If you haven’t got time to take a full week skiing, then why not consider a ski weekend. You can often get nearly as much time skiing as you do in a week with only 2 or even 1 days holiday from work. The problem often is that ski weekends in France can cost nearly as much as a weeks skiing. But…… if you are happy to go with budget options a ski weekend in France needn’t cost a small fortune.

We’ve listed a few good options for ski weekends in the area around Moutiers / Aime La Plagne and Bourg St Maurice, so perfect for a rail ski weekend or with budget flights into Geneva. All these hotels / chalets are available to book for any number of nights.

Ski Weekend Val d’isere

Hotel Les Chardons - ski weekend in twin rooms from €62pp per night including half board. Centrally located in Val d’isere

Hotel La Toviere – ski weekend quadruple rooms from €62pp per night including half board. Prices get more expensive for 2 person rooms. Located on the piste in La Daille (5 mins bus from central Val d’isere, but straight on the La Daille lifts.)

Hotel Relais du Ski – ski weekend with two levels of comfort, ensuites with half board from Euros82pp per night including half board. Budget from €57pp per night with half board. 500 from Val d’isere centre, but 50m from the regular ski bus.

UCPA – the Val d’isere UCPA is great for ski weekends, when they are available. It’s a great weekend, the prices start from €300 but include full board, ski hire and lift passes for Espace Killy! Bargain! You are probably better off booking through Action Outdoors, the UK reseller. FOr some reason they don’t always list the weekends on their website but a phone call to them will find out what they have available.

Ski weekend TIgnes

Chalet Chardons – budget ski weekends, in fact any days available. Situated in Tignes Les Brevieres, the lowest point in Tignes but good links into central Tignes, and a shorter transfer!

Mountain Sun – ski weekend again based in Les Brevieres, but a higher standard of accommodation. Still relatively cheap though! Prices from £63 pp per night, including half board (with wine I think.) Watch out for supplements though

UCPA – ski weekend at the UCPA in Tignes Val Claret  is about 50m from the piste, and there’s a drag lift to the nearest lift so you don’t have to walk uphill. We’ve been on ski weekends early and late (late) season and can guarantee that it’s fab. Read same note about ski weekend deals and booking the UCPA on the Val d’isere entry above.

Ski Weekend Meribel - there’s not many options, but here’s two!

Ski Weekends – do what they say on the tin. Get a ski weekend based in Bride Les Bains from £219 including coach travel from London and half board hotel. Only a 20 minute lift ride from central Meribel.

Activ Experience – get the chalet experience for your ski weekend. Phone them for availability.

Hotel Croix Jean Claude – prices from €86pp per night including half board.

Ski weekend La Tania

Hotel Telemark – run by Ski Inns, it’s a budget hotel that can be booked for any dates. Prices start from £60pp per night including half board with wine.

Ski Weekend La Plagne

UCPA – on the piste in La Plagne 1800. Better comfort than most UCPA’s, rooms for 4 all ensuite. On the piste, literally. Great place to stay. Read same note about UCPA’s from the Val d’isere entry.

Ski Weekend La Rosiere

Auberge du Val Joli -Ski weekends from Euros46pp per night including half board. Week night stays from only €39pp per night including half board.

Whatever you do on your ski weekend in France, make sure that you have everything organised before you go and maximise your time on the slopes. Our top 3 tips for the perfect ski weekend :

1. Many resorts allow you to book ski passes online now like Val d’isere and the Three Valleys, you can get them sent them to your home.
2. Book your ski weekend ski hire online before you go and then you just have to pop in and pick it up – it’s up to 40% cheaper too! Visit SkiSet who have ski hire shops in most French resorts.
3. Go for half board deals, as cheap as apartments are for a ski weekend, with only a few days on the piste, you’ll be grateful for a cooked breakfast and ready made dinner, believe me!

