France

Meribel Village

Quiet and charming ski village linking to Meribel and the Three Valleys ski area

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Meribel Village resort guide - a general overview

Meribel Village should not be confused with Meribel, Meribel Les Allues or Meribel Mottaret as all four are quite distinct resorts, each with their own character. Meribel Village really came into its own with the opening of the new quad chair lift linking it directly to the vast Three Valleys system and taking the old quaint village into a ski resort of its own standing. MGM built some smart self-catering properties and luxury chalet developers made use of the cheaper land to build some outstanding properties.

Today the village is a mixture of old and modern and offers guests staying here the chance to escape the British mob in Meribel yet still access the superb skiing. The nightlife is quiet by Meribel's standards but staying here makes a good option for a family holiday.

If you are staying in one of the you can access the ski school meeting point at the top of the Golf Chair lift which is the high-speed lift departing from the centre of the village. However, please note that not all ski schools meet here. Some schools only meet at the bottom of Chaudanne in the main resort of Meribel. If you have an early morning lesson booked to start at Chaudanne you may find that there is insufficient time to get the Golf chair up when it opens in the morning and to ski down to Chaudanne in time for your lesson. if this is the case you will need to get the morning bus to Meribel Chaudanne which departs Meribel Village at 08.45hrs.

Photos courtesy of Sylvain Aymoz - Meribel Tourist Office.

Resort stats

600km

1,450m - 3,195m

Level of skiing

Beginners
Intermediates
Experts
Snow sure
Off-piste
Ski area

Qualities

Charm factor
Non-skiers
Nightlife
Resort layout
Fine dining
Short transfer
Resort value

Airports

Lyon
2hrs 30mins
Geneva
2hrs 30mins
Chambery
2hrs

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Avoiding the queues at the Chaudanne lift station in Meribel
  • More peaceful than Meribel itself but access to same ski area
  • There are some lovely, high end chalets in Meribel Village

Cons

  • Not much night life would need to get a taxi into Meribel
  • Need to get a bus to ski school meeting point in Meribel
  • Home run can get very heavy and slushy in warm weather

Restaurants

Meribel Village Resort Restaurants

Méribel Village is smaller and quieter than central Méribel but still has a couple of very good restaurants. Le Bo A Mil remains one of the best spots for traditional Savoyard food.

Lodge du Village continues to be a popular and reliable option for relaxed lunches, pizzas and informal dinners, particularly with families.

Meribel Village Mountain Restaurants

Meribel Village, located just one lift away from Meribel, is an excellent base for exploring the other resorts within the Three Valleys.

For something traditional try Le Clos Bernard whilst La Fruitière at La Folie Douce provides a more contemporary experience. For a more relaxed lunch, Le Rond Point is still a favourite.

If you are skiing further afield towards Courchevel, Le Soucoupe, Cap Horn and Le Chalet de Pierres are all excellent choices.

Towards Saint Martin de Belleville and Val Thorens, La Bouitte is one of the standout restaurants.

Meribel Village Apres Ski

Méribel Village has a couple of good après ski spots worth stopping at. Lodge du Village remains the hub, with a lively upstairs bar.

For bigger après ski scenes, most people ski across towards La Folie Douce or Le Rond Point before making their way back down to the village.

Meribel Village Nightlife

Méribel Village is much quieter than central Méribel in the evenings (largely part of its appeal!). Most people staying here favour relaxed dinners, drinks at Lodge du Village and early nights.

For livelier bars and late-night venues, Méribel centre is only a short bus or taxi ride away.

Meribel Village Resort Map

Key

  • Funicular
  • Cable Car
  • Gondola
  • Chair lift
  • Drag lift
  • Property