Meribel Skiing & Snowboarding Guide For Beginners

Beginners:
Preparation.

(MOST skiing tips also apply equally to Snowboarding).
 

Do some ski preparation exercises for at least 6 - 8 weeks before your holiday. Maybe lose some weight ? You sure are not going to lose it in Meribel, with all that chalet food, restaurants and  French wine. Note that there were 13 deaths on piste in the Savoie region last season due to heart attacks!
Get fitted correctly for boots and the latest easy turning short skis. Ski boots should NOT be cold or uncomfortable. (If they are then take them back immediately before you do any damage to your shins or toes or ankles etc). However they should be a firm, tight fit. In cold weather make sure you have the best quality socks and have a good breakfast. Wear warm clothing inc ski hat and especially high quality ski mittens (much warmer than gloves). In hot sunny weather wear good quality large lenses sunglasses (to totally keep your eyes out of direct sunlight) and carry strong sun cream and re - apply regularly. Don't forget the ears if you have short hair. Mountain sun, combined with the reflection from the snow, is far stronger than normal so please be very careful. Now , if you are reading this in the comfort of your living room somewhere in the Uk then here's a good idea. E mail the Meribel Tourist office at www.meribel.com or the Meribel Lift company at www.meribel-alpina.com asking for a few copies of the 3 valley piste map. Read this article later in the company of the piste map and it should then all make sense to you. Good luck.
  
Skiing / Riding
Important advice: Buy just a Meribel valley ski pass (you can buy a daily extension later if required) & join ski school. Book your skiing lessons in advance. Your first skiing holiday could be the best vacation you have ever had or alternatively your worst nightmare. Do not let your spouse teach you unless you are looking for a certain divorce! Ski Instructors spend about £5000 pounds qualifying over several years and know how, what and where to teach. There are more than 10 English-speaking ski schools in Meribel, with many British ski instructors, and countless French instructors with charmingly good English. Many people also make new lifelong friends in ski class so we thoroughly recommend them.

Note:

The draglift at Meribel Altiport is free and ideal for your first day or two for skiing or snowboarding practice if you have not booked lessons. You can catch the free Meribel bus to the Altiport ski area. It takes about 15 minutes from the town centre.

1st & 2^nd Days:
 
Meribel Altiport:
 
The following advice is for your first day or so free time so after your lessons finish. Why not ski/ride together with others from your class. Print out this article and you could be their ski guide for the week.
 
From Chaudanne catch the Rhodos bubble up to the Altiport area where there is a protected green run (Blanchot) for both skiing and snowboarding beginners. Practice here then either catch the Rhodos bubble back down or the free bus from the Altiport hotel. Unless you are very confident do not ski all the way back down on your first day or two. All the blue runs down get quite busy and are a fair bit steeper in places than the Altiport green run. After 3 days you should be able to ski down to Meribel Village by the blue lapin run. This piste is usually very quiet. A very slow chair brings you back to the Altiport.
 
Lunch: The Altiport Hotel food is really excellent but expensive. Try a tasty sandwich from Traitor Gourmand in the same complex. The Rhodos self service restaurant is in a great position but the food is sadly quite mediocre. After 3 days skiing you should be able to get down to Meribel Village. LDV is a lovely little spot for lunch. Quite simple and not too expensive. Very nice plat du jour about 11 euros & cheap pizzas. It’s our firm favourite for a simple lunch in this area.
 
As your week in Meribel progresses then head for Mottaret. Catch the Tougnète bubble to the 1st stage then take the run down to Mottaret. It’s a mix of blue and green and quite easy. The very first part is a little steep but short and wide enough to traverse. The middle section is an easy green path. The last section in to Mottaret centre is more blue and gets busy so keep to the very left side and drop in to the beginner's slope by the Doron drag lift just past the Gran Sel restaurant. This brings you in to the very centre. Now take the same following advice as for Mottaret skiers.
 

