Courchevel Resort Information

Resort Information

Here is collection of general resort knowledge compiled from years of responding to email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, your feedback, plus translations of French brochures. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to the resort. Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!

Courchevel Resort Information - Select a subject:

About Courchevel
	Are there any non-smoking bars and restaurants in resort?
	Are there any ski lockers in resort?
	How do I get around the resort?
	I have never been to Courchevel before, what's it like ?
	Is there a local market?
	What type of restaurants does Courchevel have?
	When do the shops open?
	When is the best time of year to come?
	Where can I change money?
	Where can I pick up my emails ?
Activities & Skiing
	Can I do my own maintenance or should I take my equipment to a shop?
	Do the ski schools speak English?
	Have recently bought my first snowboard, should I be doing anything to the board (i.e. waxing or the like) before taking it out on the slopes?
	How can I avoid having my skis/board stolen?
	How do I go about buying the right equipment?
	How often should I have my skis and/or snowboard serviced?
	I don�t ski/snowboard - what is there for me to do?
	Should I get ski & travel insurance?
	Should I have lessons?
	Should I hire or buy equipment?
	Should I wait until I get to resort to purchase a new pair of skis or snowboard?
	What are the 10 Rules of Ski Safety?
	What is telemark skiing?
	What should I do if my skis get stolen?
	What�s the difference between Telemark, Alpine Touring and Regular Alpine skis?
	Which ski school should I use?
Avalanche Awareness
	Are avalanches an 'act of God'?
	Can I get out of the way of an avalanche?
	Can screaming and yelling start an avalanche?
	How can I begin to evaluate if the snow is stable or if it can fail?
	How do I judge if a slope is 'dangerous'?
	How long can you live under the snow?
	I ski on the piste most of the time, why should I be bothered about avalanche risk?
	Is the slope safe after an avalanche has gone?
	Isn't it most dangerous in springtime when there are more avalanches?
	Once I'm out there, how can I reduce the odds of getting caught in an avalanche?
	What causes slab avalanches to fracture?
	What kind of avalanche is most dangerous?
	What kind of weather produces avalanches?
	What should I do if I'm caught in an avalanche?
Children
	Are there any free activities, or discounts for children?
	At what age should my child start skiing?
	Can you suggest some suitable summer activities for children?
	Do the ski schools have English speaking instructors?
	Should I take a baby or toddler on a ski holiday?
	What are the cr�che / babysitting / child-minding services available in Courchevel?
	When are the French School Holidays this year?
Driving
	Do I need a car in the resort?
	Do I need to carry chains in the car (often a paying optional extra in car-hire)?
	How long does it take to drive to Courchevel from the UK?
	What else should I know about driving in France?
	Where can I park in Courchevel?
Employment
	Do I need a work permit?
	How can I get a job in Courchevel?
	What sort of jobs are available?
Health
	Can I drink the water?
	Can I get sunburnt in winter?
	How can I reduce the risks of injury?
	What are the commonest injuries?
	What exercises should I do before my holiday?
	What is an E111 form and do I need one?
	Will I suffer from altitude sickness?
Lift System & Passes
	Are the lifts open in summer?
	Are there any free lifts in Courchevel?
	How can I get lift opening information before I decide to get out of bed? And what is the weather forecast anyway?
	How much does a lift pass cost?
	What date do the lifts open (and close)?
	What do the different abbreviations for lift types mean on the piste map?
	What time do the lifts open?
	Where can I get a copy of the piste map?
	Which lift pass should I buy?
Ski Area
	Can I cross country ski in Courchevel?
	Can I picnic at mountain restaurants?
	Can you suggest some itineraries to follow?
	I prefer to ski blue runs but I'd like to explore the whole of the 3 Valleys - is it possible?
	What do the different colours on the piste map mean?
	What is Courchevel like for beginners?
	What is the Three Valley ski area like?
	What's the snowboarding like in Courchevel?
	Where are the good mountain restaurants?
	Where are the quietest areas?
	Where can I get a copy of the piste map?
	Where is the best off-piste?
	Which are the best runs?
Travel & Transport
	Can I get to Courchevel by train from the UK?
	How do I find the best flight deals?
	How do I get from the airport to Courchevel?
	How do I get to other resorts from Courchevel?
	How do you go about arranging a 'DIY' holiday?
	How long does it take to drive to Courchevel from the UK?
	How should I pack my skis and/or snowboard?
	Planes, trains or automobiles - which method is easiet to reach Courchevel?
	Saturday or Sunday travel?
	Where can I book flights from the UK?
	Where is the nearest station?
	Which is the nearest airport?