Val Thorens self-catered apartments

When planning your break away to the mountains here are a few things worth thinking about before you decide what to go for.

Book early
We recommend you book your apartment accommodation as soon as possible. Apartments usually sell out quite quickly and a lot of people book as early as January for the next winter season. Book it before buying your flights or train ticket, the reason being that availability may be limited and arrival/departure dates are not always as flexible as travel options.

How long you want to stay
Most apartments in Val Thorens are rented on a weekly basis only. You’ll find that Saturday to Saturday rentals are most common, but increasingly with the times being as they are, dates can be flexible and some chalet companies may provide a mix of Saturday and Sunday changeovers.

Plus shorter and longer breaks are becoming more and more popular, so some companies may be flexible on their rental dates on request. Summer bookings in Val Thorens are generally much more flexible on dates and length of stay, especially outside the peak months of July and August. This means that you can come for a long weekend, for ten days or for a few days mid-week more easily.

Size matters
Apartments to rent in Val Thorens range from small studios to large chalet-apartments, making them suitable for all sorts of parties, from couples looking for a romantic escapade to families or groups of friends. Before booking your apartment, you’ll need to know the exact number of people and the ages of the children coming with you on your holiday.

Know your wants and needs
There are literally hundreds of apartments on offer in Val Thorens, some providing simple accommodation at the foot of the slopes and others boasting five-star luxury facilities. Most come with WiFi as standard, but check before you book if it's important, some have ski-to-door access and state-of-the-art boot warmers, some don't, and if you need a large terrace with breathtaking views, a cinema room, designer décor or a pet-friendly property, make sure you book as early as possible.

You'll also find that many high-end companies offer concierge services who’ll take care of everything, from your ski passes to your lessons, your equipment hire, chauffeur services to take you to and from the slopes or drive you around resort, private chefs and spas with massages on demand. You're spoiled for choice in Val Thorens!

Apartments in Val Thorens are generally rented out on a self-catered basis. However, this doesn't mean that you need to take care of everything yourself since many accommodation providers offer a wide choice of add-ons to boost your holiday experience.

Catering
Catering is often top of the list of add-ons and can range from private chefs, welcome packs for your first day, or grocery shopping to fill your fridge and pantry before you arrive. There are plenty of private chefs and catering companies working in Val Thorens, so take your pick – you can hire them for the length of your stay or just a one-off special dinner. Also, in the post-Covid world, food and drink delivery services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

What else is there?
Accommodation companies offer numerous add-ons to make your holiday as hassle-free as possible. When booking your apartment, you can often include lots of other services for an additional fee, from ski hire to ski passes, ski lessons, transfers, activities and anything else you can think of. This means that you can relax knowing that all the different bits of your holiday will be taken care of. Some may even offer a bespoke concierge service through which you can book high-end treats such as a 24-hour chauffeur, massages or private tours.

Apartment rental rates depend on many things:

• facilities and services
• location within the resort
• desired dates
• size of your party
• length of your stay

In general, you can benefit from discounts if you're booking early and outside the main busy holidays (Christmas, February half-term, Easter, July and August).

Millions of euros have been invested in the tasteful development and renovation of former hotels and apartment blocks giving a real boost to the self-catering accommodation market in Val Thorens without damaging the mountain feel of this magical place. Many of these renovations, as well as some of the new-builds, boast five-star facilities including indoor swimming pools, spa rooms, terraces with mountain views and even private hot tubs.

Where can you find luxury apartments in Val Thorens?
The centre of the resort has a lovely selection of five-star apartments with some residences boasting luxury facilities including indoor pools, saunas and spas. These usually have the added bonus of ski-in/ski-out access as their doors often open directly onto the pistes that run through the resort.

If you’re looking to organise a corporate trip or a holiday with a big group of friends, Val Thorens is a great place to host it. With great nightlife and plenty of choice when it comes to group accommodation, Val Thorens has lots going on and it’s situated in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

Where can you find big apartments for groups in Val Thorens?
When booking an apartment for a large group of friends or a corporate retreat, you want to make sure you're as close to the heart of Val Thorens as possible. This is where all the action's at, including the best nightlife and a wide range of restaurants, bars and plenty of things to do.

Val Thorens is really well set up for mountain-loving families, with plenty of activities for all ages and a host of family-friendly apartments. Family holidays tend to have their own unique requirements, and services for families in Val Thorens can range from providing cots and highchairs to babysitting and childcare services. Depending on what is going to make or break your family holiday, make sure you discuss it with your accommodation provider before you book.

Where can you find family-friendly apartments in Val Thorens?
Val Thorens has nursery ski slopes right in the village centre and some of the lifts can even be used for free. There is also a good selection of ski schools while the resort has a modern ski lift infrastructure to help you explore the ski area easily and quickly. Les Menuires is also popular with families – it has its own nursery slopes, plenty of green runs and is connected to Val Thorens via the lift system while, being at a lower altitude, it may be more suitable a destination for those with toddlers.

Val Thorens isn't well know for its affordability. However, there are some great bargains to be had in its surrounding area, and even in the centre of town if you time your holiday well.

How can you save money on your Val Thorens accommodation?
Les Menuires is great for skiers on a budget wanting centrally located, cheap accommodation with direct access to the Three Valleys. There are lots of functional apartment buildings here, constructed in the 1970s, and plenty of them are located in the area of La Croisette, right next to the piste.

Ski-in/ski-out apartments are the most sought-after in Val Thorens. There's no better feeling than being able to put your skis on right outside your front door.

Where can you find ski-in & ski-out apartments in Val Thorens?
Most of the apartments in Val Thorens centre are ski-in/ski-out or, at least, ski to the door as the main streets in resort turn into pistes when the winter rolls in. Les Menuires also has plenty of slope side apartments – search our for those located in La Croisette.

Our Where to Stay guide will help give you an indication of the character and feel of the various different areas that make up Val Thorens. There are also wonderful chalets available to rent here, take a look at our Chalets page to see what's on offer.