Brides Les Bains

Brides-les-Bains promotes itself as a ski resort of women, where the feminine side of nature is in its glory. This does not mean that men are not welcome, but the resort has a softer appeal and is a good family ski vacation spot. A hundred year old spa town and part of Trois Villages ski area, the largest ski area in the world, Brides-les-Bains is peaceful and friendly place which is entirely accessible on skis. It is also well known as a Slimming Village offering therapeutic treatments and focusing on health food. It was the Olympic Village in the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Located at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, this traditional alpine resort nestles in the valley below Meribel. You can take a 20 minute gondola ride to the center of Meribel and access the Three Valleys Ski Area, the largest ski area in the world. Six hundred kilometers of trails are available to you and endless off-piste skiing too.

Brides-les-Bains retains its small town ambience, offering excellent value-for-money accommodation, as opposed to its fancier neighbors further up the mountain, Courchevel and Val Thorens. There is a casino, a couple of discos, several bars and some good restaurants in the town but the nightlife is not as hectic as at other resorts. A specialist spa offers many treatments that are most welcome after a full day of skiing.

The variety of runs on offer ensures superb skiing for all levels. There are special beginners’ areas with almost fifty gentle runs. Intermediates can ski endlessly on the long blue and red runs and experts will find some challenging off-piste, steeps and moguls. Boarders have an exciting board park here with several jumps, a table top and a half pipe. The Moon Park freestyle area, the Petit Moon for the kids and the Snow park des Plattières le Raffort, les Allues are other popular attractions. Two slopes lengthen the ski descent and bring you down to Brides-les-Bains.