediates:  9
  • advanced skiers: 9
  • Snowboarders: 9
  • freeriders: 10
  • freestylers: 8
  • Apres-ski: 8.5 (because of the access to Foley Douce)
  • Nightlife: 6
  • Resort charm: 7

Giving a final resort score of: 8.9

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