Beginners Staying in Meribel - Mottaret:

1^st & 2^nd days:
The Doron draglift above the Cote Brune restaurant is free but has an awkward slope and is very short. Over just past Plattieres is the protected nursery slope. Short again but very easy. Absolutely perfect for your first day.
Lunch:

A very good choice of lunch restaurants right by the learner slope. We highly recommend Zig Zag, small but fabulous food and cheapest in the valley.
If you quickly tire of this very small area then take Plattieres bubble to the first station then use the Sitelle button lift. This button and the run itself are both very easy. 
Lunch:

 Sitelle is a convenient, very nice, simple, friendly self-service restaurant. Not expensive. Be sure to take a photo of their animal museum. (Upstairs)
 

Mottaret to Meribel:
You can ski down the Truite  (Trout) which starts just to the left of the Tourist Office. This run is very easy and ends at Chaudanne lift centre. Catch the Rhodos bubble to the top for the Altiport area. Come back down by the bubble unless your confidence is ok for the blue run down to Chaudanne. The free bus goes from Chaudanne back to Mottaret but gets very crowded. You can take Tougnète bubble up to the first stage then ski down Perdrix to Mottaret. Just the very first few yards of Perdrix are a little steep but wide. After this it is easy all the way down.
 

Mottaret:

2^nd & 3^rd & 4^th days:
 
On your 2nd or 3rd day try Rossignol and Sitelle pistes between the 1st and 2nd stages of Plattieres. This area is wide and quite easy. It is sunny but also north facing and keeps the snow longer. When you come to a fork in the piste the left side is slightly easier. The slow Chatelet chairlift is a good option in nice weather to save queuing again at Plattieres 1. This area is really wonderful for practice but DO NOT come all the way down to Mottaret. The last section can get very icy, extremely busy and can be really quite difficult. Make a wise choice, and don’t spoil a good day. Take the bubble down instead.
 
"Bouvreuil" and the top part of the "Ours" are quite two pleasant runs accessed from Plattieres 2. After 3-4 days you should manage these.
 You get back to Plattieres 2 by the Mures Rouges chair and the new fast 6-man Plan Des Mains chair.

DO NOT go all the way down to Mottaret centre by the "Ours" blue run. It becomes a fast narrow pathway with skiers and boarders hurtling down at high speed.

Mottaret: 

4^th & 5^th & 6^th Days.

Head for Meribel.
 
Saulire side:
 
Take the Pas-du-Lac bubble to the first station. Walk up and round to your left past the Chardonnet restaurant then take the easy Chardonneret path to the Meribel area where you have an extensive choice of Blue runs. This area is west facing so is best to ski it in late morning, when it gets the sun. In spring it's slushy in the afternoon and rock hard next day till approx. 11am. If you are on this side and want a coffee or lunch, try the Rond Point, just below Rhodos 1st station. Best coffee on the mountain plus fluffy tasty omelette’s. It also hosts Méribel's biggest après-ski party from 4pm till 7pm. (Take the bus timetable with you to get home afterwards). Just across the road from the Rond Point is another great little friendly family restaurant, La Cava. Very nice entrecote steak (15.80 euros)!

Tougnète side:
 
Take the Combes chair from Mottaret centre.Ski down the first part of Coqs (not difficult) then Pouillard to Tougnète first station. Take the bubble up or the long Tougnète draglift if the weather is fine. If you are in Meribel just take Tougnète to the top station.
 
 
At the top turn right and follow Crêtes & Choucas pistes.
 
Use Cherferie draglift to stay in this area. It has excellent snow. Finally to come down take Escargot and Gelinotte. This area is best skied in the mornings when this side (East facing) has the sun. The last section of Gelinotte is a little steep for a blue. It can get very icy later in the day, so sharpen your edges or better still cut off to the right just before the bottom and take the track that joins the Truite run down to Chaudanne.
 
Lunch:
Le Crêtes. Delightful little place: Lovely coffee and the best "sausages in white wine" (€12) in the whole valley. Reserve for lunch. It's very busy.

Tel 06 09 40 51 04.
 

St Martin De Belleville: 1400M

Don’t forget to buy your lift pass extension! If you do forget then just buy a book of single tickets at the bottom lift station.
From Les Crêtes restaurant ski down to Chat Frère. It joins with Pelozet and is quite easy all the way to the base of the St Martin 2 Chair. Do it a few times if you have time. Later continue down to St Martin by Biolley; a very easy, relaxing and charming route. On the pathway you will catch sight of an old village to way down your left, but this is not St Martin. It is St Marcel, the next village along the valley toward Val Thorens. (St Marcel has a very famous excellent expensive Michelin star restaurant !). Eventually you reach a small tunnel that runs under the main road to VT. You must turn very sharp right here so take it slow through the tunnel. (It can be icy the other side). After turning you will see the old village with its ancient church in the centre. The draglift at the bottom brings you back up for the St Martin 1 Bubble to start your trip back. You may want to do the whole thing again. Many do. However make sure you have lunch down here. There are two really excellent value restaurants.
 
