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Méribel Ski Resort
Meribel's location is tricky to beat, slap bang in the centre of the mammoth Three Valleys ski area. British made, and largely Brit run, it's a destination we flock to year after year for a homely atmosphere in a good looking resort with more than enough pistes for a week (or three). It's made up of a huddle of gorgeous hamlets, built in traditional wood and stone and surrounded by thick woodland.
The main area is Meribel Centre (usually known just as Meribel). A traditional alpine village with choc-box chalets, this is where you'll find the bulk of the nightlife, restaurants and shops. Higher up is Mottaret - a cheaper and more modern area, cleverly placed so you can ski-in & ski-out from most accommodation and with a good selection of restaurants and bars. Below the main area, you'll find the original hamlets of Nantgerel and Les Allues, and the quiet, traditional Meribel Village. Wherever you end up being based, the hamlets are well-linked by a free shuttle bus service.
With famously efficient technology, Meribel's 45 lifts provide access to its 67 pistes and various mountain restaurants from each of the base stations. Access is extended to non-skiers with the pedestrian lift pass, so groups can meet and lunch together on the slopes.
While the pistes in the local area alone cater excellently to beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders, most come here for the fantastic links into the rest of the Three Valleys. Thanks to its central location, getting around the world's largest ski area is an absolute breeze. The full area Three Valleys lift pass gives you the freedom to roam 600km of incredible and varied pistes, shared with posh Courchevel, picturesque St Martin de Belleville and some of Europe's highest runs at Val Thorens. At the heart of these, Meribel is a cracking base to enjoy it all from
Stats & FAQ
Location: France, Alps.
Established: 1938
Open: December - April
Downhill: 150km
View our detailed Méribel snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Méribel snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Chambéry (CMF) | 95km 2h |
| Grenoble (GNB) | 120km, 2h 30m |
| Geneva (GVA) | 135km, 3h |
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| Top Altitude: | 2952m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1450m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1500m |
| Longest run: | 3.6km |
| Slope Orientation: | SE, E, NW |
| Vertical Drop: | 2509m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 2479m |
| Night Skiing: | |
| Glacier: | |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 150km |
| Beginner slopes: | 54% |
| Intermediate: | 35% |
| Advanced slopes: | 11% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €321 (adult 6 day 3 Valleys ski pass) |
| Nearby resorts: Courchevel, Les Menuires, La Tania, Val Thorens, Saint Martin De Belleville, Brides les Bains | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Méribel
Meribel is one of the best ski resorts to learn in. There are three beginner areas known as 'Ski Facile' (easy ski) plus great green pistes to practise on including Le Foret and Altiport. Both runs are carefully planned out so you can practice at your own pace in quiet surroundings.
If you're skiing with children, there are fantastic ski schools and child-orientated areas, including animal sculptures scattered around the trees at the 'Pistes des Animaux' where children can learn about local wildlife as they enjoy the snow (as a bonus, it is also accessible to non-skiers). Nearby, the Inuits area has all sorts of arctic themed entertainment for the kids. On the other side of the valley, the Yeti Park has loads of child-friendly features that change each year and include tunnels, igloos and even a zipline. Children certainly won't be bored in Meribel!
Linked to the other resorts in the Three Valleys, there's no end of exploration for intermediate skiers. The Lapin is a challenging blue, while Jerusalem and the reds from Mont du Vallon are also firm favourites. Once you've conquered these, Mauduit's near 1300m of vertical is a must. To up the ante, two good black runs can be found at Bartavelle and Bosses and don't miss La Face, which was the women's downhill run in the '92 Olympics. There's also 33km of cross-country to explore.
The Element Park (you might know it by its old name, Moon Park) provides well for those new to freestyling as well as intermediates looking to hone their skills. With a variety of rails, boxes, tables and jumps, and the option of a BBQ between shredding sessions, it makes for a super day on the snow. Like Element Park, the Open Park (formerly Plattières) often has a big screen where you can watch back your performance. With 300m vertical, this more advanced area has 220m of rails, a mini skate ramp, 3 street lines, a 700m boardercross and an airbag. Off-piste, escape the madding crowd on the Roc de Fer down to St Martin de Belleville or tackle the steep, powdery goodness of Cairn or the numerous lines off Mont Vallon, Meribel's highest point.
