Méribel

Meribel lies at the centre of Les Trois Vallees, the largest linked ski area in the world, in the Savoie Alps, which gives it a rare geographic advantage: from its slopes a skier can reach Courchevel on one side and Val Thorens on the other without taking off their skis. The valley was developed from the 1930s by the Scottish skier Peter Lindsay, who insisted on building in traditional wood and stone rather than concrete, and that decision still defines the place, giving Meribel a warmth and consistency of style that many purpose-built resorts lack.

The resort spreads up the valley in stages, from the main village to the higher, more snow-sure Meribel-Mottaret, with tree-lined pistes lower down and open bowls above. Its central position and its wide, welcoming terrain have made it a longstanding favourite with families and mixed-ability groups who want to explore the whole Three Valleys from a comfortable base.

The winter season runs from December to April, with the Christmas and February holidays the busiest weeks. Summer brings a quieter, greener Meribel, when the slopes reopen for hiking and mountain biking and the valley settles into a slower pace under long alpine daylight, with the surrounding peaks of the Vanoise close at hand.

Meribel has always favoured the chalet, and its wooden architecture is part of the appeal. For families and groups who want to ski from the door and gather round a fire in the evening, chalet rentals in Meribel range across the village and the slopes above.