Advantages: Reliable snow, door-to-door skiing, huge terrain
Disadvantages: Expensive

.... Don’t forget to allow for road toll charges when working out the cost of this route. I haven’t done this for a while but I think they currently work out at about £70 each way. Because Mottaret is much smaller than Meribel itself, its accommodation is generally more conveniently placed than in the main village. Much more skiing to and from the doorstep, which suits me as carrying heavy skis up hill is not my idea of fun. There is a good range of hotels, from 2 to 4 star, and plenty of self-catering accommodation, but some of it is up some pretty steep steps from the village centre, so it pays to check on the exact location. There are a couple of good supermarkets, which have plenty of delicious French delicacies for self-caterers and picnickers. Restaurants are plentiful, and there are some great alpine specialities on offer... Read review

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Advantages: Properly French
Disadvantages: No globalised mod-cons such as an Internet cafe

...likely to damage your equipment rather than enhance your French experience (or your skiing ability!). Brides is also significantly cheaper than Meribel when it comes to accommodation. In summer, Brides is a popular French health resort without the expensive price tag. The town has its own natural thermal spa within the river that flows from the Alps and so the association between the warm mineral water and health was promoted by the town quite some time ago. Since then, the natural spa has been enclosed and locked away. So even though the town itself isn't exclusive, entrance to the spa most definitely is. To receive "treatment", you must have a doctor's certificate, then wait your turn in the large and busy waiting area. If, like me, you are not unhealthy and/or rich enough to visit the spa itself, you can line up outside for a free cup... Read review

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Advantages: Guaranteed Snow / Amazing Ski Area/Great Apres Ski/Excellent Restaurants
Disadvantages: French School Holidays.Very crowded.

...: This is absolutely the place for you.It has 600km+ of fabulous pistes in all 3/4 Valleys.You can ski for a week here without ever doing the same run twice:Meribel is the best place to stay as it is in the very centre of the 3 Valleys.You can reach Courchevel/Les menuires/Val Thorens so easy that you are totally spoit for choice. ADVANCED: There is more than enough off piste & moguls to keep anyone happy.I would thoroughly recommend the French Ski School off piste daily adventure.Its about £35 a day plus lunch but the memory will stay with you for ever.It's real off piste with a high mountain guide,sometimes to either of the two Glaciers.If you are lucky enough to have a fresh fall of deep powder splash out and take this course.You will not regret it. SKI AREAS: Meribel: Great skiing but the best runs are at Mont Vallon up in Mottaret.You can... Read review

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Advantages: huge areas to ski in
Disadvantages: a bit expensive

...In Motion). Meriski also provided an evening crèche/babysitter if required. I totally recommend Meriski when going to Meribel, as they handled everything with efficiency and were friendly and helpful. Meribel itself is beautiful. It is like a picture off a chocolate box, with its traditionally French winter style chalets, surrounded by pine trees covered in snow and the twinkling of lights around the pretty old woodland shops. There are plenty of ski shops, which stock fashionable, stylish ski outfits and a wide range of outdoor/apres ski clothes. Most of the shops also provide for ski/boot hire, so you have a "one stop shop" if you are lacking in any of the necessities. There are also a few necessary food shops for those who are self-catering, including handy delicatessens. The nightlife is good too - catering for all types... Read review

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Advantages: Location, Piste Area, Snow
Disadvantages: Night life

...removed the lid of the toilet and left it off, was simply a problem with the toilet filling up with water. No more toilet problems for us. Night-Life: As Mottaret is a smal resort some 5-10 minutes further up the mountain than meribel it is fairly self contained, with a limited number of pubs, and one nightclub. Very expensive in my opinion, as are most ski resort night clubs, i found there to be ample bars to keep us busy. If your looking for a lads holiday, looking for ladies, i wouldnt recommend coming here, was mostly full of families or couples. On a plus note the night life in meribel is slight better and is a free bus ride away. Meribus runs from before i awoke each day 9am isj. Until the last bus upto Mottaret at 11:50pm, or there abouts. Plenty of bars to go around in meribel, but in my opinion not quite as good as Val D... Read review

