Courchevel 1850 (recently renamed as simply Courchevel) is one of four villages making up the Courchevel ski area in the Three Valleys. The region offers a fantastic terrain for both skiing and snowboarding and, with over 600 kilometres of pistes, many visitors never even feel the need to travel further into other Three Valleys territories. The snow is some of the best in Europe, and the terrain suits everyone from total beginner to advanced skiers.
Nevertheless, if you want to add a touch of glitz to your skiing adventure, Courchevel 1850 is definitely the resort to pick. Renowned as the go-to destination for the rich and powerful, it doesn’t lack glamour and decadence wherever you look. From prestigious restaurants to exclusive shops and upscale hotels, you’ll be hard pressed to find any modesty around here.
Ski Alongside the Rich and Famous
When a ski resort has its own altiport that welcomes private jets and helicopters, you know you are going to be surrounded by luxury wherever you go. From old-money Parisians to new-money Russians, the elites can often be seen wandering around town, allowing themselves to be well and truly ‘seen’.
On the pistes, however, they blend in with everyone else, proving that Courchevel 1850 is not just about the town. Its location and weather is ideal, resulting in soft powdery snow that feels magnificent to ski on. The slopes are extremely varied, so you can easily go from a heart-stopping black piste to a leisurely intermediate one on the same day. In fact, the smooth, wide pistes will make almost any intermediate look like a pro – a wonderful thing if you want to show off!
Fine Dining in Courchevel 1850
Thanks to the resort’s perennial influx of high-flying visitors, Courchevel 1850 has attracted plenty of upscale, award-winning restaurants over the years. Although the prices can be steep, they do attract world-class chefs, Michelin stars, and glamorous customers year-round. Here are a couple of the best ones to go to for innovative food and amazing service:
Le Chabichou
This elegant restaurant obtained its two Michelin stars back in 1984, and has retained them to this day thanks to inventive dishes, super fresh ingredients, refined service and, of course, two absolutely incredibly chefs in charge of the kitchen. Every detail is taken care of, from sublime bread brought straight from the restaurant’s onsite bakery to mouth-watering, original desserts.
Le 1947
This more contemporary restaurant offers an elegant and modern setting in which to enjoy marvellous nouvelle cuisine. Its head chef, Yannick Alleno, aims to provide a bespoke dining experience to each of his 25 guests every evening through a curious concept: whatever you order as your main dish dictates the rest of the dishes you will be served that night. Moreover, he collaborates with wine and champagne producers in order to best pair each plate of food. What else could you ask for?
And What About Shopping?
After a tiring day of skiing, before you head off to dinner you might want to spend some time strolling around the streets of Courchevel 1850, browsing the many upscale goods on offer. Unsurprisingly, given the clientele, the town’s main streets are lined with well-known luxury shops such as Chanel, Hermès and Prada. There is also Blu&Berry, a family-run boutique that stocks all the best fabrics and collections, including Maison Michel and Joseph.
Finally, if you’re looking to indulge in some chocolate and wine during your stay – or if you are on the search for a wonderful present to bring back for someone special – there are two artisan shops you should visit. Piste Noire is a specialty store selling fresh handmade, organic chocolates ranging from the traditional to more inventive flavour combinations. Even better, you can take them home in sophisticated metal boxes that will survive the plane ride home!
On the other hand, Les Perles du Palais is a small wine cellar run by sommelier Marina Silina, who will be delighted to show you around and introduce you to some stunning wines, including Bordeaux vintages.
How to Get to Courchevel
Courchevel is incredibly easy to get to by air for a high-altitude ski resort, with four airports within easy travelling distance. The closest is Chambery, around one hour and 15 minutes away by road. However, Chambery is more prone to closing due to bad weather conditions than Grenoble, Lyon (both of which are two hours away) and Geneva, which is a three-hour car ride to Courchevel.
Overall, Geneva Airport is the most convenient airport to land, despite being further away, as it is connected by good, fast roads for most of the journey. It’s serviced by premium airlines, including British Airways, which makes all the difference for longer journeys. You can easily book a Shuttle Direct airport transfer from any of the airports, though, making sure your onward journey to the resort itself is as comfortable and straightforward as possible.
You can also travel to the resort by train. The nearest station is Moutiers, which is connected to major European cities such as Paris by regular daytime trains on Saturday and overnight trains on Fridays. A Shuttle Direct transfer service can be arranged to meet you at Moutiers station and take you straight to your accommodation for a smooth end to your journey.
Where to Stay:
Alpes Hôtel du Pralong – The luxurious Alpes Hôtel du Pralong has a rustic, traditional atmosphere thanks to wooden furnishing, chalet-style rooms, and cosy but spacious communal areas. The incredibly modern swimming pool and Turkish baths are a perfect option for days when you want to take it easy, and the hotel’s bar has some great wines and cocktails waiting for you.
Snow Lodge Boutique Hotel – The super ski-to-door location of the Snow Lodge Boutique Hotel is just one of the great services this establishment offers. Breakfast is hot and delicious, drinks around the fireplace are ever-popular among guests, and the rooms have a wonderful home-from-home feel while still being slick and modern.
Le Saint Joseph – More traditionally decorated than other luxury hotels in Courchevel, Le Saint Joseph combines elaborate décor and slightly Roccoco furnishings with spacious rooms and cosy living areas. The spa is open to guests, so you can pamper yourself in the hot tub, and the two onsite restaurants serve Italian and Thai cuisine respectively, in case you feel like a change from traditional Alpine food.
About Shuttle Direct
Airport transfer experts Shuttle Direct operate all over Europe and northern Africa. They offer top quality airport shuttles and taxis from a wide range of global airports, helping connect travellers to their end destination with a minimum of fuss.
