How to Enjoy Courchevel on a Budget

Despite reliably excellent snow conditions, the amazing and efficient lift system, and the sheer variety of skiing which suits all levels of skier, over the years Courchevel has gained a reputation as a luxury resort attracting oligarchs, royals and film stars – which we think is a bit of a shame!

But here at Ski Magic, those of us who live here in the mountains know that it’s not all private jets and champagne lunches! So we also have some top tips on how to enjoy Courchevel on a more realistic budget…

Let us present our ideas for budget skiing in the best ski area in the world! Read our top tips on how to save a few Euros on your ski holiday, but still enjoy the fantastic skiing on offer.

Budget skiing in Courchevel: 8 ways to save money

1) Stay in Courchevel Le Praz or La Tania

You don’t need to stay in one of Courchevel 1850’s luxury hotels to access the Courchevel ski lifts! From La Tania and Le Praz you have easy access to all Three Valleys – 600km of skiing in total – often from chalets much closer to the slopes. Save your pennies for the ski pass and opt to save on accommodation costs:

• La Tania is well-known as one of the best value places from which to ski Courchevel. There are numerous chalets in great locations very close to the slopes and the main village. La Tania also has reasonably priced eateries, from the delicatessen to the pizzeria, and drinks in the bars are significantly less expensive than in the higher altitude villages!
• Also favoured by local residents, Le Praz has a vibe of understated chic, twinkly lights and narrow streets. It’s also a great spot for young families or grandparents, with a gorgeous forest setting, a lake to walk around, and easy to access lifts. From the gondola and chairlift you can be at the top of La Tania or 1850 in one ride. We like to think of Le Praz as having the best of both worlds – incredible Three Valleys skiing in an unspoilt French mountain village.

2) The best free/cheap activities in Courchevel

Build a snowman, go wildlife spotting, borrow a sledge from the chalet and go tobogganing, see the fireworks, take a bus around the villages, go window shopping in Courchevel 1850, see the horses at the Croisette, watch ski jumpers train in Le Praz, head to the wonderful library and games room Mediatheque in Le Praz, take the children to indoor soft play… These are some of the no-extra-cost activities you can enjoy during your stay in Courchevel.

If you have a lift pass then you also have access to the free Family Park, Meribel’s animal trail, have lunch in the numerous picnic rooms, see the art installations and sculptures around the resort (and of course, use the lifts for skiing or snowboarding!)

Some other inexpensive activities include hiring snow-shoes or cross country skis, or a sledge for the afternoon. Maybe you could enjoy a luxurious hot chocolate, or indulge in a cheese fondue… There are so many wonderful and unique experiences in Courchevel! Get more inspiration in our article “20 Cool Things to do in Courchevel” or “Six unmissable experiences beyond the slopes”.

3) Opt for a catered chalet holiday

Breakfast and six evening meals plus wine included in the chalet price? When you break down the cost per night of a catered chalet compared to a hotel or even self-catered property, a catered chalet represents amazing value.

A catered chalet holiday is an ideal way to cut down on extra food & drink costs when skiing, especially if you fill up on the plentiful breakfast, and tuck into the afternoon tea on your return to the chalet. (Some of our guests even manage to last the whole day without needing lunch!) And the extra bonus is that no-one has to wash up!

See What’s Included in our chalet service for example menus.

4) Picnic on the piste

Rather than factoring in a budget for in mountain restaurant lunches every day (which quickly add up especially when skiing with the kids!) we have put together our favourite spots for a picnic.

There are several places, indoor and outdoor, in which you can enjoy a simple ham or cheese baguette from the resort bakery, or a homemade picnic from the local supermarket. A picnic on the piste is truly an unbeatable al fresco experience with a stunning 360° panorama! What’s not to love?

5) Keep travel costs to a minimum

If you keep an eye on the flight release dates, Geneva airport has some great value options from regional airports which means cheaper parking in the UK. Our transfers are also competitive, or you could investigate cheaper bus options from the airport, for example, Ben’s Bus or Altibus. You could also try Chambery airport which is nearer to resort and flies to seven UK regional airports.

Top tip: Sometimes it is better to organise your transfers BEFORE booking your flight: check out transfers first!

Driving to the Alps is also a good value option, if you fill up your car with people. It takes around 9.5 hours from Calais on the toll roads. Ferries are usually inexpensive in the winter and there’s often free parking available in resort. Ask us about parking when you book your chalet.

6) Ask us for recommendations

The good thing about staying with us at Ski Magic is that you can use our exhaustive knowledge of the local area!

We can recommend a good lunchtime restaurant at a suitable budget, tell you how to find the best value coffee, discover where to find the cheapest option for chips on the slopes and let you know where the cheapest supermarkets can be found.

All you have to do is ask us and we’ll reveal our secret spots!

7) Book ski hire with Ski Magic

Our in-house service also helps keep costs down AND make life that bit simpler: our ski tech will come to your chalet at a pre-arranged time to fit you all with boots and skis, so you don’t even have to leave the chalet and carry them from the shop!

• See more about ski hire and pricing

8) The best lift pass deal

Three Valleys = great value for money: The 3 Valleys offers great value for the lift pass price – roughly the same as other major French resorts for a 6-day adult price. See our recent lift pass comparison to see prices for other major ski resorts around the world – we compared the Espace Killy, Paradiski, Whistler Blackcomb and Matterhorn Ski Paradise plus others to find out the price per kilometre!

Families – everyone pays the child price: If you are travelling with children, the updated Family Ski Pass for Courchevel and the Three Valleys means everyone pays the child’s price! And the lift company has recently changed the rules to allow family ski passes for groups of a minimum of three people, whether that’s two adults and one child, or one adult and two children. Up to six children (under 18s) can be included.

Looking for the cheapest ski pass? Did you know that skiing in early December, you will benefit from reduced lift pass prices? For the earliest weeks of the ski season the ski passes are cheaper than during the main season. This could be a great way to save on your next ski trip! Ask us more about First Tracks skiing and see our chalet overview for pricing.

Make your life easier by ordering your lift pass through us before you arrive on holiday. This is a free service that we offer to our guests, and your pass will be delivered to the chalet so that you can head straight out onto the slopes. The price is the same as you’d pay in the lift pass office.

Take me to Courchevel this winter!

• Browse our chalet collection
• Contact us for help finding a chalet for your budget
• See pricing and availability overview