The thought of taking your teens on a winter holiday doesn’t have to send more shivers down your spine than a whistling north wind. If you choose the right destination, not only can you have one of the best bonding experiences of your lives, you’ll also earn some pretty big brownie points.
So what constitutes the right destination for a family winter holiday? It’s got to be somewhere with plenty of snow, plenty of activities, plenty of fun and just enough “cool factor” to impress on Instagram. What’s that you say? How about Méribel-Mottaret, in the Trois Vallées ski area of France? Well, yes. As luck (and good design) would have it, it’s a perfect match.
A Family-Friendly Resort
One of the most family-friendly resorts in the Alps, Méribel-Mottaret sits at 1,750m and is a purpose-built satellite resort around 3km higher up the valley from Méribel. Along with Val Thorens, La Tania and Courchevel, the resorts make up the massive Trois Vallées ski area (find out more about the region here).
Most of the accommodation in the resort consists of ski-in, ski-out chalets, which is a major plus for families. Sitting on a bus or walking 20 minutes to get to the ski lifts? “Ain’t nobody got time for dat!” The resort is divided into two areas, Le Laitelet and Le Chatelet (with the main slope running down the middle), and nowhere is more than a few minutes from a skiable access point.
Money saving tip: The resort is totally geared up to families and there are plenty of ways to make sure your winter break won’t also break the bank. But that’s another story, so you can read some tips here.
Teen Ski Heaven
No matter what level of ski prowess your teens are at, there’s something for everyone here. Being further up the valley than the other resorts means much faster access to the slopes. The immediate ski area has 21 lifts and 80kms of slopes, which include:
- greens – 3
- blues – 9
- reds – 12
- blacks – 2
Heading over to Méribel doubles that amount, while the entire linked Trois Vallées area encompasses 600km of skiable slopes. Now, not even a fussy teenager could turn their nose up at that!
For novice teen skiers, the excellent nursery slopes around the resort will help give them their first taste of snow, while for the intermediates the possibilities are virtually unlimited – including some amazing off-piste trails if you’re up for a family adventure. One of the best off-piste runs, Aiguille de Fruit, actually brings you straight back into the resort.
Lessons They’ll Love
One of the major plusses of this resort is the presence of France’s highest-profile ski school, Ecole du Ski Français – ESF. Whether your teens are absolute greenies, shaky beginners, or confident skiers looking to expand their skills and try some new sports, ESF has a range of excellent courses designed especially for them. And you’ll be able to head off for a few totally guilt-free hours on the pistes without them. Ulterior motives … you? Never.
Some of the most popular courses available are:
Other Teen-Friendly Activities
With a free shuttle bus linking the resort to all the facilities of Méribel too, if your kids get tired of skiing (yes, it’s possible) there are plenty of other things to keep them busy. These include:
- Horse-drawn sleigh rides
- Husky sledding
- Snowmobiling (from the door in Mottaret)
- Bowling
- Sports centre activities
- Flights over the Alps (give teens the chance to break the internet with these selfies!)
- Crazy golf
- Cinema
- Hot air ballooning
- Ice-skating and ice-hockey
- Indoor climbing
- Sledging, tobogganing, snowshoeing
Take Your Teens on the Winter Holiday of a Lifetime
So there you have it, all the hard work’s done for you. Now you just have to sell the idea of a winter ski holiday to your teenagers. What’s that you say? Already done? You’re welcome…
How to Get to Méribel-Mottaret
Getting to Méribel-Mottaret is hassle-free, even when you’re travelling with teens! From the UK, a flight to Geneva Airport takes just 90 minutes and, with all the budget carriers flying regular routes, it’s not hard to pick up some very good deals online even in the peak winter season. Low cost flights to Geneva are available with British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet and Monarch, starting from around £41 return.
To get you and the family the rest of the way to the ski resort, the most convenient and cost effective option is to prebook a transfer with Shuttle Direct. You’ll be met at the airport and taken the picturesque 2.5-hour journey to Méribel-Mottaret.
Where to Stay:
Maeva Méribel Mottaret Les Bleuets: The chalet-style studio apartments of the Maeva Méribel Mottaret Les Bleuets offer an excellent family option in a ski-to-door location. With cooking facilities to reduce budget overheads (along with a shopping delivery service), spacious living areas and bunks for the teens, it’s the ideal accommodation for a holiday that won’t cost the earth.
Madame Vacances Hôtel Le Mottaret: The whole family will love the amazing location of the Madame Vacances Hôtel Le Mottaret, which overlooks the resort. Adjacent to the slopes and within walking distance of restaurants, the hotel’s features include an outdoor hot tub (teens will love it), spacious family rooms, free Wi-Fi, private balconies and the fantastic all-inclusive option that’s perfect for a family budget.
Hôtel Alpen Ruitor: You’ll score plenty of points with the teens at the Hôtel Alpen Ruitor, located right in the centre of the resort. The kids will love the spa, sauna, cable TV and free Wi-Fi, while parents will appreciate the lovely south facing terrace, spacious family rooms with a view of the slopes, and the excellent onsite restaurant.
About Shuttle Direct:
Shuttle Direct is Europe’s most respected provider of airport transport, providing a range of winter ski transfer services. For efficient, cost-effective services from any airport or train station, prebook via the easy to use online system and leave the rest to us.
If you’re travelling with your own ski equipment, just let us know at the time you make your booking and we’ll carry it for free. We have services to suit every budget and any group size, so no matter what your holiday looks like, we can get you there safely and without delay.
Shuttle Direct’s team of experienced staff will help to take the hassle out of your holiday arrangements.
