Courchevel on a (Relative) Budget: A Guide to the Four Villages

Courchevel is famous for its glamour: Michelin-starred restaurants, palace hotels, an altiport where private planes land on a mountain runway, and visiting royalty. But the resort is made up of several villages at different altitudes, and staying lower down can save a lot of money while giving you access to the same superb skiing – and to the Three Valleys, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world.

This guide compares Courchevel's villages, explains the ski area and lift passes, and shares practical tips for enjoying one of the Alps' most famous resorts on a more sensible budget.

Courchevel at a glance

Courchevel at a glance

1. Courchevel 1850

The most famous and most expensive village, with luxury chalets, designer boutiques and some of the Alps' best restaurants. It's the best connected to the rest of the Three Valleys, with lifts straight to Méribel. Even if you don't stay here, it's worth a visit for lunch or a look at the shops – and to watch planes land at the altiport.

Chalets glitter with lights, fur coats and designer boutiques fill the streets and the pistes are groomed to perfection.

2. Courchevel Moriond (1650)

Sunny, family-friendly and with good-value ski-in, ski-out hotels and apartments. Wide, gentle runs above the village are ideal for intermediates, and the village has its own shops, restaurants and ski schools. It feels more relaxed and less showy than 1850.

Sunny, family-friendly slopes and a relaxed village atmosphere, at lower prices.

3. Courchevel Village (1550)

Smaller and quieter, with a traditional feel, linked by gondola to 1850. It's one of the best-value ways to stay within easy reach of the main ski area.

Quiet and charming, with direct access to the slopes and cosy chalets.

4. Le Praz (1300)

A traditional Savoyard village at the foot of the slopes, beside the Olympic ski jumps built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics. Its forest runs are excellent in bad weather, when visibility higher up is poor, and a gondola links it to 1850.

A traditional village among the trees, with the Olympic ski jumps and a peaceful atmosphere.

5. The Three Valleys

A Three Valleys pass links Courchevel with Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and more, creating a vast network of around 600 km of pistes. Courchevel itself also has well-groomed beginner zones and free beginner lifts in some areas.

600 km of pistes linked by lifts – ski from one valley to the next, with views over Mont Blanc.

6. Off the slopes

Ice skating, the Aquamotion water park and spa in Courchevel Moriond, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, tobogganing and, of course, long lunches in mountain restaurants.

Ice skating, spa treatments and hot chocolate by the fire after a day on the snow.

Money-saving tips

• Stay lower: Moriond, Village or Le Praz offer the same lift access as 1850 at lower prices.
• Choose the right pass: a Courchevel-only pass is cheaper if you won't ski the wider Three Valleys every day.
• Eat smart: self-service mountain restaurants or a picnic save a lot at lunchtime; book special restaurants for the evening.
• Self-cater: apartments with kitchens cut costs for families and groups.
• Travel outside school holidays: January and late March are quieter and cheaper.
• Book transfers early: Saturday transfers from Geneva take around two and a half to three and a half hours and fill up quickly. A shared or private transfer straight to your accommodation avoids long waits.

Comparing ski destinations? See our guides to SalzburgerLand and Borovets in Bulgaria.