Two weeks in Meribel (France), Any advice welcome.
Discussion
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.
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.
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. 
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.
Thought about it but apparently not needed. And I would have to get smaller whhels to fit them to the S4.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.
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.
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.
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).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 backThe hi-vis jackets are sorted.
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.
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 backThe hi-vis jackets are sorted.
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.
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.
www.merinet.com is a good place for starters.
Edited by prand on Wednesday 25th March 21:50
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.
Thought about it but apparently not needed. And I would have to get smaller whhels to fit them to the S4.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).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!
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