When looking at accommodation options in Val d'isere you might find yourself stumbling into some confusion and it may appear that some places aren't in Val d'Isere at all. you night see "la Daille", le Fornet", "le Joseray" mentioned. These are, in fact, all little subsections of Val - let me explain...
VILLAGE MAP
Along the valley floor there are a number of hamlets, which are all part of the town of Val d'Isere. As you come up the mountain you will enter through La Daille. Heading up the main road you will come to the centre of Val d'Isere. Continuing up the road you will pass through Laisinant on your way to Le Fornet, which is the end of the valley in winter time when snow blocks the through road.
All of these separate areas are linked by a free bus, the train rouge, which circulates around town all day every day from 7am to 2.30am, at 5 minute intervals during the skiing day (and every 20 minutes at night).
Two little off shoots from the main road are Le Joseray and Le Legettaz. Le Joseray is linked to the centre of town by a bus that does a full loop through the centre, the train jaune, every 18 minutes during the day. Le Legettaz is linked to the rond point des pistes, from where you can then hop on the train rouge, by the train bleu every 15 minutes.
BUS MAP
Ski in/ski out is often a dealbreaker for people looking for accommodation for their holiday. In Val d’Isère it doesn’t need to be. As I have said there is an amazing free bus service that connects the whole town and all the hamlets. In fact much of the accommodation that is marked as ski in/out is located on some of the tricker slopes of the resort (such as Le Face and Santons) making it challenging at the end of a tiring day. Read on for more information...
You can find more information about the bus services here
LA DAILLE - this hamlet is fairly self-contained with a supermarket, ski hire shops and a couple of bars/restaurants in the centre commercial. It is around 2km from the centre of town, which is an easy walk with pavement the whole way and downhill towards La Daille. It is also on the train rouge route. Some of the accommodation is right on the slope for ski in/ski out access. Both the La Daille telecabine and Funival funiculaire are right there giving access to the Bellevarde sector and Tignes. The ESF ski school have a meeting point in La Daille but most ski schools meet at the central snowfront. La Daille is definitely the easiest part of Val d'Isere to ski back down into with a number of runs giving access (green, blue & red) or you can download in the funiculaire or on the La Daille telecabine.
LE LAISINANT - there are no shops or restaurants in Laisinant itself. The nearest minimarket shop is around 1km (or 1 bus stop away) and the centre of town is around 1.5km. The walk up to Laisinant is fairly easy and there is a pavement almost all the way. It is on train rouge route and the Laisinant Express chairflit is lift right there giving direct access to the Fornet sector and skiable access to the Solaise area. Can ski back down into Laisinant via the Piste L blue run or Mattis red run. There is no option to download on a lift back to Laisinant unless you head back via la Daille, the centre or Fornet and hop on the bus.
VAL D'ISERE CENTRE - on bus route and close to all amenities. If staying on the main street you will likely still want to hop on the bus in the mornings to take you through the tunnel to the rond point des pistes and a 10m hop to the snowfront with easy access to both the Solaise and Bellevarde ski areas as well as ski school meeting points. Can ski back down to the centre via a number of pistes, although be aware that they are generally red & black runs. You can also download in both the Olympique and Solaise telecabines.
LE FORNET - there are no shops in Fornet and just one restaurant. It is around 2.5km from centre of town and not an easy walk (even if not in ski boots) as there is no pavement and it is quite steep (uphill towards Fornet). However, it is on the train rouge bus route for an easy trip into town (around 15 minutes) and the Fornet cablecar is right there giving direct access up to the Fornet sector and also skiable access to the glacier and Solaise area. Queues in the morning for the cablecar will be next to nothing even in peak weeks. But do note that ski schools meet in the centre of town on the snowfront. Can ski back into the Fornet hamlet via the Mangard blue run or you can download on the cablecar.
LE LEGETTAZ - there are no shops or restaurants in Legettaz. Walking into town requires walking across the piste, or taking the scenic route round by the swimming pool. It is on train bleu route, which will take you directly to the rond point des pistes giving access to the central snowfront and also the train rouge to get into town, as well as some bars & restaurants. It is possible to walk to the rond point des pistes but it's not an easy walk (around 1.5km uphill towards Legettaz) and definitely not advisable in ski boots! Ski in/ski out is possible from some of the accommodation here. To ski out it would be a flat path that takes you directly to the snowfront. To ski in it would be via the Santons red piste which is often closed. For those lower down in Legettaz it may be possible to cut across from the top of the Rogoney chairlift on a blue run.
LE JOSERAY - there are no shops in Joseray but there is a restaurant. Walking into town is around 1.5km and uphill on the way back to Joseray. It is on train jaune route, which will take you directly to the rond point des pistes giving access to the central snowfront and also the train rouge to get into town, as well as some bars & restaurants. It is possible to walk to the rond point des pistes but it's not an easy walk (around 1.5km uphill towards Joseray) and definitely not advisable in ski boots! Ski in/ski out is possible from some of the accommodation here. To ski out it would be a flat path that takes you directly to the snowfront. To ski in it would be via the Santons red piste which is often closed.