The newest additions are Artemis in St Anton, an über-luxurious Austrian chalet concept and Le Rocher in Val d’Isère, a hugely impressive chic property that literally stands below Eagle’s Nest.

Ski Chalet Artemis interior (St Anton)

Artemis offers the best in architecture, style, spa, cuisine and service. Located in St. Anton in the Austrian Alps, this chalet has been styled to ooze maximum indulgence and all-round luxury.

Designed by celebrated architect Karl Fahner, the hexagonal, four-storey chalet has six superb bedrooms and majestic Alpine views, and unashamedly luxurious en-suite bathrooms – one with a rainforest shower with shielded mirrored glass. Sound and vision are effortlessly brought together by Sonos and Bowers & Wilkins to provide the ultimate in music systems. A retro-style 12-seater cinema, 140m2 wellness area with wet room, sauna, steam room, massage room, indoor pool, and an indoor/outdoor hot tub complete the offering. Throughout the chalet, old and new design concepts merge. And Artemis herself, the Greek goddess of fertility, forests and hills, is personified in a 7ft statue watches over guests, designed by British artist Alexandra Beale.

But Artemis isn’t the only pretty face. The Scott Dunn Flagship collection welcomes Le Rocher in Val d’Isère, France, a stunningly vast new property, designed by architect Michel Covarel, of Eagle’s Nest fame. The decadent Chalet Le Rocher fuses traditional Alpine style – reclaimed wood beams, intricate carvings and slate finish – with contemporary cool. Boutique-style glass bathrooms and bright, retro furniture take this chalet into a new generation of luxury chalets.

Chalet le Rocher pool area (Val d'Isere)

Set against the rock face, this imposing property is located in the desirable new estate of Les Fermes de Val d’Isère, and features not only an indoor swimming pool with jet stream but also a Hammam, massage room, home cinema room and sun terrace with views down the Isère valley. At Le Rocher, guests can enjoy traditional charm in the luxury of space; the master bedroom suite alone covering over 60m2, with his and hers dressing rooms and rock wall bathroom. Each of the seven bedrooms is finished with the finest, sumptuous soft-furnishings, and has a private bathroom, offering comfort and relaxation on an unprecedented scale.

Joining Le Rocher and Artemis is award-winning Eagle’s Nest, which sits high above Val d’Isère and is just 2 minutes from the edge of the La Face piste. Outside, the silver eagle herself points majestically out over the town. Inside this stunning luxury ski chalet, you’ll find an indoor pool, sauna and steam room, as well as an imposing dining room and luxurious lounge. Its six en-suite bedrooms offer spectacular views across Val d’Isère. Furnished to an impeccable standard and scattered with antiques in keeping with the Alpine Savoyard style, Eagle’s Nest is synonymous with the definition of flagship.

Chalet Aurea bedroom (Courchevel 1850)

Aurea is Scott Dunn’s fourth flagship chalet and award-winning mountain retreat and is one of the best ski chalets in Courchevel 1850. Aurea has five luxurious bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. The chalet is furnished in a traditional way with wooden floors and ceilings and has a roaring fire. The wellness area boasts an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi along with a glass floored steam room over the pool. The chalet can be skied back to from the Cospillot piste.

Accommodation is just the start of the flagship experience. At Scott Dunn, personality and service is just as important too. Guests travel British Airways Club Class, before taking a private transfer to the chalet (private jets and helicopter transfers can be arranged), with a glass of chilled Laurent-Perrier Champagne en route.

Cuisine is an important part of the Scott Dunn experience Expert chefs create seasonal, gourmet dishes for six nights, perfectly matched to a list of fine wines and champagnes, hand selected by Scott Dunn’s very own Master of Wine. Throughout a stay with Scott Dunn, the personal service continues with touches such as tea served in bed with your choice of morning newspaper. Scott Dunn’s smart black vehicles are on hand to take you to and from the slopes and its renowned childcare means that parents can enjoy a day on the slopes, in the knowledge that the little ones are being cared for.

