COURCHEVEL 1650 - Introduction
Courchevel is considered by many to be the ultimate ski destination, and attracts all those who search for the very best in accommodation, skiing, and shopping. 1850 is THE place to be in Courchevel, if not the entire Alps. Everything here is a just that little more special; from the bars and restaurants to the boutique shops and jewellers, making it a haven for Europe's jet-setters as well those just wanting a good time. Courchevel 1650, 1550 and Le Praz are especially popular with families, due to the facilities in resort and the reasonably priced accommodation.
Skiing
Courchevel boasts excellent wide pistes, stunning views, and some of Europe’s steepest couloirs for you to power down. The descent from the top of Méribel to the bottom of Courchevel 1550 is excellent and a great way to end a days skiing. Remember that you can also choose from the rest of the Trois Vallees Ski area that includes the highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens, and the beautiful valley of Méribel.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding has now become the thing to be seen doing in Courchevel. The well groomed pistes and gentle approaches back to the resorts provide an excellent playground for beginners to ply their new trade. The more adventurous snowboarders can really enjoy the huge number of wide and challenging pistes and vast number of adrenaline off piste areas to explore.
Ski Schools
The resort has a multitude of different ski schools to choose from. The ESF 1550 caters for guests staying in Courchevel 1550 and 1850 and classes meet at La Croisette in 1850. Magic Ski School also offers a superb range of children and adult group courses in 1850 too. New Generation Ski School is the ideal choice for guests staying in Courchevel 1650 as their meeting place is in the resort of 1650 itself. All ski schools cater for all levels of skier and snowboarder alike and pre booking is highly recommended especially during peak holiday dates. Don’t forget to get a great low cost quote from SkiExtras.
Eating Out
There is a wide and varied selection of restaurants in Couchevel where you can choose to snack or fine dine. Courchevel 1650 is a popular choice with skiers looking for a fixed price special menu with several great value restaurants just at the foot of the slopes. Ensure that you make time to sample one of the local Savoyard specialties, like a Pierre Chaud (Hot stone to cook your own food on) or Tartiflette (Fundamentally cheese, bacon and potato pie but irresistible!).
Bars and clubs
There is no shortage of excellent nightlife in Courchevel and there is plenty of fun to be had! If you are in La Tania take a trip to the famous Ski Lodge and sample some of the lively Après Ski or you can choose to enjoy a meal on the fabulous terrace. Courchevel 1650 has a good selection of bars to choose from and prices are pretty reasonable too. Courchevel 1850 has a larger selection of bars and cafes to choose from and these vary in standard from the inexpensive to the absolutely luxurious and of course prices that match.
Off the slopes
There is a host of other activities that can be enjoyed away from the skiing including Ice Hockey, Skating, Squash, Snowshoeing, Bowling, Climbing, Karting and watching the amazing Ski Jumping in Le Praz when the competitions are on. Famous for its great skiing and high quality accommodation, Courchevel also has fantastic shopping possibilities, with over 100 shops offering all the popular brand names, as well as artwork by famous artists in its art galleries.