St Martin de Belleville Chalets: A Rental Guide to the Three Valleys' Quiet Side
Quick Answer
St Martin de Belleville is a traditional Savoyard farming village at 1,450m with direct lift access into the Three Valleys — the world's largest linked ski domain. In our current collection of 42 properties, 33 offer ski-in ski-out access (79%) and 40 include a private sauna (95%). Prices range from around £10,000 to £55,000 per week. Choose St Martin for authentic village character and Three Valleys skiing at a lower price point than Méribel or Courchevel.
St Martin de Belleville sits at the head of the Belleville valley, connected by gondola to the Three Valleys ski area and sharing a lift pass with Méribel, Courchevel, and Val Thorens. Unlike its high-profile neighbours, St Martin has retained its original farming-village architecture — stone barns, a Baroque church, narrow lanes — while quietly amassing some of the most comprehensively equipped rental chalets in the region.
The village's appeal is specific: Three Valleys skiing from a quieter, more affordable base. No nightclubs, no designer boutiques, no celebrity-spotting. What it does offer is immediate slope access, serious chalet infrastructure, and a genuinely Savoyard setting that resorts purpose-built in the 1960s cannot replicate.
The Skiing: Three Valleys from a Local Base
St Martin de Belleville connects directly to 600km of linked piste across the Three Valleys via the St Martin Express gondola, reaching the Tougnète ridge (2,434m) in under ten minutes. From there, skiers access Méribel's Chaudanne hub, the Courchevel valleys, and Val Thorens — all on a single lift pass.
The local skiing in the Belleville valley covers 160km of piste between 1,450m and 3,230m (at the Cime de Caron above Val Thorens). The south-facing slopes above St Martin suit intermediates and families, while advanced skiers push through to the north-facing bowls of Val Thorens or the steep couloirs off Saulire above Courchevel.
| Metric | St Martin de Belleville |
|---|---|
| Village altitude | 1,450m |
| Ski area summit | 3,230m (Three Valleys) |
| Linked piste | 600km |
| Local lifts | St Martin Express gondola + 4 chairlifts |
| Nearest airport | Chambéry (1h15), Geneva (2h), Lyon (2h15) |
| Three Valleys lift pass | ~€350/adult/6 days (2025/26; expect modest increases year-on-year) |
The gondola base station sits at the village edge — and with 79% of our chalets offering ski-in ski-out access, most guests can reach it on foot or ski directly to a return run.
Ski-In Ski-Out Access
In our current collection of 42 St Martin de Belleville properties, 33 offer ski-in ski-out access — a rate of 79%. This is among the highest of any resort in our portfolio, including more established destinations with far larger property pools.
The village's compact layout makes this possible. Most chalets cluster within a few hundred metres of the gondola base or along the blue-run return piste that threads through the village. Properties marked "under 5 minutes" in our listings are typically direct slope-side; those at "5–15 minutes" involve a short walk on flat ground rather than a shuttle or steep climb.
For groups prioritising doorstep skiing, browse our ski-in ski-out chalets in St Martin de Belleville — 33 properties currently meet that filter.
Chalet Marcel exemplifies the village's ski-in proposition — a five-bedroom self-catered chalet with slope-side access, a private hot tub, pool, and sauna, starting from £10,450 per week.
Wellness and Amenities
The amenity density across St Martin's chalet stock is notably high for a village of this size. In our current collection:
| Amenity | Properties | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Sauna | 40 | 95% |
| Hot tub | 34 | 81% |
| Fireplace | 39 | 93% |
| Cinema room | 25 | 60% |
| Pool (indoor/outdoor) | 20 | 48% |
| Hammam | 22 | 52% |
| Gym | 14 | 33% |
| Wine cellar | 5 | 12% |
Nearly every chalet in the collection includes a sauna. Four out of five have hot tubs. And close to half have private swimming pools — a figure that would be exceptional in Courchevel or Verbier, let alone a village of 2,500 residents.
This concentration reflects a specific development pattern: the chalets in St Martin were largely built or renovated in the 2010s and 2020s to compete with the Three Valleys' more established luxury bases. The result is modern wellness infrastructure inside traditional Savoyard exteriors.
For those filtering by amenity, our St Martin de Belleville chalets with pools currently number 20 properties, and those with hot tubs number 34.
Service Levels: Catered, Self-Catered, and Flexible
Of 42 chalets in our St Martin de Belleville collection, 23 are self-catered, 9 fully catered, and 10 offer flexible or B&B service — giving groups a clear choice across three distinct tiers.
Self-catered (23 properties) — The majority. These chalets come fully equipped for independent stays: professional kitchens, wine storage, and weekly housekeeping. Given the village has several quality restaurants (including the three-Michelin-star La Bouitte in neighbouring Saint-Marcel), self-catering here does not mean isolation from good food.
Catered (9 properties) — Full-service chalets with dedicated chefs, daily breakfast and afternoon tea, and multi-course evening meals. Four properties in our collection offer private chef service. Catered chalets in St Martin typically start from around £20,000 per week.
Flexible and B&B (10 properties) — A middle ground: some offer catering on request, others provide bed-and-breakfast service with options to add evening meals. Useful for groups who want some structure without committing to a full catering package.
For groups seeking full service, Chalet Nanook offers six bedrooms for up to 12 guests with ski-in ski-out access, a private pool, hot tub, and sauna — a strong option for multi-family groups who want space without sacrificing convenience.
