What we learnt about the 3 Valleys when we skied somewhere else

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

We missed Méribel when we went skiing somewhere different

As you probably know we love Méribel and we love skiing in Les 3 Valleys. During the 25 years of operating in the area, we have witnessed the resort and slopes evolve into the incredible ski experience they are today.

But that doesn’t stop us venturing to other resorts for a ski day or even a holiday. Over the last few years, we have visited the Espace Killy, Chamonix, Ischgl, Borovets and recently La Clusaz. It was this last one that made us realise how amazing The 3 Valleys are!

Meribel

We are not about to character assassinate another resort and the truth is we had a lovely holiday skiing in a different place. Nor do we want to be the sort of people that say “why would you want to go anywhere else?”.

We understand that we all need to try something different, but we also know how good it feels to return to the familiar especially when it has the added bonus of being the best!

Our spring trip to La Clusaz was great, the resort was lovely, and the scenery stunning. In short, we had a great time. However, when you come from one of the best resorts in the world you do start to miss things.

The Snow

Not Much Snow — Not much snow should have stayed in the 3 Valleys

By going skiing at the extremities of the season there is always the risk that the snow conditions won’t be at their best. Our trip was in spring and the snow cover across the alps wasn’t outstanding.

It is during periods like this you realise how good the snowmaking infrastructure in The 3 Valleys is and how important attitude is to ensuring great season-long skiing.

The 3 valleys have over 2000 snow cannons across ⅓ of the ski area, in our spring destination there were just 200 and many of them were not in use due to the temperature and low altitude.

The Skiing

We can all have an opinion on what is good and bad skiing. What you can’t argue with is that the 3 Valleys is the largest ski area in the world and offers terrain and runs for every skier. Yes in a small resort it is harder to get lost and in this case it was a great way for a mixed group to easily split up and hangout at the same time.

But if you consider that we occasionally discover a run that we haven’t skied for 10 years in the 3 valleys you can forgive us for not being satisfied with the amount of skiing on offer in other resorts.

The Lifts

Like the 3 Valleys the Annecy Ski area is many small areas linked. During my weeks stay none of the links were skiable, no runs were open into the resort and we relied on a car to get between ski areas. During the same week over in Méribel all the links were open and there was a plenty of runs open and runs back to resort were kept open.

During the same week over in Méribel all the links were open and there was a plenty of runs open and runs back to resort were kept open.

The next thing I started to miss was the quality of the infrastructure found in Les 3 Valleys. Every year there are new lift developments in the 3 Valleys and there has been clear progress in upgrading old lifts. So it is easy to tell when you’re in a resort that hasn’t had seen heavy lift investment.

So it is easy to tell when you’re in a resort that hasn’t had seen heavy lift investment. Many of La Cluzas lifts were old and none were covered, there was also a reliance on draglifts to access many of the ski areas.

The Apres

One of the charms of La Cluzas is how it has retained its original charm and very much remains a French ski resort. This has also meant that it isn’t quite up to scratch when it comes to Apres time! There is nothing to rival the Folie or the Ronnie and the bars in town are a more subdued affair.

Also after a recent Austrian ski trip and experiencing the whole Europop, Flulgle , dancing on the table madness I realised how well balanced the Apres ski scene in Meribel feels.

As we live in Meribel for half the year we can sometimes get complacent so a trip to another resort is good for us to realise how lucky we are to have the 600km of piste that we do.

If you are planning to return to The 3 Valleys or are heading there for the first time then check out our catered chalets in La Tania and Méribel or call us on +44(0) 1273 466 535

Posted in Alpine Action, La Tania, Meribel | Tagged holiday, La Tania, Meribel, Ski, skiing, three valleys

A guide to Savoie food

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

A Guide to Savoie Food and its traditions

Keen British skiers flock to France each winter for the country’s spectacular ski slopes, vibrant après ski, wonderful family facilities and catered chalet holidays.

But there’s one more thing which keeps us coming back for more each year, the food! Not just in the chalets but on the slopes and in the resort restaurants.

Meribel - Savoie

History of Savoie Food

A large part of the French Alps sits across the Savoie region, and like any other region or départment in France, the Savoie has its own unique cultural, historical, political and social background.

