The power of three: Why there are no wrong choices in Les 3 Vallées
This post was originally published on this siteLes 3 Vallées boasts the world’s largest linked ski area, encompassing three distinct resorts, each with its own DNA. In the morning, you can be a downhill racer at Val Thorens, for lunch you can hobknob with celebs at Courchevel, and in the afternoon you can cruise some easy runs, family-style at Méribel. Why go? For one, you’re skiing in the French Alps! Secondly, for my fellow US skiers, your lift ticket is a bargain. Skiing Val Thorens rather than, say, Vail, Colorado, you’re saving over $200 a day. With a slight upcharge to access Méribel and Courchevel too, you’re getting 600 km of groomed “pistes” in comparison to Vail’s 234 km of groomed “runs.” Decisions, decisions… So you’ve decided to ski Les 3 Vallées. The challenge is to decide which resort of the three–Val Thorens, Courchevel, or Méribel, to make home base. Below, I’ve teased out one word that describes each resort and what is new for 2026 regarding getting people up the mountain (for getting down, you’re on your own). I’ve mentioned one new hotel and one new restaurant for each resort. Val Thorens: High altitude, higher octane Val Thorens is