Group Size and Capacity
St Martin de Belleville skews toward larger properties — 30 of 42 chalets (71%) accommodate 10 or more guests, making it one of the stronger Three Valleys bases for multi-family groups. The bedroom distribution confirms this:
| Bedrooms | Properties |
|---|---|
| 5 | 17 |
| 6 | 12 |
| 7–8 | 4 |
| 10+ | 2 |
| 1–4 | 7 |
The village is well suited to multi-family groups and large parties — the kind of booking where Méribel or Courchevel might require two smaller chalets instead of one. With 12 six-bedroom properties and 17 five-bedroom chalets, there is genuine depth at the 8–12 guest range.
For larger groups of 12 or more, filter our St Martin collection by capacity to see the 13 properties that fit.
What to Budget
Pricing in St Martin de Belleville sits below Méribel and significantly below Courchevel, while offering comparable amenity standards and the same lift pass:
| Tier | Weekly Price (approx.) | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Entry luxury | £10,000–£15,000 | 4–5 bed, self-catered, ski-in, sauna + hot tub |
| Mid-range | £15,000–£25,000 | 5–6 bed, full amenity suite (pool, cinema, hammam) |
| Premium | £25,000–£55,000 | 5–8 bed, catered service, flagship wellness |
For context, a five-bedroom ski-in chalet with a pool and sauna in Méribel typically starts above £20,000 per week. In St Martin, equivalent specifications begin closer to £10,000 — a meaningful difference for groups booking multiple weeks or travelling during peak school holidays.
Pure Black Crystal represents the premium catered tier — a five-bedroom chalet with ski-in access, private pool, hot tub, sauna, and full catering, positioned at the upper end of the village's price range.
The Village: What St Martin Is and Isn't
St Martin de Belleville is a working Savoyard village that happens to have a gondola. The distinction matters. Visitors expecting Méribel's purpose-built convenience or Courchevel's après-ski circuit will find neither here.
What it is: a cluster of stone-and-timber buildings around a 17th-century Baroque church, with a handful of restaurants, a fromagerie, a weekly market, and a small selection of shops. The pace is unhurried. Children play in the village square. The gondola empties out by 4pm.
What it isn't: a resort with branded boutiques, late-night bars, or a wide pedestrian promenade. There is no Folie Douce, no Michelin-star restaurant in the village centre (though La Bouitte, just down the road in Saint-Marcel, holds three stars and is bookable for special evenings).
Who it suits: families and groups who want serious skiing infrastructure without the resort atmosphere. Skiers who value quiet evenings, scenic walks, and the satisfaction of accessing 600km of piste from a village that still feels like a village.
How St Martin Compares to Its Three Valleys Neighbours
| Factor | St Martin de Belleville | Méribel | Courchevel 1850 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village altitude | 1,450m | 1,450m | 1,850m |
| Lift access | Gondola (2 min walk) | Multiple lifts | Multiple lifts |
| Character | Traditional farming village | Purpose-built resort | Luxury resort hub |
| Nightlife | Minimal | Moderate | Extensive |
| Chalet price (5-bed, ski-in) | From ~£10,000/wk | From ~£20,000/wk | From ~£35,000/wk |
| Our inventory | 42 properties | 161 properties | 232 properties |
For groups whose priority is on-mountain time rather than resort amenities, St Martin delivers the same skiing as its neighbours at roughly half the weekly rate. The trade-off is a quieter evening scene and fewer dining options within walking distance.
Readers planning a Three Valleys trip may also find our guides to Méribel chalets and Courchevel chalets useful for comparison.
Explore St Martin de Belleville Chalets
Powder Edition brings together 42 properties in St Martin de Belleville — from self-catered chalets at entry luxury pricing to fully staffed residences with private pools and chef service. With 79% offering ski-in ski-out access and 95% including a sauna, the village punches well above its profile. Browse our full St Martin de Belleville collection, or narrow by catered chalets, properties with pools, or ski-in ski-out access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Martin de Belleville good for skiing?
St Martin de Belleville connects directly to the Three Valleys — 600km of linked piste, the largest ski domain in the world. The St Martin Express gondola reaches the Tougnète ridge in under ten minutes, giving access to Méribel, Courchevel, and Val Thorens on a single pass. Local slopes suit intermediates; advanced terrain is a short traverse away.
How far is St Martin de Belleville from Geneva airport?
Geneva is approximately two hours by road (around 160km via the A43 motorway and Tarentaise valley). Chambéry is closer at 1h15, and Lyon Saint-Exupéry is 2h15. Private transfers from Geneva typically cost £400–£600 for a vehicle seating 8 passengers.
Are chalets in St Martin de Belleville ski-in ski-out?
In our current collection, 33 of 42 properties (79%) offer ski-in ski-out access — among the highest rates of any resort we cover. The village's compact layout means most chalets sit within walking distance of the gondola base or along the return blue run.
How much does a chalet in St Martin de Belleville cost per week?
Weekly rates in our collection range from approximately £10,000 for a self-catered five-bedroom chalet to £55,000 for a flagship catered property. A typical mid-range booking — five to six bedrooms, ski-in access, pool, and sauna — falls between £15,000 and £25,000 per week.
Is St Martin de Belleville suitable for families?
The village suits families well. Gentle local slopes above the village serve beginners, the ESF operates a children's ski school, and the quiet pace means children can move freely. Of our 42 properties, 30 accommodate 10 or more guests, making multi-family bookings straightforward.
What is the difference between St Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires?
Both sit in the Belleville valley with Three Valleys access. Les Menuires (1,800m) is a purpose-built resort from the 1960s with more shops, bars, and a larger ski school — but brutalist architecture and a functional feel. St Martin (1,450m) is the original village: traditional, quieter, lower-altitude, with higher-specification chalets and a more refined character.
