Meribel, France by Leo-setä

What is a catered ski holiday in Meribel?

A catered ski holiday will normally mean that everything you need is covered on your holiday. A little bit like an all-inclusive vacation you can expect flights, accommodation and most of the time, food!

Due to Meribel being such a large ski resort, you will find a range of different types of accommodation to suit your needs. From gorgeous little chalets to 5 star hotels. What you choose is completely down to you, but for the full skiing experience it is recommended that you stay in a chalet for at least a few of the nights!

In a catered chalet in Meribel you can enjoy the luxury comforts of wood burning fires and fur rugs to keep your toes warm at night! Staff will prepare meals for you in many catered accommodation packages so you do not have to worry about cooking on your holiday!

Some packages may also include your lift tickets and entry to various entertainment venues located on the resort. It is best to speak with your ski holiday provider to find out exactly what is included in your catered holiday.

Meribel itself is situated at the centre of the Trois Vallees which is the World’s largest ski area. There are several neighbouring small towns and villages nearby that you can explore when taking a break from the slopes. Make sure you grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants away from the resort, for a truly French gourmet experience.

If you have time then you simply must visit the Vanoise National Park, which offers a wide range of scenery, wildlife and plants to experience.

Meribel, France by Leo-setä

Skiing in Meribel

Whether you are a complete beginner in terms of skiing, had a few lessons, or are an expert; there is a slope, chute or piste to suit your level of skill.

Altiport is the area you should start with if you have never been skiing before, or are rusty on the slopes! You will find a range of blue trails that will help you get to grips with this fun and intense sport. There are plenty of guides, schools and teachers that can assist you with any questions or queries you may have when it comes to skiing.

Saulire is a mixed use area, meaning that it caters for all types of skiers. There are a few blue and black trails but mainly a lot of reds that are suitable for intermediate skiers.

Tougnète is another mixed area that will give everybody the opportunity to shine. A number of blue, red and black trails, chutes and slopes are available here. As well as on-piste and off-piste terrains that you can try out your moves on!

Mont du Vallon is the area that attracts the most expert and professional skiers. Although intermediate levels are welcome here, you may find the steep runs a bit too advanced for yourself. Mont du Vallon provides one of the most gorgeous backgrounds for skiing, so check it out if you can!

Meribel in France is not only one of the World’s largest ski resorts, it is also one of the most popular. This is due to the amount of different types of skiing opportunities which appeal to beginners and experts alike.

If you are planning a catered ski holiday to Meribel then ensure you take a few days break from the slopes in order to explore the neighbouring towns and villages. There is also plenty of entertainment available in the form of shopping, restaurants and night-life!

Author Bio:
An article by Nathan Griffiths who tries to ski as often as possible and particularly enjoys the slopes of Meribel.

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Megeve, France by Leo-setä

Perhaps a beautiful wooden chalet in a rustic alpine hamlet nestled in a picturesque snowy valley is what you are looking for? Unfortunately the most rustic and charming ski resorts are becoming harder to find. They have either given in to the pressures of commercial skiing and grown to become larger ski resorts, struggling to hold on to the idyllic image that once made them popular, or they have rejected this path all together. In the latter scenario this means you are unlikely to be able to get much more than a token bit of skiing in, or won’t see another person all week.

So, which ski resorts  have managed to combine that ‘chocolate box’ scenery with good lift access to quality ski areas, and a fun atmosphere?

Megeve, France

Back in the 1920s, this medieval town became perhaps one of Frances first purpose built ski resorts. Thankfully they had more of an eye for picturesque detail than they did the in the 60s and 70s, so the centre of town really is reminiscent of a fairytale winter destination. The ski area is large, varied and uncrowded, though the lifts system is a little tired in places.

Grand Bornand, France

This historic farming town, also one of the closest ski resorts to Geneva, is amazingly still something of a hidden gem. The classic cobbled town square is the perfect place to grab a sunny coffee and take in the stunning views of the Aravis mountains rising above the eye catching church spire. When you get up onto the mountain things don’t change. The mountain restaurants are all beautiful old farmhouses, and the skiing, on all sides of one main peak, has plenty to keep you entertained for a few days at least.

