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[A69]A Merry Christmas And Happy New Year

by Shaun Parker, Sha

Meribel is a tastefully designed ski resort situated in the Vanoise National Park in the French Alps. Meribel comprises of three neighboring villages characterized by their chalet-style architecture. The three villages are perfectly located for skiers and snowboarders wishing to explore the largest linked skiing area in the world - the three valleys.

With an enormous 600km of marked ski piste there are endless opportunities to explore and much to keep you entertained. The three valleys skiing area delivers a ski season that lasts from Christmas through to the beginning of May.

There is a comprehensive lift system to service the vast expanse of ski slopes. The lift network features 2 cable cars, 39 gondolas, 66 chairlifts and 52 draglifts which take ski and snowboarders all over the mountains. With its central location it is no wonder that Meribel tends to attract a committed base of visitors that are drawn back to the area year after year.

The area is suitable to skiers and snow boarders of all abilities. The wide green and blue ski runs are perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers. The longest of these runs extends to almost four kilometres. Advanced skiers will appreciate the steep black ski runs, moguls and couloirs.

The range has enough to challenge even the most adventurous skier or snow board enthusiast. 8 snow parks cater for those skiers and snowboarders that want to freestyle. The huge variety of options makes Meribel the ideal option for those skiers looking for an extended break. You can ski a whole season and not visit the same run.

Visitors have the option of staying in one of three villages in Meribel. At an altitude of 1400 metres Meribel Les Allues is the most picturesque of the three. A rule decrees that all the buildings in the village must be made of stone and wood with slate roofs.

The rule dates back to 1938 when British Colonel Peter Lindsay first spotted the potential of the valley. He wanted to create a resort that remained true to the mountains as a result the village has a distinctly traditional feel and blends in to the beautiful mountain environment.

Further up the valley at 1700 metres Meribel - Mottaret offers a convenient base for anyone wanting to ski from their doorstep and may be the choice for visitors looking for quieter accommodation. Whilst the traditional village of Meribel offers an alternative option for visitors looking for somewhere less developed.

For those visitors that want an alternative to the slopes Meribel offers numerous alternative winter activities. The resort also offers mono-skiing, snowshoeing and ice-skating.

If you want take a complete break from the slopes and the winter activities the resort offers, cinemas, concerts, squash, fitness centres, swimming, bowling, and a library. Those looking for an adrenaline hit can try wall-climbing, parasailing or hang-gliding. Meribel has something for everyone.

?Rather than buying a real tree thats been cut down, transported and then thrown away, purchase a large potted plant or small tree that can be used each year as your evergreen Christmas tree.

?You could always purchase an artificial tree that can be reused for many years, these range from 10 pounds to over 100 pounds. Ours actually looks real!

?If you buy a real tree, pay the Woodland Trust or a different organization to plant one in its place!

Christmas Decorations

?If you have evergreen shrubs and trees - to make sure you have an annual supply of eco-friendly Christmas decorations why not do some of your pruning just before Christmas and use the choice bits for inside? If you have not got any evergreens but have a garden ask for some of these plants as Christmas presents. They may take a few years to grow but then all you will need to do is harvest in December and be as creative as you like.

?Make a homemade wreath using branches trimmed from your garden or somebody elses.

?Purchase handmade decor made from recycled or eco-friendly materials. If possible by Fair trade as well, as they are a great way to support the disadvantaged. While some of these crafts may not be from recycled materials they provide much needed income to needy individuals.

?Ivy is good to drape around pictures, windows and the base of Christmas trees, it will hide the wires of the tree lights. There is as far as I know no substitute for electric fairy lights but as they last for years and use very little power, their impact is relatively low and they do look great.

?One of the advantages of using natural decorations is that after Christmas they do not need to go in the bin they can enter your normal garden waste on the compost heap.

Christmas tree ornaments

?Make homemade ornaments from (painted) pinecones, painted eggshells, crushed (colored) aluminum foil, paper chains, paper snowflakes, old CDs and more!

?Decorate a doll as an angel.

?Do an online search for recycled or homemade tree ornaments for numerous ideas or purchase these recycled or eco-friendly tree ornaments if you cant be bothered to make them.

Gifts
?Buy a subscription to an organisation working to make the world a better place such as the RSPB, RSPCA or Oxfam.

?If you are buying a present that uses batteries make sure the person you are buying it for has a battery charger and buy rechargeable batteries.

?Buy a homemade present, bird table, compost bin. Chocolate cakes often go down very well!
Gift wrap

?Collect extra photocopies or no longer needed papers from work for your children to draw on the back.

?Use colored pictures from your childrens colouring books.

?Use leftover pieces of fabric or wallpaper.

?Use recycled paper.

?Put the gift inside another gift such as a decorative tin, nice wooden box etc.

?Use gift wrap, gift bags and gift boxes, ribbon and bows from last Christmas or previous celebrations. Leave the tags blank on the gifts you are giving so that they can be reused.

Greeting cards & gift tags

?Send an e-card.

?Make a greeting card or tag from scrap paper, fabric or wallpaper.

?Make cards or tags from pieces of food box.

Packing material

?Use saved packing material such as foam or bubble wrap.

?Crush up newspaper into loose balls. This is cheap, quick and lightweight! This is our preferred method for box filler.

After the New Year

?Find out where you can recycle your real Christmas tree or Christmas cards, local councils and supermarkets are a good place to start. They will turn your trees into mulch for use in parks and public gardens.

?Use any wrapping paper that is no longer reusable for shelf liners or craft projects.

?Save boxes, gift bags, wrapping, filler, ribbons and bows for future gift wrapping or craft projects. Give them away to friends, neighbours etc if you have too many to keep.

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Both Shaun Parker & Wez Wells are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Shaun Parker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Marketing, Auto Insurance and Wedding Bells. Shaun Parker is an expert on travel. For more information on , visit PowderWhite.. Shaun Parker's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.

Wez Wells has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Parenting and Career Change. Wez Wells works for the and directory that lists 100s of Organic a. Wez Wells's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.