Meribel for your ski holiday
Located in the heart of the Three Valleys skiing area Meribel, France has excellent access to as many as 111 ski slopes between an elevation of 1450m to 2952 m above mean sea level, housing over 600 km of runs between all three areas.
Meribel enjoys a relatively long season of skiing beginning from early December right up to the end of April. With top class skiing infrastructure and entertainment facilities, ski holidays in Meribel have become a hit with a mixed ability group of skiers, where the entire family can spend quality time together.
A bit about Meribel itself
Meribel was the brainchild of a Scotsman Colonel Peter Lindsay, who dreamt of creating a resort as an alternative to the Austrian and German ski resorts in 1936. The specialized architects he employed to help protect the atmosphere and look of the town are evident till today.
Meribel constitutes five different villages, all with a unique identity of their own. These comprise of Meribel Les Allues, Meribel Village, Meribel Centre, Meribel Les Hauts and finally Meribel-Mottaret.
Due to its location and immense size, you are not bound to ski only in one area. Meribel is linked with La Tania, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Bride-les-Bains, Saint Martin de Belleville, Orens and Val Thorens to allow you to ski in one of the largest ski areas in the world through a single skiing pass
Moreover, the town itself is stunningly beautiful, and strict planning regulations have ensured that it adheres to its original Alpine character and charm with no ungainly concrete jungle of tower blocks.
Getting to Meribel is easy
Meribel is easily reachable by plane, car or train. Major airports are just a few hours away from Meribel and about 20 minutes away from the Moutiers, main highway and train station, resulting in straightforward access from a number of locations.
To give you a rough idea, Geneva Airport is about 180 km/3 hours by car and public transport runs daily in winter with 8 buses on Saturday, 4 on Sunday and 3 in the rest of the week. Chambery is the nearest airport to Meribel, but with an expensive and less number of flights.
Why head to Meribel this season?
Meribel will give you the opportunity to experience the thrills and excitement of a world class competition when the Alpine World Ski Championships are held here and in Courchevel from 6-19 February 2023.
The Three Valleys ski area will become a playground for skiers from around the world to showcase their talent in an exceptional setting. So the time to get the taste of the atmosphere is right now.
Spend Christmas and New Year in the mountains:
Opt for an all-inclusive ski holiday which will leave you with peace of mind. There is no need to make separate bookings for each of the services you require. All you need to do is to enjoy skiing and take in the sights of nature.
Celebrating Christmas under the snow-covered trees, with glittering garlands and festive animations to enjoy the atmosphere around the resort. Smell and taste the mulled wine, visit Christmas markets, meet Santa and enjoy the traditional dishes relished all over France during Christmas.
Ski Schools:
Since Meribel is extremely family centered and as a result has a large number of ski schools and private guides to choose from. This extensive range allows the beginner to focus on having fun and engaging lessons with teachers having excellent technical knowledge of the sport.
Apres Ski
This may not be a prerequisite for many, but there are those who love to unwind after a hard day on slopes, either with a drink or two or a dip in a Meribel pool with an excellent post ski vibe.
Movers and shakers can dance on the slopes in a high tempo atmosphere, live music and great drinks. The town also has a wonderful range of cocktail bars, pubs and clubs to continue your party till early morning.
All abilities of skiers:
Planning a ski holiday to cater to the whims and fancy of every member can be a tricky point, especially when there is a range of age and abilities within the group. That said, the nature of the Three Valleys resort ensures that skiing can be had for all.
There are plenty of colors and runs and exhilarating off-piste at the end of the day to make sure there are exciting stories to share by one and all over tea or canapes.
Non-skiers:
There are many who prefer staying back in town rather than skiing down the slopes, which is a thought which also allows careful consideration. Meribel has plenty to offer with its swimming pool, indoor ice rink, spa, wellness area and other entertainment to exhaust the adults and children the whole day.
In addition, there are tons of boutique shopping opportunities to be had through high tech sports shops as well as little shops and cafes from where to purchase gifts for those back home. Moreover, all the lifts and gondolas are accessible to non-skiers in case they want to enjoy a lunch high up on the mountains with all the views. Other snow-based activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice climbing can also be taken to pass the time.
Great food:
The entire Alps boast of an array of excellent restaurants, both in the resorts and on the slopes and Meribel is no exception. The Michelin starred restaurants serve a sumptuous balance of creative dishes paired with local ingredients, with an extensive wine cellar to boot.
There are great restaurants high up the mountains as well where you get delicious food as well as a welcome break from the beats of the village below.
Family friendly:
Meribel is notorious for its family friendliness and the extremely high standard child care center it runs. From tiny babies to toddlers, be sure your little darlings will be given the best of care. These outstanding services are important to put your mind at rest during a fun-filled holiday with your children.
It’s guaranteed snow:
Absence of snow is the worst thing to happen on a ski trip, especially in some areas of the Alps where the weather is inconsistent resulting in some places having no snowfall at all.
Regardless of the weather pattern, Meribel is guaranteed snow as the resort is best equipped with snow making machines which make artificial snow, in the event of lack of or no snowfall. The 3m high snow cannons shoot out enormous amounts of snow which is then evenly distributed by the piste bashers. Read More – Great Dune of Pilat – Magical Moving Desert in France
