What on earth is a satellite resort? Is it even on earth? Could it be a far flung ski resort that rotates around our planet clinging to our gravitational pull, with Richard Branson striving to sell ski holidays through Virgin Galactic?
Unfortunately it’s not quite as glamorous as this. Satellite resort is the term we use to describe a smaller resort or village that is connected to a larger, better known resort or ski area.
There can be some real benefits to opting for the lesser known resort in a ski area. The number one is often price. You’ll usually find a lot of really good deals in these resorts to tempt you away from the bigger name destinations. But don’t think that you’re just sacrificing quality for price, as you’ll often find these resorts are far more quaint and traditional, offering great character with a personable atmosphere. Also in a lot of cases they are actually ideally situated in the middle of the entire ski area meaning you have better access to explore the endless km of piste on offer, making it a great choice for the eager 9 to 5 skier.
To help you choose your perfect satellite resort we have highlighted our favourite 5 resorts in France and why we think they are a great option.
Brides Les Bains
Ski Area – Three Valleys
Km of Piste – 600
Brides Les Bains without a doubt offers the best value across the Three Valleys ski area, with some high season weeks offering like for like accommodation at up to £500 per person cheaper. A picturesque town offering a wide range of bars and restaurants, Brides has become ever more popular over the past few years for customers who want a more affordable way of exploring the huge 600km of piste on offer. Connected to Meribel by the Olympe gondola this lift will take you to the heart of the skiing in just 20 minutes, meaning that you’ll be in the heart of the action in time for the first lifts in Meribel.
The town itself has a really good atmosphere and for those that don’t want to ski all day, there is the traditional Thermal Spa offering a perfect place to relax and unwind. There is also a wide range of treatments available making it a perfect place to get some much needed pampering. Continuing on the theme of keeping things relaxed, Brides Les Bains also offers the shortest transfer in the entire area with transfers from Chambery taking around 1 hour. Or if you take the Eurostar to Moutiers you could get to your accommodation’s door step in just 10 minutes.
Les Coches
Ski Area – Paradiski
Km of Piste – 425
Les Coches is a charming village that is part of the large resort of La Plagne. La Plagne itself consists of 11 different villages each with its own personality and character. So what makes Les Coches standout amongst this vast array on offer?
Well this is one of the more traditional villages, offering classic Savoyarde food often cooked fresh in resort. The accommodation is mainly affordable and self catering,allowing you to enjoy the very French local restaurants. There are also several supermarkets in resort to keep you well fed and your energy levels up for some long days of skiing.
And this brings us on to the biggest selling point of Les Coches – location. 10 years ago, the resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne combined to build the impressive Vanoise Express, a 200 person double-decker cable car connecting the two resorts across a 2km valley. It travels at a height of 380m, the same as the Empire State Building – or the size of St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and the London Eye all stacked on top of each other. To ski to the Vanoise Express from La Plagne can take between 1 – 1 ½ hours depending on your ability and where you are staying. However Les Coches is situated a stone’s throw from the lift and therefore makes it a perfect base for those who want to explore the entire 425km of piste available as well as beat the crowds as they make their way over to the lift.
Montgenèvre
Ski Area – Milkyway
Km of Piste – 400
Nestled away in the Southern corner of the French Alps, Montgenèvre is often overlooked when you think of the great French ski resorts. One of the reasons for this may be that most of the ski area isn’t actually in France but is in neighbouring Italy, with the resort itself less than 2km from the Italian border. Montgenèvre is part of the Milkyway ski area which consists of the Italian resorts of Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario and Claviere, and was the home to many of the events at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. If all of this skiing is not enough then your 6 day ski pass also includes a day in the French resort of Serre Chevalier which is just 20 minutes away and offers another 250km of piste.
The town itself is split into 2 different parts. In the old town you have a picturesque high street as well as a good selection of bars and restaurants - all with a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. Over the past couple of years there have been new building projects around Montgenèvre and a new part of town has sprung up offering some high end luxury hotels and apartments. This newer part is still within walking distance of the older part of town or you can use the resort buses. Wherever you stay in Montgenèvre you will find that the piste is never too far away.
Les Menuires
Ski Area – Three Valleys
Km of Piste – 600
Located just below Val Thorens, Les Menuires was largely built in the 1960s and is often criticised for its visual aesthetics. However, whatever it lacks in architectural design, it more than makes up for in other ways. Les Menuires is quite a large resort split into different areas – but wherever you’re staying, you’re never far from the slopes, shops, restaurants and bars. Being quite large, you’ll also find a massive selection of accommodation in Les Menuires and in recent years more and more luxury accommodation is now to be found here, as space in Val Thorens becomes increasingly limited.
As with Brides Les Bains, you’ve got access to the same 600km of piste, however the upside to Les Menuires is that you will start your day right in the action. It’s also the second highest resort in the area, meaning that snow conditions are usually excellent. And if you’re skiing towards the beginning or end of the season you will have great access to the Glacier de Péclet, giving you some of the best skiing in France.
Châtel
Ski Area – Ports du Soleil
Km of Piste – 650
If you want a ski holiday in a traditional French village but still have access to one of the largest ski areas in the world, then it would be hard to find a better fit than Châtel. With several farms still continuing to run in the resort you will find plenty of fresh, locally produced goods that will leave tastes long in the memory. The village itself is picture perfect with lots of pretty wooden chalets creating that beautiful alpine setting.
But the charm and character is only part of the lure of Châtel. From here you can explore 650km of piste and 12 different resorts (8 in France and 4 in Switzerland). You can get that real sense that you have been exploring each day, as you try to tick them all off over the week.
So have we persuaded you to try somewhere away from the big resorts? Let us know your thoughts on satellite resorts in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter.
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