Méribel Apres Ski
Whether your day on the hill leaves you wanting to relax with a vin chaud, have a pint and play pool, or party the night away, your time off the slopes can be as varied as the day spent cruising the incredible Trois Vallees.
It's said that you haven't experienced après ski here (or anywhere for that matter) until you've sampled toffee vodka in Le Rond Point, which is easily one of the most famous après ski bars in the world - complete with a slide down to the toilets! Meribel's rightly famous for its nightlife with a bundle of pubs, bars and clubs that are sure to entertain whatever your tastes and peccadillos.
A newer addition to the après ski scene is the Folie Douce (if you've skied in Val d'Isere where the legendary original is, you'll know what we're talking about). Anyone who likes raining champagne, dancing on tables and all-round mayhem will love it here; those with a taste for something more refined and family-friendly might prefer a cosy sherry in Le Grand Cafe des Pistes.
After the crowds leave Folie and Ronnie, three of our favourite places to go include Barometer, Evolution and Dick's T-Bar: Bar O is the perfect place for a pint & grilled sarnie, Evo has live music & wifi access, and Dick's is the place to party if you like to dance into the early hours.
In terms of dining on the mountain, La Fruitière is a quirky restaurant that does great meat dishes, Le Coeur de Cristal has lovely open fires if you need warming up and the 320 ° views from Les Pierres Plates at the top of Saulire are second to none.
Back at the resort, Evolution makes a cracking roast dinner for a taste of home - it's definitely worth booking a table if you're skiing at Christmas. L'Ekrin in hotel La Kaila is Meribel's sole Michelin starred restaurant if you fancy splashing out and L'Igloo do a terrific pizza if you want to keep everyone happy.
The Olympic centre has an indoor pool, ice rink, bowling alley, climbing wall and gym as well as a spa where you can relax in the sauna and Jacuzzi and enjoy some pampering. Despite maintaining a village feel there's also a casino, cinema, library and museum besides 80+ shops and a market. To experience the area from a different perspective, outdoor activities include snowshoeing, Segway rides, dog-sledging, snow biking, paintballing, paragliding and heli-skiing. With a pedestrian lift pass, non-skiers can explore 20 miles of Meribel's gorgeous alpine scenery.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Méribel
Best time to visit & ski Méribel
Due to the varied slope orientation, you can plan to ski in the sun throughout the day. While records show snow is best between January and March, Meribel rarely disappoints in terms of quality powdered pistes throughout the ski season (December - April), because 80% of the ski area is above 1,800m altitude. When the weather needs a helping hand, Meribel has 700 snow cannons covering a third of the piste (including the Open Park), and busier slopes are regularly groomed to ensure good quality of slopes. Because of Meribel's location, it's a great place to ski anytime in the season. With 600km of adjoining pistes in the Three Valleys, including the famously snow-sure slopes of Val Thorens (Europe's highest resort), you're likely to find good conditions whenever you visit.
Meribel is fantastic for families during school holidays, although if you're not restricted by term dates and seek a quieter getaway, Half Term and Easter are not the weeks for you. The resort is relatively quiet in early December and January, being a lot busier during Christmas and New Year, but that's par for the course in any world-class destination.
March and April are full of ski competitions and sun terrace parties. Bars make the most of the sunshine and warmer temperatures and host the most fantastic apres afternoons.
Browse all Meribel ski deals or read about holidays in December, January, February, March or April.
