Two weeks in Meribel (France), Any advice welcome.

Two weeks in Meribel (France), Any advice welcome.

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Nobody You Know

Original Poster:

8,422 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
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.

gingerpaul

2,929 posts

244 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
I'd get some chains for your car in case snow comes down hard. You can get them in all the supermarkets over there. It's also worth picking up supplies in the supermarket before heading up the mountain to save buying things from the shops up the mountain. They're more expensive. Infact everything up there is expensive. Fun though. smile

Nobody You Know

Original Poster:

8,422 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
gingerpaul said:
I'd get some chains for your car in case snow comes down hard. You can get them in all the supermarkets over there. It's also worth picking up supplies in the supermarket before heading up the mountain to save buying things from the shops up the mountain. They're more expensive. Infact everything up there is expensive. Fun though. smile
Thought about it but apparently not needed. And I would have to get smaller whhels to fit them to the S4.

stourbridges2tvr

395 posts

211 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Was there a few weeks ago, my main advice is take plenty money and as much booze as you can carry!

A pint was between 4.5e and 8e, given the pound for euro exchange rate, thats alot of money for one night out.

Jacks is a good bar near the outdoor swimming pool, barometer at the top of town is OK, dicks tea bar gets busy from 2am onwards! Most follow the drinks promos around town for best value.

The ronnie bar at Rond point is the best Apres bar.

Its nearly all Brits there, you will barely hear french spoken at all.

Magic academy is a brit ski school which seems Ok - the kids do ok there!

Make sure you have high vis jackets in the car, one for each passenger, and snow chains, the French rossers love to give you fines for not having them.

Have fun.


Nobody You Know

Original Poster:

8,422 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Can they fine you for not having snow chains?

The hi-vis jackets are sorted.

russ_a

4,586 posts

212 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
they wont be able to fine you when your dead at the bottom of a 2000ft cliff!

Nobody You Know

Original Poster:

8,422 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
russ_a said:
they wont be able to fine you when your dead at the bottom of a 2000ft cliff!
I don't know, they are French cops remember.

MK4 Slowride

10,028 posts

209 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
NYK, go to Glos Ski slopes that's where I learnt to ski. You can rent the skis etc and the beginner slope + tuition will get you started. You need to be able to snowplough & turn properly before you go on powder. There's no point going all the way there to learn to ski so do it here while you can.

Orb the Impaler

1,881 posts

191 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
russ_a said:
they wont be able to fine you when your dead at the bottom of a 2000ft cliff!
Do you seriously reckon that snowfall is a risk at this time of year? I've never seen any this late on, and when I lived in Munich the tyre place had come and put all our summer wheels back on about the middle of March (they'd come and take our alloys off at the end of November-ish and put steelies with snow tyres on until start-ish of March).

stourbridges2tvr

395 posts

211 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Nobody You Know said:
Can they fine you for not having snow chains?

The hi-vis jackets are sorted.
TBH im not sure - but if your car gets stuck in the center of town they will tow it away before you can blink - and im sure theres going to be a charge to get it back

While i was there we had about 3 ft of snow in a couple of days, the roads clear very quickly but the car parks are much slower. If you need to use your car, and will be stuck without it, id deffo take some.

Nobody You Know

Original Poster:

8,422 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
stourbridges2tvr said:
Nobody You Know said:
Can they fine you for not having snow chains?

The hi-vis jackets are sorted.
TBH im not sure - but if your car gets stuck in the center of town they will tow it away before you can blink - and im sure theres going to be a charge to get it back

While I was there we had about 3 ft of snow in a couple of days, the roads clear very quickly but the car parks are much slower. If you need to use your car, and will be stuck without it, id deffo take some.
I can't fit them to the S4 though, not enough arch clearance, says in the manual that you need to fit 16'-17' wheels before you fit snow chains.

prand

5,916 posts

197 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
TAKE LOTS OF MONEY. Beer aside, a 2 week 3 vallees lift pass will cost over £400 (EDIT - closer to £500), although being a beginner you could get away with a much cheaper one but that will restrict you to a very limited area.

www.merinet.com is a good place for starters.

Edited by prand on Wednesday 25th March 21:50

MacGee

2,513 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
lots of money...or even more...

BERGS2

2,802 posts

249 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
MacGee said:
lots of money...or even more...
+1

even a beer in the cactus bar looking decidedly lumpy on current exchange rates....

batfink79

2,653 posts

211 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Lots of cash!
In the rhododendron it was four euros for a bag of crisps! Very expensive over there. Hypermarkets and hip flasks are your friends!

gingerpaul

2,929 posts

244 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Nobody You Know said:
gingerpaul said:
I'd get some chains for your car in case snow comes down hard. You can get them in all the supermarkets over there. It's also worth picking up supplies in the supermarket before heading up the mountain to save buying things from the shops up the mountain. They're more expensive. Infact everything up there is expensive. Fun though. smile
Thought about it but apparently not needed. And I would have to get smaller whhels to fit them to the S4.
I needed them when I was up there in January. If you're flexible on when you leave you'll probably be ok though.

nogginthenog

620 posts

202 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
check out the leisure centre to see if they still do ice kart racing.

Go to 'Le Pub' for live music & happy hour.

Don't bother trying to speak French - I'm not sure anyone knows French language there.

That's about as much as I can remember of Meribel.

DSM2

3,624 posts

201 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
Orb the Impaler said:
russ_a said:
they wont be able to fine you when your dead at the bottom of a 2000ft cliff!
Do you seriously reckon that snowfall is a risk at this time of year? I've never seen any this late on, and when I lived in Munich the tyre place had come and put all our summer wheels back on about the middle of March (they'd come and take our alloys off at the end of November-ish and put steelies with snow tyres on until start-ish of March).
I drove down to Samoens, France last Friday for a few days. Drove back yesterday because the day looked a washout and I was booked on the ferry this evening anyway. Snowing very heavily yesterday midday when I left. You have to carry chains in most alpine regions of France.

One thought, it feels REALLY expensive down there at the moment. Of course it won't be good with the current ex rate but nothing looks good value. £3 for a small beer or coffee, £10 for a very average pizza, £3 for a handful of fries.......no thanks. Luckily I have free accomodation and we can feed ourselves in the evening. Even diesel is more expensive than over here!

hazzel_frazzel

121 posts

182 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
quotequote all
For boarding lessons, try Stance snowboard school, or ESF (Ecole de ski Francais) Both have experienced english speaking insructors

Airbag

3,466 posts

197 months

Wednesday 25th March 2009
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There must be some sixteen year old chalet girls ripe for seduction.