The week we visited (12th December) was the first week of the season that the Three Valleys was fully open and thus we had the chalet to ourselves. Having never been to Les Menuires before, but having heard a lot about it, we were expecting the 60′s styling of the resort, but as we headed up towards Reberty the buildings got more aesthetically pleasing. Reberty itself at 2000m is a development of traditional chalets, many of which are used by British Tour Operators. Once in Reberty, you really have no need to go down to Les Menuires at all, there is a fabulous bar / restaurant 30 metres from the chalet, La Ferme du Reberty, a Sherpa shop around the corner and a ski hire shop pretty much next door to the chalets.

Chalets Katie 1 and 2 are similar in layout and work really well for families. With a good mix of family suites, doubles, twins and triples, all ensuite, all families can be accommodated in either of the Chalet Katies which sleep 12 / 13. Alternatively Ski Famille also have Chalet Eva in Reberty, just across the road and this sleeps 21.

The Ski Famille service is perhaps what sets out this company from other non family specialists. Everything is set up to ensure that parents and children have a great ski holidays. I don’t have children myself, but have organised and been on many a ski holiday with friends that do have children, and understand the issues that are faced before and during the holiday. With our groups we’ve experienced problems with ski company creches, resort creches, ski classes, parents spending more time with children than on skis, evening meal issues etc. But no longer will this happen, as Ski Famille shall be our new saviour.

Within the price you pay for Ski Famille they provide childcare between 9 and 5 for 5 days of the ski holiday. For younger children the time is spent playing in the on site Ski Famille creche with the childcarers (carers are a mix of qualified nannies, teachers and nurses). For older children they are taken to and from the local ski school and whilst not in ski school entertained. This all means that you can have a worry free days skiing knowing your children are being well looked after. No traipsing back and forwards to ski schools! One day a week the childcarers have a well earned day off so you can have the opportunity to see your childrens new skills on the slopes! All this activity is eased along by the extremely experienced resort manager Kirsty, so you can ensure that everything will go exactly to plan.

On our week we were looked after by chalet host Frankie, who at 18 was straight out of school. However, boy could she cook well, having gone on a cookery course over the summer. I simply have to mention that we had the best scones ever on our last day! Ski Famille offers half board including breakfast, cold and a choice of eggs, afternoon tea, a pre-dinner drink and a three course dinner with a choice of wines. Children can be catered for in an earlier meal setting as required. All the food was fresh and compared to other ski companies I’ve stayed with seemed more nutritious. However even despite this I’m sure I had to let the belt out a couple of notches by the end of the week!

I’ve not even had time to mention what great skiing you’ll find in Les Menuires itself and in the rest of the Three Valleys. The link over to other Three Valleys resorts is easy by the Bruyeres 1 and 2 lifts at the bottom of Boyes blue (which runs 40m from the chalet), this lift and following ski down can take you into Val Thorens in less than half an hour and Meribel Mottaret (via Plan des Mains chairlift) in around 40 minutes, assuming no major lift queues. You can find more about skiing in all the Three Valleys ski resorts in our #twiskitrip ski reports here.

All in all we had a great week at Chalet Katie, with a great location and great staff really making this week such good fun. I’d recommend Ski Famille to anyone looking to holiday with children, this could possibly be the best ever ski holiday decision you make. Thanks Ski Famille for a great stay, and expect a call next time we’re off skiing with friends (and children)!

Should you want any further information on Ski Famille, just visit their website www.skifamille.co.uk, phone them on 0845 64 437 64 or check out their best deals on their twitter feed www.twitter.com/skifamille.

Alpine Masters is a British ski school in Meribel created to provide a solution to the learning difficulties faced by so many recreational skiers. Located in the world-renown ski resort of Meribel, France and staffed by some of the highest qualified instructors in the world, Alpine Masters uses a number of advanced, tailor-made coaching techniques designed to allow skiers of all standards to attain a higher level.

