Meribel
Meribel
Meribel vies with Val d’Isere for being the most popular ski resort in Europe for Brits. It’s a friendly place and, although a purpose built ski resort, much more attractive than others such as Tignes.
The heart of Meribel is situated at 1450m which is home to most of the shops, bars, restaurants and the central lift hub of La Chaudanne. You would need an entire season to explore every corner of the Three Valleys, but Meribel is a good place to begin.
The skiing is fantastic and the links to Courchevel, La Tania and Val Thorens makes the Three Valleys a cruising paradise. Meribel also has two superb snow parks.
Pros
- Slap bang in the centre of the biggest linked ski area in the world.
- Ideal for all levels of skiers.
- Impressive lift system and piste maintenance.
- Pleasant chalet style architecture.
Cons
- Expensive and full of Brits.
- Not the best snow in the Three Valleys and the pistes can get crowded.
- The main village is sprawling with a lot of accommodation a long way from the slopes.
The Skiing
There are 150kms of pistes in Meribel with 9 black runs, 23 red, 36 blue and 8 green. Meribel also has plenty of snow canons to ensure good snow coverage, which is needed as Meribel doesn’t have the best snow reliability in the Three Valleys.
There are excellent slopes for beginners; however, they are located slightly out of the resort by the altiport. The expanse of the Three Valleys means that experts are well catered with good off piste opportunities throughout the area.
However, Meribel and the Three Valleys are a real paradise for intermediate skiers with endless slopes for the keen piste basher. Meribel is also a favourite with British snowboarders with good varied terrain and two very good snow aprks: the Moon parka and the Plattieres Park.
Facts And Figures
- Resort altitude 1400m-1700m
- Highest lift 2950m
- 165 lifts in the Three Valleys serving 600km of piste.
- 53 lifts in Meribel serving 150km of piste.
- Ski in/ski out Meribel accommodation is available
The Town And Apres Ski
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly there are few places worth singling out, and there aren’t really enough restaurants to meet demand during the peak weeks. Eating out is expensive anywhere in the Three Valleys. The Charonnet has a great sun terrace, Les Castors is an old favourite and The Rond Point is a good place for lunch, and the place for après ski.
There’s plenty to do off the slopes in Meribel. The Olympic Centre has an ice rink with regular ice hockey matches, as well as a good public swimming pool, climbing wall and spa. The pedestrian lift pass makes it easy for non skiers to meet up with friends for lunch on the mountain. Or you could take a ride around the area in an aeroplane from the resorts altiport.
Meribel prides itself on being a trendy ski resort. As such there are plenty of smart bars and a good atmosphere in the town. Jack’s Bar and Le Rond Point are Meribel institutions for when the lifts close, whilst late night revelers tend to end up in Dick’s Tea Bar.
Useful resources
www.meribel.net
www.merinet.com
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meribel
