Tr avel report ST MARTIN
St Martin connects to the Trois Vallees with a single main lift which, once easily negotiated, allows you access to the whole ski area on a single pass. If you’re there for a week you can ski a different area each day or for a long weekend then cherry pick the closest resorts or ski out and back to the bustling, modern resort of Val Thorens, one of the highest in the French Alps.
When you strap on your skis or snowboard and get to the top of the main lift out of St Martin, the views across the entire range open up before you and are simply stunning.
This end of the Trois Vallees tends to be the quietest as well, which is a bonus if (like me) you prefer the piste to yourself rather than loads of skiers buzzing around you on all sides. If you want that experience then Val Thorens at the other end of the Vallees will certainly serve you well.
There are plenty of runs to suit every level of skier, if you don’t fancy the reds and the blacks then you could easily stick to the blues and greens all week and never get bored.
The lifts are superbly maintained and the snow record is fantastic, and with Val Thorens the highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300m, what else would you expect?
After a hard few hours skiing, the run back to St Martin is beautiful, not too taxing but long enough to eke out that extra special last run we all crave.
And all the accommodation is within easy reach at the end of the day. I’ve been skiing many times over the years, usually preferring hotels or self-catered apartments. But this time we chose to stay in a catered chalet.
Ski Talini runs three luxury chalets in the village. We stayed at Chalet Polaris which can accommodate 10-11 people and has a huge lounge area with majestic sweeping views down the mountain. The bedrooms were spacious and highly luxurious with large en-suite bathrooms, just the job to ease those aching limbs. And the word ‘catered’ does Ski Talini a dis-service.
The food was stunning, from the sumptuous breakfasts, through to the cake waiting for us when we finished skiing. Dinner was a particular treat when you can enjoy a drink while your very own private chef prepares a three-course meal in front of your eyes.
This is high-end food and after a hard days’ skiing you can tuck in guilt-free.
The chalet also had its own sauna and exercise suite (we didn’t trouble this...) and had a wonderful log fire to warm yourself in front of during the evening. We’d have no hesitation staying here again. The other two chalets Ski Talini run are also of a similar standard.
If you need a break from skiing then it’s worth wandering around the village itself. Despite the push towards ski tourism, St Martin has maintained its ancient feel with a wonderful church as its centrepoint and an interesting which takes you back to the days the locals shared their living quarters with the animals during the hard winter months.
You would also be wise to pop into the P Bar behind the Chalet Polaris. Great drinks and regular bands make this a great venue to have fun in the evening.
Basically, St Martin de Belleville has everything you need, quality accommodation, great nightlife and the biggest ski area in the world .... happy days indeed.