Luxury Ski Chalet Holidays in St Martin de Belleville

St Martin de Belleville provides direct access to the Belleville Valley (the one on the right of the 3 Valleys piste map) via a gondola lift and a fast new chairlift with pull-down bubble covers.  From there it’s easy to turn left and head over to the central valley of Meribel or ski down right to Les Menuires. Then with 600km of runs waiting for your skis, the possibilities are fairly limitless.

With so much terrain to play in, there’s really something for every taste and ability level.  You can access long fast intermediate cruisers almost everywhere with the Jerusalem run down from of Tougnete above St Martin popularly regarded as one of the best runs of its sort in the 3 Valleys.  If you’re an advanced skier and would like to hire a guide and head off-piste there are innumerable itineraries to try.

There are pros and cons to St Martin de Belleville for complete beginners. One big advantage is that the resort’s comparatively small size means that learning here is a much more personal experience unlike at some big resorts where you can feel as if you are on a bit of a production line with hundreds of fellow beginners.  There are plenty of green runs for beginners in the wider valley and you could always take the gondola back down if you’re feeling nervous.  

For children the ESF French ski school has a better reputation than its counterparts in some of the bigger French resorts in the 3 Valleys and elsewhere in France. The school is much smaller and more personal and facilities are very conveniently located at the main lift as you start and end your ski day so is ideal for drop off and pick up.  There’s a range of different ski and non-ski options beginning with care for babies from six months old with first group ski lessons possible from age three up.

La Ferme de Choumette (lafermedelachoumette.fr) is a still-working farm with a mountain restaurant located just above the tunnel coming into the village. The restaurant has huge windows overlooking a barn that usually has lots of animals in it, or if the weather’s good there’s a big sunny terrace too.  Either way, the menu is amazing. Non-skiers in your party can reach you from the village on foot here.

Bar de la Marine (chaletmarine.com/en/) up above Val Thorens has a nautical theme as you might expect 2500m up on the Dalles piste. They have a wide-ranging menu and an amazing view from the big terrace, where there’s live music playing towards the end of the ski day.

Les Cretes (restaurant-altitude.com) is one of the highest restaurants in the area, located 2,300m up at the summit of Tougnete reached by the St Martin 2 lift. Expect friendly staff, excellent daily specials, good Savoyard cuisine and top value.

La Bouitte (la-bouitte.com/en/) is the restaurant everyone talks about in St Martin, awarded its third Michelin star in 2015. Actually located in the neighbouring village of St Marcel it offers sublime mountain cuisine and if you’re here for lunch, don’t even think about the last run of the day afterwards.

La Fromagerie des Belleville (facebook.com/lafromageriedesbelleville) may not (yet) have a Michelin star but it does beat La Bouitte in the popular vote on Tripadvisor. It’s located in neighbouring Les Menuires and as to the food – the clue is in the name, “best fondue ever” writes one fan.

Restaurant L’Eterlou (+33 4 79 08 94 07) is a popular option with a wide menu and an excellent wine list.  It’s known for its fast friendly service, great food and good value – what more can we ask for.

New Generation (skinewgen.com) is a British run ski and snowboard school, established for 20 years, with a base in the village and mostly British instructors. They offer private and group lessons with morning lessons for kids in peak holiday periods.

The Snow School (thesnowschool.co.uk) is another British-run and works across the 3 Valleys with a choice of bespoke private or group lessons normally delivered by instructors for whom English is their first language.

ESF (esf-lesmenuires.com), the French ski school, is the main player in the resort and the only provider of nursery care and ski lessons for very young children other than private providers.