While it
does not rank among the top ten destinations in France, Courchevel is a luxury
buzzword in the whole world. The rich and famous come here to show off their
wealth, splurge on ultra-expensive accommodation, lavish parties, and haute cuisine, while skiing
remains just background noise.
Let’s find out what attracts jet-setters, businesspeople and royal families to Courchevel.
· There are 3 palaces (6-star hotels) in Courchevel. For the record, the whole of France boasts 16 hotels of such a high standard.
· The most expensive chalet in the world is located in Courchevel 1850, where a week-long stay during the Christmas break would cost around 550,000.00 EUR.
· The resort boasts the 2nd biggest concentration of 5-star hotels in France after Paris and the largest amount of such luxurious properties among the ski stations in the world. Buying a property in Courchevel costs a pretty penny. One would have to pay an exorbitant price of 39 thousand EUR per square meter.
· Courchevel can be reached by ordering a taxi from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble airports (over 2 hours of driving), Chambery (over an hour drive) or by landing directly at the altiport – Courchevel’s airport located at the altitude of 2008m. It’s Europe’s highest airport, and with its 537m runway the altiport it is considered to be one of the top 10 most dangerous airports in the world.
· Luxury shopping lovers duly appreciate the possibility of doing shopping at hand in the world-known fashion boutiques such as Hermes, Armani, Prada, Dior, etc.
· There are 8 Michelin-star restaurants in Courchevel, where a meal might cost you up to 400 EUR, and a pint of beer for 20 EUR is a common thing.
At the time when the first chairlift in Courchevel was being constructed in 1946, no one had the slightest clue that the place would become a playground for billionaires. The resort was founded with an ordinary skiing station in mind. Fortunately, today Courchevel still fulfills its primary function and offers its visitor superb skiing conditions.
The slopes in Courchevel can be compared to highways: they are broad and
spacious. Although the runs cater to any level of skiing proficiency, most of
them are suitable for novice and intermediate skiers: there are 19 green, 35
blue, 34 red and 8 black runs. The skiing domain in Courchevel offers excellent
conditions for families with children, and the pistes are exceptionally
well-groomed compared to the other resorts in the Three Valleys.
The good thing is, even ordinary mortals can ski in Courchevel having a Three
Valley ski pass. For instance, by buying a package
tour to Les Menuires, you can
explore Courchevel with its sheer luxury.
When choosing a skiing tour to France, the Three Valleys in France is your best bet, whether you are a timid beginner or a mileage-hungry intermediate. And it does not really matter where you stay: in moderately-priced Les Menuires, affordable Brides-les-Bains or high-end Courchevel with its sky-high prices – the French Alps will greet you just the same and reward you with 600 km of runs, fresh powder, and jaw-dropping landscapes. And, yes, you can tell everybody that you’ve been to Courchevel and as a proof share an image of the happy you with the gorgeous mountains, perched chalets and snow-covered slopes in the background.
