Apartment Rhodos

The Alps can be described in a myriad of ways. Magnificent, beautiful, daunting, powerful, picturesque, inviting, dominating and liberating. The mountains indeed have a call that many can hear. They're also the perfect place to indulge in all your favourite winter sports during the snowy seasons when the snowfall is thick, crunchy and crisp. The pleasure of skiing through the flurries or slicing through on your snowboard is immeasurable. As the world's largest ski area, you can enjoy 160 ski lifts, 300 marked runs and 28 fun runs. Ski schools are a great first stop if the world of skiing is new to you. It can take time to become comfortable with the equipment, learn the techniques and find your footing. 

What makes the area so magical is its eternal Christmas feel – the wooden apartments, the stag motifs, the heavy snowfall and the energy that revellers bring. It doesn't matter how you feel, the energy of Christmas is palpable here, baked into the beauty of the area, both natural and man-made. 

Méribel itself crosses three valleys and dotted throughout are the eleven resorts of the area, Courchevel, Bride-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle, which can all be explored rather uniquely by skis.  

Something you must try if you haven't before is the pastime of stopping to enjoy an 'après-ski' on any of the bars that flank the slopes. It's common for skiers to gather here to talk about their most challenging skis, exchange tips, let off steam and just generally have a good time. If you're a social butterfly, you should definitely stop by for this very unique experience. 

Olympic Park is a thriving area which offers plenty of activities, such as indoor skating, cinemas, free climbing, bowling and hockey. But if you prefer to attune to a more authentic or slower pace of life, you might wish to explore Méribel village, which is the very definition of small but perfectly formed. With only two restaurants, a chapel, bar, mini market, bakery and ski shop, it's very easy to orient yourself. A very Alpine touch is the bread oven! See more of the Allues Valley by heading out to the beautiful residential areas of Mussillon, La Renarde and the Route des Chalets. 

It would be easy to assume that Méribel is all about skiing and snowboarding, but there's much more to it than that, and you don't have to tackle the mountains to get your money's worth here. Firstly, there's a thriving gastronomical scene with many dishes based around cheese and dairy produce. There are also a myriad of shops that sell ornaments, decorations, preserves and practical goods and equipment ideal for sports fans or those who want to bring a taste of the Alps into their home. 

Other must-do experiences include night sledding, which, when the night is clear, offers bountiful views of the sky and is quite a good way to tire yourself out for bed if you've not done so already. Other popular pastimes are the snake-gliss (simply intertwine your sleds to create a snowy snake), tobogganing or a lovely pony sled through this shimmering landscape. 

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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!