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What’s New 2018 #3 of 5 – Building Work, New Chalets, New Experiences Etc.

Posted Sat 07 Oct 2017

Following on from…

What’s New in La Tania & 3 Valleys 2018. #1 of 5 – The New Lifts

What’s New in La Tania & 3 Valleys 2018. #2 of 5 – New Pistes & Ski Area Work

This post looks at the new building work, chalets and developments going on away from the slopes.

La Tania

Towards the end of Summer work began on a new chalet development in front of the Grand Bois next to the bottom of the Folyeres / Troika area.

Steamboat Lodge will be a four bedroom “traditional but with a contemporary twist” Chalet. Yours for €2,050,000

The shell of the chalet is supposed to be up in time for Winter so this area shouldn’t look like a building site by the time the lifts open on 16 December 2017.

Work is still to start on Yellowstone Lodge next to the bottom of the Gros Murger drag lift. More on that in What’s New Part #5 of 5 – Future Developments and Rumours including the latest on Moretta Village and the next new ski lifts construction.

The Lift Pass Office next to the La Tania Gondola has been refurbished.

Another new chalet going up in the Chalet Quarter above the resort

The road at the back of the Kalinka Apartments / Ski Lodge up the hill to the Saboia Apartments and the chalets up there is finally being surfaced. Traffic will probably be restricted (or one-way) to the chalets on the slope here, with the preferred route maintained via the main road.

There’s a few more of the modern underground poubelles and some new signage but no news yeat of the proposed new beginners area and magic carpets – which would also mean the end to the Swimming Pool apparently. Additional buses (and in the Summer for the first time) have been laid on to encourage the use of Aquamotion in Courchevel 1550/1650 (it did cost €63m remember) but it’s the one unique reason for staying in La Tania in Summer really as opposed to other parts of Courchevel. More to follow in What’s New Part #5 of 5 – Future Developments and Rumours

More Chalet News
Alpine Action are celebrating their 25 Year Anniversary this year – they’ve been selling fully catered chalet holidays in Meribel and La Tania since 1993.

Alpine Escape have a new self catered chalet – Chalet Mollard – in Courchevel 1650 Moriond adding to the two self-catered properties and their 7 catered chalets in La Tania.

Snow Chateaux have added Chalet Aurelia in La Tania to their programme for Winter 2018.

Ski-Dazzle have refurbished their Chalet Juliette.

The Freeride Republic have added Chalet Barragiste in Courchevel Village 1550 to their portfolio for Winter 2018. A true ski in/ski out chalet situated on the edge of the luge track adjoining the Provères Piste.

Courchevel

Lots of building work in Courchevel 1850 as usual this Summer.

The work going on alongside the Bellecote Piste this Summer is for the refurbishment of the Aman Le Melezin Hotel. It’s been closed since 3rd April and is set to re-open on 15 December 2017. February Half Term 2018 rooms still available for £3,000 (per night!).

The clearance of trees directly across from La Croisette (where all the gondolas come from) is to allow a slope for freestyle / jumping competitions and displays. During half term week there’s always some kind of ski display along with a music, fireworks and light show that takes place here.

A new apartment complex is now under construction across the road from Aquamotion in 1550/1650. It looks like two pistes and a gondola lift will be going in here during Summer 2019 (probably).

The new Residence L’Ecrin Blanc will consist of 50 apartments (luxury 5* of course) and it will have it’s own private direct link (underground we reckon) across the road to Aquamotion.

Meribel Valley

Two new major projects in the centre of Meribel next to the Olympic Centre.

L’Hevana is another 5* luxury apartment complex complete with pool, spa, cocktail bar & restaurant on the right as you drive in to Meribel just before the Olympic Centre. No price details yet – must be expensive! It’s another addition to Le Groupe Pierre & Vacances – Center Parc properties.

Directly across the road from the Olympic Centre is La Suite Complex of apartments (luxury 5*). Prices start at €578,000.

Meanwhile in Meribel Village there are 4 new chalets going up in the Hameau Des Cimes project.

Belleville Valley

As well as the totally refurbished Lac de Lou Refuge covered in the What’s New #2 of 5 – New Pistes & Ski Area Work Val Thorens has a new Montana Lodge in the Montana Village – It’s a 5* luxury place…

The 17 South facing hotel-serviced apartments offer a contemporary chalet atmosphere with views over the slopes – prices start from €1,635 per week.

The 5 star Pashmina Hotel which opened in December 2014 has added another “Igloo Pod” on it’s roof for a night under the stars. Hot tubs have been added this year and the Pashmina’s Explorateurs Restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Star this year too.

Prices for a night in a Pod in January 2018 start from around €450 per night half board.

