Spring has officially started and, as if on command, the weather has turned spring-like. The sun is shining, birds are singing, the temperature reached 18C at 1000m yesterday, and the fresh snow that fell on Monday in the resort is melting fast. The sunnier slopes are inevitably turning back into spring snow.
Meribel Snow Report: 23rd March 2012
Hello spring; goodbye Choucas restaurant
The trick with spring snow is to get the timing and slope aspect just right. If you manage this, then you can ski all day on snow that is just developing a beautiful thin film of slush on a hard base. Get it wrong and you spend all day on too hard or too slushy slopes. It’s usually best to set out on the slopes which face the sun in the early part of the morning, then move onto the north-facing slopes as the day warms up.
Yesterday I set out at 10am and already the Face piste on the Tougnete side of the valley was turning sticky and slushy. Clearly it was time to head to higher, north-facing slopes. When Méribel is slushy, the place to go is Val Tho. The high, north-facing slopes in this valley usually keep dry and cold snow on them for much longer than Méribel’s sunnier pistes, so this is usually a good bet on warm days in March and April.
The snow was indeed colder in Val Thorens, but the wind was howling. A south-easterly Foehn wind was blowing and, as usual, it was affecting Val Thorens much more than Méribel. After a few windy runs and blustery chairlifts, we decided to return to the Méribel valley and try the north-facing off-piste areas by Lac de la chambre and under the Cote Brune chairlift. Here we found the best snow of the day: lovely, chalky snow on medium-sized moguls.
Next week the weather is forecast to remain warm and spring-like. The good news is the snow will remain firm for longer thanks to the clocks going forward on Sunday morning.
On my last run down into the resort, I went to say “adieu” to an old friend. The tranquil little Choucas Restaurant under the Saulire I gondola, is about to close its doors for the last time on Wednesday. Over the summer, it will be rebuilt, trebling in size, with a vast new terrace added. By the start of next winter it will re-open – as La Folie Douce restaurant and club.
Now, if you don’t know what La Folie Douce is, you’ve never been to either Val d’Isere or Val Thorens. Each resort has one massively popular restaurant/club of this name on the slopes. La Folie Douce offers funky, modern design; excellent food at the Fruitière restaurant and dancing on the terrace to DJs or singers. On sunny days, the terrace of the Val Thorens Folie Douce is packed and the hundreds of other people who can’t get on the terrace are dancing on the snow below. It’s a hugely successful concept and it’s coming to Méribel next winter.
The Choucas restaurant site is almost perfect for the new club; it is close to the main piste running back to the resort and gets plenty of afternoon sunshine. One possible problem will be the relative difficulty of the red run Cerf leading back to the resort. Clubbers who have had a skinful will find this difficult to negotiate. The pisteurs may have to work overtime.
Personally, I think it will be great for Méribel to have another après-ski spot – but what about the noise? The Val Thorens Folie Douce music can be heard from hundreds of metres away, and not everybody wants to hear thumping Europop while they are enjoying the beauties of the Alps. What do you think? Will La Folie Douces spoil the mountain or be a brilliant addition to Méribel’s après-ski? Please leave your comments below!
Airport Transfers in Meribel
Transfers for Meribel
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva to Méribel from CHF 415.80 per vehicle one-way (weekend)
Travel directly to your accommodation in Méribel with a comfortable private airport transfer, flexible departure times and a vehicle reserved exclusively for your group. Choose between standard and premium services, with experienced alpine drivers, airport meet-and-greet assistance and convenient door-to-door travel.
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva to Méribel from CHF 495 per vehicle one-way (weekend rate)
Enjoy direct door-to-door transfers, flexible collection times and exclusive vehicles for your group, with experienced alpine drivers and a choice of four airports. Travel comfortably to Méribel with private transfers tailored to your flight schedule, accommodation and group size.
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Private Airport Transfers
Stress-free airport transfers to Méribel, Courchevel and the Three Valleys
Enjoy safe, reliable airport transfers to Méribel, Courchevel, and the wider Three Valleys, taking the stress out of your journey to the mountains. This service isn’t a call centre or a fleet - it’s a network of independent, owner-operated drivers who live and work in the Alps year-round, bringing decades of local knowledge and experience to every trip.
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Scheduled/Shuttle Coach Airport Transfers
Quick and secure way to organise transfers by coach and bus from local airports and stations
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Meribel from €275 per budget minivan one-way (weekend rate)
This is a long-established Alpine transfer specialist that has been operating since 2008, with close to two decades of experience transporting skiers through the Three Valleys. The emphasis is on making the entire journey easy: professional drivers, genuine knowledge of the mountain roads, vehicles prepared for winter conditions and a choice of transfer styles ranging from practical minivans to luxury Mercedes vehicles.
