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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1450m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[5]
Snowboarding:		[5]

Mottaret is a purpose built ski area, established in the early 1970s, about 300 vertical metres above the famous resort of Meribel. Indeed the two ski areas are under the same management and offer shared facilities. Mottaret’s greater altitude makes it the more snowsure and best connected to the Courchevel and Val Thorens ski areas on either side. It is also typically cheaper than the original village and a higher proportion of the accommodation has doorstep skiing. The pay-off is that Mottaret lacks the range of facilities as well as much of the ambience of the lower village.

Meribel and Mottaret both have strong British roots, which , combined with their location at the heart of the world’s largest ski area, has helped to keep the Meribel Valley one of the most popular ski areas in the world today for UK skiers and boarders.

As well as being sandwiched in the central valley of the Three Valleys, the world’s largest ski area with 600km (375 miles) of linked runs and lifts, Meribel operates more high speed gondolas (15) than any other resort in the world, giving fast access to Corchevel’s valley on one side and Val Thorens on the other.

Beginners

Beginners meet in front of the Plattieres gondola where the international section of the French Ski School provides lessons in English. First time ski or board packages may be available which include equipment rentals, lessons and lift tickets at a saving on the separate prices of these services bought in resorts. There are gentle nursery slopes right by Mottaret resort and the resort’s altitude means these are normally accessible throughout the winter.

Intermediates

Intermediates will have the most to gain from a stay in Mottaret where the mind-boggling choice of more than 250 blue and red trails awaits you. Recommended runs from regular visitors include the five kilometre (three mile) long red down the Combe de Vallion. If you are thinking of venturing off piste both the ski school and the mountain guides office will be happy to guide you and teach you technique.

Advanced

There’s a huge choice in the world’s biggest ski area for advanced skiers, with some 34 black runs including the women’s Olympic down hill and the infamous ‘Les Bosses’ piste. If you prefer to head off the piste the Mountain Guides Office will take you to powder fields and steep slopes as well as up to the glacier. Ski touring is also available to Chamonix or Zermatt.

Snowboarding

Mottaret’s Plattieres snowpark has a good variety of features including a range of rails and jumps. However the valley’s main boarding venue is the Moonpark, a top notch terrain park which had a new beginners section added in the 07-08 season incorporating mini-tables, mini-box, mini-whoops and a mini boardercross just 200 metres long with a 50 metres vertical. The established park is designed for intermediate and advanced freestylers’ use and extends for 700m over a 200m vertical. The park has its own team of pro riders and even its own website (www.moonstuff.net). Outside the parks the Three Valleys is a superb destination for snowboarders with almost limitless terrain accessed by easy to ride gondolas.

Other Activities and Facilities

Meribel and Mottaret have a good range of things to do off the slopes with most of these in the original Meribel village, accessed by ski or free shuttle bus from Mottaret. In Meribel village the Olympic Centre at La Chaudanne offers numerous sports facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool with flumes, an ice rink and a climbing wall. Figure skating lessons are available at the ice rink. There are also cinemas, a bowling centre which also has a video games arcade, a museum and a library. Brides les Bains, 12km away in the Valley below, has a casino.

Activities on offer include snowshoeing, 25km of cleared walking paths, a snowmobile school (mini snow mobile circuit for children), paragliding, a flying school based at the local altiport where you can take a scenic tourist flight or even have flying lessons. There are also more than 80 shops in the original resort to explore.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Mottaret is much quieter than Meribel village, but there’s a free bus link down to the main village if you wish to visit some of the 50 or so bars, which include some of the most famous in the Alps, such as Dick’s T Bar night club. The selection of restaurants in Mottaret is also much smaller than in the original village but there is still a good choice including a selection of affordable creperies and pizzerias as well as standard Alpine food establishments. Altogether there are about 80 restaurants in the valley, concentrated in the old village.

Families

Mottaret is popular with families and has excellent facilities for all ages. Non-ski nurseries are located in Meribel village. The ‘Kids Etcetera’ non-ski nursery accepts children aged from three months to seven years with English qualified nannies. Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Private nannies can also be hired in Mottaret for your children only. The French ski school run the Piou Piou ski kindergarten in a lovely snow playground in Mottaret for three to five year olds, with special children’s ski school classes from ages five to 12. The tourist office can also provide a list of baby sitters and child minders. If you are a family of four or more staying for a week or longer however you can get up to 25% off the total ticket cost by purchasing a ‘Family Pass’.

Piste Map for Mottaret

Accommodation in Mottaret

• Chalet Clementine - 3 star,
• Chalet Perdrix Blanche - 2 star,
• Hameau Du Mottaret - 3 star,
• Hotel Le Mottaret - 3 star, half board
• Le Hameau - 3 star, half board
• Les Sentiers Tueda - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Les Crets - 3 star, self catering

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