Courchevel 1850 is the top village — and the most expensive ski address in France. The Rue du Rocher and the streets around it form a luxury shopping strip with Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton, jewellers, and the obligatory selection of fur boutiques. The hotels are some of the most expensive in Europe. The restaurants include several with multiple Michelin stars.
For the rest of us, 1850 is still where the main lifts converge, and you do not have to spend a fortune to stand on its terraces and watch the parade of helicopters, jets, and oligarch couture. The ski-in ski-out access is unmatched in the resort, and there are a few unpretentious bars and bakeries tucked between the boutiques. Treat it as a spectator sport.