 |
MERIBEL SKI RESORT
|
|
Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages in the Les Allues commune of the Savoie département of France, near the town of Moûtiers. The villages are within the Vanoise National Park.
The resort is best known for its chalet accommodation, with dozens of tour operators offering all-inclusive holidays, but there are also hotels, residences and self-catering apartments for all budgets. The season normally runs from the second week in December until the end of April, with New Year and February/March being the busiest times. |
 |
Founded by British Colonel Peter Lindsay in 1938, the French ski resort of Méribel has remained a favourite with the British as well as the French. Its position in the heart of the world-famous Three Valley ski area gives access to 600km of pistes and unlimited off-piste. Unlike many purpose-built French resorts Méribel has retained its Alpine charm, consisting entirely of chalet-style wood and stone buildings. The resort is situated between 1450m and 1700m, with the separate satellite village Méribel-Mottaret sited higher at 1700-1800m. Lower in the valley are several traditional villages, with Les Allues and Raffort linked to the main lift system by gondola. |
Méribel’s lift system is modern and continually being improved, with 16 gondola lifts and 18 chairlifts. The neighbouring resorts of Courchevel, la Tania, Val Thorens and Les Menuires can all be reached quickly, making Méribel the ideal base from which the explore the vast Trois Vallées. |
| |
| Meribel is in the centre of the Trois Vallées, which also incorporates Courchevel and Val Thorens. Together they form the largest ski area in the world. Unlike most French ski resorts, Meribel has retained an atmosphere of the traditional skiing village, despite having grown enormously in recent years. Meribel-Mottaret is situated two miles (4km) up the valley and is better suited for the skiing, but not the nightlife. The resort was founded by the English early in the last century and is still very popular with Brits. |
| SKIING :
The Trois Vallées ski area is one of the best and most extensive in the world (10 times larger than Vail, the largest ski resort in the States), and Meribel is in the middle between Courchevel and Val Thorens. Meribel has a vast choice for beginner and intermediate skiers, but those with more experience will want to test out the slopes in Courchevel and Val Thorens. Snowboarders will find lots of challenging slopes and couloirs and when the snow is good there is some great off-piste. |
| Resort Statistics |
| Altitude (m) |
1450 |
| Highest lift (m) |
2950 |
| Total piste (km) |
600 |
| Longest descent (km) |
5 |
| Lifts |
198 |
| Mountain restaurants |
10 |
|
| Piste's |
| Easy (green) |
101 |
| Intermediate (blue/red) |
146 |
| Hard (black) |
28 |
| Terrain / Snowboard Park |
Yes |
|
|
Best time to visit meribel :
December: Snow in December can be fantastic or a flop.The lift pass is cheaper in this season and the bargains can also be easily done. Empty pistes are guaranteed.
Christmas and New Year are very popular so the resort and pistes will be busy, and prices much higher.
January: The snow can be excellent in January.
As the pistes are virtually empty with no lift queues,the French go for holidays at this time of year. The weather can be very cold, but often the Alps enjoy blue skies and sunshine as well as low temperatures for much of the
month.
February: It is the month when the French school holidays start. The resorts are always extremely busy and children’s ski school places are booked up months in advance
March: Sun starts to shine for longer and longer each day in this month. The snow quality may start to decline - hard in the morning and slushy in the afternoons. It’s the popular month with the British and other nationalities.
April : This is month when fress snow is showered on the mountains . In fine weather it is perfect for lazy long lunches in the sun, and the pistes are once again quiet. At the end of April the resort closes, reopening at the end of June.
July- August: The days tend to be sunny and the nights cool.
The resorts are fully open for the summer season when, golf, tennis, trecking in the National Park, and a host of organized sports can be enjoyed.
September -October: Months when few shops or businesses opening are there. November :everything starts gearing up towards the winter season again. |
|
|
|
|
Communications in Meribel:
France international access code is +33. The code for outgoing calls depends on what network is used to dial out , followed by the relevant country code . Most public telephones accept phone cards. To call abroad ,the cheapest way is often with a phone card. GSM networks is used for local mobile phones and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Internet cafes are available in most towns throughout France. |
Shopping in Meribel:
For Ski Shopping there are lots of good ski shops in Meribel . There are plenty of mini-supermarkets for self-caterers as well as a fine selection of bakeries and delicatessens. Almost all shops in Meribel open seven days per week, including bank holidays. Usually their opening times are 9-12, 15-19.One large supermarket is Spar located opposite to the chapel in Mussillon. |
Where can I change money?
There are several banks and a post office in Méribel centre where one can change money during banking hours Monday to Friday. Mottaret has two cash points in the centre of town. One of the easiest ways to obtain Euros is to use a credit or debit card in one of the several cashpoint machines in the centre of Méribel or Mottaret. NB American dollars may not be accepted by local banks, especially 100 dollar bills, due to forgeries in circulation. |
Where can I pick up my emails?
Meribel: at the Cybar in la Taverne; the Tourist Office; the Cactus Cafe; le Rond Point bar; the Bowling Alley; Evolution Brasserie and Scott's Bar.
In Les Allues, the Tsaretta bar.
In Mottaret at the Tourist Office. To use the Tourist Offices' terminal you will need to buy a France Telecom phone card.
Wi-fi is available at Evolution, the Tsaretta and at Meribel Tourist Office. |
Nightlife in Meribel:
The nightlife in Meribel is not as wild as in some ski resorts, but there's still plenty going on. Dick's T-bar is the best-known nightclub and the queues can be long. Meribel-Mottaret has few choices and closes up earlier. There are two exceptional places here in the afternoons. The Rond Point in Meribel which has fantastic live bands every afternoon and LDV which is in Meribel Village, a small satellite of Meribel. Both get packed so it's best to get in before the bands start at 5pm The drinks are also cheaper between 4-5 so get them in before.
Nightlife in Meribel centres around the Pub and Taverne for live music. |
Health in Meribel:
Health facilities and Hospitals are first class in France.If you are a British or a visitors from other EU countries having a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) then, you will be blessed with discounted medical treatment and medicines. Otherwise doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Medical insurance is advised to the visitors. Rabies and Hantavirus which is caused by rodents also occurs occasionally. France confirmed its first cases of bird flu in February 2006 ,all precautionary measures has been taken. The risk is low for travellers, but close contact with domestic, wild and caged birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes should be well cooked.
|
Security in Meribel:
Security has been heightened after the London and Madrid bombings, particularly in the transportation . AZF group claim to have a number of explosives on railway tracks. The security staff removes and destroys the unattended luggage left in public places for the long time. Visitors are advised to take precautions against petty theft and to ensure their personal safety. Thieves and pickpockets operate on the metro and around airports. Several recent cases of burglary have been reported while visitors were asleep in their caravans . Tourists are advised to conceal bags and purses even when driving and to never leave valuables things in the car. Bag snatching is also common, particularly on public transport and in shopping centres. |
|
|
|
|
|