Earlier this season, a few of us from Ski.com hit the French Alps for a whirlwind tour of the Three Valleys (Les 3 Vallees) and beyond. It was one of those great work trips that involved a lot of site tours... and a lot of skiing. Our itinerary covered big names like Méribel, Val Thorens, and Courchevel. We wrapped things up in Geneva and came home with some strong insights, and maybe a little goggle tan.
Here’s the rundown.
We flew into Geneva, which, along with Lyon, is a common arrival point for anyone heading into the Alps. If your flight lands between 6 and 8 AM—typical for many international arrivals—prepare for some slow-moving traffic, especially around Annecy.
Driving into the heart of the French Alps, we passed through the iconic town of Albertville, renowned as the host of the 1992 Winter Olympics. Along the way, Mont Blanc made several stunning appearances, its majestic peak breaking through the clouds. Scenic? Absolutely.
Throughout the trip, we were steeped in the culture of the Savoie region—both literally and figuratively. You’ll hear “Savoyard” tossed around a lot here, referencing everything from the architecture to the food (yes, you should order the tartiflette).
The Savoie’s Alpine heritage runs deep. The rich cultural heritage and robust cuisine are central to your experience, offering a uniquely European charm for those seeking something truly special and uniquely cultural.
The Three Valleys is the largest connected ski area in the world, clocking in at over 26,000 skiable acres. From left to right, it runs Courchevel → Méribel → Val Thorens, with access to Orelle extending it even further. It borders a national park, which means no further development, just wide-open skiing as far as the eye can see.
Here’s how the main hubs break down:
If you're trying to pick one place to stay, Méribel is one of the best options. Centrally located, it gives guests the easiest access to both Courchevel and Val Thorens. The terrain variety makes it great for families and intermediate skiers, and the tree coverage is a huge plus on stormy days for better visibility and fewer wind holds than Val Thorens.
Méribel breaks down into a few key sub-areas:
One thing to note: Courchevel gets all the name recognition, but for a lot of travelers, Méribel is the better fit, especially when you factor in pricing, atmosphere, and location. If Courchevel is the “Instagram post,” Méribel is the real skiing.
At 2,300 meters (around 7,500 feet), Val Thorens is the highest village in the Alps, meaning reliable snow even late in the season. It also means a lively après scene that kicks off early in the afternoon, and, fair warning, so do the après-tipsy skiers.
The terrain here is spectacular, but with a few caveats for beginners: narrow runs that all funnel together can get congested, especially in the afternoons. For young adults and strong skiers looking for snow and a scene, this is the spot. For families or first-timers, we’d suggest looking elsewhere.
Courchevel is where you'll find designer shops (think Gucci and Prada), fine dining, and high-end hotels. It’s made up of several sub-villages, but for snow reliability, we recommend 1650 and up, especially early or late in the season.
While we didn’t stay overnight, we managed to enjoy some great runs before the fog set in. Here’s an interesting tidbit: many Courchevel staff spend their off-season in Saint-Tropez. Not a bad way to spend the downtime!
We toured dozens of properties across all three resorts, and each one offered something unique. Here are a few standouts:
Ski-in ski-out access is almost universally available, offering a significant advantage for travelers. And with the euro exchange rate plus lift ticket pricing, many U.S. travelers are seeing incredible value for a luxury European ski vacation.
See a property that you are interested in but unable to book online? Fill out the form at the bottom of this blog, and a Mountain Travel Expert will be in touch shortly.
We wrapped up the property tours and ski laps in just under a week. It was an action-packed blur of snow, site visits, and Savoyard charm. There’s a lot to love here, whether you’re a family, luxury seekers, party groups, or serious skiers.
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