Les Menuires, St.-Martin-de-Belleville

One of three resorts in the Belleville Valley, which is itself one of the world famous 3 Vallées (Three Valleys), les Menuires has a reputation for offering the lowest prices in the area. Located above the old Savoyard village of St Martin de Belleville and below Val Thorens (Europe's highest purpose-built ski centre), les Menuires has marketed itself as 'The Smile of The Alps' because of the semi-circular arc of its main building complex and its good sunshine record. The resort is divided in to 'quarters' - although there are more than four of them. The main facilities are in La Croisette, the original centre, and les Bruyeres. Above them are the accommodation complexes of Reberty 1850, Reberty 2000 and Brelin. Below them are les Fontanettes and Preyerand. Much of the building is extremely functional and the emphasis has traditionally been placed on slope-side convenience rather than architectural design sympathetic to the beauty of the surrounding mountainscape. However the newer developments are more tasteful - with more exterior wood and sloping roofs and gables, and less concrete rectangles. Another good point for many is the fact that Les Menuires is such nice family resort - definitely lacking in the fur-coated snobs which frequent some of the other resorts nearby.