| Meribel, France » Location In southeast France, in the heart of the Savoie region. 27 mls southeast of Albertville. 85 mls southeast of Geneva (Switzerland) and its airport. 110 mls southeast of Lyon and its airport. 60 mls southeast of Chambery and its airport. » Position 2 neighbouring villages set in a 13-ml-long valley and surrounded by wooded slopes, in the heart of the Trois Vallees ski-region. Meribel occupies the southwest-facing side of the valley; Mottaret is higher up the valley on the east-facing side, 2 mls away by road. » Description Modern and purpose built, but generally pretty, Meribel has developed into a popular, bustling resort measuring a compact ml by 800 yds and comprised of mainly wooden, Savoyard-style chalets which blend well with the alpine environment. The main square at the bottom of the village is the principal centre of activity and commercial hub, while the main lifts are found beside the road tunnel leading to loftier Mottaret, a smaller, more low-key, purpose-built satellite which straggles up the slopes from the main road for around 800 yds. Consisting mainly of timber-clad blocks, it has its own small shopping centre and offers doorstep skiing. » Suitable for Middle to upmarket; particularly popular with the British. Good for all grades, with beginners' slopes at both resort centres, a vast choice for intermediates and direct access to the extensive Trois Vallees network for the more adventurous. Family-friendly. » Accommodation Predominantly catered chalets, apartments and 2- and 3-star hotels, with a few 4-stars. Properties are quite spread out, with some a good distance from the lifts; some in Mottaret and the outer Meribel area have piste-to-porch convenience. » Shopping Mainly concentrated in Meribel. Predominantly ski-wear, ski-hire and equipment, plus the usual souvenirs. 1 or 2 small supermarkets serve self-caterers. » Entertainment Daytime: downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding (a snow park is located in each village), walking, snowshoeing, dog-sled rides, winter walking on cleared paths, tobogganing, snowmobile rides, ice go-karting and ice-skating; sports centre with swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and climbing wall. Hang-gliding; paragliding; hot-air ballooning. Pleasure flights and pilot training at Altiport. In summer, mountain hiking and biking, horse riding, quad-bike rides, golf, fishing, tennis and white-water rafting. Nightlife: lively apres-ski centred on a good selection of bars, some with live music; 2 cinemas; 3 nightclubs; a 6-lane bowling alley at the sports centre. Organised torchlit descents. » Eating Reasonable choice of restaurants (several hotel owned), tea rooms and creperies with good-quality food at a wide range of prices. Regional specialities include local cheeses and hams, found on most menus. Variety of fine wines. » Public Transport Regular free ski-buses travel around and between both centres (8.30am to midnight). Taxis are the only alternative after midnight. Public bus to Moutiers and its mainline railway station with TGV and Eurostar connections. » Excursions Guided ski-tours of Trois Vallees; guided tours of the region's baroque religious buildings. Nearby towns of Moutiers and Brides-les-Bains with its spa centre. » Skiing Descsription 56 lifts (16 gondolas, 18 chair-lifts, 14 drag-lifts and 8 baby lifts) and 1 moving walkway; the lift network connects both villages to each other and to the wider ski-region, with links to the Courchevel slopes to the east and Les Menuires and Val-Thorens to the southwest. Mottaret's location at the foot of the slopes makes access to the wider area more convenient. A ski-pass is available for the Meribel Valley only or there is the Trois Vallees pass which covers the wider ski-region and offers unlimited skiing opportunities. Several ski-schools with English-speaking instructors; the largest offers around 450 instructors and tuition in alpine, telemark, cross-country and mogul skiing, snowboarding and monoskiing. » Statistics Villages: Meribel 4,757 ft; Mottaret 5,742 ft. Highest lifts (Mont du Vallon): 9,685 ft. Very good snow conditions prevail Dec to April owing to the high altitude. 93 mls of well-groomed pistes, comprising 8 green runs, 34 blue, 23 red and 9 black plus a slalom stadium; 650 snow cannons reinforce the snow cover when necessary. Links to the extensive Trois Vallees ski-domain incorporating Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val-Thorens, boasting 185 lifts and 400 mls of slopes ensure exceptional variety and even higher slopes. 20 mls of cross-country trails. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hotels in Meribel, France |
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