Two weeks in Meribel (France), Any advice welcome.
Discussion
If you need to take lessons I would try and get a 1 on one or at least a small group (say 3-4).
Big groups are a waste of time as the instructor cannot give people enough attention. The crap or pretty people will get all the attention!
If you've done skateboarding or surfing, snowboarding will be easy to pick up.
You will fall over more with snowboarding, but the falls in skiing are messier, poles and skis going in 4 directions!
However, if you have 2 weeks you have time to try both and most shops will let you "swap" between board and skis.
Button lifts are the enemy of the learner, but luckily thin on the ground in Meribel.
As mentioned before, booze prices are epic in the bars (8 EUR a pint), but cheap in the supermarket, so stock up!
It's a lovely village, with a reasonable amount of nightlife. Unfortunately it's a bit of a sausage fest, so not much options for pulling unless your working the season and know the chalet girls!
Try and get a 3 valleys pass (adds Val Thorens and Courcheval to the mix for an extra 35 EUR for the 6 day pass). These are both higher up and usually have better snow in cases where conditions are not so good.
Big groups are a waste of time as the instructor cannot give people enough attention. The crap or pretty people will get all the attention!
If you've done skateboarding or surfing, snowboarding will be easy to pick up.
You will fall over more with snowboarding, but the falls in skiing are messier, poles and skis going in 4 directions!
However, if you have 2 weeks you have time to try both and most shops will let you "swap" between board and skis.
Button lifts are the enemy of the learner, but luckily thin on the ground in Meribel.
As mentioned before, booze prices are epic in the bars (8 EUR a pint), but cheap in the supermarket, so stock up!
It's a lovely village, with a reasonable amount of nightlife. Unfortunately it's a bit of a sausage fest, so not much options for pulling unless your working the season and know the chalet girls!
Try and get a 3 valleys pass (adds Val Thorens and Courcheval to the mix for an extra 35 EUR for the 6 day pass). These are both higher up and usually have better snow in cases where conditions are not so good.
Edited by jnm23 on Wednesday 25th March 23:19
wtf?Well worth getting a lesson or two before you go.
It was 10 years ago since I was last there as I have since discovered Canada for the long trip and Courmayeur for the short trip
The best thing about Meribel for me were the Aussies in the boot locker near the lift. If you have the main ski lifts behind you there are two roads going away from you as you are at the apex of a hairpin bend. Go down the right side and they are a couple of shops down. well worth leaving your gear there and they warm the boots for you ready for the next day.
It was 10 years ago since I was last there as I have since discovered Canada for the long trip and Courmayeur for the short trip
The best thing about Meribel for me were the Aussies in the boot locker near the lift. If you have the main ski lifts behind you there are two roads going away from you as you are at the apex of a hairpin bend. Go down the right side and they are a couple of shops down. well worth leaving your gear there and they warm the boots for you ready for the next day.
Nobody You Know said:
I'm driving over to Meribel, France on Friday night to supervise my sister during her ski racing.
I volunteered as I'm unemployed and wouldn't mind a bit of excercise, everytthing paid for so no worries there, and we are in self catering apartment.
I'll have the car so can travel.
Anyway I have never been skiing/snowboarding or even to a ski resort. i was hoping to get some lessons and spend time skiing but don't think I'll do that for two weeks so want some other things to do.
Where's good to get a Snowboard instructor?
Has anyone got any advice for things to do in Meribel?
Any places to avoid?
Were can I watch the GP? (English TV in any bars?)
Any good places to go for Brit's or Petrolheads?
Good/interesting bars or places to eat?
Am I going to hate it?
I would Google it but wanted some advice from experience.
Take plenty of money.. Meribel is extremely expensive!I volunteered as I'm unemployed and wouldn't mind a bit of excercise, everytthing paid for so no worries there, and we are in self catering apartment.
I'll have the car so can travel.
Anyway I have never been skiing/snowboarding or even to a ski resort. i was hoping to get some lessons and spend time skiing but don't think I'll do that for two weeks so want some other things to do.
Where's good to get a Snowboard instructor?
Has anyone got any advice for things to do in Meribel?
Any places to avoid?
Were can I watch the GP? (English TV in any bars?)
Any good places to go for Brit's or Petrolheads?
Good/interesting bars or places to eat?
Am I going to hate it?
I would Google it but wanted some advice from experience.
Loads of places to get ski/snowboard lessons and all instuctors are English speaking.
Definitely go to "Dicks T-Bar" - again drinks extremely expensive but atmosphere is something else...
... or was when I was last there
Drive upto Val Thorens and have a go on the Ice Race Circuit 
Check out this site for lots of Meribel info - http://www.merinet.com/
Check out this site for lots of Meribel info - http://www.merinet.com/
jnm23 said:
What I mean is - you'll go to a bar looking expecting some nice posh totty, and it will be full of hairy snowboarders talking about sitting in the middle of the slopes smoking ganga and how many times they fell flat on their arses (but tried to make it look deliberate) that day.
EFA 
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