What’s new in Val d’Isère for winter 2024/2025
26th November 2024 | Val d'Isere
New Lifts
The lift system gets a huge upgrade for the 2024/2025 season.
The old Vallon bubble, which linked the Signal to the Pisaillas glacier ski area, has been replaced with a brand-new high-speed lift.
Skiing access to the Iseran valley and the Pisaillas glacier was first made possible in 1972 with the installation of a drag lift, this was upgraded in 1982 by the Vallon Bubble. Now over 40 years later the bubble lift has been replaced with an ultra-modern high-speed lift. So what’s the difference?
• With 10 seats compared to 6 in the old bubble, there is plenty more space.
• It will now take only 6 ½ minutes to reach the top at 2 790m, whereas previously it took 12 minutes.
• The new lift will take the same route as the old bubble, meaning the environmental impact is kept to a minimum.
We can’t wait to give it a go!
Bars and Restaurants
In terms of bars and restaurants there are not too many changes. Firm favourites such as ‘Coin des Amis’, ‘Baraque’, ‘1789’ and ‘The Garage’ are all gearing up for a busy season.
‘Poya’, ‘La Mourra’ and ‘L’Altiplano’ are confirming their reputations for high quality dining experiences
The ‘Loulou’ restaurant in the Les Airelles hotel has been replaced with ‘Palladio’ – an Italian restaurant offering classic Italian dishes with a Venetian twist.
Also, within the Airelles hotel ‘Matsuhisa’ is Nobu’s first restaurant in the region.
Perhaps the biggest change restaurant-wise, is that ‘Bananas’ at the bottom of the slopes has gone and been replaced by ‘Maman et Fils’. This group of restaurants with locations throughout France offers a varied menu with plenty of choice.
Construction
There have been, as always in Val d’Isère, plenty of building works taking place over the summer months. It doesn’t take eagle eyes to notice that the old Parc hotel on the main street and the Christiana hotel close to the slopes have been demolished to make way for new accommodation.
Transport
Conceivably the most impactful change will be the relocation of the bus station from the centre of the village to La Daille. The new bus terminus in La Daille is already operational, however the new terminal building which will house a waiting room, left luggage office and toilets will not be ready until the 2025/2026 season.