Lunch:

Advance reservations advised.
 
La Voute: in the centre by the church. (The best ducks leg in the world at €15.80) .All the food is great.
Tel: 04 79 08 91 48
 
La Montagnard: Halfway down the draglift on the right set among old buildings. Really fabulous food here ..friendly service ..(plat du Jour €12.80) and wonderful quaint interior.
Tel 04 79 01 08 40.
 Homeward route:
 
Draglift then St Martin 1 & 2 to Tougnète. On the way home take either the route to Meribel as described from Tougnète or the bubble all the way down. For Mottaret take the Tougnète bubble down to the first stage, jump out and ski the Perdrix in to Mottaret.

Courchevel: 1300M -1850M

3^rd -4^th-5^th 6^th days.

Important note: Lift Pass extension needed.
 
Courchevel 1850 for beginners.

This, the highest and most famous resort of the Courchevel valley is very chic, expensive and full of very rich ladies wearing fur coats and carrying poodles. In January it is now also crowded with Russians. However  it is still the entry point for some of the best skiing & riding in all 3 valleys.
 
Outward Route 1.
 
Take Pas du Lac (Mottaret) or Burgin (Meribel) to the top of Saulire.
 
Great views up here.

Nervous beginners: You can walk up 150 meters further up to the Verdons cable car. Take the cable car down. You will see the famous Courchevel couloirs on your left. At the bottom you have a wonderful choice of very easy green runs all leading to 1850. Apart from Courchevel 1650 this is the best practice area for beginners in all 3 valleys.

If you are quite confident then ski to the far side in front of you as you come out of the bubble, keeping to the right pathway, then follow that path round to the left down in to the bowl. Thereafter it is quite easy down to Courchevel centre. Keep to the left side. You will come to a fork in the piste. Take the left one. The right side is often both steep and icy.
 
Outward Route 2
 
Take Rhodos bubble from Chaudanne to the 2nd stage then ski down to very slow Loze chairlift at the end of the green Altiport Blanchot run. At the top follow the easy Loze bleue down to Courchevel 1850 centre.
To ski in this area use the Verdons bubble up to the base of the Saulire cable car. 1850 resembles Euston station in the rush hour so make sure you get in the right lift queue. You can also take the Chenus bubble and do any of the easy 3 blues that bring you back to the centre.
Lunch:
We recommend L'Arc-En-Ciel just at the base of the Cable car (small upstairs restaurant). Good food at reasonable prices for 1850. Plat du jour here was €12.80.Below the restaurant is a cheaper take away section.
Tel 04 79 08 38 09 for reservation.

Or if you are skiing from Chenus the self-service restaurant of the same name at the top is also fairly reasonable for a simple meal.

Homeward Bound: Route 1
 
This route especially applies to those who are a bit tired. Catch the giant Saulire Cable car again. Ski the few yards down to either Burgin Saulire (Meribel) or Pas du Lac (Mottaret) bubbles. Take either Gondola home (either Meribel or Mottaret but be sure to take the right one!). You can jump out at the middle station if you feel confident. However I don't recommend skiing down in to Mottaret. The last section is quite steep for a blue, usually very busy, and extremely icy. It might just ruin a good day.
 
Homeward bound Route 2:
An alternative interesting route home is to catch Chenus bubble from 1850 then Col de la Loze chair. This brings you to the top of Col de la Loze from where it is an easy run down to Meribel via Boulevard de la Loze. Be careful as in heavy new snow this route gets closed and do not be tempted go under the rope if it is. This path is very susceptible to sudden avalanche and can be extremely dangerous. The path leads to a choice of blues all the way down to Chaudanne. Geai is probably the easiest. The other blue run down to the Altiport, Pic Noir should be a red and in fact was until 2 years ago.  Do not take this run unless you are quite confident. It gets very icy and steep in places.

 Missed lift connection:

If by any chance you miss the last lift you can either spend time in 1850 and get the free Courchevel bus to La Tania. Then in the ski lodge pub you might hitch a lift or get a cheap taxi to Meribel Village. From the Meribel Village  you can catch the free Meribus back to Meribel centre, just in time for dinner if you're lucky.