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Méribel Ski Holidays

Meribel has a special place in many Brit's hearts – not simply because it’s right in the middle of the biggest ski area on Earth. A resort for long ski days, ski-boot-stomping après and cosy chalets, there’s a great deal to do and ski here, which is why many of us have been coming back for decades.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboard

At a glance: • 3 Valleys ski area • Excellent ski schools • Lively après ski

Great for: • Families • Groups • Non skiers

Meribel has a special place in many Brit's hearts – not simply because it’s right in the middle of the biggest ski area on Earth. A resort for long ski days, ski-boot-stomping après and cosy chalets, there’s a great deal to do and ski here, which is why many of us have been coming back for decades.

Méribel 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
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • 81km 54%

  • 53km 35%

  • 16km 11%

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

  • Top
  • 94cm
  • Base
  • 59cm
  • Forecast
  • 57cm

Web Cam

Méribel web cams
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 ‣

Méribel Ratings & Customer Feedback
Superb
23
Good
10
Okay
4
Poor
0
Awful
0
Average Rating 4.5 out of 5
We’ve been to Meribel a few times. It’s a really nice, typical ski resort and wasn’t too busy in January. We had amazing weather too! The slopes are great and the centre of town is nice. My main recommendation would be to explore and enjoy! + more
Dave Sheppard, Merseyside
5 out of 5
Meribel has a nice atmosphere, when you look at Les Menuires it’s like a concrete factory in the middle of nowhere, whereas Meribel has character. Everything is easy to find, there’s a good supermarket, ski shops and lots of restaurants. I would give it a 5/5 but as it was the last week of the season, the wea... + more
Bill S.,
4 out of 5
Absolutely brilliant week, we’ve been going to Meribel for years. It’s particularly good for families and by now everyone in our family knows it which is an advantage. We’ll definitely go back. It’s just such a great ski area, plus there are loads of restaurants and places to go. We were on the edge of no... + more
Mrs Wright, Lincolnshire
5 out of 5
Meribel was good – it probably could have been better in terms of conditions (it was clearly towards the end of the season) but that’s just the time we visited. Most of the slopes were fine and we had a couple of days of snow to freshen the area up. I like the size of the 3 Valleys. If you’ve got the time ... + more
K.W., Kent
5 out of 5
We had a good week. We’ve previously stayed in Courchevel and other parts of the area, so we had an idea of the 3 Valleys and thought staying in Meribel would be a good place to explore a bit more up and above Meribel and over to Val Thorens. As we’re retired we never ski in high season but opt for a bargain ... + more
A satisfied customer, Warwickshire
5 out of 5
A great holiday in Meribel, it’s a really pretty resort that has everything you need, including some really nice places to eat and drink. We had amazing weather, I wasn’t skiing and it was beautifully hot so I loved it, not sure the people the week after would have felt the same though! + more
Rachael, Cumbria
5 out of 5
What I like about Meribel is the extensive skiing, you can get straight into Val Thorens and Courchevel and you’re guaranteed good snow because even though the town isn’t that high, you can get to higher slopes quickly. + more
David Lea, Surrey
5 out of 5
Our 4th time in the 3 Valleys, and we’ve stayed in Meribel each time. The town is big and it’s such a vast ski area with a bit for everyone – plenty of nice green runs in Courchevel, a good number of blues and also loads of reds and blacks. + more
Picky’s Group, Stockport
5 out of 5
I like Meribel mainly because I like the 3 Valleys. The village is big enough to keep a mixed group occupied – we were staying with a range of people from kids to Grandpa, and everyone was happy. We’ve been since to La Tania which is also in the 3 Valleys but has a lot less going on, Meribel certainly has mor... + more
David, Aberdeen
4 out of 5
I went to Meribel in early March. There was a great cover of snow in great condition which had been topped up by the snow cannons. We skied all the way over to Val Thorens. Having previously skied Morzine, the landscape was far more open, with rolling hills rather than rugged mountainside. We found the famous F... + more
Aimee Bradshaw,
5 out of 5
