I feel that the final time I skied in Meribel I used to be nonetheless engaged on my parallel turns so it’s secure to say that so much has modified since I final visited Méribel village.
However whereas the resort has grown enormously, providing extra household lodging choices, wonderful eating decisions and a number of apres-ski actions (not simply of the Folie Douce form), one factor hasn’t altered and that’s Meribel’s place within the coronary heart of the Three Valleys ski space.
Les Trois Vallées ski area within the Tarentaise Valley is made up for seven ski resorts: Méribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, La Tania, Saint Martin de Belleville, Brides les Bains and Orelle.
Whereas every resort has one thing totally different to supply, Méribel wins first place relating to location. Its place within the centre of the 600 km of pistes means easy accessibility to every little thing that Les 3 Vallées has to supply skiers. This actually is without doubt one of the finest household ski resorts in France.
In case you are contemplating a Meribel household ski vacation then this submit is for you. Learn on to find why
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Historical past of Meribel village
As soon as upon a time Meribel was a conventional farming village however then within the Nineteen Thirties Scottish Colonel Peter Lindsay arrived with a imaginative and prescient to create a ski resort. He labored with French skier Emile Allais to ascertain a resort close to the village of Méribel Les Allues.
Over the following years the resort grew, gaining cable vehicles and hyperlinks to different resorts in addition to ski-in ski-out lodging and the primary snow cannons within the early Eighties.
Whereas the Méribel valley has modified significantly since these early days, what hasn’t modified is the look, model and really feel of the resort. Lindsay insisted that the buildings mix with the pure atmosphere and nonetheless at present it’s a resort characterised by stone and picket chalets in a standard Savoyard model making it one in all France’s most tasty ski resorts.
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Meribel Ski Resort
However Meribel is greater than only a fairly face, this resort gives really excellent snowboarding. The Meribel valley alone has round 150 km of pistes however when mixed with the remainder of the Three Valleys, you’re rewarded with the world’s largest ski space with unbelievable snowboarding to swimsuit everybody from the newbie to the intense skier.
Plus, the raise infrastructure and piste upkeep implies that the slopes are extraordinary nicely groomed.
MAP OF VILLAGE
Méribel Centre
Meribel ski resort is made up of a variety of totally different villages all related both through bus or by the a ski slope – or each!
Méribel centre is the guts of the resort the place you’ll discover a lot of the eating places, bars and acres ski with ubiquitous dwell music. By way of ski lifts, that is the place La Chaudanne is and from right here you will get to Courchevel, Mottaret and the Altiport space of Meribel.
La Chaudanne space can be the place most ski faculties have a tendency to fulfill. It’s straightforward to stroll round Meribel centre and there are some good family-friendly lodging choices together with La Kaila (see beneath).
Méribel Mottaret
Sitting above the centre of Méribel at 1750 metres is Meribel Mottaret, a function constructed resort with ski-in ski-out lodging choices providing direct entry to the pistes. The village has every little thing you want together with supermarkets, eating places, ski rental outlets and a few unbelievable ski faculties. A free shuttle bus runs from right here to Meribel centre in roughly 10-minutes.
Meribel Village
Tucked away from the centre of the resort in a quiet location, Meribel village is a superb place for households. The Golf chairlift takes you to the Altiport space (with a protected youngsters’s space) of Meribel and a blue run takes you from right here into the Meribel centre. Or the free shuttle bus takes roughly 5 minutes.
Les Allues
Meribel Les Allues is the unique city within the Meribel Valley earlier than the ski resort was developed. It nonetheless maintains the texture of a standard alpine village and has some nice lodging choices.
Les Trois Vallées ski space
It’s straightforward to take a look at the Three Valleys and be overwhelmed by its sheer dimension and suppose that’s solely suited to superior skiers. The truth is, nonetheless, that there are ski slopes to swimsuit all ranges. Plus, with 85 per cent of the ski space above 1,800m promising good situations for many of the season (additionally they have a superb snowmaking system ought to the climate not cooperate).
The entire resorts throughout the 3 Valleys have devoted studying zones with mild slopes – in Meribel it’s situated on the sunny Altiport space.
There are myriad “straightforward ski zone” pistes, labelled on the piste maps and themed runs which can be particularly nice for teenagers. And don’t suppose that you’re restricted to snowboarding in your resort in case you are new to the game; there are ski slopes that open up the complete ski space to novices. In case you are with a ski teacher then they’ll have the ability to information you.
The Three Valleys is a superb resort for intermediate skiers with round 75 per cent of the pistes blue or purple.
A number of the hottest runs within the Meribel valley embody the thigh-burning Combe Vallon, a purple run that’s one of many longest within the valley. The run begins at Méribel’s highest snowboarding level, the Mont du Vallon (2952m) and continues on, going for a complete of three.2km and a 1,000m drop. If you happen to plan to ski this run then it’s finest to do it very first thing within the morning when there are fewer skiers and actually good snow.
