Ski Holidays in Brides Les Bains
Incredibly charming, Brides Les Bains is a fantastic, budget ski holiday option and is perfect for families and romantic couples looking for a calm ski getaway. Forming part of the iconic Three Valleys ski area, Brides-Les-Bains has fantastic connections to all three main resorts via the Olympe gondola, with Méribel, in particular, a mere 25 minutes away. The hotel and chalet accommodation prices here have always been significantly less high than you would find in other resorts in the region, thus making it a great choice to consider for your next visit to the French Alps.
It is a fantastic ski resort to visit on a budget, thanks not only to its connections to the larger resorts in the area and low prices but more so for its access to 600 km of pistes across the Three Valleys ski area.
Although primarily known as a thermal spa destination, Brides-les-Bains offers essential amenities for winter sports enthusiasts. Host of the Albertville Olympics in 1992, Brides-Les-Bains has always been renowned for its excellent ski area. With easy access to the Three Valleys' 600km of pistes, the area offers fantastic skiing opportunities with extensive terrain on its doorstep.
Although primarily known as a thermal spa destination, Brides-les-Bains offers essential amenities for winter sports enthusiasts. Host of the Albertville Olympics in 1992, Brides-Les-Bains has always been renowned for its excellent ski area. With easy access to the Three Valleys' 600km of pistes, the area offers fantastic skiing opportunities with extensive terrain on its doorstep.
Brides-Les-Bains also has some of the best snow conditions and reliability in France, in particular, the slopes at the top of Belleville valley in Val Thorens as well as the slopes above Méribel and Les Menuires. The ski area here is better suited to intermediates and advanced skiers with beginners having very few options. A mellow village, Brides-Les-Bains is not an ideal apres ski destination so perhaps, you will be better off opting for one of the larger resorts in the area; however, if you like a nice quiet evening with a few drinks, delicious meals and even a bit of poker and blackjack in one of its casinos, then Brides-Les-Bains is the just the resort for you.
The resort sits at a modest 600m and is the lowest sitting village in the Three Valleys ski area but its slopes go up to 2,950m altitude. The majority of the slopes here are north-facing and predominantly made up of easy to intermediate ski runs. The ski area is serviced by a network of up to 198 ski lifts in total.
With access to up to 600 kilometres of pistes in the wider Three Valleys ski area, the options for all ability levels are endless.
Beginners should take the gondola to Méribel to access its numerous blues as well as the nursery slopes. For those who would prefer to stay at the resort and explore the local options, there are a few gentle, tree-lined blues by the Altiport and Rond Point des Pistes.
Intermediate skiers will rejoice in the vast amount of long red runs. The Pic Noir descends through the trees from the Col de la Loze, or try the excellent 5km red run down the Combe du Vallon.
The Combe Saulire above Courchevel at 2,740 metres offers some of the best intermediate runs if you catch it early in the morning on a clear day. Check out the 5km Combe du Vallon for a speedy run.
The Grand Couloir above Courchevel and the Couloir Tournier above Méribel rank among some of France's toughest non-pisted black runs.
Check out steep reds coming down Mt Vallon above Méribel Mottaret for a good dose of adrenalin. We will always strongly recommend you take a local experienced guide when going off-piste.
Freeriders should take the gondola to Méribel for any chance of getting some proper carving. The terrain here suits all ski abilities, with great snow conditions to keep everyone happy.
The area is vast and there's a lot to explore. You might fancy the long Saulire red from above Courchevel and running down to Méribel Mottaret. Adventurous advanced skiers might be tempted to head up Mt Vallon in search of fresh powder.
Beginners should head to the Altiport for the easy tree lined blues for some gentle rides and confidence building.
Freestylers have multiple fun parks to choose from at Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens all suited to various ski ability types.
The Three Valleys has more than 85% of its slopes sitting above 1,800 metres. The conditions here are always excellent throughout the season. The area also has excellent snowmaking facilities that cover up to 75% of the slopes should there be any shortages.
Brides-Les-Bains is a much quieter resort than its larger, more popular neighbours in the Three Valleys. It is certainly not the resort for party animals as the bars here are cosier and laid back in general. Evening drinks in Brides-Les-Bains are calmer and consist mainly of low key evening drinks and restaurant meals. Most bars are also found in hotels; some of which do get a bit busy but your best bet for a wild party ( if you are after one ) is heading to Méribel for the evening and catching a gondola back to the resort. There are also free buses twice on Tuesday nights to Méribel; one early evening and the other close to midnight so keep your eye out for these. Nevertheless, we have identified a few bars you can visit at Bride-Les-Bains for some evening apres-ski.
The Terrace at The Hermitage
The Terrace is located in the Hotel L'Hermitage in Bride-Les-Bains. It has a rustic cosy bar where you can enjoy some after-ski drinks and traditional homemade dishes such as oysters, Foie Gras and Savoyard Burgers which are a well-known favourite. It has a welcoming atmosphere and hosts most of the skiers who lodge there and come down for an evening drink and meal.
Hotel Verseau
Hotel Verseau has a nice bar with a vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy an evening post-ski drink after a long day on the slopes next to a crackling fire or underneath the parasol heater. If you fancy a bit of extra excitement or if you are feeling lucky, try your hand in the hotel's casino. The Hotel Verseau often has live entertainment events such as comedy shows and live bands so do check for updates on the scheduled events happening when you’re at the resort.
Le Rond Point and La Folie Douce ( Méribel)
If you want to get a taste of the traditional apres ski party scene and soak up the atmosphere, take the gondola down the mountain to Méribel some partying on the slopes, take the gondola to Méribel head up the slopes ( preferably between 3 pm and 4 pm) to experience the magic of the worlds biggest party on the slopes, La Folie Douce; it is worth the trip if you can make it down as La Folie Douce parties have gained legendary status over the years in the Alps. They feature some world-renowned musical acts, fancy themed events, extravagant dancers, foam parties and more. Le Rond Point is another option for a fantastic terrace party, located high up on the mountain at Méribel. It also has garnered a reputation for throwing some of the biggest parties in the Three Valleys. It features internationally known music artists and DJ’s across a variety of music genres. Both parties present the perfect opportunity for holidaymakers to soak up an authentic apres ski atmosphere.
The facilities in Brides Les Bains are great and more than sufficient to cater to all visiting ski holidaymakers. The resort is well equipped with a fantastic network of ski lifts, pistes bashers to keep the pistes groomed and world-class snowmaking facilities. The resort also benefits from fantastic ski accommodation, quality hotels, spas and restaurants. We have listed a few more interesting facilities and services below.
Brides-Les-Bains is traditionally a quieter and calmer resort than its neighbouring counterparts and could be a shrewd, cheaper option to stay at especially if you are visiting with the kids.