A hugely varied terrain, much of the Savoie is covered by high-altitude mountain plateaux, steep gradients, deep river valleys, farmland and lakes, plus of course huge swathes of the land are covered in snow for half the year, so the people who historically lived and travelled here were very hardy folk.

Food sources had to be readily available and that meant their diet largely consisted of hardy vegetables, cheeses and cured meats.

Since the turn of the twentieth century, the Savoie has changed from a largely agricultural terrain to an area more readily associated with tourism and skiing, but the cuisine of the area is inextricably linked to the Savoie itself and over the years has proven hugely popular amongst skiing visitors from all corners of the globe – so much so that for many people the Savoie food is now a major reason to return to France for the annual ski trip!

The Ingredients

Savoyarde cooking relies exclusively on products and ingredients from the area and, because of this, is unmistakably authentic. Staple ingredients include potatoes, which were grown over the summer and stored during harsh winters, and cheeses.

Of course, being an Alpine territory cheese making has always been a hugely popular pursuit in the Savoie and abondance, Beaufort, Tome and of course Reblochon cheeses all work wonderfully well with traditional Savoyarde fare. Cured meats also form a large part of the Savoyarde dishes we enjoy today, and they feature in a number of traditional recipes.

Fondue

Perhaps the most instantly recognisable of all the Savoyard dishes, fondue is like no other meal! Wonderfully convivial and great fun to enjoy with friends, eating fondue involves placing hard bits of bread onto a skewer and dipping it into a pot of melted cheese.

There are two schools of thought on the history of the meal, one a lot more fun and interesting than the other. The traditional view is that fondue came about when poor mountain farming communities had experienced lean times and were forced to make meals out of nothing more than stale bread and hard cheese, so they melted the cheese down and ate it with the tough bread as a warm and hearty meal. The truth of the matter, if you believe the nay-sayers, is a lot less intriguing… fondue came about as little more than a marketing ploy to get punters

The truth of the matter, if you believe the nay-sayers, is a lot less intriguing… fondue came about as little more than a marketing ploy to get punters into restaurants when skiing because popular in the Alps. I know which one I’m happier believing!

Raclette

Named after the cheese it’s made with, raclette is another wonderfully convivial dining experience – there are more flavours at play than with the fondue as well, and it’s a complete meal.

Potatoes are cooked in a pan of boiling water with the skins on, and placed on a plate alongside pickled gherkins, picked onions and a selection of dried meats.

Then diners take melted slices of raclette cheese and pour them over the dish before tucking in. It’s a hearty meal and leaves you fit to burst!

Tartiflette

For a dish with as much flavour as tartiflette, it’s surprisingly simple to make. Butter is melted in a frying pan then finely chopped onions, bacon bits and thinly sliced potatoes are added.

Once the potatoes are nearly cooked you put them in an oven proof dish, layered with the bacon bits and onions. Then you cover the dish in strips of reblochon cheese and bake until melted and browned.

Tartiflette is a very old and very traditional Savoyarde recipe, but it’s one that anybody can try. Wonderfully simple to prepare, it tastes amazing and goes well with a crisp Savoyarde white wine.

These Savoyarde dishes are all wonderful in their own ways, and although no trip to the Alps is complete without one they are also perfectly simple to make and enjoy at home.

It’s all pretty carbohydrate-heavy though, but if you’re feeling too full after one of these dishes a shot or two of Genepi, the Savoie’s own digestif spirit, will sort you out in no time at all!

A great place to taste all these delicious dishes is the 3 Valleys. We have catered accommodation in Méribel and La Tania.

Go to our website for more details.

www.alpineaction.co.uk

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Posted in Alpine Action, La Tania, Meribel, Tips | Tagged fondue, food, tartiflette

The Alpine Bake Off: Apple and Almond cake

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Eloise Rowe

As the season comes to an end we really are going to miss our Chalet cakes. There is nothing better than coming back from a day on the mountain to the smell of baking. A long standing Alpine Action favourite is our “Apple and Almond” cake. This mouth watering goodness has a crisp outside and soft spongy middle. It lasts for ages if stored in a cake tin and if you like it as much as we do, you can even heat it up and serve it with a little cream for dessert.