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Advantages: Great range of slopes, good night life
Disadvantages: No tree line ski-ing, expensive

...– Main town/Old Town/Quartier des Bergers – individually. There are a few other areas but they only have residential accommodation. **Main Town** (otherwise known as Quartier des Jeux) This is a lovely area to stay in as it’s close to everything... with the exception of the slopes! There’s a wide range of hotels, chalets and apartments. Most tour operators offer accommodation in L'Ours Blanc Apartments and the Royal L’Ours hotel and these are situated right in centre de ville. Shops – Shop wise Alpe d’Huez boasts many, many fashion boutiques... although some of the French fashion leaves a little to be desired (one shop in particular earned the nickname of “The Blind Tailors” on my last visit). There are also a load of chain sport shops – Nevada Sports, Intersport, Henri... Read review

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Advantages: Good for beginners, good nightlife, sunny, access to La Grave, free swimming/skating
Disadvantages: Limited skiing, not ideal resort layout, frustrating slope and lift layout at hometime

...Located in the southern French Alps, and close to Alpe D'Huez and Serre Chevalier, Les Deux Alpes might not be the first ski resort that springs to mind when you think of European skiing. It's a little unfair as, on an individual basis, the resort compares extremely well to just about any in France. It is the second oldest in resort in the country, after the world famous Chamonix and can boast more than 200km of runs to itself. However, while 2 Alpes may individually have a large ski-area, it lacks the collective might of areas such as the Trois Vallees or Espace Killy when it comes to a linked network of slopes. Essentially, with 2 Alpes what you see is what you get. For most this won't be a problem - almost 100 different pisted slopes plus good opportunities to drop into off-piste powder fields should keep all but the most... Read review

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Advantages: great food, friendly staff, lovely room
Disadvantages: a bit of a walk from kitzbuhel town

...I stayed at the four star Tirolerhof this year in July on half board basis. The hotel is in a fantastic rural location with lovely views of the surrouding countryside. We had a spacious superior room with a large balcony and a lovely view. Room facilities included satellite tv, hairdryer, safe, telephone and en suite bathroom. The highlight of our stay has to be the food! A hot and cold buffet is served for breakfast with a great range of breads, pastries, cereals, ham, cheese and yoghurts to choose from as well as eggs, bacon and sausages. Dinner is a gourmet four course- an entree, soup, main course and desert and is absoultely delicious- a mix of austrain food and modern cuisine! A barbecue and market buffet is served twice a week. Free tea/coffee and a range of homemade cakes are served every day between 3:30pm and 5pm... Read review

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Advantages: Skiing for all levels
Disadvantages: When I had to leave

...are specific and it is almost impossible to get into the wrong class. I have attended the Ski School there for three years and have found it one of the best I have been to, with them so friendly and encouraging you all the way to make sure you can do your best. The Runs: The village is set at the bottom of a huge bowl high in the French alps. From the bowl you can ski into the surrounding valleys, on the glacier at the top and even down the backside of the huge ridge. There are a number of challenging courses down the front of the ridge, some interesting tree skiing below the main bowl, and excellent access to the main slopes. There is even a tunnel you can ski through the ridge from the glacier at the back to a superb bowl at the front. The black runs down the back of the mountain are the longest I have ever seen and challenging more... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly staff, excellent food
Disadvantages: Limited disabled access, only 12 rooms

...but in fact the E43, one the main routes through the Alps, between Northern Italy and Zurich lies only about five kilometres away. That said, there is no sound of traffic and the only sounds here are of the cow bells from the cattle that walk down Donat's only street. The exterior of the hotel looked exactly as I remembered it. Large and square with a dark timber roof and wooden shutters around each of its windows. The hotel's car park is directly opposite the hotel entrance but it is only small, with room for about a dozen cars. Since the hotel only has twelve rooms this does however usually tend to be sufficient in size. As soon as I stepped into the entrance I could smell the delicious aroma of home cooked food, some kind of broth I think and Herr Frankenhauser appeared to greet us, offering to carry our luggage up to the rooms... Read review

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