Grand Bornand, France by Michael McKechnie

Canazei, Italy

This charming village of cobbled streets and traditional buildings is set against the jaw dropping backdrop of the Dolomites. The resort is well linked with the mighty Sella Ronda network of over 433km of pistes, which is the ideal location for those who want to clock up some miles, before settling back and enjoying Italian mountain scenery at it’s best.

Saas Fee, Switzerland

Is Saas Fee one of those resorts that ticks all the boxes? Undeniably it has the mountain charm factor, with it’s car free village centre, good restaurants, family atmosphere and dramatic surroundings. It also has the snow sure factor – most of the 100km of skiing is between 2500 and 3500m. Perhaps the only downside is the limited expert terrain. If you have skied it all, it isn’t far to get to Saas Grund and even Zermatt (which nearly made this list).

Murren, Switzerland by BigJimInDC

Murren, Switzerland

Car free Murren is part of the Jungfrau ski area which includes the slightly better known resorts of Wengen and Grindelwald. Despite having limited nightlife and only a small amount of skiing directly linked to this town, it simply had to make the cut. When you have taken the cable car from town to the Schiltorn, or are looking out across the valley to the most famous of peaks, the Eiger, you will certainly agree.

Alex works for SkiWeekender.com, who specialise in short ski breaks in charming villages of Grand Bornand, La Clusaz and Samoens in the French Alps.

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Though there are many ski destinations that you can choose from, here are a few of the best among the lot in Europe.

Courchevel, France

Providing you with some great ski spots and breath-taking views, Courchevel ranks among the top skiing spots on the planet. Courchevel also boasts a well-connected lift system and the biggest ski area in the world. You can find many resorts within this valley, offering you great services at decent prices.

Skiing in Courchevel, France by Leo-setä

Val d’Isere, France

Ranging to altitudes of almost 3500 metres, Val d’ Isere provides great skiing opportunities. Some of its snow-capped peaks are something you cannot just afford to miss out on. After indulging in some skiing, you will be warmly welcomed at the various ski-chalets out there, offering a range of luxury facilities like indoor heated pools, sauna and Jacuzzi.

Photo of Val d’Isère, Savoie, France by genevieveromier

Seefeld, Austria

Ever heard of cross-country skiing? You can experience the same at Seefeld. This has been one of the main attractions among tourists here. With neatly laid out well maintained courses and powdery snow, Seefeld is an ideal destination for beginners and expert skiers.

Photo of Seefeld, Austria by Mccallusa

Levi, Lapland

Called as Santa’s home off-season, Levi is sure to be a hit among the kids. Another great skiing destination that offers you great views, Levi’s brightly lit slopes and fine snow enhance your overall skiing experience. There are many resorts out here, which will appeal to the younger crowd and where you can also spend some cosy family time.

Photo of Levi, Finland, Lapland by Jann Kuusisaari

Megeve, France

A small yet beautiful town cradled within huge snow-capped peaks, Megeve is another dreamy destination you can visit to try out skiing. With various tournaments being held here every year, Megeve provides around 217 ski slopes for its skiers to enjoy.

Owing to its quiet and natural beauty, Megeve is quite popular among the wealthy crowd. Visited by many businessmen and celebrities, Megeve boasts excellent luxury resorts providing some top class facilities and easy access to the slopes.

Photo of Megeve, France by Leo-setä

Once back after a great session of skiing, you will be happy to wind up at one of these looking forward for another adventure packed day.

How to plan your ski-trip?

So you have chosen your destination. The next step in planning your ski-trip would be choosing the right ski-resort. Ski-resorts take care of all your travel needs providing you services like hotel, accommodation, or even transport at times. So choosing your ski-resorts wisely is very important when planning your trip.

Andy is an expert associated with Burger Davis SIR, an international realty company that offers a range of luxury real estate in France and world wide. A home away from home,Burger-Davis Sotheby’s International Realty provides a range of luxurious ski-resorts to choose from. Burger-Davis provides an exclusive range of ski-chalets where you could be offered royal services like getting a private chef cook for you or even a helicopter transfer.

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Photo by skiserradaestrela.com

Ski Serra da Estrela is a small ski resort in Portugal. It is located in the central part of the country in the mountains of Serra da Estrela, at an altitude of 1851 – 1988 metres above sea level. Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain in Portugal’s mainland and does not have any highest summit, but instead of that it is a plateau, known as Torre (Tower), measuring 1,993 meters. However the highest point of Portugal is situated on the island of Pico in the Azores and it is called Mount Pico (2,351 metres). The entire Serra da Estrela mountain range belongs to Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela.

