Location: Meribel, France (a.k.a. Three Valleys)
When: January 2009

EDIT: I've added some files to this page, with ski run information, detailed piste maps, and some ski stretches.

Package Information

Flight Out: 10th January 2009. Dublin - Geneva
Transfer Time: 80 miles, ~2.5 hours
Hotel: Hotel Le Mottaret
Flight Back: 17th January 2009. Geneva - Dublin
Tour Operator: Directski
Notes: Eoin&Eleanor and Barry&Noreen have superior rooms booked (at extra cost to themselves). The package is half-board, and according to the reviews online the food is pretty good.
Cost: ~€930 per person (+€15 for skis/board, +€120pp for superior room)

Meribel, France

The Where to Ski book for 2008 has this to say about Meribel:

• Positive
• Centre of the biggest linked lift network in the world
• Great for intermediates and experts
• Charming town
• Excellent grooming and snowmaking
• Negative
• Afternoon Sun can effect the snow
• Can be crowded
• Expensive
• Mottaret can be quiet

Meribel is hard to beat, there is just so much piste. Mottaret has quick access to all the valleys.

€225 for a 6 day Three Valleys lift pass.

Meribel Piste Map

I have uploaded two different piste maps for the region.

This map is a general overview of the three valleys:

Piste Map, Three Valleys, Meribel, France: This is an overview of the piste map of the Three Valleys, France.
Full Size Link

This is a piste map for Meribel Valley:

Piste Map, Meribel, France: This is piste map for Meribel, France.
Full Size Link

Recommended Pistes

Beginner

Advanced beginners and intermediates will find the run below the final two sections of the Plattieres lift both gentle and extended.

Intermediate

Mogul-busters should try the short drop under the third stage of the Plattieres lift.

The sector near the Altiport is an intermediate's delight.

Expert

Experts and advanced intermediates shouldn’t miss the very worthy runs and wide-open off-piste opportunities down both sides of Mont Vallon.

The chutes directly beneath the gondola, reached only by a scramble and the wide couloir to the left of the ascending gondola make for expert runs that will be the subject of conversations for years.

Off-Piste

Off-piste possibilities for intermediates abound in the area between Roc de Fer, site of the women’s Olympic downhill, and Méribel (for those interested in dropping into the Vallées des Belleville from the top of Roc de Fer more intermediate skiing awaits).

the best off-piste skiing is in sectors between Mont de la Chambre and Les Plattieres as well as from the top of Mont Vallon.

Another off-piste gem is free skiing from Roc de Fer along the ridge then dropping down to Le Raffort or Les Allues.

Boarding

There are two snowparks in this valley. One is in Méribel and the other in Méribel-Mottaret. In Méribel-Mottaret the total area of the snowpark is 15 acres. It is 5,000 feet long and the vertical drop is almost 1,000 feet. There is also a halfpipe, a babypipe, two quarterpipes and tables, spines and a boardercross course.

In Meribel the Arpasson snowpark is 4,000 feet long with a vertical drop of 660 feet. There is a competition halfpipe, another beginner halfpipe and a 3.3 km. boardercross course with whoops, tables and obstacles.

Other Information

Lessons

The French Ski School in Mottaret number: 4 79 00 49 49. Morning private lessons (from 9:30 to 12:15) cost €143 for one to four skiers.

A special accompanied ski adventure through Les Trois Vallées and another tour through the 12 valleys of the Tarentaise—including the resorts of Val Thorens, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val d’Isère and Tignes—are also offered.

Local Free Bus Info

Source

The local Meribel and Mottaret buses are free and run throughout the season. There are four services:

• La Chaudanne (central lifts for Meribel) to Altiport
• Meribel Centre to Belvedere
• Meribel Centre to Mottaret
• Meribel Centre to Les Allues

The Mottaret service route: Meribel - Le Chatelet - Le Hameau - Le Chatelet - Meribel

The first bus down to Meribel in the morning is at 8:40am. The last bus back from Meribel, leaves Meribel centre at 11:30pm.

The bus runs every half an hour leaving Meribel centre at quarter past and quarter to the hour for most of the day.

The first bus from Meribel to Mottaret leaves at 8:20am. The last bus returns to Mottaret at 12:00 midnight.

Other To Do's

A climbing wall is available in the Olympic Center open from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Links

• Mad Dog Ski Guide for 3 Valleys
• 3 Valleys Off Piste Guide
• http://skimottaret.com/
• Three Valleys Webcams!
• Meribel Tourist Site
• Merinet
• Meribel on Wikipedia
• Meribel Unplugged
• Crystal Ski Meribel Guide
• Meribel Guide - this one has info on ski rental and ski school
• Ski/Snowboard rental Meribel - Apparently this shop has all new gear every season. Kinda pricey though, about €200/6 days for advanced skis (they do have gender specific skis though, which I've read makes a difference)
• Mottaret - This site has info on the free local buses.
• Ski and Snowboard Europe Meribel - Has info on many different aspects of Meribel
• Three Valleys

Get in the Mood...

Piste Opening and Snow Info

http://www.skiplan.com/skiplan/infostation.php?p_lang=en&p_station=merib...

Madonna Di Campiglio - March 2008

The last trip was to Madonna Di Campiglio. There was some good skiing, everybody improved a lot, and we all pushed ourselves. Eleanor purchased a helmet, we did a small amount of off-piste there, but not much.

Check out some of the skiing photos from that trip.