Where to Stay at Valmorel - St François Longchamp
Just as the terrain is split into two halves (or three thirds as we postulate in our review & overview!), the two main villages of Valmorel & St Francois Longchamp are almost total opposites. Strolling into Valmorel’s central Rue de Bourg for the first time, we smiled the smile of someone that immediately felt at home. It has bustling vibrance mixed with old world charm that is extremely pleasing in a ski resort village. Further up the hill, and connected by gondola are more modern, and less enticing sectors of the village including a massive Club Med, but each to their own. What is surprising is the resort village is no ancient, traditional French mountain hamlet but a specifically designed ski village built in the mid ‘70s. Avoiding some of the abominable architectural mistakes of many other French ski resorts, Valmorel village is an example of how it should have been done. St François Longchamp is closer to the other end of the French ski resort village spectrum. Just avoiding the 'abomination' moniker and edging toward 'utilitarian', it is best described as ‘totally practical & accessible without being pretty’.
Positives of both Valmorel & St François Longchamp Villages
- Both villages have fantastic access to the ski lifts and pistes.
- Valmorel has a charming, vibrant village centre.
- St Francois would be the sunnier of the two (if that’s important to you) and is more affordable (important to everyone).
- Staying in Valmorel would be our tip for the overseas ski tourist, simply because of its accessibility, look & atmosphere.
- For hardened ski bums like us, anywhere is good, and going cheap toward the valleys is just fine as long as one has a car to get around.
Search & book a place to stay via Le Grand Domaine Valmorel - Saint-François-Longchamp Ski Accommodation Listings
Valmorel Accommodation
As is usual for a French Alps ski resort, Valmorel has a seemingly unlimited number of apartments for holiday rental in the resort village and surrounding hamlets. Be mindful that there is a huge variation in quality. Choosing one is definitely a matter of personal choice, so we tend to stick to mentioning hotels and similar. Other than the expansive resort village (which is big enough that it has its own intra-village gondola), down valley toward Les Avanchers village holds much promise. Staying all the way down in the valley at Moûtiers or similar is possible for anyone with a car.
At the Ski Resort
In Valmorel you will find all the services, shops, restaurants and bars one could expect. The ambiance is fantastic, with only downside perhaps being the main pedestrian thoroughfare being cold, shaded & quite icy to walk on in ski boots. but it is winter so toughen up! The bakery is excellent and quite frankly that is all that matters to us. See the village map below.
In the centre of the main village, our first choice would the quaint Hôtel du Bourg.
Slopeside near the bottom of the Planchamp gondola, the ski-in ski-out Villages Clubs du Soleil Hotel will please anyone that wants to step of their skis, into a drink on a sunny deck, then stroll off to bed later without having to leave the premises!
Anyone with a preference or requirement for large, well-appointed and managed holiday residence apartments cannot go wrong with the comfortable & quiet Résidence l'Ecrin d'Argent. Located in upper Valmorel near the Telebourg intra-village lift and the Pierrafort gondola, these residences are like a home away from home, only better because you are in the snow! Yippee.
Down the Valley
A few minutes’ drive down the road from Valmorel the comfortable & quiet Hotel Chalet du Crey is worth a look if you have your own transport. Further down the road, but not much further, the fabulous Hôtel Spa L'Oxygène.
Search & book a place to stay via the Valmorel Ski Accommodation Listings
St François Longchamp Accommodation
There are 3 resort villages to choose from when staying at Saint-François-Longchamp. At the top of the resort is St Francois Longchamp 1650, next along, and a little lower in Le Hameau, and then at the bottom of the resort is St François Longchamp 1450 (not really a village). All are connected by piste trail & ski lift. 1650 has a nice range of apartments & chalets, plus a few excellent hotels, and all the services required, including a pleasant pool/spa establishment open to the public (the 'Balnéo'). Le Hameau is mostly apartments with a few services, and 1450 is a hotel & chalets plus limited services.
Down toward the valley are several hamlets with accommodations including several chalets & a great hotel. in the valley St Avre - La Chambre and surrounds have a few options.
At the Ski Resort
In the highest resort village of 1650, the vast majority of accommodations are private holiday apartment rentals and a handful of very nice standalone chalets. The main hotel style lodging is at the superb Hotel Lac Bleu 1650.
At the top of the 1650 village, a fine choice is the cosy Hôtel La Perelle. Recently renovated rooms, delicious food & a pool/spa area make for a comfortable stay at this ski-in location.
Just down the road and accessed by skiers via a tunnel from the 1650 village, Le Hameau village is similarly replete with holiday rental apartments, all within a very short walk to the lifts & slopes.
At the lowest point of the resort in the small 'village' of St François Longchamp 1450, Hôtel Casa Moho.
Down the Valley
Down the road back toward St Avre are numerous rustic holiday chalets for rent which are perfect for self-catering, mobile groups. Aside from that a few of the better choices are listed below.
A sneaky, quiet hotel sort of on the way up to the St Francois ski area is in the hamlet Montaimont. A short diversion off the main road, and near the region’s cross-country trails, you will find oneself in a fine mountain hamlet overlooking the valley. The crass (ish) village at 1650 will be barely a memory. Hôtel Le Beauséjour is hidden treasure with wonderful meals, comfy rooms & friendly hosts. Stay here if you have your own car (or a rental).
Down in the valley, Saint Avre - La Chambre is a quiet town with a fantastic pizzeria (but not much else!) and the wonderful rooms & hospitality at le clos grillet. A classy BnB, the rooms are stunning and breakfast is extravagant. The spa room is a welcome surprise at the end of the day. The hosts will provide all the help you could require and are avid skiers themselves.
Finally, just across the river in Saint-Marie-de-Cuines is a hotel with a lively local bar, lovely simple food and modern well-designed rooms can be your refuge. Le Grand Chatelard is a hotel, bar, restaurant that not everyone would think of when on a ski trip, but aside from not being up on the hill next the slopes, it is perfect for the job.
Search & book a place to stay via the Saint-François-Longchamp Ski Accommodation Listings