Méribel is at the centre of the vast 600km Les Trois Vallées region, one of the biggest in the world. The resort is made up of two villages, Les Allues and a new satellite area of Mottaret.
Meribel was invented as a ski area just after World War 2 by a British army officer, Peter Lindsay, who was parachuted in. As a result the resort maintains a British feel and nearly half the guests are Brits, so it gets rowdy in the evenings.
That said, the skiing is amazing. From here a gondola to the top of Saluire opens up snowball runs down to Courcheval and its two sister villages. Or from Mott you have links to Val Thorens and Les Menuires. Add to that some wonderful off-piste run, particularly from Mont Vallon. The resort is snow-sure, thanks to snowmaking, until well after Easter. Most of the lifts are easily accessed from the resorts hotels and apartments, and there’s excellent free busses for those that aren’t. The resort’s popularity means that prices here are high and sometimes on a level with it sophisticated neighbour Courchevel.
Resort – Méribel
Continent – Europe
Country – France
6 day ski pass – €227
Resort Height – 1,250-3,230m
Number of Lifts – 50
Piste – 150km