Road Map and Travel Directions to Courchevel 1850....
This road map shows the main roads heading into the resort from Moutiers. The arrows indicate the "one way traffic system" in Courchevel 1850.
Le Chamois is the building located above the R of Rue Park City and is approached by turning left after Le Forum.
Le Sapins is on the other side of the resort and is the building in front of you as you turn right out of Rue de L'Eglise.
The car parks are indicated with a "P" and the main one is below La Croisette.
Getting there by road....
(see also the tips/suggestions below)
Courchevel, France is in the Three (Trois) Valleys, Tarentaise Alps and is easily accessed from the ferry ports on auto-routes (toll roads) to Albertville and then dual-carriageway to Moutiers.
Moutiers is the main town at the "foot" of the mountain range and it is only the final 15 miles from Moutiers to Courchevel that is not a dual or treble carriageway.
If you decide to cross the channel by the "Euro Tunnel" rather than ferry you will see that the following instructions from the Port of Calais will soon apply (once you are on French soil).
From Calais..(approx.600 miles) take the dual-carriageway (direct from the port) A26 and follow the signs to Reims and Dijon although your main route is always to Lyon (you take your first Peage ticket (toll) after approx. 35 miles). Signs also say "Paris" but do not leave the A26 when the Paris exits arrive ( A1, A2 etc).
After Reims you still are still heading for Lyon but it is also the route to Troys. After Troys the road forks and you go onto the A5 to Dijon and Lyon.
However before Dijon the A5 becomes the A31 to Lyon/Dijon but you must keep heading for Lyon. After Dijon (heading for Lyon) you will see that before Macon the auto route is merged with the A6 from Paris.
After the Lyon peage (northern outskirts) you are heading towards Grenoble/Chambery on the A46 Lyon ringroad but it is Chambery, Albertville and then Moutiers that you are heading for.
From next Lyon peage (southern outskirts) you head out on the A43/A48 to Chambery and Grenoble but staying on the Chambery A43 section when the A48 branches off to Grenoble. After Chambery the auto-route continues to Albertville where it is replaced with a "non-toll" dual-carriageway to Moutiers.
As you climb out of Moutiers and after a large super market (Super U) 2 miles out, you should watch for a confusing split in the road for the resorts of either Meribel, Val Thorens or Courchevel. Courchevel is the centre lane and thereafter you twist (slowly) up the mountain to the resort.
From Le Havre....(approx.550 miles) take the A131 heading to Rouen and Paris by going over the Le Tancarville Bridge. Do not go into Rouen but stay on the auto-route when it changes to the A13 for Paris.
To save heading onto the Paris "peripherique", a split in the road, about 20 miles from Paris, can allow you to branch south for Versailles and Lyon (also signed as Paris; Porte De St Cloude.) You will need to concentrate on this section as it skirts to the side of Paris, but it is well sign-posted to Lyon as it by-passes Versaille.
Once south of Paris and Versailles the auto-route becomes the A6 which will take you to Lyon. Proceed from Lyon on the A43 to Chambery/Grenoble and follow directions detailed above, as if en-route from Calais.
Tips/suggestions ....1) The auto-routes are toll roads and you will have pay approx. £39 each way. Pay by credit card as the process is quick and you get a receipt without asking. You can if you wish use the faster "credit card only" lines but this means trusting the machine to work, and that it gives you your card back!
2) Do not rely on one credit card as some machines (generally Le Havre side of Paris) may reject your card.
3) All the auto-route road signs are recognised on a "BLUE" sign. However if you are on a non toll ring-road section, around a large town, the road sign could be BLACK. If you intend using the faster auto-routes AVOID the signs for the correct town but on a green sign with par RN preceeding the town name.
4) Snow chains are essential in bad weather when climbing the final mountain roads into the resort. The local police patrol the roads when the weather turns bad in order to ensure there are no breakdowns/road blockages from slipping tyres. Take chains to be safe ( motorway service areas en-route stock most sizes and they may be cheaper than the UK.)
5) Spare light bulbs, warning triangle, tow rope, torch, heavy duty gloves and even a shovel can be of use in a breakdown .
6) Park facing downhill in the resort (in a non tow-away area) in case your battery goes flat during a week of low temperatures.
7) Lift wiper blades to avoid them freezing to your screen.
8) Make sure your car is fully serviced before setting off and the battery, fan belt, antifreeze and windscreen washer solution are all topped up.
9) Do not rely only on the instructions above, have an up to date road atlas with you (sold on the ferry and in French service areas.) The AA and RAC supply detailed on-line routes to ski destinations across Europe.
10) If you plan an overnight stop consider booking beforehand (see useful links) as the cheaper "travel" hotels near the auto- routes can get booked up well in advance at busy times.
Getting there by plane....
(also see useful links.)
Travel by plane for one or two people can sometimes prove cheaper and quicker but you will lose the freedom and flexibility of a car. The amount of luggage (including linen) is also reduced.
Courchevel has a small airport for private jets but your main options would be to secure a flight to either Geneva (over Swiss border), Chambery or Lyon.
Cut price carriers often have special deals but they may be at unsociable/difficult travel times, or mid-week, (apartment rentals are generally Saturday to Saturday) but shop around and try the names in useful links for a deal.
Transfers (coach trip to the resort) or car hire are normally on top of the flight price and you may have to arrange them separately (see useful links). A flight, and car hire shared by 4 people, sometimes will prove to be a quicker and cost effective option, rather than driving the whole way.