Les Menuires Ski Resort, France

Overview of Les Menuires

Les Menuires offers a fantastic base for a week exploring the world’s largest ski area, the 600km of skiable runs in the Three Valleys. With a foundation of purpose-built accommodation, more recent developments have led to more picturesque and traditional mountain architecture in the 8 micro-villages of Les Menuires.

Unlike many little sister resorts, Les Menuires is a veritable Cinderella with features that many skiers look for – ski-in/ski-out accommodation, high altitude (1850m) and connected to a huge ski area. It certainly shouldn’t be overlooked as a potential for your next ski holiday, especially if you’re self-catering.

Keep reading to learn more about this resort and why to go on a Les Menuires ski holiday.

3 Things We Love About Les Menuires

1. High resort base at 1850m, making it very snow-sure
2. Easy access to the massive 600km Trois Vallees/3 Valley ski area
3. Mostly ski-in/ski-out accommodation

Learn more about Les Trois Vallées ski area

Skiing and Boarding in Les Menuires

Les Menuires enjoys a fortunate position in the heart of the Three Valleys, below Val Thorens. This means guests are situated on the side of the Three Valleys with the highest runs, and the best guarantee of great snow all season long. Skiing is easily accessible, with plenty of ski-in/ski-out accommodation in the resort. It is a great area for beginners, with a good selection of easy green and blue runs nearby. More advanced skiers have the whole of the Three Valleys to explore, meaning all levels of skiing and snowboarding abilities are well catered for in Les Menuires.

Lift Passes in Les Menuires

A local lift pass will get you skiing access for all the ski lifts in the Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville areas only. This is around 160km of slopes. Although this limited range might be suitable for novices or a family with small children, for a week’s skiing it’s well worth upgrading to the full area pass which covers the entire 3 Valleys. Even if you only want to explore the extent of the Belleville valley and up to Val Thorens, the upgrade fee is probably worth it.

Activities in Les Menuires

Les Menuires has its own Leisure Centre which features a gym, table tennis plus basketball, badminton and squash courts. There’s an indoor ‘fun park’ for children with trampolines, obstacles and bridges, plus a swimming pool with saunas and Jacuzzis as well as a full service spa.

• Piste Basher Ride – The Service des Pistes in Les Menuires invites you to go behind the scenes on a snow groomer. On a one-hour ride, find out what these technicians in the shadows do to maintain, groom, and smooth out the hiking trails. Includes a Savoie-style aperitif in a mountain chalet.
• Sledging Roc n Bob– Experience once again those childhood sensations on a 4km snowy slope with 22 bends and a 450-metre elevation drop. The Roc’n Bob experience is a magical moment to share with family or friends.
• Rail luge - A luge on rails with twists and raised turns for a thrilling descent. You control your speed with the side brakes.
• Ice rink – outdoor ice rink found in the centre of Val Thorens
• Cinema - Les Flocons cinema at La Croisette and Les Bruyères cinema propose screenings of the latest film releases. 2 screenings per day. Additional afternoon screening in the event of bad weather.
• Swimming pool - To unwind, there’s nothing quite like diving into a pool surrounded by mountains. The Sports Centre swimming pool provides dedicated lanes for serious swimmers and there’s also a jacuzzi, sauna and hammam area. The family-friendly fun pool at Les Bruyères has a paddling pool, massage jets and a river with currents that will delight children and adults alike.
• Axe throwing - You don't have to be a barbarian to throw axes. To hit your target, you will have to find the balance between strength and finesse. For a unique moment of sharing between friends.
• Labyrinth - A snow labyrinth in the Preyerand district, accessible free of charge, every day from 9am to 5.30pm.

Other activities include basketball courts, escape games, fitness classes, massage and treatment rooms, squash courts, table tennis, snowmobile rides and paragliding.

Après Ski in Les Menuires

Les Menuires, you'll be glad to know, is a cheaper alternative to many of the other resorts in the Three Valleys when it comes to après and nightlife. The lively bars, pubs and clubs allow you to soak up the friendly party atmosphere without the expensive price tag.

• Bar Pub Le Challenge - Ideally situated in La Croisette, this chilled-out spot has pool and darts and hosts regular live music and poker nights.
• L'Atelier - A cosy lounge full of red sofas and hand-shaped armchairs that hosts live music, serves tasty cocktails and attracts a buzzing crowd.
• Le Leeberty - A typically French club that plays classic Europop on a brilliant sound system. If you're a major party animal, this is the place to be.
• Le New Pop - If you're looking to party late into the night, this club in La Croisette is the place to be. With free entry, you get unlimited access to an eclectic mix of house, electro, RnB, dancehall, funk and disco music.
• Le Mousse - An underground bar with a laid-back atmosphere and popular happy hour

Places to eat in Les Menuires

Dining in Les Menuires can vary from pizza takeaways in the centre of La Croisette to more gastronomic options in Reberty.

• Au Village – A small and typical mountain restaurant, with farm-y décor and authentic home cooking - jacket potatoes, tartiflette, fondue, raclette and pierrade, plus hearty steaks, duck and osso bucco.
• L'Igloo – Relatively new in town, this place serves superb Italian food - popular options include the Full Monty pizza with apple and blue cheese, or the Savoyarde pizza with onions, bacon, potatoes and reblochon cheese.
• La Maison de Savoy -Enjoy great mountain staples, like steaks, pizza, pasta and big desserts. On Monday, you can join a cooking class to learn how to make perfect fondue.
• Le Cocon des Neiges, Hotel Isatis - Elegant, contemporary dining with a fairly classic menu - tapas-style starters, mains of fish, meat, fondue and raclette, and then decadent desserts to finish.
• La Ferme de Reberty - For a taste of gourmet dining, choose from the huge menu of burgers, fish, meats, charcuterie and cheesy fondue and raclette. There are set menus and a kids' menu too.
• L'Hacienda - Mexican meets Italian at this tex-mex pizzeria. With its hearty portions and wallet-friendly prices, it easy to see why it's a popular pick.
• Le Comptoir - This place puts a modern twist on traditional alpine dishes, from loaded burgers to rich chocolate desserts. To make dinner time extra special. why not book at table in their heated gondola?

Family Features Les Menuires

As a past winner of the World Snow Awards’ Best Family Resort, Les Menuires is well set up to provide all the amenities and service you may need on your family ski holiday.

• Augmented- reality treasure hunt – The magic portal is a fantastic adventure that will appeal to the whole family. It follows an outdoor trail scattered with puzzles, brain-teasers, augmented-reality tests and questions about your surroundings. Go to meet the 3D characters who appear in your real environment. Interact with them, open the chests and avoid the traps.
• Fun Park – A children’s paradise in a 500m² fun facility with discovery games, trampolines, slides, ball pools and rope bridges. Unmissable! Description
• Ski patrol experience - Go behind the scenes of the jobs in the slope management department.
• Pony sledging - An unusual little ride for the youngest, with a pony held on the lead by an accompanying adult.

Other activities include the ESF mini club and children ski school, igloo building, ice skating, swimming pool, cinema and indoor games.