Apple and Almond Cake

Serves 10
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
50g of almond flakes (plus some extra for decoration)
2 apples
125g butter
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
300g raising flour
200ml milk
pinch of salt
375g brown sugar
80g raisins
Icing sugar (optional for decoration)

Method:
1. Peel, core, and slice apples.
2. Sift flour, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl.
3. Stir in the brown sugar, raisins, eggs, almonds, melted butter, milk, and apples.
4. Mix until smooth and pour into a greased and floured cake tin.
5. Cook for 45 minutes in a moderate oven (180ºC).
6. Stick a knife in the centre of the cake to check it is done, it should come out clean when removed.
7. Decorate with Almond flakes and a light dusting of icing sugar, or with almond icing, like Carmen in Chalet Telekie.

by Carmen and Sam, in Chalet Telekie — By Carmen and Sam, Chalet Telekie

Easter Decorations, by Chloe and Oscar, Chalet Chez Menor`Easter Decorations, by Chloe and Oscar, Chalet Chez Menor — Easter Decorations, by Chloe and Oscar, Chalet Chez Menor

Posted in Alpine Action, Meribel, Ski, Tips, Uncategorized | Tagged #Alpinebakeoff #Snow #Chaletholidays #cake #Meribel #LaTania

How Green is Méribel

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

Find out how Méribel reduces its environmental impact

You may be surprised to discover that Méribel is, environmentally speaking, considered a very green ski resort. Unlike the green runs which only accounts for 9% of the resort’s pistes. The Ski Club of Great Britain has identified 7 initiatives that ski resorts should be implementing for it to be considered an environmental friendly ski resort.

Only 2 resorts in Europe have the full 7 in place, and only 11 in France are implementing 6 green initiatives. Méribel is one of the 11 and is well on the way to having all 7 initiatives in place, making it the greenest resort in the 3 Valleys, although Courchevel has more green runs.

Why is Méribel so green

The resort, along with the whole of the 3 valleys, source the energy needed to power the lifts and cannons from renewable sources in the form of hydro electric dams that are located throughout the local area. Local water is also used to create the snow made by the cannons and comes from the nearby Ariondaz dam.

Renewable energy

The ski area also uses solar energy to power all radio communications that keep the slopes safe and maintained. There are also plans to ensure the ice rink and swimming pool are powered by renewable energy.

As part of its green plan Méribel encourages people to walk. Which may seem a simple solution but it makes a big difference in reducing the traffic in the valleys villages. The town has invested lots of money into ensuring there are safe walkways and that they are maintained throughout the winter.

Where it is clear that walking would be a bit to much the resort lays on a free bus service at a cost of 1 Million euros per season but it helps to reduce the need for private cars and local emissions so it is a worth while investment. The resort also has a policy of free open air parking or affordable underground parking.

Rubbish and Recycling

Litter has always been an issue in ski resorts and we have all heard stories about the amount of rubbish and cigarette butts that appear under chairlifts as the snow melts in the spring.

Méribel is very proactive in discouraging skiers and boarders from littering and educating them about the impact throwing rubbish of chairlifts has. Despite all this there still needs to be organised mountain cleans at the end of every season.

The town has always had a recycling policy, just ask your chalet host how much time they spend ensuring the waste that the chalet generates gets put into the correct bin.

Architecture

One of the joys of Méribel is the architecture. There are no hideous high-rises and modern monstrosities that you find in many nearby ski resorts, this is down to the strict 80 year old building code of the town

It was’t probably introduced for environmental reasons but the policy of only using stone, wood and slate for building as well as strict height restrictions has minimised the environmental impact the development of the resort had had on the mountain.

Can Méribel It be greener?

Of course it could be more environmentally friendly, which ski resort couldn’t be. However, Méribel is working towards it. They are close to complying with the ISO 14001 which is an international standard of environmental management. Take a look at the ISO website if you want to find out more about the ISO 14001, but in short it is good for our planet and good for Méribel.

