Meribel - January 2020
January 19th – 26th 2020
The SNOW-CATS make a welcome return to Meribel, France, next season.
The pretty alpine resort of Meribel is one of the best loved French skiing destinations and is the convivial warm heart of the legendary ‘Three Valleys’ ski area which fully deserves ranking among the world’s elite ski areas. With 600km of pistes this enormous ski area, the biggest lift-linked ski area in the world, is home to the famous resorts of Courchevel (including La Tania), Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville. Encompassed within spectacular scenery one of the many advantages of the area is that it caters for all grades of skier and off the slopes has something for everybody to do.
Meribel, France
Meribel, conceived by Scotsman Colonel Peter Lindsay in 1938, is a prime example of a well planned purpose built ski resort owing to strict building regulations and continual investment in its mountain infrastructure and eco-credentials. The resort is made up of 4 villages; the old village of Les Allues, Meribel Village, Meribel Centre and Meribel Mottaret. Meribel’s Centre is the resort’s main hub and from here roads lined with chalets, beautifully constructed from local stone, wood and slate, snake up the sides of the valley.
All the villages are linked by a free efficient bus service (no need even for a lift pass) and well-maintained footpaths. In more modern times the Meribel area and its sister resorts which make up the Three Valleys have, unlike some of its closest French rival resorts, invested heavily in its lift infrastructure over the years.
The highly efficient lift-system of Meribel, home to the 1992 Winter Olympics (Albertville), and the 3 Valleys ensures a swift days skiing. The Méribel valley has its own extensive ski area which provides easy access to the neighboring ski resorts and offers a vast choice of pistes with over 150km of prepared slopes suited to all standards of skier.
Beginners can enjoy the tree-lined runs around the Altiport whilst leisurely skiers can take pleasure in the flattering boulevard pistes flanked by gourmet restaurants. There are plenty of challenging runs for intermediate and advanced skiers; high up on the Saulire are steep blues and reds whilst over on the western (Tougnete) side of the valley is another good mixture of blues, reds and blacks.
Meanwhile the notorious Courchevel couloirs over the ridge from Meribel and the bumps of Chanrossa and Roc de Tougne will keep the expert skier occupied. The Three Valleys boasts vast off-piste terrain to tempt powder addicts; the pitches down from Mont Vallon, Plattieres and Combes and either side of the Pas du Lac are but a few.
The Skiing
Click the piste map for a larger view.
Lift Passes
The Tour Operator is not offering any price advantage for pre- booking Lift Pass and/or Equipment Hire. We therefore ask that you either book these directly with the Operator Rep on the transfer coach to resort, or alternatively organise in resort on arrival.
Meribel has many excellent equipment hire shops so please do shop around for good internet deals on pre-booking your hire.
Lift passes bought on the transfer coach (3V costing approx. £265) will be delivered on arrival day to reception to be paid/collected. Over 75 year olds ski free!
If you get together with two friends and all pay for your lift passes in one transaction, you can make savings at the lift office (it’s just up the road from our hotel). A standard 3 Valley adult pass is €312, if 3 of you buy in one transaction they are €297 each saving €15 each.
Meribel Facts
- Meribel altitude: 1450m, 4590ft
- Meribel Mottaret altitude: 1750m, 5741ft
- No. of lifts: 53
- Total Piste length: 150km
- Highest lift: 2950m, 9678ft
- 650 Snow cannons
Three Valley Facts
- No. of lifts: 183
- No. of pistes: 336
- Total Piste length: 600km
- Highest lift: 3230m, 10,498ft
- 1920 Snow cannons
Chalet Hotel Tarentais
The ‘CHALET / HOTEL TARENTAISE’ will be home for our Festival party. Run by the tour operator Mark Warner, with whom we have a long standing and excellent relationship, this premier hotel in the heart of the village offers ski in, ski out location, homely furnishings, a roaring log fire, lounge and bar area with pool table, health & beauty spa, sauna, childcare with crèche & kids club, a lift to all floors, and all bedrooms are spacious with en-suite facilities, most with balconies.
Located right on the edge of the piste with stunning views of the mountains beyond. This ideal ski in, ski out location offers immediate access to the hustle and bustle of the vibrant village centre with its shops, coffee bars and nightlife.
The dining room looks out across the mountains where we’re offered hot and cold breakfasts, welcoming afternoon chalet tea with homemade soup, bread and cakes and in the evening an excellent 3 course menu with complementary wine.
Chalet Hotel Tarentaise
Situated in the heart of Meribel Mottaret our holiday accommodation, the Chalet Hotel Tarentaise, is located right on the edge of the piste with stunning views of the mountains beyond. This ideal ski in, ski out location offers immediate access to the hustle and bustle of the vibrant village centre with its shops, coffee bars and nightlife.
Image from TripAdvisor.
Food at Chalet Hotel Tatentaise
Wholesome breakfast buffet, with fruit juices, cereals, breads, pastries, fruits, yoghurt, a full cooked breakfast and freshly brewed teas and coffees.
Afternoon Tea to welcome us from the slopes, including soup, cakes, bread and jams, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.
Six three-course evening meals, with choices for each course, complemented with unlimited wine. After dinner fresh tea & coffee.
Ski Groups
Skiing in groups of about 5-8 people is an important aspect of Snowcat club skiing. We offer multiple groups of like-ability skiers to suit most standards, so providing your ability level is intermediate (see below note) through to expert, we can offer a well-matched group for you.
Winter Walkers
Meribel offers some great adventures for our walking group and non-skiers.
Take a picturesque walk on Meribel’s 20 mile network of winter walking trails, the first of its kind in the French Alps, allowing walks right across the Meribel and Courchevel valleys with the help of a few lifts and a cheaper pedestrian lift pass. Most end up at a suitable hostelry, where you can enjoy lunch.
You can also enjoy The Parc Olympique, La Chaudanne in Meribel for all things sporting. There’s an ice rink, a swimming pool, climbing wall, Turkish bath, sauna and bowling alley. The latest releases are shown at the cinema, you can go paintballing, take a scenic flight or a dog sled or relax with a massage and some beauty therapy. Ice driving and karting, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and paragliding are all also available. The hot springs at Brides Les Bains, accessible via cable car, are also rumoured to have healing properties! You can also enjoy shopping & lunching in Meribel’s array of couture retail, cafés and restaurants.
Bookings Details
Total Price £850 (£200 discounted from brochure price)
£200 deposit payable upon booking please
£650 balance due by 1st October 2019
Travel
Our travel to Meribel is a Sunday morning departure from Gatwick to Grenoble. Alternative flights from Manchester, Birmingham & Bristol are also available (£30 suppliment).
A Scotland flight & transfer will be booked once booking numbers become clear.
Insurance
The Snowcats does not provide any form of travel insurance so we ask that party members arrange their own Travel / Ski Insurance.
Booking Conditions
Please see the main Conditions of Business page, relating to the operation of these holidays.
Ski Carriage
Cost £50 – except Bristol EasyJet Flight which is £75 – needs pre-paid through the Snowcats prior to departure.