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Scheduled/Shuttle Coach Airport Transfers
Lyon to Méribel from CHF 52.50 per person one-way (weekend rate)
Save money on your journey to the French Alps with convenient scheduled coach transfers from Geneva Airport & Lyon Airport to Méribel. Travelling with other passengers heading to the Three Valleys, this is an economical and straightforward way to reach the resort without the expense of a private airport transfer.
Ski Hire in Meribel
Ski Hire in Meribel
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Superski
Next to the P&V Maeva Sentiers du Tueda apartments in Meribel Mottaret
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Meribel? Just visit the Skiset Superski store!
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Ski Paradise
Ski rental at the shopping centre in the Maeva residence in Mottaret
This shop is situated 50m from the post office, near the ski pass office, free buses, ski lifts, restaurants, Ruitor and Bleuets car parks. Dorothée et Arnaud and team are on hand to welcome and assist you.
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Prosneige
One stop shop for all your ski and snowboard equipment hire in Méribel
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your first skiing day.
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Marine Sports
Save 10% extra: use promo code STWSKI when booking ski hire online
This ski and snowboard rental shop is opposite the Tourist Office and only 50 metres from the slopes. It is just behind Hotel le Roc and Taverne Bar.
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Le Plateau
Ski rental at the Rond Point des Pistes near the Residence Les Carlines
Ski and snowboard hire in the direction of the altiport, just near slopes' round about (rond point des pistes) along the shopping gallery 'Plateau'. Slopes, skipass registers and the ESF skiing school nearby. Parking facilities and free shuttle to Meribus.. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
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White Storm Meribel
Friendly ski hire and delivery, right to your door in Courchevel and Meribel
With 20 years of experience, this independent company is run by passionate skiers and snowboarders. Their expert team carefully selects and fits your equipment to the highest standards.
Ski Schools in Meribel
Ski School Lessons in Meribel
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Group Ski Lessons Chaudanne
Group lessons by the official and largest French ski and snowboard school
Group lessons offer a friendly way to learn skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports in Méribel, with 348 qualified instructors providing tuition in English and other languages. From little children taking their first steps on snow to teenagers and adults looking to improve their technique, you can develop your skills alongside others at a similar level. The French ski-level system provides a structured approach to learning, helping you choose suitable lessons, build confidence and track your progress.
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Private ski lessons
Private skiing and snowboarding lessons with highly rated instructors
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
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Group ski lessons
Small groups for adults and children of all abilities with a well-established and trusted ski school
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
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Group ski lessons
Tailor-made ski and snowboard lessons for groups in multiple languages
Run by an Anglo-French team since 2001, this ski school knows the area inside out. Their highly qualified, multilingual instructors specialise in tailor-made lessons to suit every skier or snowboarder.
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Group ski lessons
British-run group ski and snowboard lessons for all levels
Parallel Lines is Méribel’s biggest British Ski and Snowboard School. With 28 instructors in peak weeks, whether you’re taking your first turns or exploring the off-piste that The Three Valleys has to offer.
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Group Ski Lessons Mottaret
Group lessons by the official and largest French ski and snowboard school
Group lessons offer a friendly way to learn skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports in Méribel, with 348 qualified instructors providing tuition in English and other languages. From little children taking their first steps on snow to teenagers and adults looking to improve their technique, you can develop your skills alongside others at a similar level. The French ski-level system provides a structured approach to learning, helping you choose suitable lessons, build confidence and track your progress.
Winter Things To Do in Meribel
Wintersport Things To Do in Meribel
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Snowshoe Walks
Snowshoe walks for all abilities
Snowshoe walks offer a wonderful way to discover Méribel’s winter landscapes away from the ski slopes, with guided outings led by qualified instructors. Suitable for all levels, these walks are available in English and provide an opportunity to explore peaceful forests, mountain trails and traditional Alpine surroundings while learning more about the local wildlife, flora and mountain heritage.
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Heliskiing/boarding
Heliskiing/boarding trip in Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
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Helicopter tours
10, 30 or 60 minute private helicopter tours for up to five people
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
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Bureau des Guides winter and summer activities
Off piste ski touring, heliskiing, glacier walks, snowshoeing and much more
Head out into the mountains with experienced guides in either summer or winter for some amazing experiences.
Read more about Bureau des Guides winter and summer activities
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Snow shoe walks
Half and full day guided snowshoe walks in and around Courchevel
Laurence is a certified mountain leader, who enjoys taking clients away from the busy pistes and spicing up your ski holiday with a guided snowshoeing trip.
