A masterclass in French excellence

If there is one resort whose reputation goes beyond the borders of France it is without doubt Courchevel.

Nestled at the heart of the world’s largest ski area, the resort continues to appeal to visitors from all corners of the world who come here all year round to enjoy the many attractions it has to offer. After all, beyond the range of winter sports facilities to be enjoyed here, Courchevel is ultimately a series of four villages, each more charming than the last, that are the absolute epitome of French excellence.

Each village — Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Moriond, Courchevel Village and Courchevel Le Praz — boasts its fair share of upmarket establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels and designer boutiques, which continue to draw regular visitors back to this jewel in the Three Valleys crown season after season.

An endless year-round range of alpine activities for tourists

Beyond the prestige associated with its luxury villages, Courchevel’s location means that all potential guests are guaranteed to enjoy the carefree skiing they are looking for. From novices to the most experienced skiers, the slopes here have something to keep everyone happy without having to worry about snow cover or narrow pistes.

Courchevel is, in fact, a giant playground for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels and abilities. That is not, however, to say that there is nothing here for those who enjoy spending time in the mountains in the summer months; after all, Courchevel offers a large number of activities providing an opportunity for visitors to the resort to get out and enjoy the fresh mountain air and the high-end services on offer here. From walking and golfing to climbing and mountain biking, there is plenty to satisfy any sports enthusiast’s appetite for exercise in this revitalising setting.

Those looking for a little peace and quiet, meanwhile, can enjoy the ultimate relaxing break courtesy of one of the resort’s many spas and balneotherapy centres. Life in Courchevel centres around the many sporting, musical and family events that take place here all year round and that help this Alpine resort to achieve the ultimate in excellence.

Buying a property in Courchevel - a safe bet

With all of this in mind, investing in the resort of Courchevel would seem to be an extremely attractive bet. The resort’s international reputation is a strong guarantee that your property investment here will have a bright future. Its traditional Savoyard-style chalets and luxury apartments make this one of the most attractive property offerings around.

The 2017 Knight Frank report announced an increase in alpine property prices in the villages of Courchevel 1650 (+1%), Courchevel 1550 (+1%) and Courchevel 1850 (+0.5%) - a promising indication of the future capital gains that owners could be expecting to make on resale.

The resort has continuously implemented a number of public and private projects over the course of recent years in its attempts to satisfy the needs of the ever-increasing numbers of visitors it attracts. Recent examples include a number of new establishments and developments, such as the Aquamotion water park, the new Moriond toboggan run and works to improve the ski lifts. There are also plans to install new chairlifts and gondola lifts in the near future, and the resort is preparing to submit a joint bid with Meribel to host the 2023 World Ski Championships.

Investing in a property in Courchevel is, therefore, one of the safest bets you could make, given the resort’s many assets. The most expensive properties here are those found in the higher-altitude villages since this is also where you’ll find the higher-end services.

That said, future buyers with smaller budgets may well find what they are looking for in one of the villages lower down the mountain, as the Courchevel market guarantees a very good return on investment wherever you buy.

Whether you are buying solely for personal use or with a view to renting out your property for a few weeks of the year, it’s an investment sure to prove very worthwhile when managed by an Alpine property professional - the resort amassed no fewer than 1.5 million tourist nights (over the course of the year) in 2017 alone, with a winter season running for an average of 21 weeks, which bodes well for an excellent rental occupancy rate.

invest in Courchevel