The Skiers' Guide to Saint Martin de Belleville

Saint Martin de Belleville sits in the heart of the French Alps, providing direct access to the immense Three Valleys ski area. Unlike its flashier neighbours, this charming village maintains authentic Alpine character with traditional Savoyard architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. One Snomad community member liked its position as "a great satellite resort for the three valleys - much cheaper and has a lot of charm with direct access to Méribel and Les Menuires."

Located at 1450m with skiing up to 2850m, Saint Martin offers an excellent base to explore the world's largest interconnected ski area. The local terrain features 85 runs (12 beginner, 42 intermediate, and 23 advanced), serviced by a modern lift system including 8 gondolas, 13 chairlifts, and 12 drag lifts.

Our users particularly praise Saint Martin for its family friendliness (4.89/5), lift efficiency (4.83/5), and groomed runs (4.67/5), giving it an overall rating of 4.28/5.

Saint Martin serves as a brilliant gateway to the vast Three Valleys network. The modern express lift whisks you up to connect with Méribel and Les Menuires, opening up the entire ski area. As Elliott, an expert skier, notes: "The skiing around Saint Martin is brilliant, however if you just get a local pass it allows you access to not just Saint Martin but the entire valley, which includes Val Thorens and Les Menuires."

The main runs back to the village are gentle blues, ideal for beginners and intermediates, though they can get a bit slushy in warmer conditions due to the lower altitude. Intermediates will love the variety of terrain, with our users rating it 4.38/5 for intermediate skiing.

Advanced and expert skiers aren't forgotten either, with off-piste options scoring 3.94/5. One advanced skier mentioned the "Praman" as "the best run ever," while others highlight the easy access to more challenging terrain throughout the Three Valleys.

For snowboarders, the resort scores 4.50/5, with good lift access and varied terrain, though tree skiing is limited (2.69/5).

Saint Martin punches well above its weight when it comes to eating out (4.50/5). Aurelien, an expert skier, praised the "good range of restaurants, from traditional alpine to 3 Michelin stars." This sentiment is echoed by Imogen who described the restaurants as "unbelievable with many mentioned in the Michelin guide or have Michelin stars."

The village boasts excellent local food shops too. "There's all the things you could possibly need from a butcher, a cheese shop, a bakery and two small supermarkets," explains Elliott, making it perfect for self-catering guests as well.

Lee, an intermediate skier, was similarly impressed: "The food we had at Saint Martin de Belleville was exceptional, would go back again 100%." The quality and variety of dining options consistently stand out in user reviews, making this a fantastic destination for foodies who ski.

Saint Martin offers a more laid-back après scene compared to other Three Valleys resorts, scoring 3.56/5. It's perfect for those seeking quality over quantity when it comes to evening entertainment.

Dougal, an intermediate skier, notes that while there's "not much après ski", the "P Bar was very good with live music." Aurelien adds that despite the "small après scene," there's "still some decent live music at some bars throughout the week."

Tabitha, an expert skier, describes it as "quieter than others I have stayed in with a couple of nice après bars but nothing super lively with pumping music." For those seeking a wilder scene, it's technically possible to ski back from the famous Folie Douce in Val Thorens, though as Jack, an expert skier, warns, this "would require a lot of poling and would take ages."

Jazmine, an intermediate snowboarder, mentioned "a fantastic little British pub" that serves cocktails and hosts evening entertainment "from music to bingo." Perfect for a relaxed drink after a day on the slopes.

Saint Martin excels as a family destination, earning a remarkable 4.89/5 for family friendliness. The village atmosphere is welcoming and safe, with Georgia describing it as a "really family friendly area."

Ben, an advanced skier, noted it's "excellent when travelling with non-skiers/older relatives who can explore the village which has museum, cafes etc." This mix of ski and non-ski activities makes it perfect for multi-generational trips.

The ski school quality scores 4.46/5, with Alexandra sharing her experience as a first-time skier: "I had lessons which were great. They helped me from a complete beginner who was nervous, to going out confident down a blue run."

The gentle blue runs back to the village provide perfect progression terrain for improving youngsters, while the lift system is modern and efficient. Erris, who lived in Saint Martin for a season, simply describes it as an "excellent resort for access to the 3 valleys at a cheaper rate. Family friendly resort."

Saint Martin scores highly for accommodation options ({{RATING_ACCOMMODATION_OPTIONS}}), offering excellent value compared to its glitzier Three Valleys neighbours. The village provides a range of options from self-catered apartments to more luxurious chalets.

Elliott, an expert skier who's visited for the past 20 years, highlights the convenience: "The majority of places to stay are nearly all ski in ski out however if they're not, you rarely have to walk more than 70 yards to a slope!"

Jazmine, an intermediate snowboarder, stayed in an apartment that was "in a great location! The shops and restaurants were only a couple of minutes away each way." The village layout is compact and convenient, with the main gondola centrally located.

Mike, an advanced skier, simply notes "decent accommodation" as part of the resort's overall appeal, while many users mention the value compared to staying in Meribel or Val Thorens.

Saint Martin de Belleville, as part of Les 3 Vallées, participates in area-wide sustainability initiatives. The resort utilises energy-efficient snowmaking systems and has invested in modernising lift infrastructure to reduce power consumption. The efficient gondola connection to the wider ski area encourages use of the free shuttle buses rather than cars for getting around.

The village maintains its traditional architecture and cultural heritage, preserving the authentic mountain environment rather than excessive development. Water management systems have been implemented to protect local streams and minimise the environmental impact of tourism infrastructure.

However, like many French resorts, Saint Martin could be more transparent about specific environmental goals and carbon reduction targets for the future.