On the highest point of Serra da Estrela is the radar station, the old observatory, and 7 m high monument in order to reach an altitude of 2000 meters. At the top you can also find a store, where you can buy mainly cheese and ham (prosciutto).

Below the mountains, on the east, is a great city of Guarda, on the south is the ski town of Covilha with an information centre of the natural park. The best starting point for hiking is the village of Manteigas situated in the middle of Natural Park.

Ski Serra da Estrela has 9 pistes with a total length of 7.7 km. There is 1 black, 4 red, 2 blue and 2 green slopes. Transportation is provided by 4 lifts and a chair lift with a total carrying capacity of 2000 persons per hour. The ski area of Serra da Estrela has also a snowpark.

The skiing season starts here usually in December and lasts to April. One-day ski-pass in high season costs €25 and €15 off-season. You can also find here a restaurant, 2 bars, ski school and ski rental services. Among favorite after-snow activities are snowshoeing, sledding and snowmobile riding.

For further information about Serra da Estrela ski resort with actual snow conditions visit official website skiserradaestrela.com.

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Photo by stuben.com

Resort St.Anton-St.Christoph-Stuben offers a total of 115 km of ski slopes, which are located at an altitude ranging from 1304 metres to 2811 meters above sea level. 49 kilometres are ski slopes of blue difficulty, 53 km are of red slopes and 13 kilometers of tracks boasts black level. Additional 100 kilometres are off the groomed slopes.

There are a total of 38 lifts in operation here (5 cabins, 17 chair lifts, 16 poma lifts). They can transport over 58,000 skiers per hour. Of course there is a number of snow parks and a ski schools and you can even use approximately 40 km of cross-country ski trails.

Lifts in St.Anton-St.Christoph-Stuben runs from 8:45am to 4:15pm. Adult daily ski pass costs €45.50, and six-day ski pass costs €219.

An offer of après-ski activities in the village of Stuben can not even compare to the well known and famous St.Anton, the legendary town, which is the main site of an area. But anyway Stuben is still very nice and suitable for all types of skiers and offers really nice skiing in Austrian Alps with great view of the surrounding peaks.

For further information visit an official site of Stuben ski resort.

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Sella Ronda is rare, about 37 km long ski slopes around the circuit on the Sella massif and the Kronplatz. It offers not only the great skiing but also breathtaking views of the most beautiful parts of the Dolomites, and therefore great opportunities for photography. You can pass the circuit in both directions. Following Orange mark in a clockwise direction (senso orario) – a route is 36.6 km long. Or the second option is to go in the opposite direction (senso antiorario) following green mark. This route is 38.7 km long. Each of these two destinations offer something else. Orange one offers a range of challenging slopes and is therefore suitable for more experienced skiers. Sella Ronda route takes all day to an average skiers, including the breaks for refreshments and relaxation. The circuit can be passed also within 3 hours, thanks to the local Express lifts.

Sella Ronda ski area offers in total 550 km of slopes, for all levels of skiers. There are many opportunities for the curving, freeride, alpine skiing and cross country skiing. Transport is provided by 215 lifts, whose carrying capacity is 240 000 persons per hour. Starting point to the Sella Ronda area are: Campitello and Canazei from Val di Fassa, Arabba, Colsfosco, Corvara and Val Gardena. There are also many amusement parks for children and snowboarders. You can also enjoy night skiing – in Val di Fassa (Pozza di Fassa).

In Sella Ronda there are ski school, nursery school, you can rent or buy ski equipment here. There are lots of accommodation possibilities and refreshments. There is also a range of other activities like skating, tennis, squash, bowling, paragliding, tobogganing, and much more. High season usually lasts from December to April. If you go to the Sella Ronda ski area, you must buy a lift pass Dolomiti SuperSki because special pass only to the Sella Ronda does not exist. SuperSki Dolomiti Ski Pass is wider and offers a total of 1,200 km of slopes.

Sella Ronda ski area is also famous for the race Gardenissima, which is the longest giant slalom in the world. The race was attended to not only professionals but also amateurs.

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