1850, Moriond, Le Praz or La Tania? We've skied all four. Prices, piste access and atmosphere compared honestly. Book the right village first time.
The most common question we get from first-time visitors: which village should I book? The honest answer is that most people ask too late, after they've already fallen in love with a chalet in the wrong place.
Courchevel 1850
1850 is the number most associated with Courchevel internationally, and for good reason. The Croisette has Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton. The restaurants include multiple Michelin stars within walking distance of each other. The chalets at the top of the market, the ones with indoor pools, private cinemas, and full staff, are mostly here.
What 1850 is not: particularly family-friendly in the traditional sense, or forgiving to anyone on a tight budget. A week in a decent chalet here during February half-term costs more than most people's annual salary. The guests who choose it know that, and it's precisely why they choose it.
Courchevel 1850 at a glance
Suits
- • Guests who want the full luxury package
- • Fine dining as a priority
- • Designer shopping on the slopes
- • Prestige address matters
Consider elsewhere if
- • Travelling with young children (under 8)
- • Budget is a meaningful constraint
- • Quiet village atmosphere preferred
French-speaking readers can find our dedicated comparison of renting and investing in the two main villages in Courchevel 1850 ou 1650 : louer ou investir.
Courchevel Moriond (1650)
Moriond is where experienced Courchevel guests often end up after a few seasons at 1850. Same mountain. Same lifts. Same 600km of skiing. And at the same service standard, an apartment in Courchevel Moriond costs around half its Courchevel 1850 equivalent, and a self-catered chalet about a third less. On our own catalogue on 13 September 2026, taking each property's median winter week and holding the service standard equal, a Comfort self-catered apartment in Courchevel Moriond ran 57% below the same standard in Courchevel 1850 (11 properties against 21), an Essential apartment 45% below (45 against 22), and a Comfort chalet 37% below (6 against 8).
Aquamotion, the purpose-built aquatic and wellness centre, is a short walk away, between Moriond and Courchevel Village. The nursery slopes are excellent. The village square has a genuine, lived-in quality that 1850's Croisette doesn't always manage.
The trade-off is address. For clients who care what it says on their booking confirmation, 1850 wins. For those who want the best skiing holiday per pound spent, Moriond is the better answer.
Moriond (1650) at a glance
Suits
- • Families with children of all ages
- • Groups wanting value without compromise on skiing
- • Guests who know the resort well
Consider elsewhere if
- • Michelin dining within walking distance is essential
- • Prestige address is part of the trip
Courchevel Village (1550) and Le Praz (1300)
These two are genuinely different propositions. Village (1550) has a gondola to 1850, a traditional Savoyard character, and chalets that cost about half their 1850 equivalent at the same service standard. It's quiet in the evenings, which is either a feature or a drawback depending on your group.
Le Praz is at the bottom of the valley. The 1992 Olympic ski jump is here. The village square has a butcher, a baker, a bar where locals actually drink. Prices reflect the distance from the prestige centre. On our own catalogue on 13 September 2026, taking each property's median winter week and holding the service standard equal, a Prestige chalet in Le Praz ran 59% below the same standard in Courchevel 1850 (7 properties against 5), and an Essential self-catered apartment 27% below (11 against 22).
The skiing from both is the same Three Valleys domain. The commute to it is slightly longer. Whether that matters depends entirely on what the trip is actually for.
Village (1550)
- • Gondola direct to 1850
- • Traditional Savoyard architecture
- • Below 1850 at every standard we measure
- • Quiet evenings
Le Praz (1300)
- • Most authentic village feel
- • Olympic heritage (1992 ski jump)
- • Chalets well below 1850 at the same standard
- • Forest skiing on the doorstep
La Tania, the forest village between Courchevel and Méribel, belongs in this comparison too: car-free, family-first, and the quietest base on the Courchevel side of the mountain. We cover it in depth in our La Tania ski resort guide.
On our own catalogue on 13 September 2026, taking each property's median winter week and holding the service standard equal, a Prestige chalet in Le Praz ran 59% below the same standard in Courchevel 1850 (7 properties against 5), and an Essential self-catered apartment 27% below (11 against 22). The skiing is identical. Make of that what you will.