“If you’re stuck on a plateau we will coach you to a higher level using advanced tailor-made learning techniques that traditional ski schools generally don’t offer. If you’re already an expert skier we will help you to push the boundaries even further” says Simon Jones, Director of Alpine Masters. “We bring the knowledge but it’s not about us – it’s about the clients’ needs. We are just facilitators – we coach for client performance” says Jones.

Lunch was at the recommended Ski Lodge in La Tania close to the nursery slope. Lunch consisted of Ski Lodge burger and chips, washed down with the complementary carafe of wine. Thanks @la_tania. As the weather seemed to be coming in with the snow getting heavier we decided to head back to Reberty. From La Tania it was up the bubble lift La Tania then the Dou des Lanches chairlift to the Col de la Loze. Ideally with better piste conditions we could have skied into Meribel from here but unfortunately the only way back to Meribel was via the Saulire. We reached Saulire by sking the Lac Bleu (blue) and Loze Est (green) to the Biollay chair lift then down Super Pralong cutting onto a green to the Suisse chair lift. Visibility was gradually declining but still far from being a white out. From Saulire we headed down the long Marcassin and Aigle red run into Mottarat, where we got the Plattieres bubble to the 3 Marches, enjoying some well earned Haribo on the way. It was once again down the Allamands red run but this time stopping for a vin chaud at the Chalet des Neiges mountain restaurant. This is a great new mountain restaurant with table service, and almost unheard of toilets on ground level, no stairs to fall down in ski boots! Instead of heading back to the Ski Famillie Chalet Katie 2, we decided to head up to the Col de la Chambre via the chair lift Mont de la Chambre. Here we skied the fabulous blue run Mont du la Chambre, then joining the Boyes blue back to the chalet.

As promised snow finally fell over the 3 valleys today, falling heaviest in Meribel and Courchevel. As I scribe this post it is still snowing in Reberty. With the help of the already over worked snow cannons and the light snow fall predicted for Saturday, anyone coming out to the 3 valleys for Christmas should have a good weeks skiing regardless of the fact there hasn’t been any heavy snowfall over the past 2-3 weeks. Forecast is for snow Saturday and then brightening weather conditions from Sunday.

The route we took was up the Sunny Express chair lift, down a blue (not named on the map) and up the Becca lift where the long ski into St Martin de Belleville began. It’s blue pistes all the way starting on the Boulevard de La Becca, leading the Grand Lac and finally Pelozet. Unfortunately we could not complete the final leg of the journey as the blue run Biollay was closed, likewise the highly recommended Jerusalem red run (thanks @Jowhi and @mikejulietbravo) so we jumped on the St Martin 1 lift into the St Martin. For skiers of all levels the ski from the top of Becca into St Martin is unforgettable and one to be remembered for the fantastic scenery. In our case we will also remember how bitterly cold it was, my chin is still thawing! A vin chaud was immediately ordered on arrival.

Because the run into St Martin was closed we could not meet James and Gemma at the restaurant so they kindly came and picked us up. I won’t go into too much detail but the restaurant deserves it’s very own post, but all I will say is it’s a unique experience. See our post on La Ferme de la Choumette.

After a long lunch it was time to head back to the Chalet Katie 2, firstly skiing down the closed run into St Martin hoping to avoid the glare of the pisteurs. We took St Martin 1 & 2 lifts up to Tougnete breaking through the clouds on the way. Then a short ski down the Gros Tougne blue run to the Les Granges lift up to 3 Marches. From there we skied the well trodden route back to the Chalet via the Allamands (red), Petis Cruex and Boyes (blue).

As correctly predicted the temperature had once again dropped, freezing the already limited snow. It was noticeable on the runs back into Les Menuires that the snow cannons had been working over time to improve the conditions of the pistes. Everyone we have spoken to is saying that it will snow tomorrow throughout the 3 Valleys (fingers crossed), we’ll keep you up to date on our twitter feed (@skiconcierge).