A number of the finest blue runs within the Meribel valley embody Pic Blue that begins on the hyperlink to La Tania above the Altiport part of Merle and runs all the way down to the Loze chairlift. The Roc de Fer is one other enjoyable blue run that runs down into the Chaudanne space.
Severe skiers will need strive a number of the black runs together with Le Grand Couloir, the hardest black run within the 3 Valleys. Earlier than even trying the run it’s good to choose your method alongside a slender, steep ridge earlier than launching your self down the steep descent.
La Face is one other well-known black run, the world’s steepest large slalom course that took delight of place within the Albertville Winter Olympic Video games in 1992.
See a the piste map for Les 3 Vallees here
Meribel for Households
Meribel is a superb place for a household snowboarding vacation. It’s a Famille-Plus resort that means that it has every little thing you want from wonderful childcare and family-friendly eating places to lodging suited to households, leisure and extra.
Meribel has quite a lot of slopes and snow parks devoted to youngsters. These are enjoyable locations to play in addition to being a secure atmosphere for them to study in.
The Animal Path (Piste des Animaux) follows an enchanting path via the forest the place youngsters can study in regards to the Trois Vallée wildlife whereas additionally practising their snowplough. There’s a strolling path alongside the path for non-skiers.
Within the Altiport space of Meribel is the Inuit Village, a enjoyable play space for teenagers the place video games and leisure happen day by day from 2pm – 4pm throughout the French faculty holidays. Participate in thriller fishing, observe the Inuit path, go on a treasure hunt, play snow golf and far more. There are additionally picnic areas if you wish to deliver a snack.
Alongside the Pic Bleu piste is the Altai Dragon path the place magical dragons are ready to be found after which there’s Yooni the Yeti on the Yeti Park. Briefly, there are a number of enjoyable runs to maintain youngsters busy, pleased and having fun with their ski vacation!
Ski faculties in Meribel
Not surprisingly given how massive Meribel is, there are a lot of ski faculties to select from with loads of choices for small group classes and devoted youngsters’s classes. If you happen to plan to go to throughout the February faculty holidays or at New Yr specifically then ensure that to guide nicely upfront.
Parallell Lines have been working out of Meribel for the final 23 years and have English-speaking instructors.
Oxygene provide ski and snowboarding classes in English. They’re a very good choices for novices and their classes for younger youngsters are capped at a most of 6 youngsters pre group.
Marmalade is a small native outfit with English-speaking instructors and a very good status for excellent technical educating.
New Generation is a well-respected ski faculty working everywhere in the French Alps. They provide English-speaking instructors and classes starting from 2 – 4.5 hours.
The family-owned Snow School received the 2022 Tripadvisor Vacationers’ Alternative award. They provide snowboarding and snowboarding classes throughout the Three Valleys.
ESF continues to be among the best locations to study to ski they usually have 320 English-speaking instructors and provide youngsters’s ski classes for all ranges.
Prosneige provide a particular ski program for youngsters aged 2 to 4 years previous.
Different winter actions in Meribel
Away from the ski slopes Meribel has heaps to supply. Listed below are a number of the indoor and out of doors actions which you can take pleasure in when you’ve taken your ski boots off for the day they usually’re good for non-skiers too.
- Meribel’s Parc Olympique is dwelling to a swimming pool, ice rink and an indoor climbing wall. Ice hockey matches are held right here weekly throughout the ski season.
- There are two cinemas to select from one in Meribel and the opposite Meribel Mottaret.
- Strive snowshoeing both with an ESF information or with Raquette Evasion who finish their forest walks with a chocolate fondue.
- Go ski touring; guide a information with ESF.
- Meribel centre has a bowling alley, good for a family-friendly competitors after the lifts shut.
- Go horse driving or strive ski-jöering (the place you’re pulled on alongside by a horse whereas on skis) on the Nordic Ranch.
- Sort out Meribel’s 3.4km toboggan run that drops 470m and has a whopping 28 corners to hurry round. It begins from the highest station of the Tougnète gondola.
- Take to the skies with a tandem paragliding flight.
Meribel and the Three Valleys Ski Go
There are numerous choices for ski passes to your Meribel ski vacation relying on the place you need to ski and for a way lengthy. Check out probably the most up-to-date lift pass rates here.
Household-friendly Lodging in Meribel
Meribel has developed one thing of a status as being a vacation spot for luxurious ski holidays and that is definitely mirrored within the lodging choices.
However the excellent news is that there are many wonderful family-friendly lodging decisions starting from the standard catered chalet and luxurious ski chalets to lodges designed particularly for households. The next are simply a few of choices out there, for extra concepts and additional info have a look here.
Antarès Meribel
These tremendous luxurious residences are on the location of the previous Membership Med resort within the Belvédère space. Privately owned however out there to lease, the residences are monumental and include all of the lodge facilities you may ever need.
On web site can be a ski rent store, youngsters’ play space, swimming pool (with youngsters pool space) and an unique spa that along with providing magnificence remedies has a wealth of medical remedies to strive too.
