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Val d'Isere resort snow
Ski France

Val d'Isere Resort Reviews

45.45° N 6.95° E

Weather Forecast for Val d'Isere at 2700 m altitude

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Visitor reviews for Val d'Isere Ski Resort

Val d'Isere Ratings

Overall: 4.2. Based on 74 votes and 65 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.7

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Val d'Isere is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.7

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Val d'Isere has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.7

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.4

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 3.5

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Val d'Isere

Public Transport: 3.9

  • There are no buses or taxis to Val d'Isere
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 4.4

  • No places to stay in/near Val d'Isere
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 3.0

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 4.8

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Val d'Isere

Ski in/Ski out: 4.5

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 4.2

  • There are no child care facilities at Val d'Isere
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 4.3

  • Val d'Isere relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 4.5

  • There are no snow groomers at Val d'Isere
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Val d'Isere are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.6

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Val d'Isere is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 3.4

  • If snow conditions are poor at Val d'Isere, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.7

  • Val d'Isere usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 4.4

  • The staff at Val d'Isere are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Val d'Isere are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 4.0

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.7

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.8

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 3.8

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.8

  • No intermediate terrain at Val d'Isere
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.8

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 4.1

  • Not even a kicker at Val d'Isere
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 3.4

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Val d'Isere
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.4

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Val d'Isere has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 4.3

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 4.7

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 4.7

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 4.6

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.8

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 3.7

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 4.1

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 4.0

  • Overall, Val d'Isere is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 4.0

  • Overall, Val d'Isere is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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February 27, 2010
Bozorgzadegan Abbas from Ski Iran Iran
Is there anybody to invite me to Val d'Isere for alpine ski? I would like to see there, and get actual sende about what I have read through resort reviews! Thanks and remain... [note from the editor: this post shall remain on the site for a short period. It is not a review of a resort but I do hope a response is generated.]
November 28, 2011
sittingbull from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Val has always been nice to arrive in, but also nice to leave now days. I have skied most on offer, on and off piste. Superb itineraries in the right condition, possibly the best, piste accessed in the world. I last went to Val in 2010 and was disappointed. There is money grabbing atmosphere. The expense has gone too far for the average punter. Prefer Austria nowdays (Mayrhofen/Ischgl) where at least they seem to respect the punter's value for money with equal customer service. If Val don't watch it it will join the similar demise of Courcheval and the top Swiss resorts. Affordability is set to return with vengeance in my opinion.
October 11, 2011
Sam from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I went about half way through April 2011 where the snow was fine from above 2000m (only slightly above resort level) if a bit icy. A warning to beginners: some blues can be quite steep so be careful. Val d'Isere has lots of ski runs and it is a very enjoyable place for people of all ability (if you know which runs to go on) and although it is expensive, it is the only resort that I want to go back to next year.
August 29, 2011
Sarah Porter from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have just booked my ski hols to Val d'Isere, no snow yet! I am going in January and will be staying with Scott Dunn. I have been to Val d'Isere many times, a wonderful place. I have booked ski lessons on another off piste ski course with Martin Mckay Skiiing, skimckay.com, great instructor. I can't rate this resort enough especially after the world championships in 2009 with lots of little upgrades here and there. Roll on 2012! (I commute to Val d'Isere privately from Geneva).
May 22, 2011
rl from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Went back again this year and the 7 and 9 year olds skied the whole area. Mid April was slushy at the bottom but higher up was awesome. Both girls did both glaciers with 1km plus vertical drop runs after. Going back next year to explore the west side of Tignes. That will be the third year based in Val d'Isere and still haven't skied the whole area, enough said...
February 28, 2011
Spec from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Went to Val d'Isere first week of January 2011. Great resort has everything an intermediate and above needs. Beginners beware of how the slopes are graded, a lot of the greens are blues, but you can find the greens with a bit of help - I would suggest the Solaise area and part of the Tranquil area. Lift system is good for beginners as you don't need to ski back into resort. Reason I know this is that I took my daughters who found it harder than skiing in La Plagne. I can recommend Evolution 2 for lessons as they were with them all week and improved immensely. Fornet is a great area to ski as no-one goes there and when it snows, also it's a must to try the scare chair ie the Lessieres Express which goes into it - it's just like a roller coaster. As for it being expensive you just need to know where to eat and drink but if you've been waiting for it all year then why bother going if you're gonna cut back. The best pubs are Cafe Face due to beer costs and Le Petit Danois which is also does good food and the bar staff. Also the Moris Bar is a good one with it's happy hour and band and live footy. For me it's not as good as the 3 Valleys for Beginners but it is for the Intermediates, it's party scene / apres ski is not as good as St Anton but it is still good for a night out. Just beware of the paths as we were told by our rep the Local Mayor likes Val D to look like a winter wonderland, therefore none of the paths are kept clear of ice and he has fresh snow dumped on the roads - skiers in boots or in general beware.
January 07, 2011
Joe from Ski France France
Val d'Isere could be a great place for skiing, the major problem is that people outside from France think that they are in their own country. So if you are from Russia or UK, remember that you are in the French Alps and you have to respect it. tx
May 01, 2010
rl from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Top of the range, ski esprit for third year, wife and daughters (6 and 8) all on third week of skiing at Val d'Isere. Skied La Plagne peviously but skiing in Val is on a different level. Me very experienced intermediate, girls all coming on well and skiing here is so varied and extensive that we all had a great time. Already booked again for 2011.
February 19, 2009
Hoover from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Having skied in Val (Val d'Isere) a few times and the 3V a few more times over the last 10 years or so I would say that if the most important criterion in choosing a resort is a wide choice of high quality restaurants then go to Meribel or Courchevel but if you want almost guaranteed good snow, freedom from lift queues even at half-term, variety of runs, easily accessible off-piste, choice of excellent ski schools (we have found TDC and Oxygen to be particularly good) and friendly locals then it's Val (Val d'Isere) every time. Mountain restaurant prices can be painful but you can always eat more at breakfast & dinner and skip lunch until the exchange rate improves.
March 04, 2009
Duncan from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Visited Val (Val d'Isere) for the first time this year. It was 1 week after a trip to the 3 valleys with fantastic snow. Some say that Val is expensive but it is nothing like the inflated prices of the 3 valleys where it is typical to pay 19e for 'spag bol' as opposed to 10 in the Val/Tignes area. Having skied the so called 'big ones' I would rate Val (Val d'Isere) as good if not better than most with less queuing and great off-piste; so easily accessible. As for beginners, Tignes area is better but not as good as Alpe D'Huez but for the more adventurous it is a must. I will certaintly return again and put Val d'Isere at the top of my hit list.