Everybody (well almost everybody) wants to stay in town close to everything and ideally ski in/ski out but sadly this comes at a price. Have you ever considered staying in a top ski resort but staying a bit lower down or outside of the main town?
More often than not these satellite villages have free shuttle buses that adequately ferry people to the nearest or best lift area. Some lift departure areas, like Meribel Chaudanne, also have ski lockers with boot warmers in them, so if you are staying lower down you are not lugging skis and boots everyday, as they are all ready and waiting for you almost by the lifts. The lockers are not expensive either.
Quite often its the thought of how to get to the slopes everyday that puts people off, but more often than not the chalet owner or company have all this covered so the fine detail is all there you just need to ask.
Also a lot of these villages have a huge amount of character something that can be missing in the centre of town, old chapels, working farms with animals all stored up for the winter, the odd local shop and proper authentic restaurants and bars. The savings for the accommodation really can be quite considerable and maybe something to consider.
Below are a few suggestions to look out for.
Meribel- Raffort (gondola, bus service and a very good piste to come home on). Lower down you have Chandon and Le Cruet both lovely Savoie hamlets serviced by a free ski bus. Then there is Les Allues, the chief town of the Meribel Valley, 4 restaurants, 2 bars, small supermarket and a gondola + the free bus stop. Bride Le Bain a thermal village, lots of cheap accommodation and access to Meribel is via the Olympic gondola, takes around 25/30 minutes.
Courchevel- St Bon really nice village just below Le Praz, serviced by the ski bus, may even have a lift one day soon and it is also possible to ski back down a run. Bozel actually its quite large with lots of shops, restaurants and bars and has a lovely atmosphere. Access is the free ski bus, but I believe the green light has been given for a lift in time fore the 2030 Olympics.
Les Arc- Peisey Vallandry Plan Peisey and Vallandry are serviced by a free shuttle bus service which runs every 30 minutes from around 08:30 to around 23:30. Possible to walk to Arc 1800 allow a 30 minutes walk. Good place to stay if wanting to also ski the La Plagne area, as you are close to the double decker cable car. General ski lifts also out of the village as well.
Alp D’huez- Vaujany and Le Villette These two villages are situated to the far west of Alp D’heuz but access up is easy via the cable car. There is a bus that runs between Vaujany and Villette but walking is also possible and only takes around 15 minutes
La Plagne- Montchavin, Les Coches, Champagny en Vanoise. Montchavin and Les Coches are a little below and to the left of La Plagne centre but they are actually right in the middle of the huge Paradiski area and connected by an extensive lift system to both La Plagne and Les Arc. Champagny en Vanoise is on the other side of the mountain. Access up is via a Gondola and to hop over into the La Plagne valley you have options to take several chair lifts that either get you to Plagne Centre or Plagne Bellecote.
Chamonix- Les Houches and Argentiere These two village are at opposite ends of the Chamonix valley there is a bus service that connects the whole area but it is quite a distance from one end to the other. Les Houches is really a ski resort in itself with 24 slopes, ideal for beginners and intermediates. Argentiere (grands Montets) has 10 lifts and the piste skiing is limited and quite difficult so not great for beginners and intermediates. If you have paid tourist tax then you will be able to get the Carte d’hote which means you can use the train service that runs up the valley connecting you with Chamonix and also through into Switzerland to Martigny.
Samoens, Grand Massif- Easy bubble up to some gentle slopes and access to the wider area of the Grand Massif and resorts like Flaine and Les Carroz. Within Samoens there is an inter resort bus service.
Verbier – Nendaz, Versonnez, Tzoumaz. All 3 villages have inter resort busses and Gondolas up the mountain so a good option if you want to be away from the hustle of Verbier.