If you want to book a ski holiday to one of Europe greenest ski resorts take a look at our chalets in Méribel.

Posted in Alpine Action, Meribel | Tagged eco, green, Ski

FIRST SKI HOLIDAY WITH CHILDREN : PART 4 – The best holiday ever

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

Why our first ski trip was the best holiday.

I recently spoke to someone who had read the first few of my blogs about taking the family skiing. They told me that I had made it sound a bit stressful. Maybe they were referring to part 1 where we missed the flight , maybe it was the daily dash to ski school or it could have been the restaurant experience.

I would like to reassure everyone that we really did have a wonderful time on our ski holiday to Méribel. So much so that we have booked another ski holiday in spring, only this time we are driving.

Read about the rest of the trip
Part 1 : Part 2 : Part 3

I can truly say that it was the best family holiday we have been on so far.

Everyone had a lot of fun and it has been the topic of conversation since. I often have this conversation with the youngest who didn’t even really get to ski, “Go skiing now daddy?”… “ermm, no, we’re going to nursery”… “awwwww. Wanna go skiing”. Which is both very pleasing and irritating in equal measure.

When I questioned my 4 year old on the best thing she has ever done the answer was “skiing”, although when the same question was put to her by Grandma the response was “helping you plant flowers”.

Why was it so good?

Being proud is an important part of being a parent and there are many moments that will bring out that feeling, such as the first time they sleep through the night, writing their name or getting good exam results.

But none of that comes close to the selfish feeling of pride when they show a glimpse of interest in a passion of yours. I felt that on the the first day of Ski School when she was excited about going, then displayed as much skill as a 4 year old can when pointed down a hill on skies for the first time. Crucially she wanted to do it again and again. It was a very proud moment.

Another moment of family bliss came when we all sat down in a bar in Méribel Centre and all enjoyed a hot chocolate after spending the afternoon on beginner slope. The time was spent being shown what was learned at ski school, sledging and general sliding about. The sun moved on and we started to feel a bit tired and chilly. We head for Evolution and all sat down with our drink and a collective feeling of contentment. Once the warmth had returned to our extremities and the sugar rush has started to kick in, we were back out on the slopes earning our next moment.

I spent many years working in the Alps, single and childless, watching families get ready for the slopes. It always looked hard work and far from relaxing. I always assumed that stress would follow them around the mountain. But once out the door the pace changes, family life slows down and unlike many holidays you work as a unit, sharing a joy in the same pursuit.

Within a few days you settle into a routine and have learnt to be prepared to leave the chalet in time for ski school in an efficient manner that still eludes you at home when trying to get to work via school/nursery. But that’s probably because you don’t really want to go to work.

There were many firsts on this trip. The one I will remember the most was at 6am on the first morning. We were all awake and discovered that it had snowed. Understandably they were very excited. I opened the door just enough to peer out. As it turns out it was also just enough for the children to squeeze past. And so their first introduction to fresh snow was barefoot in pyjamas being chased by parents, similarly dressed, shouting warnings about the dangers of frostbite.

The future bond

As a ski trip is unlike many other types of holidays it develops a special place on the Family calendar. I have noticed that the family ski trip lasts well past leaving home and for many becomes as important as birthdays and Christmas, as an occasion to get together. I think it is because it is a shared passion and everyone can sit round the chalet dining table at the end of the day and share their stories. Or it could just be that the parents are paying and you can’t turn down a ski holiday.

Read about the rest of the trip
Part 1 : Part 2 : Part 3

If you are looking to book a holiday for your family, young or old, then give us a call and chat about your next trip – tel:01273466535

Posted in Alpine Action, Family Skiing, First Family Ski Trip, Meribel |

Weekly Snow Report and Events in the 3 Valleys

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Eloise Rowe

The Alps is basking in glorious sunshine at the moment, after intense weather conditions last week it is a warming change. In the departures lounge at Grenoble Airport guests were rocking out their goggle tans after a sunny ending to their Chalet holiday.

This week sunshine and blue skies are forecast every day! Lunching on a sunny terrace with a view of the snowy mountains, Apres at the Rond Point and La Folie Douce will be divine in these Spring conditions. Moving into next week we have a mix of colder temperatures, sunshine and light snow showers.