The restaurant from the outside looks like any other traditional piste side lunch stop, but from the inside it’s a whole different story. First of all it was empty, probably due to the blue run closure, this didn’t deter us at all. The staff were absolutely lovely, and ushered us to a table looking over the cow shed, yes the cow shed! The restaurant looks over the cow shed, which you can view through the windows in the restarant. I’ll get on to the cow shed later!

The menu in La Ferme de la Choumette is a traditional one, with a range of meat choices plus the traditional range of savoyard specialities, all cooked with the cheese made in the restaurants dairy, Tomme de Savoie (I had Tommiflette rather than tartiflette). Myself and Gemma had the Tommiflette, Dave had Crosiflette (same as the Tommiflette, but substitute pasta for potatoes) James had some sort of pasta cheese bake that I can’t remember the name of! All the courses came with a side salad to complement the heavy cheese. All of us thought the food was absolutely fantastic.

Now comes the unique part of the restaurant, through the windows at the back of the restaurant you can see through to the cow shed which houses many cows, sheep, goats and one rabbit!! This gives the restaurant a rather unique atmosphere, and certainly not an experience to be missed. We got a tour of the cow shed and it was great fun looking at all the animals and gazing up to the restaurant.

Whilst we were there, the owner asked us to translate the English versions of the puddings, being 4 non fluent (but trying) French speakers we gave it a good shot, but don’t blame us if we get it slightly wrong! In return for the translations we were offered a free selection of puddings, which were all lovely, but we seriously recommend the home made yoghurt with fig and vanilla regional speciality pastries, absolutely lovely, or maybe try the Bavarian Chocolate pudding which was divine, or the creme brulees were also lovely, in fact it was all fabulous!

Main courses range from 10 – 20 euros, with puddings around 5-8euros, which for the quality of the food is great. Anyone who wants to can pop down to see the animals, great for children. The real special thing about this restaurant is the friendliness of the owners, they really were lovely, and even though much of what was said was lost in translation, I believe they were so happy to see us enjoying their food and the surroundings. One last on the house genepi and we were on our way, sneaking down the last 100metres of the closed blue run and glowing far more than when we arrived! We highly recommend you make the trip to La Ferme de la Choumette for lunch or dinner.

You can contact La Ferme de la Choumette on +33 479 4000 42.

Courchevel is the most glamorous section of Les Trois Vallees, with a private airstrip (altiport) that spits out a constant stream of celebrities and Parisan high society throughout the season. However, though you could spend your mortgage deposit in a week of glamorous excess here, there are many cheaper accommodation and culinary alternatives, even in Courchevel 1850, though prices drop considerably in the other 3 valleys resorts. The atmosphere is certainly not stuffy and remains resolutely more French than the thorough anglicised Meribel across the hill.

Courchevel skiing

Most seasoned 3 valley veterans would agree that Courchevel has the best breadth and variety of skiing of the ski resorts in the 3 valleys. Starting with the magnificent couloirs from the top of the Saulire (2,738m / 8,983ft) down to some tremendously characterful woodland runs down to Le Praz and La Tania, it also encompasses secluded powder bowls, intermediate favourites and high quality nursery slopes.

The heart of Courchevel skiing is the area directly above 1850, leading up the twin peaks of Vizelle and Saulire, from where there are some excellent steep reds and a number of steep sided couloirs. Heading skiers right takes you down the ever popular Creux, from where you can continue up Chanrossa before dropping down into 1600′s wonderfully secluded reds around Bel Air.

The main beginners area is Pralong which has recently been specially customised to focus almost wholly on beginners, with rope tows and other short lifts designed to help novices maximise their time with their instructors. There are also good beginner facilities at 1650.

Though the slopes are primarily north facing (meaning good snow conditions) there is great variety. Skiers left of 1850, gentle runs feed back to the centre, while looping around the underside of Loze opens up an entire flank of excellent runs pirouetting out from 1550 all the way around to La Tania. The blacks of Jockeys and Jean Blanc are sensational runs in good conditions, as are all the reds and blues dropping down into La Tania. Above here is the Col de la Loze, which us one of the two points where you can drop into Meribel, the other being off the back of Saulire.

