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by John McElborough
If you have any interest in skiing or snowboarding then Meribel will be a familiar winter destination to you. Situated in the French alps, in an area known as Trois Vallées, it is part of a ski site that incorporates (rather confusingly, given the ‘three valleys’ name), four of the best known ski valleys – Courchevel Valley, The Meribel Valley, The Val Thorens Valley and The Orelle Valley – which together make up the world’s largest ski area. Meribel is one of the quaintest of the ski areas, having retained pretty much all its alpine charm, something many of the purpose built resorts have not been able to do. The resort is around 3 – 4 hours drive from Geneva and reachable by taxi, bus or hire car. The centre of Meribel is fairly lively and populated with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants, but if you’re looking for a slightly less developed option then check out Meribel Village. Lift passes are available for every type of alpine holidaymaker as is equipment, which can be hired in Meribel.
After a day’s skiing you are likely to be pretty hungry (and thirsty!) and Meribel has this nicely covered with a swathe of après ski establishments catering to all ages and tastes. Restaurants serving up traditional fondue and tartiflette (a dish of potatoes layered with cheese, cream and pieces of bacon – not for the faint hearted!) sit alongside snackier options, pizzerias and high class hotel restaurants where you could possibly spend all your holiday Euros on just one sumptuous meal. There are also a number of restaurants up on the mountains where you can sit and carb-load at lunch whilst absorbing the views of the pristine white slopes and bright blue sky.
When you return from your day of exertion, you’ll be able to stay at any one of a range of accommodation options, most of which are within cute chalet style accommodation. There’s budget accommodation for students at the ski hostels, self-catering chalets for groups and the high-end chalets and ski hotels for anyone who has some cash to splash.
Although you probably wouldn’t pick an Alpine ski resort as a place to do some high end shopping, Meribel’s shops have more to offer than just thermals and gilets. The town has a number of boutiques, offering everything from expensive ski clothes to labels like Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. There’s also a bi weekly market that is the perfect place to pick up traditional souvenirs or holiday gifts for anyone back at home. And once you’re done with the shopping Meribel has a wealth of après ski options to keep you busy before its time to get a few hours kip and then head back to the slopes. There are beer bars, cocktail bars, pubs and clubs where you can dance the night away to a range of music, from retro to bang up to date, some of it played by the club scene’s latest star DJs who often make an appearance in the resort’s clubs.
Author Byline: This was a guest post by John McElborough for Alpine Action who offer catered Meribel chalets to rent for your ski holiday in the french alps.
I have been skiing in Meribel – it’s beautiful! I recommend staying in a chalet to get the true skiing experience, but if you like luxury then there are plently of hotels. I have skied all over the Alps and usually opt for a catered chalet as this way you can relax after a long days skiing – the afternoon cake is a must once those ski boots come off! In the summer i tend to go to Florida – i went a few years ago and keep going back. I stay in anna maria vacation rentals as they are beautiful and homely, much like the chalets you find in Meribel.