Peak Dates
With snowy alpine scenery, chocolate-box architecture and Christmas lights scattered all over the place, Meribel is a festive winter wonderland from the beginning of December. Christmas in Meribel includes torch-lit descents with fireworks, live music, festive markets, street parades and of course the much-awaited appearance of Father Christmas! Méribel Christmas ski holidays ‣
At New Year in Meribel, the vast range of bars, clubs and restaurants provide festivities bound to suit all tastes, whether you want to see in the New Year in a vibrant or more sophisticated location. Maintaining its reputation for fantastic après ski, Meribel provides a torch-lit descent display, while the area at the bottom of the pistes becomes a huge, open-air night club; complete with dance floor, DJ's and midnight fireworks. Méribel New Year ski holidays ‣
During February half term, Meribel is teeming with British families seeking to enjoy the family-friendly slopes as well as a vast range of activities and Meribel's homely atmosphere. Méribel Half Term ski holidays ‣
Families are well provided for all season, and this certainly continues through Easter in Meribel, with Easter eggs available in local shops, celebrations at the local Churches and abundant activities including sledging and an ice-party for teenagers. Méribel Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Méribel
As recognised by the prestigious Famille Plus label, this is one of the best family ski resorts around – with slopes, facilities and activities for all ages. Our best family deals are listed below and include hotels, chalets and apartments. Hotels are a brilliant option for families who can request adjoining rooms and swap household chores for quality time with all the work taken care of. Hotel La Chaudanne is only 50m from the nursery slopes – making these brilliant choices for a hassle-free holiday. Ask us about hotels with childcare services and kids clubs if you’re travelling with children too young to ski.
For a more intimate setting, our catered ski chalets are ideal – in traditional Alpine style, you can enjoy cosy home-from-home comfort while meals are prepared for you making the holiday stress-free and more family-focused. Chalet Andre is a brilliant option if you’re a family group of 6-7 as you can fill all the rooms and enjoy sole occupancy.
If you don’t mind doing the cooking and want to get everyone on the mountains spending as little as possible, check out our family apartments like Hameau du Mottaret which offers ski-in-ski-out convenience.
If you're introducing your little ones to the snow for the first time, there are few better places! There are various ski schools around to book group lessons with other children of similar age and ability. Private lessons are also available on a 1:1 basis or as a family. It's all about making skiing fun here with specific kids' areas, where children can ski around animal sculptures, discover the Inuit culture and have a go at freestyling on mini jumps, banked turns and slaloms.
GroupsGroup Holidays Méribel
Meribel has long been a favourite for groups who love the home-from-home atmosphere, varied ski area and range of accommodation options. Our catered chalets are ideal for a cosy getaway on the slopes - join other groups in a sociable atmosphere in one of our large properties like Chalet Hotel Les Grangettes, which is conveniently located right next to the lifts and ski school meet points. If you prefer having the property to yourself, book somewhere like Chalet Laetitia – ideal for groups of 12-14.
On a larger scale, our ski hotels can be an excellent option for groups of skiers – especially if there’s a chance of people wanting to join up later down the line. Hotel La Chaudanne‚ Hotel LʼEterlou and Hotel Le Tremplin are 3 interconnected hotels ideally located only 20m to lift & ski school meeting point in the town centre.
If you’re a small group after a cheap getaway, have a look at our self-catering apartments. Neighbouring The Taverne and The Doron, Les Ravines offers unbeatable proximity to the nightlife. As long as everyone doesn’t mind playing their part on the cooking and cleaning front, you can enjoy a cosy holiday that’ll leave a few Euros to spend on the après.
With something at either end of the scale, we have some brilliant cheap group holidays – ask about our packages with group discounts and money-saving deals. If it’s a high-end getaway you’re after, browse our 5-star hotels, superior chalets and luxury apartments and enjoy spacious rooms, excellent service and state of the art facilities.
Our packages, including accommodation, flights and transfers, offer a cheap and hassle-free getaway to the mountains. Any groups planning to drive in convoy can select our self-drive holidays which include channel crossings. If it’s proving too much to book flights and transfers from groups living all over the country – opt for independent travel and let everyone sort themselves out once the accommodation is secured.
Which are the best ski holidays in Méribel?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Chalet Eleanor | 7 | £ 583 |
| Chalet Laetitia | 7 | £ 683 |
| Chalet Le Cedre Blanc | 7 | £ 899 |
| Chalet L'Ancolie | 7 | £ 1169 |
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