Key Facts – for the whole Three Valleys
Pistes   600km / 379miles
Lifts  200
Green Runs 17%
Blue Runs 34%
Red Runs 37%
Black Runs 12%
Snowmaking 90km
Resort   1300 – 3230m /4270 – 10600ft
   
Other on snow activities

Cross Country
Snow-shoeing
Tele-marking
Paragliding
Disablity Skiing
   
   
Courchevel Ski Schools

ESF Courchevel 1550 http://www.esf.net/en/ecoles/index.php?
Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
tel :479082107
fax :479081731

ESF Courchevel 1850 http://www.esfcourchevel.com/index.php
La Croisette / BP 38
73122 Courchevel Cedex 
Tel. +33 (0)4 79 08 07 72
Fax. +33 (0)4 79 08 14 59

ESF Courchevel 1650 http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com/en/accueil/
Maison de Moriond
73120 Courchevel 1650
Phone. 33 (0)4 79 08 26 08
Fax 33 (0)4 79 08 03 27
E-mail : esf-courchevel-1650@wanadoo.fr

Supreme Ski and Snowboard School http://www.supremeski.com/default.asp
3 rue des verdons, Courchevel 1850, 73120, France.
Tel: (Courchevel or La Tania) 0479 08 27 87
UK booking tel: +44 (0)1479 810 800
info@supremeski.com

Ski Excel for private ski lessons http://www.skiexcel.com/
E-mail : skiexcel@skiexcel.com
Phone : +44(0)7949387699

Courchevel Creches

Maison des Enfants http://www.esf-courchevel.com 
ESF 1550 Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 21 07
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 17 31
contact@esf-courchevel.com

Village des enfants http://www.esfcourchevel.com
La Croisette
BP 38 – 73120 Courchevel
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 08 47
Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 18 24
ski@esfcourchevel.com 

Les Pitchounets http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com
Maison de Moriond Rue du Marquis
73120 Courchevel 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 26 08
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 03 27

Courchevel Restaurants (a selection)

ALPES HOTEL DU PRALONG – Courchevel 1850   http://www.hotelpralong.com
Alpes Hôtel du Pralong – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 24 82 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 41
reservation@hotelpralong.com 

AZIMUT – Le Praz
Immeuble l’Or Blanc – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 06 25 90 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 06 29 44 

LA CREPERIE DU TREMPLIN – Courchevel 1850 (shown right)http://www.letremplin-courchevel.com
Place du Tremplin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 10 90

CARLINA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotelcarlina.com
Hôtel Carlina – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 00 30 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 04 03
message@hotelcarlina.com

CREPERIE TITINE ET LILOU – Courchevel 1650
Résidence 1650 – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 95 53
titinelilou@wanadoo.fr 

IL VINO D’ENRICO BERNARDO – Courchevel 1850 http://www.ilvinobyenricobernardo.com
La Porte de Courchevel – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 29 62 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 31 91
info@ilvinobyenricobernardo.com 

L’ALAMBIC – Courchevel 1650
Place du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 01 18 93

L’ETERLOU – Courchevel 1650
Rue du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 25 45
jacquesetfrancoise@free.fr 

L’OEIL DE BOEUF – Courchevel 1550
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 22 10 

LA CAVE D’A COTE – Le Praz
Rue de la Chapelle – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 42 90
infos@lespeupliers.com 

LA SIVOLIERE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotel-la-sivoliere.fr
Rue des Chenus – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 08 08 33 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 08 15 73
lasivoliere@sivoliere.fr

LA TABLE DU LANA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.lelana.com
Hôtel Lana Route de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 01 10 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 70
info@lelana.com

LE 1947 – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

LE CAVEAU – Courchevel 1550 http://www.caveaucourchevel.com
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 42 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 08 32
info@caveaucourchevel.com 

