When you're tired of the Trois Vallées, you're tired of skiing

If your ideal skiing trip is to spend the day zigzagging from one piste to another, emerging from the trees to chance upon hidden valleys and distant hamlets, head to Méribel this spring. Situated in the heart of the Trois Vallées, the biggest ski area in the world, there are few better places for this kind of exploration than the three connected valleys of Méribel, Courchevel and St Martin de Belleville – although you may find your progress being hampered by the astonishing, seductive scenery.

From the summit of the Cime de Caron lift (3,195m) in Val Thorens, down to Orelle (800m) in the Maurienne Valley (just 6kms from the motorway), the Trois Vallées boasts over 600kms of groomed trails and a network of 200 lifts across 27,000 acres; more than Vail, Killington, Squaw Valley, Steamboat, Heavenly and Park City combined (totaling 18,734 acres of skiable terrain). And if all this is not enough there is the virtually undiscovered fourth valley of Maurienne.

With over 15 hours per day of sunlight, Spring is the best time of year to explore this mass of terrain and the topography of the Trois Vallées makes Méribel the most convenient base – situated directly between the Courchevel and St Martin de Belleville valleys. Méribel has more top-of-the-range chalet accommodation than any other resort in the world and here are just three examples of properties available from members of The Méribel Tourist Office:

Les Alpes Chalet Holidays (00 33 479 00 45 69, www.skimeribelchalet.com): The nine-bedroomed Chalet Jolie (sleeps up to 20) is situated in the pretty little hamlet of Chandon, just below Méribel village. This traditional alpine chalet has been decorated to a very high standard, whilst retaining many of its character features – including a slopping pine beamed ceiling and open log fire. All rooms have en-suite facilities and the two superior rooms also have Jacuzzi baths. There is also a sauna. A week’s stay, commencing 10 April, is just £475 pp – or just £7,600 for the whole chalet.

Chalet Tyrosolios (00 33 479 00 48 10, www.chalet-meribel.com): A cinema (seating 22), Finnish sauna, fitness gym, well-being treatment rooms (treatments include massage, lymphatic drainage and magnetic wave therapy), indoor spa and swimming pool and a play room (for everybody from seven to 77 years old), plus exquisite French cuisine, make Chalet Tyrosolios (sleeps 23) one of the most luxurious chalets in the whole of Europe. All rooms have en-suite facilities and plasma, satellite TV. A week’s stay throughout April is from £28,000, for the whole chalet – under £1,218 pp (based on full occupancy).

Purple Ski (01494 488 633, www.purpleski.com ): Situated in Méribel Village, with unlimited top-class champagne included in the price of a week’s stay, the luxurious, five-bedroomed Chalet Iamato (sleeps 10) is perfect for those who enjoy the more decadent side of skiing. Just 300m from the lifts and shops, the price of a week’s stay, commencing 10 April, is now just £625 pp (a saving of £200 pp) – or just £5,781 for the whole chalet. All rooms have en-suite facilities and for those with kids there is a children’s room (with satellite television, video, Playstation2, DVD and board games), plus there is an outdoor hot tub and sauna. The chef at the Iamato was previously Saucier at The Savoy, and there is also a fully qualified and professional masseuse/physiotherapist available to all guests – ideal for those little aches and pains after a day on the slopes.

All prices are based on two adults sharing and include six nights’ catered chalet accommodation. Flights and transfers extra.

For further information, or a copy of the 2005 brochure, telephone The Méribel Tourist Office on 00 33 479 00 50 00 or visit the website at www.meribel.net


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Notes :
The snow is wonderful. The pistes are in excellent condition and the off-piste is still fabulous. The entire ski area is open and the sun is shining. Fresh snow fell yesterday. This is skiing as good at it gets.

Press:
For further information, photography or press trip enquiries please call Jamie Fox at Fox Vincent Associates on 020 7808 7151 or email Jamie.fox@foxvincent.co.uk