Expatica have been reviewing Ski destinations in Europe. Their pick for France was Meribel. Some background on Meribel first: Méribel is a ski resort in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps, situated near the town of Moutiers. Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages in the Les Allues commune of the Savoie département of France, near the town of Moûtiers, called Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret and Méribel Village. The villages are within the Vanoise National Park and a part of the Les Trois Vallées interlinked ski system.
The catered ski chalet is the way forward. After spending a week in a lovely, eight person, half board, ski in-ski out chalet in Mirabel I was completely relaxed and utterly spoiled. We were taken care of by a lovely ski hostess who made us breakfast every morning (fresh French bread and croissants, hot porridge, eggs and bacon), left tea and cakes waiting for us in the afternoon and then made us a home cooked three-course dinner every night.
We hardly went out to the bars in town at all -- staying in our lovely chalet by the roaring fire and playing a few rounds of cards after dinner was much more appealing after a long day (or a short one) out on the slopes.
I’m afraid the Trois Valleys pass (which gives you access to eight connected resorts in the area, including Courchevel and Val Thorens) was wasted on me -- there were plenty of pistes in Mirabel to keep a beginner busy for a week.
On days when I was especially sore, tired, and couldn’t face putting on the board I found that napping, hiking up and down the switchback roads and looking around in the shops in town was all the activity I needed.
Piste: Hardly a drag lift to be found but lots of long, flat and narrow traverses which, for a cautious snowboarder, are kisses of death.
Après ski: Lots of casual bars and restaurants in town (although we hardly left the chalet). In town go to La Galette which offers a large variety of savory and sweet crêpes and tempting raclette and fondue for cheese lovers.
Charm: High marks for charm. Meribel is beautiful and big enough to be interesting for an entire week.
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