Courchevel Bars (a selection)
 
BAR LE JUMP – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hoteldelacroisette.com
Hôtel de la Croisette Place du Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 00 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 35 58
hotel.croisette@wanadoo.fr 

BAR LE WHITE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

HÔTEL COURCHENEIGE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.courcheneige.com
Piste de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 02 59 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 11 79
info@courcheneige.com

BAR DES AIRELLES – Courchevel 1850 http://www.airelles.fr
Hôtel Les Airelles Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 38 38 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 38 39
info@airelles.fr 

LE FUN HOUSE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.funhouse-courchevel.com
Le Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 34 80 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 34 80

Thinks to do in Courchevel off skis

Toboganning
Walking
Ice Skating
Mountain Flying
Bowling
Cinema
Climbing
Torchlit Descent
Gym
Spa
Helicopter flights
Air ballooning
Skidooing
Paragliding

We have written a series of posts about travelling to the Three Valleys, read more about driving to, flying to and getting the train to Courchevel ski resort.

Our next destination was Courchevel 1650 (recommended as the current best skiing in Courchevel by @la_tania) which was reached by firstly going up Verdons lift down the green runs to Biollay chair lift. Skiing down the blue run Pralong to the Pralong lift, then skiing the Alitport and Prameruel runs (both blue) to the Roc Mugnier chair lift. Unfortunately the ski into 1650 was limited to one blue run, Marquis, with snow cannons running to keep it skiable assumably. With countless runs and lifts closed it was having a noticeable effect on the numbers in the restaurants, though ideal if you want to be away from the crowds. @mikejulietbravo recommended Indians but unfortunately it wasn’t open. 1650 was to be the furthest point away from the comforts of Chalet Katie 2 and with time not on our side we decided to head back to Reberty. We were planning to head over to La Tania to go to Ski Lodge (burger and chips for 10euros apparently) as @la_tania had promised us a carafe of wine, but after much deliberating we decided there was no chance of getting over there, savour the wine and get back!

The only lift open in 1650 was Ariondaz where from the top we traversed the pistes to the Gravelles lift, skiing back down to 1850. We searched for Le Kalico recommended by @davidbaird85 but unfortunately couldn’t find it (our lunch was getting later and later by this point!) Hungry, from 1850 we took the verdons lift, had lunch at the restaurant at the cable car station recommended by @mikejulietbravo as reasonable, I’d say expensive elsewhere but probably reasonable in Courchevel! We then made our way to the Suisse chairlift via Biollay lift and Pralong blue run. Suisse chair lift took us back to Saulire where we skied down the icy Marcassin and Aigle red runs into Mottaret. We spent the next 15 minutes on the Platieres lift to the 3 Marches summit from where we skied back to our Ski Famille chalet for a well earned drink.

Though extremely overpriced Courchevel does offer some fantastic skiing and was worth the long ski. Currently the Courchevel has the best snow in the Three Valleys. It took us just over an hour to get into 1850 village from Reberty but we did not have to queue at any of the lifts, so the journey could take considerably longer during the high season. With the temperatures dropping and current lack of snow the pistes are becoming very icy so be careful and lets hope there is a significant snow fall just around the corner.

Meribel skiing

Meribel provides a great central base for skiing in the Three Valleys. This central location allows you to get to the top of the adjoining valleys extremely quickly. The skiing may not be as diverse as at Courchevel or as high altitude as Val Thorens, but experienced skiers will more than likely drop into at least one of the other valleys every day. That said there is also plenty of skiing for all levels in the Meribel Valley itself. This is perhaps exemplified in the case of a mixed ability group. There are countless itineraries difference skiing levels can follow while still arranging to meet for lunch. It is only real beginners who are tied to a particular area with the gentle slopes of the Altiport an ideal learning ground. The slopes around Mottaret are geared more towards intermediates but from a purely skiing perspective this is the best base from which to explore the Three Valleys.

