With eco-issues and climate change being ever-more important to mountain resorts Val d’Isere has come up with the recyclable pass. This version requires no deposit and can only be bought in resort. A photograph is required for 8-21 day passes. Recycling bins for old cards can be found by the lift pass offices. For maximum convenience you can buy or recharge your pass online here.
Espace Killy or Val d'Isère Lift Pass?
The decision whether to buy a Val d’Isere or Espace Killy lift pass really depends on how much you want to ski. Here are a few stats to help you decide:
Val d’Isere Area: This pass enables you to ski on the Solaise, Bellevarde, Le Fornet and la Daille areas on the Val d’Isere side of the valley. You can go as far over as La Folie Douce (legendary après ski venue) but you cannot take the Tommeuses or Borsat Express chairlifts (which links over to Tignes). Instead you will need to take the Mont Blanc Chairlift back up above the Val Snow Park or drop down the pistes to La Daille.
This pass will probably suit you if you do not want to ski all day, every day and bear in mind that it is also possible to upgrade a 6 or 7 day Val d’Isere lift pass to include one day skiing in the whole of the Espace Killy by paying a small supplement (See Lift Pass Prices for info >>)
Espace Killy Area: Whilst there is plenty to keep a good intermediate skier occupied on the Val side, if you want to really explore and make the most of the area (and there is ALOT to explore!), then the full Espace Killy pass is probably what you will want. This pass will grant you access to 300km of piste, 115 runs, 94 ski lifts and 2 glaciers and for Espace Killy passes of 5 days or more, you can also go and ski for a day in the Paradiski (Les Arcs/La Plagne) and the 3 Valleys (Meribel/Courchevel/Val Thorens) for FREE! There is such a small difference in price between the Val d’Isere pass and the Espace Killy pass (€9.50 in 09/10), that unless you really only plan to do half days here and there it makes economical sense to buy the full area pass.
Both passes are valid for ½ to 21 day durations or for the whole season.
VIP Pass
The VIP Pass doesn’t allow you to make Mariah-like demands but does offer you discounts on your (Espace Killy and Val d'Isère) lift pass as well as various other reductions and promos throughout the resort. Like the rechargeable pass, the VIP pass can also be purchased and recharged as necessary online for an initial price of €10 (it's valid for 3 years). Once ordered, your reduced rate ski pass is loaded directly to your VIP pass and sent to your home, meaning that you not only save money but don't waste a second getting on the slopes once you get to Val. Other advantages of the card are:
Membership Advantage - 5% off public prices for adults and seniors (65 years +) and 10% off public prices for children and teenagers (up to and including 17 years) on 2 to 15 day passes.
Gift Voucher for following season – receive a gift voucher for next year based on the total amount each individual spends this season. The voucher will be sent to you at the end of the season and will be valid for the 3 following years.
Resort Advantage – 5% discount on parking fees for 6-31 days at the Centre Car Park.
Advantage in case of loss or theft – Insurance without having to pay an excess, no replacement fees if lost and a 7 day cancellation policy before the first day of skiing.
Promotion Advantage – You'll benefit from promotional offers that will be sent to you by mail throughout the season, as well as information about snow conditions.
If you are a complete beginner, then it is likely that you will be joining ski school for most of your stay, so it is worth discussing with them which pass option is best suited for their beginner groups. The free nursery slopes are ideal for learning the basics on long shallow slopes. There are a number of free lifts available in Val d’Isere that are aimed at encouraging beginners up the slopes, namely:
La Daille: Les Lanches drag lift
Solaise: Legettaz drag lift
Solaise: Savonette drag lift
Solaise: Rogoney chair lift
Solaise: Village chair lift
Family Lift Pass Options
If you are skiing “en famille” then Val d'Isere has a Family Pass option for two adults and two children under 18 (from the same family) whereby the 4th and subsequent passes are half price. The exact price will depend on the age breakdown of your family (kids/teens) and it also includes students up to the age of 22 if skiing with Mum and Dad.
The offer is valid on 6 or 7 day duration passes for the whole of the Espace Killy area and don't forget that the under 5's ski for free! Proof of age and student status will be required and each member of the family will have their own hands free pass.
Val d’Isere isn’t all about the snow sports! Pedestrians (piétons) are encouraged up the mountain by reduced prices on a number of lifts, namely:
Cable cars – Solaise, Olympique and Fornet
Gondolas – La Daille and Le Vallon
Funicular lift - Funival
Chair lift – Solaise Express
Chairlifts (ascent only) – Manchet Express (only when connecting slope Lac Ouillette is open), Bellevarde Express and Loyes Express
It is well worth the ride to take in the view, watch the action and catch some sun on a well-positioned terrace. Much of the après ski starts before you’ve even had chance to get down off the mountain, with many high altitude bars and restaurants featuring DJ’s on certain days and deck chairs from which to enjoy an aperitif or two...
Discounted Rate Passes
Early/Late Season Discounts During the first two and the last week of the season, reduced rates apply to both the local and full area passes. Depending on snow conditions, this may also be accompanied by a reduced ski area.
Free Passes for Kids and Seniors A child pass is available to 5-13 year olds and a senior is anyone between the ages of 65-74. Anyone under 5 or over 75 goes free, but must purchase a magnetic ‘hands-free’ card for 3€. To benefit from reduced prices you must show your passport at the time of purchase.
Ski "a la carte" If you ski between 8 and 20 days per season, you should enquire about the ski "a la carte" offer for frequent skiers. Not just limited to Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy, it also offers 15% discount on day passes in neighbouring St Foy, La Rosiere and Val Morel, as well as reductions in Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne, Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz etc) and Serre Chevalier.
The card can be bought on-line for €29 (€15 seniors, free for juniors) and entitles you to 15% reduction on the adult Espace Killy day pass rate, as well as special promotions and loyalty bonuses throughout the year. For example, you can ski for €1 per day on your 9th, 14th and 19th days skiing.
The card is valid from the date of your subscription until 30th September of the following year and you will be billed at the start of each month only for the days you have actually skied. You can also add Carre Neige annual ski insurance to your subscription for just €19 (usually €45-65). For more information and to subscribe, visit www.vipalacarte.fr.
Disabled Skiers Disabled skiers, with a certificate of at least 80% disability, are entitled to 50% off Val d'Isere and Espace Killy public rate ski passes. Alpine resorts are all upping their game in making the mountains much more accessible to everyone, with better and more varied equipment and more specific qualifications for instructors.
Lift Passes - Additional Information
Loss or theft of your lift pass With the advent of hands free ski passes, you no longer need to worry about misplacing your receipt if your lift pass is lost or stolen. Should this happen, report it immediately to the lift pass office and they will be able to re-issue you with a new one on production of valid ID and €3 for the new card.
Insurance It goes without saying that you must be properly insured before taking to the slopes, but you can also purchase insurance on a daily basis as you buy your lift pass. Carré Neige costs just €2.70 per day for adults (€2.30 for children) and is the instantly recognised mountain sports insurance in France that covers you for:
Search and rescue expenses, first aid and rescue transport
Medical expenses and repatriation costs (within France only)
Reimbursement of unused days ski pass (restrictions apply)
Val d'Isere is also rather unique in that should your accident or illness not fall within the scope of your Carre Neige insurance, STVI (the lift company) will refund the unused days on your lift pass anyway!
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