Courchevel 1850 is a luxury ski destination with a very loyal following; extremely popular and highly favoured by the rich and famous.  Some consider Courchevel as Europe’s premier ski resort.  Indeed, the skiing is outstanding and encompasses the vast Trois Vallees ski area which altogether boasts 600kms of marked piste, 200 lifts and 1300 snow cannons.  The resort holds an excellent snow record and the season stretches from early December to the end of April.  The variety of skiing in the Courchevel valley is astounding; 27 green runs and 44 blue runs offer plenty of entertainment for beginners and fresh intermediates.  The more experienced skiers have 38 red runs and 10 blacks to challenge and hone their techniques.

It may not be the most attractive of alpine ski resorts yet it does project an affluent and sophisticated air.  The cosmopolitan atmosphere is appealing and the resort caters tremendously to the calling with a great selection of luxurious chalets and up market hotels in Jardin Alpin.  A covered mall houses some of the top designer brands and exclusive boutiques.  Even the mountain restaurants excel above other resorts with some restaurants requiring reservations to avoid disappointment.  The Cap Horn, Chalet de Pierres and The Bergerie are particular favourites at lunchtime.  In the evening, the 2*Michelin restaurants Chabichou and Bateau Ivre serve the expected exemplary dishes.  There is no shortage of stylish bars and clubs to quench your thirst with a little après ski.  Hotel bars such as Stanley’s serve cocktails, Les Bar des Airelles is a piano bar with ambience and of course nightclubs such as La Grange and Les Caves ensue with dancing until the early hours.

Transfers to Courchevel vary between 2 and 3 hours depending on your choice of airport.  However, this fabulous resort, where anything is possible, even has its very own Altiport enabling small private planes or helicopters to get you here that bit quicker.