The Official 2012 Snow Calendar

Visitor reviews for Brides Les Bains Ski Resort

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• January 12, 2012
  alex from Greece
  

  Brides Les Bains facts:

  + Cheap accommodation compared with the other villages that are close (Meribel, Courchevel, etc).
  + Direcct access to (probably) the best ski area in France (Les 3 Valees).

  - Not very often ski bus transportation (one every 3 hours), but you can go with your skis on.
  - about 20 minutes way with the gondola to the ski area.
  - you cannot come back with your skis on from the ski area to Brides Les Bains.

• Brides Les Bains Ratings

  Based on 1 vote. Vote

  Access: 3.0 (1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Brides Les Bains.	Public Transport: 2.0 (1) There are no buses or taxis to Brides Les Bains, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
  Scenery: 3.0 (1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.	Accommodation: 3.0 (1) No places to stay in/near Brides Les Bains, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
  Cheap Rooms: 4.0 (1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.	Luxury Hotels: 4.0 (1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Brides Les Bains.
  Ski in/Ski out: 4.0 (1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.	Childcare: 4.0 (1) There are no child care facilities at Brides Les Bains, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
  Snowsure: 5.0 (1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Brides Les Bains is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.	Snowmaking: 5.0 (1) Brides Les Bains relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
  Snow Grooming: 5.0 (1) There are no snow groomers at Brides Les Bains, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Brides Les Bains are groomed daily.	Shelter: 5.0 (1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Brides Les Bains is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
  Nearby options: 5.0 (1) If snow conditions are poor at Brides Les Bains, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.	Regional rating: 5.0 (1) Brides Les Bains usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
  Lift Staff: 5.0 (1) The staff at Brides Les Bains are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Brides Les Bains are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.	Crowds/Queues: 3.0 (1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
  Ski Schools: 3.0 (1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.	Hire and Repairs: 4.0 (1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
  Variety of pistes: 5.0 (1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Brides Les Bains has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.	Beginners: 5.0 (1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
  Intermediates: 5.0 (1) No intermediate terrain at Brides Les Bains, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.	Advanced: 5.0 (1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
  Snow Park: 4.0 (1) Not even a kicker at Brides Les Bains, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.	Off-piste: 5.0 (1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
  Cross-country: 2.0 (1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Brides Les Bains, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.	Luge/Toboggan: 1.0 (1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Brides Les Bains has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
  Mountain Dining: 5.0 (1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.	Eating: 4.0 (1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
  Apres-Ski: 3.0 (1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.	Other Sports: 3.0 (1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
  Entertainment: 3.0 (1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.	Winter Walks: 4.0 (1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
  Ski Pass Value: 3.0 (1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.	Value (National): 4.0 (1) Overall, Brides Les Bains is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
  Value (Global): 4.0 (1) Overall, Brides Les Bains is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

  Based on 1 vote. Vote

• January 27, 2010
  Mrs C from United Kingdom
  

  Went to Brides Les Bains with my husband a few years ago. Remember getting bagettes and cheese from the local shop and translating for some Polish people who didn't understand French and were new to French cheeses. We bought local food and cooked in the evening. I remember going up the on the gondola. It was romantic. On one occasion we went out for a meal. That was special. We had a fondue. We took candles with us to Brides and enjoyed the mulled wine in the day and the bottled wine in the evening. I had only just learnt to ski so it was quite new to me. Where we stayed wasn't luxury but it didn't matter.

• January 09, 2010
  david 0 neill from Ireland
  

  Have stayed in Brides Les Bains for the last three years with directski. It's a cheap way to ski the Three Valleys. If you can ski, you can ski all the valleys for a fraction of staying in a main resort. If you ski all day, where you stay is not important, just the snow - Three Valleys rocks.

• December 13, 2009
  Peter Sutton from United Kingdom
  

  Brides (Brides Les Bains) is a small and pretty town. I've stayed there many times since 1995. The gondola opens at 8.30-not 9.30 and closes at 5.00(5.30 in peak season). Queues can be bad at New Year and during French holidays. Arrive by *.20 and you have no problem. During certain peak weeks the bubble opens at 8.15 am. You can queue for the return but also avoid queues by arriving at the lift by 4.00 or waiting til shortly before it closes. The town at Brides Les Bains has some good restaurants and locals are very friendly and helpful. If you're driving try Residence Cybele(lagrange holidays)or travel by coach with Ski Weekends and stay at the hotel Verseau. Off-peak their deals cannot be beaten.
  Peter Sutton

• February 05, 2009
  Paul from United Kingdom
  

  We went to Brides (Brides Les Bains) last year in March and I thought it was quite a good place to stay.
  Around a 20min ride in the gondola to get to Meribel and we were the first ones on every day, and getting back was ok too as the gondola runs until quite late.
  Our hotel at Brides Les Bains was the Verseau with reasonable beer prices and good food. Because there were not many other places to go there was a bit of a party atmosphere in the evening.
  We will be back at Brides Les Bains soon in a couple of weeks.

