Méribel is one of the most popular centres for British skiers and snowboarders. Strict building regulations have avoided the concrete blight seen in too many French ski resorts, and Méribel's chalet-style architecture has allowed it to retain its traditional Alpine atmosphere.

Méribel, and its 1970s neighbour Mottaret, caters to all levels of skiing ability, and its prime location in the middle of the famous Trois Vallées ski area gives access to a staggering 600km (375 miles) of groomed pistes and some of the best off-piste terrain in the Alps.

Resort elevation: 1,450m (4,756ft) to 1,750m (5,740ft).

Top elevation: Méribel: 2,952m (9,683ft); Trois Vallées: 3,230m (10,597ft).

Base elevation: 1,100m (3,609ft).

Number of lifts: Méribel: 57; Trois Vallées: 180.

Number of runs: Méribel: 75; Trois Vallées: 307.

Average annual snowfall: 5m (16.4ft).

Méribel lies in the Savoie region of the French Alps, above the town of Moûtiers, with Courchevel to the east, and Les Menuires and Val Thorens to the west. Mottaret is a few hundred metres uphill from Méribel, with the shapely peak of Mt du Vallon (2,952m/9,685ft) dominating the head of the valley beyond.

The season lasts from December to April, and offers fairly reliable snow cover - if not, more than 45% of the slopes are armed with snow cannons.

Méribel is a solid family resort, best suited to intermediates, but with good beginners' areas and plenty of challenging slopes for the expert too. The Trois Vallées area is so big that during a week you need never ski the same run twice.

Beginners can practise on the green pistes below the Altiport before progressing to the easy blues beneath the midstation of the Tougnette chairlift, and the Marmotte, Biche, Géai and Belette blues on the Saulire side.

Most intermediates will want to bag the Mauduit, a challenging red that was once an Olympic downhill course, and the two long, exhilarating red pistes that descend from the summit of Mt du Vallon. Classic black runs include La Face, another former Olympic downhill, and the mogul fields of Les Bosses and Bartavelle.

You can explore epic off-piste terrain on Mt du Vallon and Mt de la Chambre, plus loads more in nearby Courchevel and Val Thorens.

Freestylers can choose between two snow parks, one accessed via the Arpasson chairlift, the other from the Plattières gondola.

The lift system radiates from two central hubs at Chaudanne and Mottaret, linking Méribel to the neighbouring resorts of Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens.

You can sign up with one of several ski schools, which have no fewer than 400 instructors on hand, offering tuition to everyone from raw beginners to experienced powder hounds. Equipment hire is also widely available.

Méribel offers a wide range of non-skiing activities, including snowshoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, swimming and paragliding. The resort also has a cinemas, bowling alley, wellness area (Jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, massages) and fitness centre, and there's a casino down in Brides-les-Bains.

Parallel Lines, Chalet Les Sureaux, La Gittaz, offers group lessons for kids. If the little ones are tired of the piste you can take them dog sledding or ice skating, or try out the water slides at Méribel's swimming pool.

Childcare services include Merinannies (www.merinannies.co.uk) and Kids Etc, Chalet Franoux, route Saint Joseph. The Meriski holiday agency, route du Mussillon, has its own crèche.

The main shopping experience here is for outdoor gear and clothing: check out Fat Face, Galerie des Cimes, route du Centre, and White Stuff, Galerie L'Arolaz, route du Plateau, for clothes, Freeride, Le Tremplin, route Albert Gaçon, for gear, and Méribel Optic, Le Tremplin, route Albert Gaçon, for sunglasses. For chic boutique, head over to Sport Boutique in Meribel Centre right next to the Tourist Office or to Courchevel 1850.

Après ski kicks off at the Rond Point bar, at the midstation of the Rhodos gondola - live bands play six days a week from 1700-1900, with dance moves lubricated by Méribel's notorious toffee vodka.

Down at Chaudanne there's the lively Cactus Café, route de la Montée, with tequila slammers, nachos, table football and pool. This is a great place to watch live matches on big-screen TVs.

And then there's Dick's Tea Bar, route de Mussillon, a venerable Méribel institution, where you can dance till 0400 with the resort's best line-up of resident and guest DJs.

Be prepared to reach deep into your pockets if you plan on dining out - Trois Vallées restaurants are notoriously expensive. The few reasonably priced options include the Tex-Mex dishes at Cactus Café, route de la Montée, and the steak and chips at Zig Zag, Le Chatelet, a cosy little lunch spot near the foot of the Ramées chairlift.

If it's a more upmarket experience you're after, head for sophisticated Evolution, Le Tremplin, route de la Montée, or check out the menu at La Taverne, Hôtel Le Roc, route du Centre, which offers Asian-influenced dishes and vegetarian options as well as traditional Savoyard fare. Rustic Chez Kiki, route de Morel, specialises in meat dishes grilled over a charcoal barbecue.

You can ski from Méribel to all the other resorts in the Trois Vallées area. A free bus service (often overcrowded) runs every half hour, linking Chaudanne in the centre of Méribel to Mottaret, Rond Point, Altiport, Belvédère and Les Allues. Pick up a timetable from the tourist office.

Treat yourself to a romantic, gourmet dinner at Le Blanchot with its great setting, cosy atmosphere, excellent cuisine and wicked desserts.

Luxury

Chalet La Ferme
In a resort renowned for its chalets, La Ferme makes an impression with its huge lounge lined with leather sofas, stylish bedrooms with slate-tiled designer bathrooms, and private sauna and hot tub.

route de Mussillon
Tel: 0870 241 6723 (Skiworld in the UK).
Website: http://skiworld.ltd.uk/ski/chalet-holiday/skiing-Meribel/La-Ferme/771

Moderate

Les Crêts
These recently refurbished apartments in Mottaret sit right on the slopes, offering easy ski-in, ski-out access. Each unit is kitted out with a modern kitchen, dining area and living room, complete with satellite TV and spacious balcony or terrace.

Le Châtelet
Tel: 0844 576 0175 (Ski Collection in the UK).
Website: www.skicollection.co.uk

Budget

Chalet La Boua
Barely a snowball's throw from the lifts at Chaudanne, this cool little chalet offers B&B accommodation in stylish, wood-panelled bedrooms with en-suite showers.

route de la Chaudanne
Tel: (04) 7904 1475.
Website: www.laboua.fr

Nearest airports: Chambéry (CMF); Geneva (GVA).

Distances to resort: 96km (60 miles); 136km (85 miles).

Driving times: 1 hour 15 minutes; 3 hours.

Nearest railway station: Moûtiers.

Distance to resort: 19km (12 miles).

Driving time: 30 minutes.

Families, Snow reliability, Snowboarders, Après ski, Intermediates, Experts, Beginners