A truly flagship experience… 

A  stay at ski chalet Le Rocher, in Val d’Isère starts at £17,304 per chalet for seven nights on a full board basis. A stay at Artemis in St Anton, Eagle’s Nest in Val d’Isère or Aurea in Courchevel 1850 starts from £1,405 per adult for seven nights on a full board basis, including British Airways Club Class flights, private transfers.

Visit the Scott Dunn website for more information.

Courchevel is the most glamorous section of Les Trois Vallees, with a private airstrip (altiport) that spits out a constant stream of celebrities and Parisan high society throughout the season. However, though you could spend your mortgage deposit in a week of glamorous excess here, there are many cheaper accommodation and culinary alternatives, even in Courchevel 1850, though prices drop considerably in the other 3 valleys resorts. The atmosphere is certainly not stuffy and remains resolutely more French than the thorough anglicised Meribel across the hill.

Courchevel skiing

Most seasoned 3 valley veterans would agree that Courchevel has the best breadth and variety of skiing of the ski resorts in the 3 valleys. Starting with the magnificent couloirs from the top of the Saulire (2,738m / 8,983ft) down to some tremendously characterful woodland runs down to Le Praz and La Tania, it also encompasses secluded powder bowls, intermediate favourites and high quality nursery slopes.

The heart of Courchevel skiing is the area directly above 1850, leading up the twin peaks of Vizelle and Saulire, from where there are some excellent steep reds and a number of steep sided couloirs. Heading skiers right takes you down the ever popular Creux, from where you can continue up Chanrossa before dropping down into 1600′s wonderfully secluded reds around Bel Air.

The main beginners area is Pralong which has recently been specially customised to focus almost wholly on beginners, with rope tows and other short lifts designed to help novices maximise their time with their instructors. There are also good beginner facilities at 1650.

Though the slopes are primarily north facing (meaning good snow conditions) there is great variety. Skiers left of 1850, gentle runs feed back to the centre, while looping around the underside of Loze opens up an entire flank of excellent runs pirouetting out from 1550 all the way around to La Tania. The blacks of Jockeys and Jean Blanc are sensational runs in good conditions, as are all the reds and blues dropping down into La Tania. Above here is the Col de la Loze, which us one of the two points where you can drop into Meribel, the other being off the back of Saulire.

Key Facts – for the whole Three Valleys
Pistes   600km / 379miles
Lifts  200
Green Runs 17%
Blue Runs 34%
Red Runs 37%
Black Runs 12%
Snowmaking 90km
Resort   1300 – 3230m /4270 – 10600ft
   
Other on snow activities

Cross Country
Snow-shoeing
Tele-marking
Paragliding
Disablity Skiing
   
   
Courchevel Ski Schools

ESF Courchevel 1550 http://www.esf.net/en/ecoles/index.php?
Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
tel :479082107
fax :479081731

ESF Courchevel 1850 http://www.esfcourchevel.com/index.php
La Croisette / BP 38
73122 Courchevel Cedex 
Tel. +33 (0)4 79 08 07 72
Fax. +33 (0)4 79 08 14 59

ESF Courchevel 1650 http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com/en/accueil/
Maison de Moriond
73120 Courchevel 1650
Phone. 33 (0)4 79 08 26 08
Fax 33 (0)4 79 08 03 27
E-mail : esf-courchevel-1650@wanadoo.fr

Supreme Ski and Snowboard School http://www.supremeski.com/default.asp
3 rue des verdons, Courchevel 1850, 73120, France.
Tel: (Courchevel or La Tania) 0479 08 27 87
UK booking tel: +44 (0)1479 810 800
info@supremeski.com

Ski Excel for private ski lessons http://www.skiexcel.com/
E-mail : skiexcel@skiexcel.com
Phone : +44(0)7949387699

Courchevel Creches

Maison des Enfants http://www.esf-courchevel.com 
ESF 1550 Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 21 07
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 17 31
contact@esf-courchevel.com

Village des enfants http://www.esfcourchevel.com
La Croisette
BP 38 – 73120 Courchevel
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 08 47
Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 18 24
ski@esfcourchevel.com 

Les Pitchounets http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com
Maison de Moriond Rue du Marquis
73120 Courchevel 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 26 08
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 03 27