As Spring skiing slowly moves in, temperatures are rising in the 3 Valleys with highs of 10 degrees and lows of 0 degrees. The coldest wind chill is forecast at -2 which is a lot warmer than last week’s -16!

Image from: Le Meteo France 7 day forecast

The Meribel valley currently has a reading of 65cm of snow at resort level (1450m) and 195cm at Altitude (2700m).

The Courchevel valley currently has a reading of 114cm at resort level (1850m) and 174cm at Altitude (2700m).

Avalanche risk is 2 out of 5 today, however, with temperatures warming up the snow pack is loose and it is strongly recommended not to go off piste unless you are with a guide.

Don’t miss out on our latest offers, blog and snow reports subscribe to our Alpine Action Newsletter

We want to keep you up to date with weekly events and happenings in the 3 valleys so here are some of the best bits to get you in the winter holiday spirit…

What’s on this week in Meribel

Monday 13^th♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Jay Tamkin – 5pm
Evolution: Mardy Johnny Depps – 10pm
Lodge Du Village: Alex Davies – 4pm

Tuesday 14th
Market day in Meribel centre.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Daisy B – 5pm
Lodge du Village: Bring Your Sisters – 4:30pm
Evolution: Hobo Chic – 10pm
Doron Pub: The Slopes – 11pm
O’Sullivans: Bring Your Sisters – 12:30am

Wednesday 15^th
Yoga retreat hour: La Folie Douce – 10-11am register at auxalpes.com
Ice Hockey at the Olympic Centre: Meribel vs Chamonix, 8:15-11pm
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: The Maps – 6pm
The Rond Point: Bubble & Crisp – 5pm
Lodge du Village: Mr Clean – 4:30pm
Doron Pub: Wingmen 11pm

Thursday 16^th
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Hobo Chic – 5pm
Doron Pub: Gareth & Westy – 11pm
Tav: Bubble & Crisp, 10pm
Mountain Movers, O’Sullivans: Dub Pistols Sound System – 12:30am
Lodge du Village: Two Par Cajon – 4pm, Bandeoke with Mikey Gray – 10pm

Friday 17^thSt Patrick’s Day
Market day in Meribel centre
Giant Slalom: with ESF ski school, Meribel Mottaret – 1pm
♫Live Music♫
Lodge du Village: Coco & the Butterfields does St Patrick’s day – 4pm

What’s on this week in La Tania

Last minute availability

The sunshine is here to stay, why not treat yourself to a last minute holiday in the spectacular French Alps? Ski all morning, lunch on a sunny terrace overlooking the snowy mountains, dance on the tables at La Folie Douce, soak in a hot tub back at your beautiful chalet… it’s not a dream. Take a look at our latest offers to see what availability we have left for the rest of the Winter Season.

CLICK HERE: https://www.alpineaction.co.uk/special-offers-last-minute.htm

Posted in Alpine Action, La Tania, Meribel, Snow Report |

Weekly Snow Report and Events in the 3 Valleys

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Eloise Rowe

Happy Monday from a Winter paradise in Meribel and La Tania! The snow just keeps on coming in the 3 Valleys and we are ecstatic. Heavy snowfall has been non-stop since last night and is forecast to continue well into Tuesday. The skiing footage on this weeks video report was taken on Sunday (5th March) between 11am-1:30pm… O how the weather has changed! Nearly half a meter of snow has fallen and who can blame us for feeling like children on Christmas morning!

Snow and weather breakdown

The weather forecast is looking fabulous with heavy snow today and tomorrow. The sun will be beaming down Wednesday through to Friday, followed by snow again early next week and sunshine towards the end of the week.

Temperatures are looking promising over the next 7 days with highs of 6 degrees and lows of -10 degrees. The coldest wind chill is forecast at -19 on Tuesday evening… brrr chilly!

The Meribel valley currently has a reading of 65cm of snow at resort level (1450m) and 158cm at Altitude (2700m).

The Courchevel valley currently has a reading of 102cm at resort level (1850m) and 158cm at Altitude (2700m).

