Apartment Gelinotte

The Alps are immortalised in film, art and song. They are spectacular and seem to pierce the sky. Whether you visit in the ski season when the Alps are flanked with snow, or during the rest of the year when the mountains roar with wild green, you’ll find beauty baked into the landscape.

What makes the French Alps so quaint and charming is that it can feel like disappearing into a festive novel. The spirit of Christmas, the boldness of winter is warmed up here and celebrated. If winter is your favourite season, you’ll enjoy how alive the season seems here in the Alps. Regardless of your age, it’s hard not to fall in love with what you see here.

Located in Meribel, you’ve chosen wisely, as you’re based in the world’s largest ski area. Those who’ve conquered the slopes many times before, and those who’d like to try, enjoy the opportunities the area has to offer. There are over 300 marked runs to enjoy, 28 fun runs, 62,000 metres of cumulative vertical drops and 160 ski lifts, presenting another great way to take in the breath-taking scenes before you.

Meribel itself runs across three interlinked valleys. Over half of the pistes here are suitable for beginners and will be recognisable by their green or blue flags. But there are also a series of more dramatic and challenging slopes for those with more experience. It’s worth taking time to plan out your route and talk to other skiers to get a sense of how you might like to spend your trip. But know this; you can’t really make a wrong choice and are bound to have a splendid experience whichever slopes you explore.

Head to the charming hamlet of Meribel village. The classic chalets of the area are built from stone or wood and there are many unique and rather fable like features, including a bread oven and small chapel. You can also have the practicalities of your trip met here too. You’ll be able to buy your ski passes, enjoy the two restaurants, top up your energy levels at the local bakery, get all the supplies you need from the mini market, and relax at the bar of an evening.

If you’ve headed to the area during the ski season, you’ll be guaranteed consistent snow. The vast majority of the skiable area itself reaches over 1,800 metres. As you traverse the valley by skis, you’ll pass through eleven resorts, Courchevel, Bride-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. Each offers something unique and will prove to be quite the adventure. You are closest to the ski lift for Front de Neige / Snow Front so this might be your first port of call!

Something that cements Meribel’s reputation is its atmosphere. Winter is often known around the world as somewhat of a dead month, but in Meribel, winter is imbued with special significance. The chalets are lit like modest Christmas trees, families take to the slopes, revellers enjoy the terraced restaurants, and the snow creates a true winter wonderland. There’s nothing quite like feeling the energy you’ll encounter on the slopes. It’s truly something you have to experience for yourself. You may find it becomes quite addictive, as does conquering the challenge of travelling the mountains by ski alone!

Read more about Meribel

Méribel is a village with a true alpine heart. You won’t find blocks of hotels and purpose-built facilities here. Instead, the compact and lively town centre is picture-postcard perfect, and its atmosphere is quaint and fairytale-like. It is without a doubt the most romantic resort in the area and if you’re planning a couples holiday in the snow you’ll definitely want to take a closer look at Méribel. 

At the centre of the world famous Trois Vallées (Three Valleys), Méribel makes up part of the largest ski domain in the world. Across the valleys, it has six sister resorts. You can either get a single-resort lift pass and keep to the fantastic beginner and intermediate terrain there, but you also have the option of purchasing a pass that covers the whole area. 

The advanced lift system at Méribel will let you maximise your time on the snow and make sure you’re not waiting around in queues. With 67 runs to try out just in the resort itself, there is no time to be wasted. Just beware of the afternoon sun cutting things short on the west-facing slopes and prepare to get up with the sun if you’re after untouched powder. At it’s highest skiing point Méribel reaches an altitude of 2952 metres and the descent from this point is known to be one of the most scenic runs around.

Aside from the world-class skiing, Méribel is also known to be one of the liveliest resorts in the Three Valleys. Many of its residents and bar-owners (as well as plenty of its visitors) are expat-Brits who certainly know how to party. The après-ski scene here is truly top-notch!