• September 06, 2008
  Bob Crichton from United Kingdom
  

  Bride is a brilliant place. I can drive to it in 7 hours from Calais. Love it so much have bought a house in town. It's so nice in the summer too. Only leaving this message because I was so angry at the Alex Vickers comment not sure where he paid 12 euros a pint but it wasn't Hotel le Centre where the prices are reasonable and the staff are lovely. There are some lovely restaurants my favourite is the Hermitage; great fondue bourginion. I intend to retire there!!!

• March 23, 2008
  Karen Cox from United Kingdom
  

  We have been to Brides Les Bains many times. We have found the people friendly and very helpful. There are some very good restaurants to eat in and very reasonable accommodation. We have enjoyed our holidays so much that we have now bought our own place. One way to avoid the queues is to drive there. This is very easy and gives the flexibility to drive to Meribel villages and Meribel itself. The ride up from Brides in the gondola is picturesque. Brides really does offer the ultimate in flexibility.
  

• March 08, 2008
  Geoff Cantillion from United Kingdom
  

  Stayed in Brides in Feb '08. Wasn't expecting much and was happy with the town when I arrived. The first day of skiing was a little labourious as everyone else is doing what you are doing (getting lift passes, sorting skiing hire, not knowing where to go etc), but after that it's ok! The gondola to Meribel is quite pleasant although the walk to the Meribel lifts is a trudge. It is a gateway to the 3 Vallees on a budget.
  Please do not go with a tour operator though. The reps base themselves in Meribel (30 mins away) and generally can't be bothered to come down and deal with issues, excursions, etc. Crystal are particularly rubbish in my experience.
  The locals are great and there are some lovely restaurants.
  Don't get your skis from ski set by the gondola, he is a right miserable, racist, dirty frog. He'll try and rip you off. Don't use his boot & ski lockers either as they are too expensive. Most apartments have a shuttle bus that take your skis.
  Enjoy.

• February 05, 2008
  Sonja Taylor from United Kingdom
  

  I would like to defend the pretty resort of Brides....
  It depends entirely on how many hours skiing you wish to do. If you are content at leaving Brides after the crowds and returning before the crowds, you can ski for hours and have a fantastic time. If you are not fanatical about being one of the last off the slopes, the journey back from Meribel is quite relaxing.
  I have stayed in Brides 4 times now and would thoroughly recommend it for those who want a relaxing skiing holiday, with apres-ski activities and friendly hotels.

• September 13, 2005
  James packer from United Kingdom
  

  Brides les Bain is an average sized town situated at the bottom of the meribel valley and in the heart of the largest skiing domain in the world, the 3 valleys. There is easy access to the 300km of snowy piste via the olympe gondolas which take you directly to the main lift station in meribel (1450m). You can take full advantage of the pistes until its time to go, you may have to taKe the gondolas back to the town or possibly in january or february there is a small piste available, though this all depends on snow cover.

• 
  alex vickers from United Kingdom
  

  This report is a bit late I know as we stayed in Brides last Christmas week into the new year 2007, but I do feel the need to warn people that staying here has no advantage what so ever.
  Reason 1. Brides is 30 minutes by gondola to Meribel, but the problem is that the gondola does not open until 9.30 then you have a sizable queue, but the biggest problem is that you need to get in the queue at least 45 minutes before it closes as the queues are massive at the end of the day, which means you lose over TWO hours a day when it is already very short.
  Reason 2. Brides itself is very small so even at Christmas eating out was tricky as there are not enough restaurants in the town and we found ourselves eating in the same places several times, also they weren't the best restaurants on offer either.
  Reason 3. Beer was a total rip off, a review for Val Thorens on this site suggested that they were paying 8 Euros a pint which is very expensive, but in Brides we were paying 12 Euros a pint! That is truly ridiculous.

  I wouldn't go back to Brides if I was paid but we are, however, returning to Meribel this Christmas as the entire three valley area was the best ski area I have ever been to. Meribel is really pretty with loads to do apart from skiing, and no matter what level you are, there is something for every one. I'm a snow boarder and found loads of off-piste on the Mont Vallon area and over in Val Thorens.

  Just take this on board if you were thinking about staying here at Brides because lots of the tour operators and websites make you think that it's not a problem to stay here, but it really does have issues, and you really are detached from whats going on further up the mountain.