Courchevel Restaurants (a selection)

ALPES HOTEL DU PRALONG – Courchevel 1850   http://www.hotelpralong.com
Alpes Hôtel du Pralong – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 24 82 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 41
reservation@hotelpralong.com 

AZIMUT – Le Praz
Immeuble l’Or Blanc – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 06 25 90 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 06 29 44 

LA CREPERIE DU TREMPLIN – Courchevel 1850 (shown right)http://www.letremplin-courchevel.com
Place du Tremplin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 10 90

CARLINA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotelcarlina.com
Hôtel Carlina – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 00 30 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 04 03
message@hotelcarlina.com

CREPERIE TITINE ET LILOU – Courchevel 1650
Résidence 1650 – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 95 53
titinelilou@wanadoo.fr 

IL VINO D’ENRICO BERNARDO – Courchevel 1850 http://www.ilvinobyenricobernardo.com
La Porte de Courchevel – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 29 62 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 31 91
info@ilvinobyenricobernardo.com 

L’ALAMBIC – Courchevel 1650
Place du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 01 18 93

L’ETERLOU – Courchevel 1650
Rue du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 25 45
jacquesetfrancoise@free.fr 

L’OEIL DE BOEUF – Courchevel 1550
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 22 10 

LA CAVE D’A COTE – Le Praz
Rue de la Chapelle – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 42 90
infos@lespeupliers.com 

LA SIVOLIERE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotel-la-sivoliere.fr
Rue des Chenus – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 08 08 33 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 08 15 73
lasivoliere@sivoliere.fr

LA TABLE DU LANA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.lelana.com
Hôtel Lana Route de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 01 10 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 70
info@lelana.com

LE 1947 – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

LE CAVEAU – Courchevel 1550 http://www.caveaucourchevel.com
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 42 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 08 32
info@caveaucourchevel.com 

Courchevel Bars (a selection)
 
BAR LE JUMP – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hoteldelacroisette.com
Hôtel de la Croisette Place du Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 00 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 35 58
hotel.croisette@wanadoo.fr 

BAR LE WHITE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

HÔTEL COURCHENEIGE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.courcheneige.com
Piste de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 02 59 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 11 79
info@courcheneige.com

BAR DES AIRELLES – Courchevel 1850 http://www.airelles.fr
Hôtel Les Airelles Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 38 38 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 38 39
info@airelles.fr 

LE FUN HOUSE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.funhouse-courchevel.com
Le Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 34 80 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 34 80

Thinks to do in Courchevel off skis

Toboganning
Walking
Ice Skating
Mountain Flying
Bowling
Cinema
Climbing
Torchlit Descent
Gym
Spa
Helicopter flights
Air ballooning
Skidooing
Paragliding

We have written a series of posts about travelling to the Three Valleys, read more about driving to, flying to and getting the train to Courchevel ski resort.

Our next destination was Courchevel 1650 (recommended as the current best skiing in Courchevel by @la_tania) which was reached by firstly going up Verdons lift down the green runs to Biollay chair lift. Skiing down the blue run Pralong to the Pralong lift, then skiing the Alitport and Prameruel runs (both blue) to the Roc Mugnier chair lift. Unfortunately the ski into 1650 was limited to one blue run, Marquis, with snow cannons running to keep it skiable assumably. With countless runs and lifts closed it was having a noticeable effect on the numbers in the restaurants, though ideal if you want to be away from the crowds. @mikejulietbravo recommended Indians but unfortunately it wasn’t open. 1650 was to be the furthest point away from the comforts of Chalet Katie 2 and with time not on our side we decided to head back to Reberty. We were planning to head over to La Tania to go to Ski Lodge (burger and chips for 10euros apparently) as @la_tania had promised us a carafe of wine, but after much deliberating we decided there was no chance of getting over there, savour the wine and get back!