We were so lucky with the weather, it had snowed a lot before we arrived (impressive considering we went on the 5th April) and then we had wall to wall sunshine every day we were there. We’d been to the 3 Valleys before and know the area, there’s such extensive skiing there. We really like Val Thorens which i... + more
Alison Feather, Cheshire
3 out of 5
I spent a season in Meribel and love it there. You’ve got the biggest ski resort in Europe s0 the best thing to do is go out and explore! Spend a whole season in Meribel if you can as there are all sorts of festivals and events. For one tip, Chez Kiki is always a joy, with marvellous amounts of meat on the menu. + more
Nicholas Winter, Lincolnshire
5 out of 5
I’d been to Meribel several times before – my husband likes the skiing in Courchevel and it’s nice and easy to get over. Compared to Courchevel, Meribel’s a bit more clubby which we thought our teenage sons would like. Because they didn’t have any snow at the beginning of the season they had to make do wit... + more
R. Standing, Norfolk
5 out of 5
We love Meribel, it’s a great place – not too pretentious but with everything you need. We had the full 3 valleys pass as we like to do a little tour of the area, but I might consider getting just the Meribel one if we bring our son next year. There are some really good greens and blues as well as plenty of o... + more
G.M., West Midlands
5 out of 5
I’ve been to Meribel before - it's quite expensive but it's a really good resort and my main reason for returning was the DC park and halfpipe which I’d definitely recommend checking out. It’s also worth going up to the top of the ski area at Val Thorens as it’s amazing up there. + more
E. Welsby,
4 out of 5
I love Meribel, it’s got everything – the lifts are quick and there are loads of runs to do. Everything in resort is expensive, but that’s the same for all of France. There are some really good bars, Jacks Bar is great, as is Folie Douce (though it’s unbelievably expensive). As I only ski once a year at the... + more
Rob, East Sussex
5 out of 5
This was my first time to France and to be honest I didn’t really like it – I stayed in Mayrhofen last year and much prefer Austria. Everything was super expensive here and the food was rubbish (apart from in my chalet). There wasn’t any snow at the beginning of the season but I was still out boarding ever... + more
Carl Norman, Norwich
3 out of 5
We’ve skied all over the place, Canada, America and have been to Meribel quite a few times and always enjoyed it. There had been a drop of snow at the weekend so luckily the conditions were good (New Years week) – the snow was going by the end of the week but I think there was more snowfall the next weeke... + more
RC, Essex
4 out of 5
I had skied the area before last time I came to the 3 Valleys, but I had never stayed in Meribel, this was my first time. Our hotel was in a smaller, quieter area called Mottaret, above the main town. It’s good for families and convenient for the slopes. Meribel is an average ski town, not as expensive as Cour... + more
Louise, London
4 out of 5
We were staying in Mottaret, which is slap bang in the middle of the 3 valleys, I don’t think there’s any other location in Europe that’s as good for skiing! Mottaret is definitely good for skiing but not nightlife, it’s a quiet village and there are only a couple of bars and a few restaurants. It’s no has... + more
Andrew Warnes, Altrincham
5 out of 5
Meribel is the best place to go as there’s so much skiing and snowboarding on offer and the nightlife is really good. We went quite late in the season on the last week in March but we were lucky with the snow, the week before and week after weren’t so good! We had snow the day we arrived which meant fresh stu... + more
Anon,
5 out of 5
Really liked Meribel, the nightlife is pretty good and there are some really nice bars and restaurants – the Folie Douce is pretty spectacular. It’s really good for boarding; one thing I liked was that there were quite a lot of skate parks in the area so you can scout around, you could mix it up with bombing ... + more
Mr Crispin, London
5 out of 5
Its easy to see why this place is always voted in the global top 3. If you want to be in the heart of the biggest linked ski area in the world, and still have the planet's best après ski at your fingertips, I don't think there's a better place to base your dream ski holiday. In fact Meribel is in literally EV... + more
Sno man, Sno Staff
5 out of 5
It’s an expensive resort. I’ve been to the 3 Valleys before, so I was expecting that. Last time I went to Les Menuires last time, Meribel is similar, it’s a bit livelier. The ski area suits people of all abilities, there’s something for everyone here. It was a good week. + more
Paul Sharp, Kent
4 out of 5