A new “Design Hostel” from the ho36 chain has been built inside La Croisette in Les Menuires and opens in December 2017. The ho36 hostels are great budget places to stay with modern facilities, a relaxed atmosphere and bar with free WiFi and toiletries included. Great for skiers on a budget with the flexibility of bookings by the night – good to see a non 5* new place!

No prices available yet but the ho36 hostel in Lyon starts at €59 for a private room or from €22 for a bed.

The Val Thorens Altapura 5-star hotel Kid’s Corner
While parents enjoy a swim in the pool as the snowflakes fall around them, children can meet up to play table football in their very own Kids’ Corner! Kids can swap stories about their day, take a nap on the giant floor cushions or play games led by the Kids’ Concierge

New Italian Restaurant in Val Thorens – Il Gusto

Part of the Oxalys Residence with a terrace out on to the snow and a new restaurant entirely dedicated to Italian Cuisine. Access to the terrace on skis is via the Plein Sud chair or Cairn gondola or coming over from Mottaret via the Pluviomètre piste. Great views of the Cime Caron from the terrace too.

Other Developments

Free Wifi across Brides Les Bains this Winter

Gourmet Sking
Ski Cool instructors have come up with a three-day circuit to simultaneously delight the taste buds and keep your skis happy! The first day takes place on the Courchevel ski area with a stop off for lunch at Le Farçon, chef Julien Machet’s Michelin-starred restaurant in La Tania, the second day takes you through Méribel’s pine forests for lunch on Allodis’ panoramic terrace. The third day is in the Belleville Valley, where you’ll pass through
the Vallon du Lou off-piste area, stop for a sweet treat at the Lou mountain refuge, then enjoy a locally sourced lunch at L’Arbé alpine chalet.
That evening, there’s the option of rounding off the three days in style with a wine tasting and introduction to winemaking at Le Pashmina, Val
Thorens’ 5-star mountain refuge hotel.
Rate: 1,491€ for 3 days for 2 people including lunch!

Les Menuires is holding a Geek Fest in December
The biggest event of the season in Les Menuires, a weekend of indoor and outdoor activities all focussed on technology and gaming. The first time an event like this has been held in a mountain environment. 9-10 Dec 2017.

Exclusive perfume and cosmetics in La Bouitte

The Michelin-starred duo have created the ‘1 502 m’ perfume, “an enchanting floral fragrance”.

New Mountain Refuge – Le Trait d’Union

With two double bedrooms and one 4-person bedroom and stripped back décor plus a Nordic bath (a kind of wooden barrel heated by a wood-fired stove) this new refuge is open for Winter 2018. You can get there on skis on the resort run from the Saint-Martin 1 gondola or on snowshoes from the village (allow 45 minutes). Authentic Savoyard cuisine available for lunched too.

New Avalanche Control Fencing Above Meribel

New 80s cars on the Ice Circuit in Val Thorens
We tried this for the first time last Winter, great fun.

This Winter they’ve got some classic 80s vehicles including BMW 3 Series, VW Golfs, Ford Escorts and Subaru Scoobies. Prices start at €120 for these but there’s a karting track with cheaper options too.

The first official 3 Valleys Cafe
Opening in front of the train station in Moûtiers this Winter

New Delir Park
Located in the Val Thorens Sports Centre with Wipe Out type games.

Lots of new Yoga Classes, Spa Retreats, Wellness Experiences etc across Val Thorens this Winter too.

New Safety System in Val Thorens
THE GENDLOC SYSTEM enables Pisteurs to pinpoint the position of skiers who call for help without knowing wherethey are. Skiers are located using a signal emitted by their smartphone or by sending them a photograph of the surrounding landscape. Help is therefore able to arrive much more quickly thanks to real-time location-matching.

Saint Martin de Belleville Farm Guesthouse

Saint-Martin-de- Belleville sheep farmers Susan and Serge Jay have added 2 guest bedrooms to their farm, ‘La Trantsa’. For many years now, through their passion for their work and the mountains, they have welcomed visitors to tastings of ‘trantsa’, a local speciality cheese made using ‘sérac’ skimmed milk, and rye bread. Set in the hamlet of Le Châtelard, they welcome guests who love good simple food.

Supernova
Supernova is a new concept store serving healthy, 100% gluten free food, vegan meals and snacks, as well as selling a range of unique streetwear brands. The shop is locared in the Peclet shopping centre Val Thorens and features a sun terrace overlooking the Peclet Square.

Ladies World Cup Back in Courchevel
On 19-20 December 2017 and for the first time a World Cup Parallel Slalom

Alpine World Cup 2023 and Le Tour de France
The Courchevel-Méribel bid for the 2023 prestigious event has been lodged and Meribel & Brides les Bains are bidding to be a host stage of the Tour de France 2018 – it’s been a while since we’ve had Le Tour over here so fingers crossed. The announcement is to be made on 17 Oct 2017.