Les 3 Vallées' reputation as the world's largest linked ski area has long attracted the rich and famous. Courchevel 1650 (also known as Moriond) is the most modest of the local glitzy resort towns but offers access to the same great skiing as its better-known neighbour Courchevel 1850, and stunning chalet-style hotel Le Portetta has nailed the prime piste-side position, just a stone’s throw from the children’s ski school. Run by the owners of Lime Wood, it caters to couples, friends and families alike, with 38 rooms and 6 penthouse lofts sleeping up to 6.
Interiors throughout have been designed to the highest standard, with large open fireplaces and elegant furnishings – think alpine-chic with a warm, laid-back vibe. Delicious Italian cuisine is served in the restaurant, and there's a top-notch ski hire shop with heated boot room and ski storage. Our skis were ready and waiting for us outside the shop when we arrived, so we wasted no time in hitting the slopes! On our return, we saw in the evening at the lavish spa, the well-equipped gym and the alfresco bar with the sunniest terrace around, where the après atmosphere is unbeatable. If you're looking for first-class quality and convenience, Le Portetta is Courchevel's finest.
Highs
- A ski-in, ski-out hotel, suited to everyone; you're a few steps from great beginner slopes, while experienced skiers can access the higher, more challenging runs of Courchevel 1850, Val Thorens and Méribel
- Courchevel 1650’s predominantly blue and green runs are wider, longer and less crowded than others in Les 3 Vallées – ideal for children
- Accommodation to suit everyone: double rooms, family rooms with bunk beds, and lofts with 2-3 bedrooms
- Flexible meal arrangements, too – all rates include breakfast, and those in the rooms can also go half board. Those in the lofts have kitchens to self-cater the rest of their meals
- The south-facing terrace – the perfect spot to relax around a firepit with some vin chaud
Lows
- The hotel's main focus is skiing, so it's closed April-December
- There’s a strict 7-night minimum stay, with Saturday-Saturday bookings only
- Courchevel 1650's nightlife is rather low-key, and the swish bars of Courchevel 1850 aren't easy to reach in the evenings
- Rooms vary in size, with some on the snug side. It’s worth paying extra for the piste view options, which have balconies (though the valley views are lovely)
Best time to go
The hotel is open from December to late April. Courchevel 1650 is popular throughout the ski season, but New Year and the February school holidays are particularly busy. For good off-piste skiing, early spring usually brings great snow in the Vallée des Avals, though the high altitude makes Les 3 Vallées one of the most snow-sure resorts in France.
Our top tips
Head up to Meribel for lunch at Les Pierres Plates 2738m. The restaurant terrace offers panoramic 360 views of Les 3 Vallées, and serves traditional Savoyard fare: snails, foie gras, fondue and so on. Then ski back down to the hotel's Fire & Ice bar just in time for après - happy hour is 3-6pm!
- Boutique Chalet Hotel
- 38 rooms + 6 lofts
- Restaurant & bar
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Concierge Service
Rooms
There are 38 rooms and 6 penthouse lofts in the main hotel.
The rooms come with piste or valley views; the former are the ones to choose if you can, as they have private balconies, though we liked how natural the valley views were. We stayed in a Piste View Double Room; I loved the calming blue and beige colour scheme, and watching the sunset from our balcony. The oak interiors bring a rustic touch, creating a stylish yet cosy feel. You’ll find wooden beams, Chesterfield chairs with tartan cushions, and Fair-Isle blankets to snuggle under. The beds are large (sometimes at the expense of space, but welcome after a day on the slopes) and dressed in white Egyptian cottons, fluffy duvets and warm faux-fur throws.
Bathrooms come with tubs and/or rain showers, bathrobes and Bamford toiletries, and all rooms have smart TVs, safes and minibars, plus daily turndown service. Family Rooms sleep 4 (plus a baby) in a large bedroom and a separate room with bunk beds.
Spread over the top 2 floors of the hotel, the apartment-like lofts are ideal for larger families and anyone who needs more space. Each has an open-plan living and dining room, a well-equipped kitchen with a Nespresso machine, accommodation for 3-6 in 2-3 bedrooms, and various bathrooms (some ensuite, and some with tubs). Some also come with a log fire, perfect to gather around after a day on the piste.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Central heating
- Cots available
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Satellite TV
- Toiletries
- WiFi
Eating
Menus in the hotel’s rustic-chic Cucina Angelina restaurant change daily and offer 'Italian influenced mountain food'. Breakfast is a hearty buffet of pastries, granola, yoghurt, fresh fruits, and homemade detox juices, along with elevated cooked dishes like green eggs with braised cavolo nero & coconut yoghurt, and porridge with poached prunes, as well as the usual suspects - just the ticket for a day on the slopes.
For lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers an extensive mix of Italian classics and Savoyard specialities from the mind of UK chef Angela Hartnett. Some of our highlights included burrata with orange and roasted fennel, gnocchi with a game ragu, a traditional homemade carbonara and the Monkfish with cream of ceps and tarragon. With antipasti, primi, alla griglia, secondi & dessert all included when you go half-board, you have to pace yourself! Despite our best efforts, we couldn't make it to dessert, but they all sounded superb. A children’s menu is also on offer, but parents who fancy dining à deux can make use of the babysitting service.
For après ski the atmosphere at the alfresco bar, Fire & Ice, on the south-facing terrace can’t be beaten: flaming torches, heated seats, firepits. Happy hour runs from 3-6pm, which is when the crowd is buzziest. The view is beautiful, so grab a vin chaud, cocktail or wood-fired pizza and snuggle under a faux-fur blanket to watch the sun dip behind the mountains.
Breakfast is included in the rates for everyone, and those staying in the rooms can opt for half-board, too. Guests staying in the lofts have their own kitchens so can easily self-cater, and there are plenty of options for eating out nearby.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Kids' meals
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Pick up your heated boots from the ski room and head straight out onto the piste. Les 3 Vallées ski passes cover Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1850, Méribel, Mottaret, Val Thorens and Orelle; family passes are also available. Lifts link the various slopes
- Brush up your ski skills with a group or private lesson at one of the area's top 2 ski schools - ESF and New Generation, both on the doorstep. The hotel is happy to recommend instructors. You can also book a guide to take you off-piste for more challenging runs, or have a go at night skiing
- After a day on the slopes, peel off your layers and ease aching limbs in the hotel’s spa, which has a sauna, a candlelit hammam and a range of treatments
- Chill out by a roaring firepit on the terrace whilst sipping ice shots or wine from the Fire & Ice bar. Happy hour is 3-6pm
- Take a break from skiing and give dog-sledding, tobogganing, ice skating or paragliding a try. Reception can organise various activities in the area
- Grab your camera and board a pleasure flight from Courchevel altiport to get a bird’s eye view of some of the best mountain vistas in Europe
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Ice skating
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Paragliding
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Skiing
- Snowsports
- Trekking
Kids
This is a great option for family ski holidays and children of all ages are very welcome. The accommodation is flexible and well thought-out, the atmosphere is laid-back, and the gentle blue and green runs of Courchevel 1650 (officially designated as a family-friendly resort) are ideal for young kids. There’s also a children’s ski school beside the hotel.
Sadly the hotel’s kids’ club is reserved for guests booking through certain package-tour operators, but the family focus means there are plenty of other kids for your little ones to befriend.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Family Rooms can accommodate 4 (plus a baby) in a double bedroom and a separate bunk room. Bigger families can book the Lofts, which sleep 3-6 in 2 or 3 bedrooms. See Rates for full details of bedroom configurations in the various lofts.
Cots Available, Family Rooms
Babysitting:
The hotel operates a babysitting service - just enquire at reception.
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- High chairs
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
The restaurant has a kids’ menu, and the brasserie serves plenty of child-friendly options, including wood-fired pizzas. The lofts have full kitchens, so you can prepare meals and snacks.
Kids Activities on site:
- Board games and DVDs to borrow
Kids Activities nearby:
- Skiing
- Children’s ski school
- Tobogganing
- Dog-sledding
- Ice skating
- Aquamotion (aqua park)
Distances:
- Airport: 1-2 hours' drive (Chambéry, Annecy, Grenoble or Geneva)
- Shop, including a pharmacy: 2 minutes' walk
- Hospital: 30 minutes' drive (Moutiers)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Le Portetta is situated by the slopes in Courchevel 1650 (also known as Moriond), the most easterly of the towns that make up the vast Trois Vallées ski area. It’s linked by lifts to the better-known Courchevel 1850, as well as Méribel, Mottaret and Val Thorens.
By Air:
The nearest airports are Chambéry (106km away), Annecy (148km away) and Grenoble (172km away), but most guests arrive via Geneva in Switzerland, which is served by a wider range of flights.
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers, or you can hire a car (see below).
By Car:
You won’t need a car here as you can ski straight from the hotel, but if you want to hire one then click here to see our recommendations. Secure parking is available for a daily charge.
By Train:
The Eurostar Snow Train service runs from London St Pancras to Moûtiers, via Lille, which is 35 minutes from Courchevel 1650. The hotel can arrange transfers from there. Note that this service only operates between December and February.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to France and getting around
Airports:
- Geneva 184.0 km GVA
- Chambéry-Savoie 106.0 km CMF
Other:
- Beach 190.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km