The Trois Vallées’ reputation as the world's largest linked ski area has long attracted the rich and famous, but beyond the glitz and glamour it's also home to a surprisingly affordable option – Courchevel 1650 (also known as Moriond), the least flashy of the local resort towns. It 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 and The Pig, 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. Modern Italian cuisine is served in the restaurant, and the top-notch ski room and shop have equipment covered – staff will even warm your boots for you! Throw in a lavish spa, a well-equipped gym and an alfresco bar with the sunniest terrace around, and you have all the style and panache you’d expect from the Trois Vallées, without the hefty price tag. We have yet to visit, but we know we’re in for a treat when we do.
Highs
- A ski-in, ski-out hotel – you can head straight onto virgin snow
- Courchevel 1650’s predominantly blue and green runs are wider, longer and less crowded than others in the Trois Vallées – ideal for beginners and children
- Accommodation to suit everyone: double rooms, family rooms with bunk beds, and lofts with 2-6 bedrooms
- Flexible meal arrangements, too – rates for hotel rooms include breakfast and dinner, guests in the lofts and lodges can self-cater some meals, and the lodges have visiting chefs
- 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, but the swish bars of Courchevel 1850 are only 10 minutes away by lift
- The nearest slopes may be too gentle for some, but you can ski off-piste and passes also cover the higher, more challenging runs of Courchevel 1850, Val Thorens and Méribel
- Rooms vary in size, with some on the snug side. It’s worth paying extra for the piste-view options, which have balconies
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.
Our top tips
Don’t forget to bring snow chains if driving to Le Portetta. You may be stopped by the authorities if you travel without them.
- 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. 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 complimentary toiletries, and all rooms have flat-screen TVs, daily newspaper delivery, safes and minibars. Family Rooms sleep 4-5 in a large bedroom, a sitting area with a sofabed 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 with a log fire, a well-equipped kitchen with a Nespresso machine, accommodation for 3-6 in 2-3 bedrooms plus sofabeds, and various bathrooms (some ensuite, and some with tubs).
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- 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 and fresh fruits, along with cooked dishes such as scrambled or poached eggs, sausages, bacon, smoked salmon and omelettes - just the ticket for a day on the slopes.
For lunch and dinner, the extensive menu of Italian classics and Savoyard specialities might include risotto Milanese, bruschetta with mushroom garlic and mascarpone, beef ragout or whole roast chicken from the grill, followed by tiramisu, pannacotta and chocolate and almond torte. 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. The view is beautiful, so grab a vin chaud or a shot of Kahlua and Grey Goose vodka, and snuggle under a faux-fur blanket to watch the sun dip behind the mountains.
Rates for hotel rooms include breakfast and dinner (you can upgrade to full board on request), while guests in the lofts can choose between B&B, half-board and full-board options. The lofts have full kitchens if you fancy self-catering some meals, and there are plenty of options for eating out nearby.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Pick up your heated boots from the ski room and head straight out onto the pistes. Trois Vallées ski passes cover Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1850, Méribel, Mottaret and Val Thorens; 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
- 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 4-6pm
- 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
- Kayaking
- Shopping / markets
- Skiing
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, Extra Beds 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. The lodges are set directly on one of the pistes, Belvedere, just above town.
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, and the lodges have allocated parking spaces as well as a private chauffeur service.
By Train:
Eurostar runs direct ski-train services from London St Pancras to Moûtiers, which is 35 minutes from Courchevel 1650. The hotel can arrange transfers from there.
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