Key Facts – for the whole Three Valleys
Pistes   600km /  379miles
Lifts  200
Green Runs 17%
Blue Runs 34%
Red Runs 37%
Black Runs 12%
Snowmaking 90km
Resort   1300 – 3230m / 4270 – 10600ft
   
Other on snow activities

Cross Country
Snow-shoeing
Tele-marking
Paragliding
Disablity Skiing
Ski-dooing
   
   
Meribel Ski Schools

E.S.F. Méribel www.esf-meribel.com
Maison du Tourisme
BP 17 – 73550 MERIBEL
04 79 08 60 31
Fax 04 79 08 60 80 

E.S.F. La Chaudanne
04 79 08 58 81

E.S.F. Rond-Point
04 79 08 89 42

E.S.F. Méribel-Mottaret
04 79 00 49 49
Fax 04 79 08 54 45
 
MAGIC www.magicfr.com
Galerie des Cimes
73550 MERIBEL
Tel 04 79 08 53 36
Fax 04 79 00 31 40

SNOW SYSTEMS www.snow-systems.com
Les Trolles
73550 MERIBEL
04 79 00 40 22
06 07 15 50

SNOW DLIGHT www.snowdlight.com
Précision Ski
Centre – 73550 MERIBEL
06 64 81 60 10
Tel  / Fax 04 79 55 19 86

Meribel Creches

 ”Les Saturnins” kindergarten www.esf-meribel.com
04 79 08 66 90 – Fax 04 79 08 60 80
Le Parc Olympique – La Chaudanne
73550 Méribel   

Things to do in Meribel other than ski!

Toboganning
Walking
Ice Skating
Mountain Flying
Bowling
Cinema
Swimming Pool
Climbing
Torchlit Descent
Gym
Spa
Helicopter flights
Air ballooning
Skidooing
Paragliding
Flying School
Horse drawn tours
Museum
Library
Church

We have written a series of posts about travelling to the Three Valleys, read more about driving to, flying to and getting the train to Meribel ski resort.

Pictures courtesy of http://www.les3vallees.com 

Not wanting to stop for the our usual hot chocolate just yet we jumped on the Pac du Lac bubble lift to Saulire (2700m). Sucking in the amazing view of the Reserve Naturelle Plan De Tueda Liz requested we headed to a green Blanchot which took her 2 hours to ski on her first ski holiday (it was her first ever day skiing).To relive this moment we skied the blue runs Biche and Geai, stopping for a hot chocolate (7.60 euros for two) at Rond Pont. Unfortunately because of the lack of snow the majority of runs into Meribel were closed including Blanchot so there was no reminiscing for Liz (maybe next time). Once at the bottom we took the long bubble lift Saulire back to the summit we skied the marcassin and aigle red runs back into Mottaret for lunch.

We were recommended ZigZag to eat in (@la_tania) but unfortunately we picked it up too late, instead we ate at the Pizzeria du Mottaret (tel +33 (0) 4 79 00 40 50). This restaurant is slightly away from the main piste side restaurants but worth the walk. It is a cosy restaurant with a traditional Alpine feel serving excellent food. In the high season I would recommend making a reservation. Lunch was once again a pizza and salad verte washed down with a beer and vin rouge, costing 31 euros.

After lunch we once again headed to the Saulire summit this time sking the black run Sanglier, a great run for anyone wanting to ski their first black. Instead of heading back to Mottaret we took the lift back up to Saulire this time skiing the Marcassin and Aigle red runs back into resort. Time wasn’t on our side so we took the long Plattieres bubble lift to the 3 Marches summit from where we headed back to the chalet via the Allamands (red) and Petits Creux (blue) and pub, La Ferme du Reberty.

Overall the skiing was good but the current snow conditions are causing a few problems in the lower resorts with limited runs open. The snow cannons are doing their best but they can only do so much. Fingers crossed for some heavy snow soon.