Avalanche risk is 4 out of 5 today, with this huge dump of snow we advise to not go off piste unless you are with a qualified guide.

We want to keep you up to date with weekly events and happenings in the 3 valleys so here are some of the best bits to get you in the winter holiday spirit…

What’s on this week in Meribel

Monday 6^th MarchSnowmobile circuit for children: Meribel Mottaret, 10 euros for 12 mins.
♫Live Music♫
Evolution: Mardy Johnny Depps – 10pm

Tuesday 7^th March
Market day in Meribel centre.
DC Area 43: welcome drink and games, opportunity to win prizes, 2-4pm.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Daisy B & Tom – 5pm
Lodge du Village: Bring Your Sisters – 4:30pm

Wednesday 8^th March
Ice Hockey at the Olympic Centre: 8:15-11pm
Sheride Sessions: A girls shred day with lessons, BBQ and mini jam sessions, 25 euros, 10am-4pm.
Lodge Du Village: Village Fete: stalls, ski test, raffle and BBQ, 2pm-late.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: The Mardy Johnny Depps, Wingmen, Maps and Jass, 5-8:30pm.
Lodge Du Village: Alex Davies: 4pm & DJ Danz 7pm
The Rond Point: Bubble & Crisp – 5pm
Doron Pub: Wingmen 11pm

Thursday 9^th March
Le Clos Bernard by Night: Mountain restaurant in the woods, 7:30pm – 12am.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Hobo Chic – 5pm
Lodge Du Village: Rob Cross, 4pm.

Friday 10^th MarchMarket day in Meribel centre
Giant Slalom with ESF ski school: Stade de l’Aigle, Meribel Mottaret, 1pm.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Mikey Gray, 5pm.
Lodge Du Village: The Slopes, 4pm.

What’s on this week in La Tania

Last minute availability

With snow and weather conditions this good who wouldn’t want to book a last minute holiday to the French Alps? Check out our offers page for Chalet availability. We have three Meribel Chalets with limited spaces from the 25th March… it’s never to late to book.

Posted in La Tania, Meribel, Snow Report | Tagged La Tania, Meribel, Ski, skiing, snow report

Weekly Snow Report and Events in the 3 Valleys

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Eloise Rowe

It has been another glorious week in the 3 Valleys with sunshine, blue skies and warmer temperatures. Lunching outside on a sunny terrace in your favourite mountain restaurant has never been so appealing.

However, all is about to change, the snow gods have been listening and our prayers have been granted, as of tomorrow we are forecast nearly half a meter of snow! It’s time to brush off those powder skis and book a mountain guide to explore the vast 3 valleys off piste routes. Tuesday has heavy snow predicted all day, on Wednesday there will be light snow in the morning and brighter skies in the afternoon. Towards the end of the week/early next week, we are forecast for sun, cloud and light snow showers. Later next week the sun will come back out welcoming us into March.

Temperatures over the next 7 days include highs of 2 degrees and lows of -11 degrees on Tuesday evening. The coldest wind chill is forecast at -20!

The Meribel valley currently has a reading of 40cm of snow at resort level (1450m) and 122cm at Altitude (2700m).

The Courchevel valley currently has a reading of 74cm at resort level (1850m) and 122cm at Altitude (2700m).

Avalanche risk is 2 out of 5 today, however, with the huge dump of snow forecast this will change later on in the week.

JOIN THE 3 VALLEYS SKI CLUB GROUP ON FACEBOOK

We want to keep you up to date with weekly events and happenings in the 3 valleys so here are some of the best bits to get you in the winter holiday spirit…

What’s on this week in Meribel

Monday 20th^thWelcome drink, La Chaudanne, enjoy a complementary drink and advice on where to ski between 9am – 11am.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Jay Tamkin – 5pm
Evolution: Mardy Johnny Depps – 10pm