Le Coucou Resort & Spa
This luxurious 5* boutique lodge in Les Allues is owned by the identical household that based the French vogue model Naf Naf. The extremely covetable lodge interiors have been designed by French inside designer Pierre Yovanovitch.
There are 55 rooms together with two non-public chalets. Chalet Églantine is ready over 4 flooring and contains its personal non-public playhouse. The chalet sleeps 12 individuals. Chalet Éléonore additionally sleeps 12 and is marginally smaller than Églantine however equally trendy.
The chalets include their very own butler, non-public ski room, non-public entry to the slopes, an indoor pool, non-public therapeutic massage cabin, and direct entry to the lodge.
Le Kaila
One of many finest household lodges on the town, Le Kaila, was designed and developed by a pair with younger youngsters and the result’s lodge that’s completely sensible for households.
Lodging is trendy and comfy with youngsters’ bedrooms and loos. Most likely the most effective factor about Le Kaila, nonetheless, is the Children Membership that has partnered with LEGO®. Anticipate larger-than-life LEGO® ski figures, extra bricks that you may each presumably use, snug play areas and even DUPLO® for youthful youngsters.
La Chaudanne
Situated metres from the slopes, luxurious Resort La Chaudanne is the best lodge for getting youngsters to their ski classes on time! The lodge has household rooms that sleep as much as 5 individuals in addition to an indoor pool and hamman. There’s a bar only for youngsters (serving sweets slightly than your conventional apéro) in addition to a youngsters and teenage zone. The Spa has a variety of remedies for youngsters.
See rates for Hotel la Chaudanne
Resort Le Mottaret
Situated in Meribel Mottaret, this three star ski-in ski-out lodge is a superb choice for households. They provide a variety of lodging choices together with triple rooms, a Status Household room the place youngsters keep free, a Status Quad and Status Suite that sleeps as much as six individuals.
See rates for Hotel Le Mottaret
Le Savoy
In Meribel Centre is The Savoy, a pleasant lodge with household suites, cosy dwelling areas and an excellent restaurant.
Pierres & Vacances Meribel
Providing nice worth for cash are the Pierres & Vacances residences. There are a variety of various places round Meribel to select from.
See the Pierres & Vacances Meribel properties here.
Meribel Eating places
Meribel’s restaurant scene could be very spectacular whether or not on the slopes or off. The next are a number of the finest eating places in Meribel.
Maya Altitude
Situated on the high of the Tougnète chairlift at an altitude of two,400m, is that this colourfully adorned restaurant that’s a part of the Maya Assortment.
The brilliant striped ceilings and lampshades of the interiors space mentioned to have been impressed by Tibetan and Himalayan design (the place the Christmas tree made out of plush toys suits into this design thought will not be instantly apparent!). However the decor is enjoyable and the meals is superb that includes Savoyard specialities a nicely as meals cooked within the charcoal and Tandoor ovens.
The desert menu is out of this world so be sure you save area!
Le Clos Bernard
This widespread Meribel restaurant sits within the Altiport forest and is accessed from the underside of the Loze chairlift. It’s an particularly nice alternative for lunch as skiers of all ranges – together with younger skiers – can entry it simply.
The menu options loads of conventional Savoyard dishes together with croziflette, fondue and raclette in addition to wonderful burgers and pasta. Its notably well-known for its meats grilled on a wooden fireplace. Make sure that to guide upfront.
Le Lillie
Certainly one of my favorite locations to eat throughout our time in Meribel was at Le Lillie, named after the grandmother who constructed a lodge on this spot in 1964. The property not gives lodging as of late nevertheless it does serve excellent meals.
Anticipate every little thing from scrumptious pizzas and native specialities (fondue, raclette and tartiflette) to curry, ravioli and beef tartare – and extra! They generally have a DJ taking part in within the night.
Beef Bar at Resort Le Coucou
In addition to being fantastic luxurious lodge, Le Coucou has an spectacular Beef Bar restaurant that’s simply among the best eating places in Meribel, notably for carnivores! Grills don’t come low cost right here however if you happen to’re after Australian Wagyu, Japanese Kobe or Black Angus beef then that is the place to return.
La Fromagerie
Cheese lovers ought to head straight to La Fromagerie the place the most interesting alpine cheese is served in myriad kinds. The fondue is a favorite with locals and guests alike however additionally they serve raclette, tartiflette, salads and charcuterie. A handful of vegetarian choices additionally characteristic on the menu. Make sure that to guide upfront.
get to Meribel
Chambery Airport is the closest airport to Meribel, only a one hour and 20 minute drive away. Geneva Airport is a two hour drive from Meribel. Ask your lodging about an airport switch.
If travelling by practice then Moûtiers is the closest practice station, simply 17km away. Eurostar ski trains from London and high-speed TGV trains from Paris cease right here. From Moûtiers there are native buses that run to Méribel centre.
For extra info on travelling by practice to the slopes, check out Snowcarbon.
