Meribel lies 140 km south, south east of Lyon and roughly 70 km south of Geneva. It became known thanks to the Scotsman Peter Lindsay, who was born at the turn of the century. His love of sport and old world French architecture led him village of Les Allues, and to the snowy peaks of Mont du Vallon, Roc du Tougne and La Saulire.

As Lindsay suspected, "If you build a lift, the English will come," so in 1938 he recruited Olympic ski champion Emile Allais, and together they constructed Méribel's first surface lift. After 1945 he commissioned architect Christian Durupt to reproduce a Alpine mountain village. This village was designed to appeal to the English skiers by incorporating Les Allues' pleasant ambience: its gabled roofs and wood and stone facades.

Meribel is French but with noticeable English ambience. Traditional pubs serve hand-drawn ale and the familiar sounds of a British accent make visitors feel as if they're straddling a cultural border. There are almost one hundred shops and about thirty hotels in Meribel and walking down the cobblestone streets one can also enjoy the Alpine sights of chalets hidden under snowed in conifers. The air is filled with scents of pine, fresh bread, French coffee and croissants. Meribel feels much older than its sixty years and time passes calmly here.

As much as you might be tempted to linger over a second cup of coffee, you'll find it hard to resist the lure of the vast Trois Vallees. Leaving the warmth of your chalet, you walk a few steps to the piste, step into your skis and open the trail map. Now what? Choosing which direction to go may prove to be the most challenging part of your day. For here you are in the heart of Les Trois Vallees - the world, as they say is your ski piste.

The location is the strength of Meribel .Whichever way you ski you will never be disappointed. Meribel's apres-ski scene is a little more low-key than that of some of the other French resorts. And while you can dance, sing, and drink the night away if you choose, following a day skiing Les Trois Vallees, you may prefer a massage or a swim at one of the numerous fitness and health clubs, a twirl around the Olympic ice rink or a leisurely walk through the woods. And when you finally slip beneath your plump duvet and recall the day's snow and pistes and food, you can't help but wonder if you can possibly orchestrate a repeat performance. Rest assured. You can.