Tuesday 21^st
Market day in Meribel centre.
DC Area 43: welcome drink and games, opportunity to win prizes, 2-4pm.
Biathlon initiation: try out biathlon for free in the Family Cool area of Meribel Altiport, 10 – 4:30pm.
Fashion week and Mardi Gras at La Folie Douce.
Carnival at La Chaudanne – 5-6pm
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Daisy B – 5pm
Lodge du Village: Bring Your Sisters – 4:30pm
Evolution: Hobo Chic – 10pm
Scotts: Alex Davies – 10pm
Doron Pub: The Slopes – 11pm
O’Sullivans: Bring Your Sisters – 12:30am

Wednesday 22^nd
Torch lit decent for children: La Chaudanne – 6pm
Ice Hockey at the Olympic Centre: Meribel vs Chamonix, 8:15-11pm
Belgium Party at Folie Douce – all day
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: The Mardy Johnny Depps – 5pm & Wingmen – 6pm
The Rond Point: Bubble & Crisp – 5pm
Street Party outside the tourism office: Mr Clean – 4:30pm
Doron Pub: Wingmen 11pm

Thursday 23^rd
Himalaya by night: night sledging 5:30pm – 7:30pm Meribel Mottaret
Archery initiation: try your hand at Archery in the Meribel Altiport family cool area – 10-4:30pm.
DC Area 43: search for DC shoes around the park to win them, 2-4pm
Tobogganing and mulled wine at La Chaudanne, 4:15pm.
♫Live Music♫
Jacks Bar: Hobo Chic – 5pm
Doron Pub: Bring Your Sisters – 11pm
Den: Bubble & Crisp, 10pm
Mountain Movers, O’Sullivans: Too Many T’s – 12:30am

Friday 24^thMarket day in Meribel centre
Night Slalom: Meribel Mottaret – 5pm

What’s on this week in La Tania

Last minute availability

The snow forecast this week is so good why not book a last-minute holiday in the heart of the 3 valleys? Call our UK office today on: +44(0) 1273 466 535 to discuss what is on offer for next week and the rest of the season.

Posted in Alpine Action, La Tania, Meribel, Snow Report | Tagged Ski, skiing, snow report, snowboarding, three valleys

Why you should consider spring skiing

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

Officially winter ends on the 20th of March. The beginning of spring traditionally heralds the arrival of warmer weather, bird song and flowers coming into bloom.

So why would you head to the mountains for some skiing or snowboarding at this time of the year? Because spring in the mountains is great fun, there is some wonderful skiing to do and plenty of other things to get up to.

The Snow

We can’t promise you endless bluebird powder days in spring but more snow fall in the spring than you think. We looked at the snowfall for the 6 week spring period in the alps over the last five years and found that on average 49cm of snow fell in the period. Spring snow accounts for 14% of all the season’s snowfall. This can easily match the snowfall recorded during December in the same seasons.

When we looked at the base depths on the piste in spring they compared almost like for like with the depths of December. Naturally the snow is starting to melt as spring settles in and it is often the case that at the very end of April the charts start to tail off. However, for many of the season we looked at spring starts when the snow depth is at its peak.

Simply put skiing in spring is as fun and varied as the rest of the season only a little bit warmer.

The Sun

During the spring the average temperatures is around 11° which is a lot warmer than you can expect in January when the average is just above freezing at 2°.

In the middle of winter in Méribel there is around 75 hours of sunshine over 28 days. Once spring arrives there is in excess of 175 hours of sunshine throughout the month.

The Fun

It is during these months that the sun terraces start jumping into action with more outside gigs starting happen, BBQ’s appear and of course there is loads more sunbathing to be done.

In Spring Méribel gears itself up for some great outdoor parties including the Ronnie Loves Music Festival with Norman Jay MBE, The Sunset Sons and Craig Charles.. There is also the amazing Three Valleys Charity day hosted by the LDV’s in Méribel Village.

If you fancy a week skiing in the spring then give us a call on 01273 466535 or take a look at our latest offers.

Posted in Alpine Action, La Tania, Meribel, Ski | Tagged Apres Ski, holiday, La Tania, Meribel, Ski, skiing, spring skiing

First ski holiday with children : Part 3 – Playing and relaxing

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Jim Duncombe

How I entertained my children when we weren’t skiing.