The only lift open in 1650 was Ariondaz where from the top we traversed the pistes to the Gravelles lift, skiing back down to 1850. We searched for Le Kalico recommended by @davidbaird85 but unfortunately couldn’t find it (our lunch was getting later and later by this point!) Hungry, from 1850 we took the verdons lift, had lunch at the restaurant at the cable car station recommended by @mikejulietbravo as reasonable, I’d say expensive elsewhere but probably reasonable in Courchevel! We then made our way to the Suisse chairlift via Biollay lift and Pralong blue run. Suisse chair lift took us back to Saulire where we skied down the icy Marcassin and Aigle red runs into Mottaret. We spent the next 15 minutes on the Platieres lift to the 3 Marches summit from where we skied back to our Ski Famille chalet for a well earned drink.

Though extremely overpriced Courchevel does offer some fantastic skiing and was worth the long ski. Currently the Courchevel has the best snow in the Three Valleys. It took us just over an hour to get into 1850 village from Reberty but we did not have to queue at any of the lifts, so the journey could take considerably longer during the high season. With the temperatures dropping and current lack of snow the pistes are becoming very icy so be careful and lets hope there is a significant snow fall just around the corner.

Richmond holidays claim their meals – three course dinner with wine, Champagne and canapé welcome, breakfast and sumptuous afternoon tea – are an experience in themselves. They also offer daily complimentary ski guiding for all levels, a lunchtime baguette service, and kids groups. There’s grace before meals and an optional Bible talk, but they also have a licensed bar and brilliant evening entertainments.

My first ever ski holiday when I was a child was an organised Church trip and although I don’t claim to be religious I’ve always thought that the prayers got me through that first week on the snow!

For full details of all the packages on offer check out their website…

Consensio Holidays

Ceri Tinley one of the founders of Consensio Holidays (who created the business model), said: “Our business plan has come about because of the down turn on the market and the forced change of relationship with chalet owners. Many chalet owners are tired of operators dictating terms as to how and when they can stay in their multi-million pound assets. This never felt fair to me. With our model, our owners can enjoy the 5 star service Consensio offers and share some of the responsibility for our company’s success.”

When the jungle drums started making noises about Descent’s demise, chalet owners were eager for advice on how to manage future operations. As an ex-FD of Descent, it was to France-based Ceri Tinley that owners turned and her philanthropy has paid off with Consensio coming together in record timing, and just as the ski season is kicking in.

The chalets already featured in Consensio’s portfolio are:

   Luxury ski chalets in Meribel:                        

Meribel: The Golf chairlift will be transformed for 2009/10 into a fast detachable chair linking Meribel-Village to the Altiport in half the previous time. Other ski area improvements include a major re-shaping of the Lievre run. The previously tricky lower part of this blue run leading to la Chaudanne is now wider with an easier gradient, offering less-confident skiers an easier ski back into the resort.

Courchevel: Courchevel will install a new six seater chairlift for the coming season, equipped with the Magnestick system, to modernize the link between Courchevel 1850 and Courchevel 1650. The Magnestick is a back protection system that quite literally sticks children to the chairlift’s magnets! Further construction sees a new tourism office, built next to the lifts in Courchevel  1850, complete with free wireless internet access.

In all of the three valleys in 2009/10 you’ll be able to buy a three hour lift pass, valid for any three hours of the day.

Vallnord: Vallnord Ski Resort in Andorra, formerly Pal-Arinsal and Arcalis, has invested 10 million Euro in the resort this year. Among the most important upgrades are a new declutchable sextuple chair lift in Arinsal and improved snowmaking net in the 3 ski areas: Arcalís, Arinsal and Pal.

Avoriaz: After the thundering opening of the first gigantic environmental snowpark in Europe last winter, Avoriaz is redoubling its efforts and expanding The Stash. The ski resort is in the forest of Lindarêts with pure untrodden snow all around. It has completely natural wood features and you can stumble across hidden runs just by chance. 30 new features have been added to the current park, making a total of 80. They consist of latticed walls, stumps and tree trunks to navigate, tables and wooden benches for snow sliders, rainbow-arch trees, ramps, snow slides and other natural obstacles. Avoriaz has the only Stash in Europe.

Another interesting addition to the slopes at Avoriaz is the introduction of “Target-bins”. They’re being placed underneath chairlifts to catch rubbish dropped by skiers!

If you know of any resort developments do let us know!