Tag Archives: Winter Holidays

Meribel, France: Skiing & Wellness

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Skiing

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Slopes-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

This Morning It Snows A Lot

Taking breakfast, I doubt if I can ski for my second day in Méribel. At 10 a.m., I start my Skiing For Women lesson (to enjoy skiing in a way less based on performance and arranged for women with children too) with Cécile Crousaz, National BEES 1° Ski at the Ecole de Ski Méribel (Ski School of Meribel).

We reach the Rhodos gondola. The weather remains overcast, but visibility is better. And the pleasure of skiing is back! Same place, but the decor has completely changed … a different beauty, fog blanketed the peaks. Since the beginning of my stay (in Val Thorens), I’ve had less fear on skis and improved. Cecile is very patient and motivating too. 

When we arrive for lunch at La Folie Douce Meribel-Courchevel, the fog is denser, creepy on slope (photos below). Without comparison: nothing to do with La Folie Douce Val Thorens, much more festive. Here, the atmosphere is more relaxed. 

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-La-Folie-Douce-Restaurant-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-La-Folie-Douce-Restaurant-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-La-Folie-Douce-Restaurant-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Hotel  

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-A- Room-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Back To The Hotel Around 3 p.m.

to let my equipment in the ski room and get changed for my spa session this afternoon. Le Tremplin hotel is located close to the slopes and the center of Meribel (the hotel’s facade on the first photo of the post).

The 40 tastefully decorated rooms have just been redone. Mine is simple and comfortable. And the efficient smiling service make you feel good.

On the above photo montage: my room with a really good bedding and large bathroom with Pascal Morabito products. On the bed (1), a lovely travel beauty kit that the institute My Spa by Payot Meribel offered me. I will use for sure in a future trip!

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-View-Room-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The View

My room’s terrace has two sides, allowing me to enjoy different views, both of the city (above) and slopes (below)! The hotel also offers an outdoor pool, open until 8 p.m. 

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-View-Room-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-Swimming-Pool-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Outdoor Pool 

To go to the pool surrounded by bars and protected from view by a small wooden fence, you wear a bathrobe on your swimsuit and slippers (lol). At night, while you bathe, you can see the lights of the bars and town. I really liked (photos above and below).

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-View-Room-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-Swimming-Pool-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Wellness  

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Spa-Payot-Hotel-Le-Tremplin-Swimming-Pool-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

My Spa by Payot

is located in the Olympic Centre, five minutes walk from the Le Tremplin hotel. The benefit of being in a central location, you are near everything! I recommend the jacuzzi overlooking the slopes! Before my customized massage, I “navigate” between steam room, cold shower and jacuzzi.

Then I choose a relaxing neck-shoulder-arm massage: as a skiing beginner, I contract the upper body muscles too much. My therapist applies an oil with essential oils: I am pleasantly surprised, I don’t have skin reaction. This is the first time I used Payot products.

During the massage, I fall asleep (good sign). Leaving the spa, I stop at the outdoor pool of Le Tremplin to swim while it snows. Awesome!

The Exclusive

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Gourmet-Shopping-Bokal-Chef-Laurent-Azoulay-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Gourmet Jars

After skiing, spa, massage and pool, I just want to stay quiet in my room. Eating a light dinner of vegetable soup and sleeping.

Looking for a soup bar, I came across the gourmet grocery store of a Michelin starred chef, Le Bokal by Laurent Azoulay. The shop opened since mid-December, has style: sober with black walls and a central wooden table for the tasting.

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Gourmet-Shopping-Bokal-Chef-Laurent-Azoulay-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

www.meribel.netwww.les3vallees.com  

For the ski lessons (all levels), or Skiing For Women (group lessons and weekend or week packages), you can contact the ESF de Méribel : +33 479 08 6031, [email protected].

DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

Many thanks to the 3 Vallées and Meribel Tourist Office for this beautiful invitation. Big thanks to the Hotel Le Tremplin team, Cécile Crousaz and the Spa By Payot. As always these opinions are my own.

Pashmina Hotel: A Suite With A view

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Stunning Mountain View

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-9-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Dull Luster Of The Luxury  

What a pleasure discovering in my room (a Junior Suite), space and light! This particular brightness is found only in altitude. The photographer in me feels lucky and happy!

Large windows open onto a dream setting, as if the omnipresent mountain was the VIP guest of the hotel room! On the small balcony, my gaze is lost on the ski slopes not busy, but we are at the beginning of the season.

I really enjoy using the spacious bathroom: extremely simple, very clear and functional (above photo montage). A mountain picture covering two walls of the shower. In the large mirror above the wide block to wash hands and face, I can see the reflection of the (“real”) mountain.

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KVal-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

I feel cuddled and had a hard time leaving my bed: no noise, elegant flannel curtains and impeccable bedding.

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The lounge is very nice with this incredibly comfortable sofa topped by an XXL mirror … which reflects the mountain outside! This sofa is my meditation corner when I relax between my different activities.

The room is spacious and very well arranged with two wardrobe to store clothes and luggages. The colors are both neutral and warm with some walls and partitions covered with wood.

The furniture is simple and charming, two wooden tables and a chair with raw finitions, and a modern leather ottoman. The whole creates a smart warm environment: a relaxing universe especially after skiing or some other sports.

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KVal-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Room-With-A-Mountain-View-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

A Must Do!

Val-Thorens-France-Pashmina-Hotel-Ski-Resort-Small-Luxury-Hotel-of-the-World-Opening-Igloo-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Igloo

Who has not dreamed of spending a night in a (luxury) igloo … please (lol)? The Pashmina owners are mountain fans. And they wanted to share with us the bivouac’s thrill with more comfort.

Sleeping – or almost – watching the stars, the dream!  

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Pashmina Le Refuge

Related posts :  to discover the other parts of the hotel

HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to the team of the Pashmina Le Refuge for this great stay. I was invited by the Pashmina Le Refuge and as always these are my opinions.