When you plan a holiday “relaxing” would probably appear in capital letters and a bold font in your word cloud. Another highlighted word will be your choice of activity, my guess is that for many people it would be “beach”. My choice is skiing. With its hot tubs, after exercise socialising and tranquil scenery this “extreme sport” holiday is a very relaxing way to spend a week, that is until you invite your young children along for the first time.

Read Part One – Read Part Two

The first few days of my holiday had already involved missed flights and manic rushes to ski school, allowing me to tick off the extreme part of my vacation checklist before I had even hit the slopes. I spent some time skiing with my wife, drinking wine and eating delicious food. Relaxing box ticked. This left me with only one part of the holiday brief left to fill, “Spending time with the Family”. Luckily in Méribel there is plenty to do to entertain the children.

Sledging

In my head sledging involved me standing around watching my 2 and 4 year old children slide down and then gleefully running back up with the sled in tow, repeatedly until exhausted. In reality it involved an argument over the sledge colour, me towing a convoy of child laden sledges across a variety of terrain followed by the children gleefully sliding down and me running back with a full sled in tow repeatedly until exhausted.

Like many other parents we also chose not to use the allocated tobogganing area to allow our children to play in. Instead we chose a spot that was less distance to get to but ultimately more perilous. This meant that in between being a human tow, I spent my time flinching and shouting “désolé” as a fine ballet of near misses involving skiers, snowboarders and underage sledgers was performed in front of me. Untill now I have often wondered who these type of families were.

Eating

In the UK there is no trust between restaurant owners and dinners, which is why we have seen a sharp decline, almost to the point of extinction, of the humble tablecloth. In France there is little evidence of the disappearance of either trust or tablecloths. For one lunch we headed to Le Refuge a favourite restaurant of mine that is full of tables with tablecloths on and delicious pizza.

I am the sort of parent that winces at badly behaved children in restaurants, when in fact it isn’t bad behaviour it is normal behaviour in an adult environment. When it comes to my own children I tend to eat fast, over compensate with politeness, while paralysed with embarrassment. With our children inevitably under the table tugging on a table cloth with more glassware than we currently own, I ate fast, apologised profusely and left with redder cheeks then I went in with.

Skiing

Outside of ski school I wanted to do some skiing with my daughter. The experience was similar to sledging in so much as I decided to return to the same location. Unsurprisingly after only two lessons she wasn’t quite ready for that mildly challenging red despite what my bravardad feelings were telling me. I spent a very happy afternoon towing my daughter up a mild incline and watching her straight line the slope while avoiding everyone that cut across her line.

Our 2 year old had made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t happy with the lack of skiing at the nursery he was attending. To make up for this I negotiated a loan of kit from my older child. He was thrilled and much better that I expected… maybe good enough for a difficult green?

Riding the lifts

It was agreed between us that on some of the afternoons one parent would head off and go skiing leaving the other to entertain the children. Sensibly, during her turn my wife opted for cake and games in the sanctity of the chalet. I thought I would show them the mountain. My goal was a voyage of discovery through the snowy peaks on gondola ships with a final destination of La Folie Douce. As a whole family we boarded the Saulire in Méribel centre.

Once at the top the doors opened and the wind rushed in to violate the safety of the telecabine. I realised quickly that this may not be the place for a 2 year old. Especially one that has a tendency to run towards the most perilous thing in the room, or beach, or field and now mountain top. As my wife skied away I bundled the children back into the lift where we spent an hour or so going round and round while we ate a picnic and spotted mummy an incredible amount of times.

For those of you that don’t know the Saluire Express passes over the top of the Folie Douce. We passed over it at least 6 times before I decide that it wasn’t my best idea to take the children there. They seemed happy enough in the bubble lift.

Just who you want share lift with!

There are loads of other things to do with your children when you are in Méribel : Ice Skating, swimming, soft play, Bowling and more. We were just too busy having our own fun to get round to doing it all.

Posted in Alpine Action, Family Skiing, First Family Ski Trip, Meribel | Tagged #LoveMeribel #LoveLaTania #Meribel #LaTania #snow #Chalets #skiing #snowboarding, Apres Ski, holiday, Meribel, Ski, snowboarding, three valleys

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