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Brides Les Bain France

Resort Height:1450m

Located beneath Meribel in the world's largest ski area, the Three Valleys, Brides-les-Bains is a spa town that provides a different type of winter holiday from the conventional stay on the mountain. The town was linked to Meribel by a high speed (but still 25 minutes), three stage gondola ahead of the 1992 Winter Olympics staged in the area, when it operated as the athlete's village.

The ski run back down is suitable to advanced skiers only and reliant on good snow cover right down to 600m for the full descent. Usually it is a case of taking the gondola up the mountain at the start of the day and returning by gondola at the end of the ski day.

The main benefits of staying in Brides les Bains include shorter airport transfers, typically lower prices for everything from accommodation to dining out in the valley compared to on the mountain, the chance to stay in a town that has a history pre-dating skiing and a indeed a life outside winter sports, with the spa culture still alive and well and a casino one of the alternatives.

Many of the old hotels retain their original facades from the Belle Epoque era and also offer far more space and better facilities as they are open year round, catering for up to 15.000 long stay guests in the summer spa season.

Beginners

Probably not a natural first choice for beginners, given the inconvenience of needing to take a gondola ride each morning to reach the nursery slopes and then the high costs of lift tickets and tuition once you're there, none the less the quality of the experience is normally good once you reach Meribel's beginner runs.

There are plenty of beginner trails right next to the resort and the huge ski school has a special international section with English speaking teachers who will teach you on the gentle slopes of La Chaudanne.

Intermediates

Intermediates will have the most to gain from a stay in the region where the mind-boggling choice of more than 250 blue and red trails awaits you. Recommended runs from regular visitors include the five kilometre (three mile) long red down the Combe de Vallion.

If you are thinking of venturing off piste both the ski school and the mountain guides office will be happy to guide you and teach you technique. If required, the Ski Set shop at the gondola base station has changing rooms and boot drying facilities.

A long off-piste route graded red continues down from Meribel to Brides les Bains if snow cover is adequate (which is normally anything between a few days and a few weeks each winter). The route starts at 2650 at Sauliere and continues down over 2000 vertical metres, making it one of the world’s longest lift served vertical descents when it's possible. It can be possible to ski some of the way down to one of the stop points on the gondola route for a longer period and take the gondola for the final stage or two.

Advanced

There's a huge choice in the world's biggest ski area for advanced skiers, with some 34 black runs including the women's Olympic down hill and the infamous 'Les Bosses' piste. If you prefer to head off piste the Mountain Guides Office will take you to powder fields and steep slopes as well as up to the glacier. Ski touring is also available to Chamonix or Zermatt.

Staying in Brides les Bains also means you are closer to other major ski resorts nearby if you fancy a change for the day. Champagny, the gateway to the Paradiski resorts of La Plagne and Les Arcs is only 17km (eleven miles) away, Val d'Isere is 45km (28 miles) and all are included on a six-day or longer area ticket, although travel to the resort is not.

Snowboarding

The Three Valleys are an excellent destination for snowboarders with almost limitless terrain accessed by easy to ride gondolas. At Meribel, the resort's Moonpark is a top notch terrain park which had a new beginners section added during the 2007-08 season incorporating mini-tables, mini-box, mini-whoops and a mini boardercross just 200 metres long with a 50 metres vertical.

The established park is designed for intermediate and advanced freestylers' use and extends for 700m over a 200m vertical. The park has its own team of pro riders. There is a second terrain park at Mottaret, the Plattieres snowpark.

Other Activities and Facilities

A major attraction at Brides Les Bains is the resort's Spa, containing both therapeutic and leisure facilities. Medical professionals can design weight loss and fitness programs for you, often involving a pleasurable dip in the 36ºC thermal pool, a hydro massage and a visit to the mud bath. Or you can do these things anyway just to enjoy it. Brides les Bains also has a casino with 35 slot machines, classic table games and theme nights. There's also a cinema and library in the resort.

If you stay up in Meribel for the evening or instead of skiing there's the Olympic Centre at La Chaudanne which has numerous sports facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool with flumes, an ice rink and a climbing wall. Figure skating lessons are available at the ice rink. There are also cinemas, a bowling centre which also has a video games arcade and a museum.

Activities on offer up on the mountain include snowshoeing, 25km of cleared walking paths, a snowmobile school (mini snow mobile circuit for children), paragliding, a flying school based at the local altiport where you can take a scenic tourist flight or even have flying lessons. There are also more than 80 shops in the resort to explore. More shopping opportunities are located close to Brides les Bains at larger Moutiers (six kilometers/four miles away) and at Albertville (30km/19 miles).

Après Ski and Dining Out

The tourist office lays on a welcome drink every Sunday in the village square with free mulled wine so that you can discover the different activities available. During the week the Equilibre club organises three après ski activities a week, free of charge. There are half a dozen bars and restaurants in the village as well as two night clubs.

If you stay up in Meribel, one of the liveliest French resorts with a strong English accent, après skiing starts as the lifts close at the Rond Point and continue, in the 50 or so bars, which include some of the most famous in the Alps, such as Dick's T Bar night club. There are about 80 restaurants to choose from. Be wary however that the last gondolas usually depart around 5.30pm so you may need a taxi back if you miss that.

Families

For nursery care you can decide whether to use facilities in Brides Les Bains or take your children up on the gondola with you and use the facilities in Meribel. "Le Jardin de Blanche Neige" (Snow White's Garden) in The Cybelle Residence offers a daily non-ski activity programme for three to ten year old children between 8.30am and 6.30pm, full or half days.

At Meribel the 'Kids Etcetera' non-ski nursery accepts children aged from three months to seven years with English qualified nannies. Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Private nannies can also be hired for your children only. The French ski school runs non-ski daycare for children from 18 months to three years. They then offer the Piou Piou ski kindergarten in a lovely snow playground with special children's ski school classes from ages five to 12. The tourist office can also provide a list of baby sitters and child minders.

If you are a family of four or more staying for a week or longer you can get up to 25% off the total ticket cost by purchasing a 'Family Pass.'

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[No]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[5]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[4]

Piste Map for Brides les bains

Accommodation in Brides les bains

• Amelie - 3 star,
• Amelie - 3 star, half board
• Cybele Apartments - 2 star, half board
• Cybele Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Grand Hotel Thermes - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Athena - 2 star, half board
• La Vanoise - 2 star, half board
• Le Grand Chalet - 3 star, self catering

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