Brides les Bains resort guide Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do
Resort Reviews
Ski holidays in Brides les Bains - a charming old spa town just down the mountain from Meribel in the heart of Les 3 Vallées in the Tarentaise Valley - one of the largest inter-linked ski areas in the world with 600km of piste.
Brides developed as a ski resort in 1992 when the gondola was built that connected it to Meribel as part of the new infrastructure for the Albertville winter Olympics. Since those days, the resort has grown in popularity as a value for money alternative to the expensive resorts in the 3 Valleys.
Après-ski
Brides les Bains is not known for its lively apres-ski scene as there is limited choice when it comes to the number of bars and restaurants. However, there are some good ones such as Les Cerisiers club and bar near the gondola station and La Petite Auberge restaurant and pub that is popular with the locals.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 595m |
| Top lift | 3200m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 600 |
| Longest run | 8 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 118 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 9 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Brides les Bains ski area guide
From Brides les Bain, it takes a 25 minute gondola ride to reach Meribel which is the gateway to the 3 Valleys and 600km of linked pistes. The problem is getting back as you can only ski as far down to the mid station at Les Allues and then you need to take the gondola again back to the resort. If you miss the last Gondola, you can expect to pay €30-40 for a taxi home!
Lift-linked ski resorts
- Courchevel
- Les Menuires
- Val Thorens
- La Tania
- St. Martin de Belleville
- Orelle
Beginners
Meribel has some gentle slopes for beginners at the Altiport which is quiet and an ideal place to learn the basics. There are also beginner-friendly "Zen Zones" that are dotted around the slopes. These are for beginners, families and less confident skiers and separate from the main pistes.
Intermediate
There are literally so many blue and red pistes to choose from you'll be spoilt for choice. One of the best day trips is a ski over to the Maurienne Valley via Val Thorens but make sure you leave plenty of time to get back!!
Advanced
There is an abundance of challenging runs throughout Les 3 Valles. The bowl under the Olympic chairlift is generally good off-piste terrain, Courchevel offers some steeps and the glacier at Val Thorens provide the vertical.
Snowboarding
Beginners are well catered for now as lots of the old drags having been upgraded to chairlifts. Méribel has worked hard on its terrain parks and the Moon Park is the latest and is the hub for the local boarders.
Featured ski chalets
Brides les Bains is an excellent place to stay if you are on a budget as the resort is significantly cheaper than Meribel and the other 3 Valleys ski resorts yet with direct access to the same ski area.
Many new chalet style residences have sprung up over recent years on the outskirts of the village offering modern self-catering apartments such as the Residence Cybele but if you stay in Brides, you cant't help feeling that all the action is waiting for you at Meribel further up the mountain.
See all rentalsSpa & Wellness
Brides les Bains's status as a spa town dates back to the 19th century and apart from the skiing, is the other main tourist draw. There are numerous luxury spas including Le Grand Spa Thermal and the thermal resort at Thermes d'Orsi which specialises in massages and fitness programmes. The thermal pool at Salins is also a great place to chill out and relax after a day on the slopes.
Other activities in the resort include....
- Snow shoeing
- Parapenting
- Ice skating
- Cinema
Our view on Brides les Bains
A quaint and charming village that has transformed itself from a spa town in to one of the main gateway resorts for the 3 Valleys. For a budget holiday, easy transfers and a relatively quiet apres-ski scene, Brides ticks all the boxes.
Recommended...
With more than a 1000m vertical drop and consistently great snow conditions, the Combe du Vallon is one of the longest and most beautiful pistes in the 3 Valleys. From the summit you get a great panoramic view of the Vanoise National Park.
