What's New in Meribel this Winter

The coming season in Meribel will see a host of minor improvements to ski runs and fun areas rather than the addition of new lifts.

The main Doron piste has been widened, making access from the upper part of the resort to the main Chaudanne lift area easier for all.

Whether you are a speed merchant or blue-run skier, don’t forget to try out last winter’s World Cup Downhill slope where you can compare yourself to the world’s top skiers. This blue run was formerly two runs: le Grand Duc and Escargot. The downhill course has now been renamed le Roc de Fer and has been reshaped for more enjoyment. This will be the site of the biggest event in the skiing calendar, the Finals of the World Cup in 2015.

No more picnicking in freezing weather! A new relaxation and rest area has been created at la Chaudanne in the Saulire Express building. Called “The Lounge”, this new rest area will be the ideal place to eat your picnic in peace or simply relax.
Méribel will now offer even more entertainment for the young (and young at heart) in the various fun areas.

The Moon Wild piste at the beginners’ Altiport area has a new start. This theme piste now has even more life-size animal models and the beginning has been reshaped to make it more easily accessible. Children can have fun on skis while learning about mountain animals.

The Actimel mini-snow park has now closed but instead children will enjoy the new Inuit Village on the Louveteaux piste where they can try out various Inuit-themed games.

Over at Méribel’s Moon Park, there are even more features. You can practice freestyle with less risk of bruises thanks to the new steps, box and fun box which are made from foam rubber. Alternatively, why not indulge your competitive streak at the Moon Park Boardercross? This has been enlarged so you can race down it in teams of four.

For even more thrills, expert skiers shouldn’t miss Méribel’s most notorious black run, the Vertical Xperience. The start of this piste is now fully completed, making it more accessible than before. Don’t be fooled by the easier start - this couloir is 37-degrees in places, making it the steepest run in the 3 Valleys after Couchevel’s Grand Couloir. The less daring can watch the experts tackling this impressive slope from the top of Saulire Express gondola lift.

In Méribel resort, you will notice some changes too. The first improvement you will see as you arrive is a new area “aire de chainage” below les Allues where you can fit or remove snow chains. This should help reduce road snarl ups on snowy transfer days.

As you may remember, Méribel cinema closed last season, requiring a trip up to Mottaret to see a film. This winter, Méribel Auditorium will be showing films four days per week, including some in English with subtitles. Films will be shown on Sunday to Wednesday evenings, with additional afternoon films in bad weather on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you’d like to try something a bit different this winter, you can try the new sport of inner tubing (sliding on inflatable rings), offered by lift company S3V in Mottaret centre. Or if you really want to get airborne, you can jump on the new Big Air Bag which has been moved from the Area 43 park into Mottaret centre. Both will be available during the afternoons and for après-ski.

You can now save money on your lift pass by buying as a couple. The new Duo lift pass offers 10€ each off a six-day 3 Valley pass. Simply buy the same duration pass for the same ski area (Méribel or Three Valleys) and pay together. Not in a couple? No problem – you can buy a Duo pass with a friend. The Duo pass is the third group pass available – groups of 3 or more can buy a discounted Tribu pass and families with two or more children will save money with the Family pass.

All these new things can be discovered from Saturday 7 December when Méribel and the Three Valley links open, with partial ski area opening and discounted lift pass prices for the first two weeks of the season.

If that wasn't enough for you, then then new lift pass prices for Winter 2013-14 have just been released... time to start booking your winter holiday!

Meribel hasn't just made improvements to the ski area, they have treated themselves a new logo and branding. The new branding is set to highlight the different villages within the valley, giving each of the villages their own badge: Méribel Les Allues, Méribel Village, Méribel Altiport, Méribel Centre and Méribel Mottaret.

Whilst Meribel Vallee has gone for a new 'flat' logo which combines the M from Meribel and the V from Valley in a very subtle way to create a heart, as in the heart of the 3 Valleys - very clever and possibly very pricey!

*Yet more new things to look forward to in Meribel this season..

For music lovers, well more specifically DJ lovers out there, Ibiza Rocks the Snow will be coming to Meribel for the first time this winter from 14th December.

If you have the time and the bank balance, why not try skiing all the areas in the Epic Ski pass area and win yourself a pass for life??

And looking ahead even further to the year after, Meribel is to host the 2015 World Cup Ski finals which is great news for the resort.