I’ve been to Meribel a few times before, it’s a nice place. Val d’Isere is probably my favourite resort but the skiing in the 3 Valleys is really good. There’s so much to do, you really couldn’t ski it all in one week. Considering we went early in the season there was plenty to do. Obviously it’s better w... + more
James White, Overton
4 out of 5
I didn’t ski as my husband had just had a knee op but the kids were fine – they went into various ski schools and had a good time. It was quite restricted in the daytime in terms of things to do, more recently went to Val d’Isere which has a lot more bars and cafes and would definitely rate Val higher than M... + more
Mrs Smith, Alderley Edge
3 out of 5
One of my favourite resorts out of all the resorts I’ve been to. Better than Courchevel, there are less Russians and bling. It’s more affordable, if you’ve got a few bob you can actually buy stuff in the shops. I really enjoyed the skiing. The Meribel side of the 3 Valleys is a little steeper as you come int... + more
David Steven, Ormskirk
4 out of 5
The skiing was fantastic, and it wasn’t too busy which was nice – we didn’t have to do much queuing at all. We were visiting my sister who was a chalet girl at the time and she showed us the best places to go out, we saw some live music which was really good. + more
Madeline Bradley, Hereford
4 out of 5
I had never been to Meribel before but I absolutely loved it, it was a really good week and I will definitely go back here again! The nightlife and ski area were really good, it has something for all different levels, two of our group had never skied before but they picked it up easily. We were here towards... + more
Hannah Polson, Banbury
5 out of 5
We chose Meribel because we like to travel by train and always choose somewhere that’s easy to get to on the train. The ease of access here from the station is brilliant; it’s quite a short transfer from the train station to the resort. We've been here a couple of times and I like it, it’s good to be in the... + more
Mrs Palmer, Cambridge
4 out of 5
Meribel is fantastic; we ski here as a family and I’d definitely recommend it to other families. We’ve been there 2 years running and the snow has always been amazing. There are some amazing places to eat, the only thing is it’s all a bit pricey. The Coeur is great, there’s a fantastic sea food restaura... + more
Mr McKie, Currie
5 out of 5
Meribel is not family orientated but the après part was great so groups would like it here. We stayed here as a family and would never stay here again. The pisting system in Meribel was not what we’d like – I’m intermediate level and I’d be skiing half way down a blue and it would turn into a red which was... + more
Ms Knight, Tamworth
3 out of 5
Great nightlife and lovely looking place with some of the most famous après ski in the world at places like the Rond Point and Evolution Bar (“Evo” if you’re a local). No need to buy a full 3 Valleys lift pass if you’re a beginner or lower intermediate, as the Meribel ski area is pretty big on its own. + more
Ned, Gloucestershire
5 out of 5
Meribel is really pretty and blessed with some of the best skiing in the world. For ultimate location right between the lifts and the bars stay at the Chaudanne apartments or Eterlou hotel, or the chalet hotel Les Grangettes for the best combo of slope-side in the day and centre of town for your nights out. + more
Seth, Islington
5 out of 5
One of the truly great resorts, especially if you plan to skiing big mileage. It's at the heart of the three valleys, so you’ll never be stuck for choice of runs or bored by skiing the same piste. Meribel is one of the world’s best resorts for intermediate and advanced skiers, however beginners are catered fo... + more
Alison Brown, Sydney
5 out of 5
Having really got to know the place I’d sum it up by saying Meribel is a very British resort with a huge influx of English speaking staff migrating for the winter season. The nightlife is more of a bar scene than a club scene although there is a Dicks T-Bar. The skiing is great, with loads of runs in the 3 val... + more
Andrew Fyfe, Aberdeen
5 out of 5
We had an amazing week in Meribel last January. The snow was terrific and we loved doing the massive daily mileage around the 3 Valleys linked area. It's great for groups who want a lively week and I’d recommend après ski at the famous Rond Point followed by dinner in the Pizza Express so that you’re already... + more
Kat O'Connor,
5 out of 5
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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 Le Cedre Blanc 7 £ 899
Chalet Laetitia 7 £ 985
Chalet Eleanor 7 £ 1043
Chalet L'Ancolie 7 £ 1169

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