Méribel
Resort Details

The ski resort of Méribel lies in the middle of the extensive Three Valley ski area in the Parc de la Vanoise, Savoie. The resort is large and spreads out over the south facing mountainside; it consists largely of hundreds of privately owned chalets, and rises to 1600 metres where there is a small airport and 9 hole golf course in the summer, and an excellent beginners' slope in the winter.

The main village of the valley, les Allues, is the most charming and retains a distinctive Savoyarde character - it is a quiet counterpoint to Méribel proper, which buzzes continually with all ages and nationalities. All the hamlets below Méribel, including les Allues, are within a few minutes walk or a short bus ride of the Olympic bubble, which runs up from Brides les Bains at the bottom of the valley. Brides les Bains is a fine place to stay if you are on a budget as the beds are a lot cheaper than the rest of the valley.

Higher up from Méribel is the purpose built resort of Mottaret.
Méribel has a cosmopolitan feel like Courchevel 1850 but not on quite such a grand scale. The resort was founded in the 1930s by a group of Englishmen headed by Peter Lindsay, and the British predominate. There are still some quaint and charming old chalets to be found among the trees, and many of the hotels are first class with a sophistication second to none.

Méribel and Mottaret are connected to the other nine resorts in two more valleys - Val Thorens, Reberty, les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville and the five Courchevel villages. The skiing is some of the best in the world catering for every standard, and the off piste can be exceptional. The snow conditions are good way into April but are best on the Courchevel side as the resorts face north and locally gets the highest snowfall. At Val Thorens the Cime de Carron cable car goes to 3200m (10400ft) where good snow is guaranteed all season.

There is also some good off piste glacier skiing to 3400m (11000ft).There is a fourth valley with excellent skiing from the top of the Cime de Carron down to a half way station. In mid season it is possible to ski down to Orelle which links the Chambery-Albertville road with la Norma, the Frejus tunnel and the Italian border fifteen miles away.

The Three Valley lift pass covers all 11 resorts making the area one of the largest skiable domains in the world with nearly 400 miles of piste!

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