Hotel guide to Meribel

Chalets and apartments are usually the most popular accommodation options when it comes to ski holidays. They tend to offer more room, more flexibility in terms of catering and, sometimes, better prices. However, hotels are also a great choice for those visiting Meribel, especially when you're not coming for a full week. 

Why book a hotel room instead of a chalet or an apartment in Meribel?
If you aren't planning on a full week ski holiday, hotels can offer much more flexibility on dates, plus many can't be beaten in terms of extended services and facilities such as gourmet restaurants, spas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, tennis courts, childcare, bike and/or ski hire, flexible catering options... the choices are endless. And even though some apartment and chalet companies have recently made their booking requirements more flexible, the reality is that many can only be booked for six or seven days especially in peak season. 

Hotels in Meribel tend to be small, family-run establishments rather than the big hotel chains so often found in other resorts. This doesn't mean that there are no five-star hotels in the area. 

Our favourite luxury hotels in Meribel
These are the Meribel hotels that, in our opinion, stand out from the rest thanks to their top-range facilities and services:

1. Le Kaïla Hotel
   The first five-star hotel to open in Méribel, Le Kaïla is located in the centre, in the heart of La Chaudanne and is only 200m from the lifts. Boasting true ski-to-door access, a 500m² spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant and plenty of chic styling throughout, this is the best choice for a VIP-experience in Méribel.
    
2. Le Coucou Hotel
   The Coucou Hotel is a boutique-style, five-star establishment with only 55 rooms, 39 of which are suites. Architect Pierre Yovanovitch has designed its chic bedrooms, most of them boasting a terrace with mountain views, as well as its spa and wellness area and two restaurants, a steakhouse and an Italian eatery.
    
3. Le Tremplin Hotel
   A contemporary four-star hotel located in the town centre and 50m from the lifts, Le Tremplin Hotel offers a heated outdoor pool that's not only open in the summer but also in the winter. The spa area, lounge bar and brasserie-style restaurant make this hotel a great place to stay in.

Meribel has a good selection of aparthotels (apartment buildings with hotel facilities) that are great for groups or families sharing accommodation.

Top group-friendly aparthotels in Meribel
These are our favourite apartment residences with hotel facilities and services in Meribel, offering spacious accommodation for groups.

1. 1. Les Fermes de Méribel
   Located in the charming resort of Méribel Village, Les Fermes de Méribel offers apartments accommodating up to nine people divided up into six small wood-and-stone chalets. Its spa with sauna, steam room and indoor heated pool will help you relax after a day on the slopes.
    
2. Le Peillon
   Those who like to be in the heart of the action will be at home in Le Peillon Residence. Bang in the middle of town, opposite the tourist office and just 50m from the bars, restaurants and shops, this apartment residence offers simple but comfortable accommodation for groups of up to six people.
    
3. Les Crets
   Over in Méribel Mottaret, Les Crets Residence is a cosy retreat perched in a forested mountain setting that will make you feel secluded from the rest of the world. Its main selling points are the breath taking views over the Vanoise National Park and the Tueda nature reserve. With ski-in and ski-out access, WiFi and apartments accommodating up to six people, this is a wonderful place for a group to stay in.

Most hotels in Meribel are more than happy to welcome young children and many of them offer family rooms. However, there are many other things to consider, such as distance to the pistes, amenities and services within the hotel and facilities in the neighbouring area.

Best family-friendly hotels in Meribel
This is where we'd book a room if we were travelling with young children.

1. L'Eterlou Hotel
L'Eterlou Hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Meribel, just 50m from the main lift station at La Chaudanne. The hotel has a pool table, family rooms, apartments and an outdoor swimming pool that will help keep the little ones entertained, while the adults will love getting pampered at its spa.

2. La Chaudanne Hotel
A family-run hotel boasting direct access to the pistes, the four-star Hotel La Chaudanne is a family-friendly establishment with a kids' area and babysitting services upon request. To boot, there's a spa with an indoor pool, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a cosy brasserie-style eatery, as well as a lounge bar.

3. Merilys Hotel
Those searching for a more budget-friendly option should take a look at the charming Merilys Hotel, just across the road from the lifts. With a sauna, a gym and a games room with a pool table, pinball and arcade games, this hotel is great for larger families or groups looking to stay together.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Meribel offering decent quality rooms at reasonable prices. Many are located in the resort centre, making them a good place to base yourself on your mountain biking or ski holiday while saving some money at the same time.

Best-value hotels in Meribel
In our opinion, these three hotels offer the most bang for your buck.

1. La Taverne Hotel
   Best known for its après-ski atmosphere, La Taverne also offers 12 simply furnished rooms that are perfect for those who like to ski hard and party even harder without breaking the bank. Beware, though, this place isn't for families or for light sleepers!
    
2. Le Golf Hotel
   Down the valley, the spa town of Brides-les-Bains tends to offer more affordable accommodation options than the resorts up on the mountains. A good example is the popular Le Golf Hotel, less than five minutes from the gondola that connects Brides and the centre of Meribel. With a spa and a restaurant serving healthy food, this is a good place for a wellness retreat with a spot of skiing. 

Most of the hotels in the Meribel area boast easy access to the pistes and ski lifts, either sitting right next to the foot of the slopes or just a short trip away by one of the free local buses.

Our favourite hotels near the lifts
If we were to choose, these would be our favourite hotels in Meribel with ski-to-door access.

1. AlpenRuitor Hotel
   Nothing beats Méribel Mottaret when it comes to ski-to-door accommodation, and Hotel AlpenRuitor is an excellent example. Situated at the foot of the pistes and very close to the lifts, you'll be able to maximise your time on the slopes when staying here. The hotel offers something for everyone, including a spa for the adults and a games room for the children.
    
2. Le Mottaret Hotel
   Also in Méribel Mottaret, Le Mottaret Hotel is right on the pistes, as well as next door to the ESF ski school. Rooms are spacious, with views over the Mottaret slopes and the Méribel Valley. There is a large terrace boasting an outdoor jacuzzi and a restaurant with après-ski DJ sets.
    
3. Adray Telebar Hotel
   Situated right on the piste, next to the Adret chairlift in Méribel 1650, the three-star Adray Telebar has an unbeatable location – so much so, that you'll have to reach it on skis, snowmobile or snowshoes! This cosy chalet-style hotel has a fully-equipped spa with sauna, steam room and massages, as well as a bar and a restaurant.