Meribel for Romantics

Romantic Ideas in Meribel

Why not plan a surprise long weekend in Méribel? Most chalet operators don’t offer weekend breaks, but hotels do. (Though avoid the busy French holiday periods as most are unwilling to accept short bookings during this peak time). Our favourite hotel for a romantic break is the smart three star Allodis Hotel at the Belvédère. The rooms are quiet, set right on the pistes, and the restaurant is exceptional. Tel. 04 79 00 56 00. Alternatively, choose the Adray Télébar for a quirky, small, chalet-style hotel set away from the rest of the resort in the middle of the pistes. You will be picked up by a little caterpillar track vehicle and transported across the ski runs. Tel. 04 79 08 60 26. If your loved one is high-maintenance, then the cosiest (and costliest) hotel of the lot is the charming Grand Coeur in Méribel centre. Tel. 04 79 08 60 03. If you’d rather shut yourself away from the rest of the world in your own apartment, the Altiport is the quietest and most relaxing part of Méribel to stay. Set above the rest of Méribel in tranquil forests, here you are well away from noisy bars and busy streets. As well as conveniently overlooking the beginner runs, it is also the centre for walking paths and light aircraft flights around the valley. But don’t let the boring daily chores of shopping and cooking take the shine off your self-catering holiday. Consider booking a private chef to do all the hard work for you. He or she will prepare and serve delicious dinners, then leave you to dine alone. It may seem rather a cliché, but a candle lit meal for two can be wonderful if you choose the right restaurant. One of Méribel’s best restaurants is Le Blanchot, beautifully decorated and offering wonderful, modern cuisine. When you book, ask for the table by the fire for the perfect dinner à deux. Tel. 04 49 00 55 78 For quiet pre-or post-dinner drinks, there is still only one place to go: the Grand Coeur hotel. Deep sofas, crackling fire, tinkling piano music – The Grand Coeur bar is Méribel’s most cosy and luxurious spot for drinks. Tel. 04 79 08 60 03 It’s Valentine’s Day or her birthday and you still haven’t bought a gift? Last minute present ideas include: A huge box of hand made chocolates from le Glacier boulangerie in the town centre Flowers can be delivered to your chalet: order from Les Artisans de la Fleur in Moûtiers Tel. 04 79 22 37 03 A relaxing massage in your own chalet will also make a great present. Book an hour-long massage for the perfect post-ski relaxer. Upmarket chalet operator Descent International will organise for you almost any romantic event you can think of. How about an evening on the mountain with a private tepee, your own chef cooking over the fire, a husky ride, a personal firework display or perhaps a helicopter ride? Descent has arranged it all before…. Tel. UK 020 7384 3854 If a relaxing and hedonistic soak in a hot tub is more your thing, Alp Leisure’s Chalet Bartavelle has one of the best outdoor hot tubs in the valley. Looking out over a panoramic view of the valley, it’s the perfect place for sipping a glass of champagne and watching the sunset. Tel. 04 79 00 59 42 It’s time to get serious and go down on one knee. But where is the most romantic spot in the valley to propose? How about the top of Mont de la Chambre at the very end of the day, watching the sun set over the Alps? Or perhaps during a hot air balloon ride? Glide over the Alps in your own private hot air balloon with Ski Vol. Tel. 04 79 08 41 72. And if she says ‘yes’….. You may want to get married in Méribel. Sadly, only French residents may marry in France. However, the resort’s tiny chapel may be used for Protestant blessings and the ornate Baroque St. Martin’s church in Les Allues can be used for Catholic blessings (contact the Presbytère in Les Allues Tel. 04 79 08 61 03).

last updated 25-Mar-2008