Courchevel 1850
At the end of January I spent four nights in Courchevel 1850. You know how there are those who ski, and those that don’t? Well I am one of those that shouldn’t. Fortunately this is something that I learnt in my teens and as a result, the slopes are safer for it. This being the case I wondered what one of the world’s best ski resorts could offer someone like me.
What I found were spas galore; pools with views, pools without; saunas, steam rooms, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis; wonderful cosy lounges with roaring fires, with and without views – perfect for reading the latest blockbuster novel; designer shops; numerous bars and restaurants; even non skiers can enjoy lunch on the slopes if collected by a kind person on a snowmobile.
Whilst there I visited every five star hotel and stayed at two, more on those later
What surprised me is that the interpretation of “5 star” can vary hugely, which is where the knowledge of your travel consultant plays a huge part. When booking a hotel one might imagine that all you have to say is that you want 5 star and ski in ski out, but …the facilities and amenities; room sizes and furnishings; styles, vibe and levels of service vary greatly. Most interestingly is that some properties simply cannot see that they lag far behind some of their competitors. Dated décor, creased bed linen, walls that desperately need repainting, dirty carpets and as for one of the kids clubs that I saw.. Well, maybe best not to say, but you can be sure I won’t be sending any of my clients there!
Sunday was my last day in Courchevel and I spent the morning with some travel colleagues at Courchevel Aventure, what a blast! Despite not being properly attired, I had great fun trying out the various forms of “transport” for getting down the slopes, there were sledges, luges, inflatable body boards, one involved standing on two boards – one with handlebars – now that was fun!
My favourite was The Snake, where everyone sits in trays hooked together, the person at the front (second tray in) is "the airbag", the second is "the driver", the rest are just along for the ride.
Sunday was my last day in Courchevel and I spent the morning with some travel colleagues at Courchevel Aventure, what a blast! Despite not being properly attired, I had great fun trying out the various forms of “transport” for getting down the slopes, there were sledges, luges, inflatable body boards, one involved standing on two boards – one with handlebars – now that was fun!
My favourite was The Snake, where everyone sits in trays hooked together, the person at the front (second tray in) is "the airbag", the second is "the driver", the rest are just along for the ride.
Since everyone falls off at some point, my lack of grace and elegance on the slopes went unnoticed and I loved it! In fact at one point I raced back to the beginning “Can we do that again, can we, please” …. Sometimes it is good to let go of one's fears and just embrace the fun.
