Boasting over 600km of elegantly designed pistes, accompanied by jaw-dropping vistas in every direction, this exclusive alpine resort comes with all the trimmings. One hundred eighty state-of-the-art lifts effortlessly connect these super resorts in sleek style and allow you to maximise your time racking up the miles on the descent.

With a wide variety of skiing at hand within the Trois Vallées, there is ample potential for skiers of all abilities. If you’re looking for an early or late season trip, do not be dismayed by the resort’s south-facing direction, the heavily fortified snow guns dotted throughout the valley make it is easier than ever to jump from one resort to another, in order to reach the freshest powder of the day.

Whilst Méribel sits at 1450m, there are various lifts within the town, which make mincemeat of the surrounding ascent, which goes up to the dizzying heights of 3,200m. The height of these peaks, along with Mont du Vallon – the highest point in Méribel’s local ski area at nearly 3,000m – means good snow throughout the season, even if it can get a little slushy in March.

The villages of Méribel Centre range from 1,600m to 1,700m and include Mussillon and Altitude 1600 to the east and Rond Point and Belvedere to the west. The highest area is Altiport (1,700m). Feeding into Méribel by shuttle bus and gondola are the lower outlying resorts of Brides Les Bains (600m), Les Allues (1,200m) and Méribel Village (1,400m).

For an early morning blast, the red Cruz, that takes you from Méribel towards Courchevel is wide, long and, as the name suggests, cruisey. For your last run home in the sun, Biche from the top of Saulire is immense.

In bad visibility or if snow is falling head to the La Tania trees for fun runs off-piste or some great groomed reds and blues. You can easily spend a whole morning or afternoon tearing up and down (although there are few buses linking Méribel and La Tania so you will have to ski back to resort).

Most ski schools start children skiing from the age of 4, although ESF run a kindergarten for 3 to 5-year-olds that include playing about on skis. At this age, they normally can manage a couple of hours on the slopes before they tire and want to go home. Luckily in Méribel, there are other activities for little ones to enjoy – from tobogganing to swimming, the whole town caters for young ones. If your kids aren’t skiing all day, and you are, then you have various choices.

Méribel has designated several safe toboggan areas, at La Chaudanne (the main lift area), and at Altiport (the main beginner slope). There are also picnic tables there too. Kenotheque – new this year – an indoor play session, with games, books, arts and crafts, and other organized activities.

Bubble car rides are always a favourite, take the Olympe bubble from Méribel all the way down the mountain to Bride les Bains. Wrap up warm as it can be a bit chilly sitting in a bubble car but kids love the experience. Something as simple as watching the planes and helicopters taking off from the snowy runway at Altiport is a surprisingly fun for children. Also in Altiport, check out the nature trails. Alongside the animal ski-run is a walkers path, so you can take your toddlers for a stroll through the woods and see lifesize models of local wildlife – red deer, fox, badgers, grouse and more. You can read their names in French, see their footprints, and also learn about their stools – this is so much more than just a ski holiday.

If the weather is inclement, there is a French and English language cinema, where they regularly show child-friendly English films – or go to a French version, and improve their French whilst on holiday!

Fortunately for shopaholics, there is plenty to see and do to keep the kids amused and alongside your window-shopping. There are pancake restaurants, bakeries, hot chocolates – so many hang-outs for kids to indulge their taste-buds. Other fun activities include bowling, an arcade, and Ice rink. Méribel does not disappoint when it comes to caring for children, the only question is how you want to split your time!