Meribel self-catered apartments

When planning your break away to the mountains here are a few things worth thinking about before you decide what to go for.

Book early
We recommend you book your apartment accommodation as soon as possible. Apartments usually sell out quite quickly and a lot of people book as early as January for the next winter season. Book it before buying your flights or train ticket, the reason being that availability may be limited and arrival/departure dates are not always as flexible as travel options.

How long you want to stay
Most apartments in Meribel are rented on a weekly basis only. You’ll find that Saturday to Saturday rentals are most common, but increasingly with the times being as they are, dates can be flexible and some chalet companies may provide a mix of Saturday and Sunday changeovers.

Plus shorter and longer breaks are becoming more and more popular, so some companies may be flexible on their rental dates on request. Summer bookings in Meribel are generally much more flexible on dates and length of stay, especially outside the peak months of July and August. This means that you can come for a long weekend, for ten days or for a few days mid-week more easily. 

Size matters
Apartments to rent in Meribel range from small studios to large chalet-apartments, making them suitable for all sorts of parties, from couples looking for a romantic escapade to families or groups of friends. Before booking your apartment, you’ll need to know the exact number of people and the ages of the children coming with you on your holiday.

Know your wants and needs
There are literally hundreds of apartments on offer in Meribel, some providing simple accommodation at the foot of the slopes and others boasting five-star luxury facilities. Most come with WiFi as standard, but check before you book if it's important, some have ski-to-door access and state-of-the-art boot warmers, some don't, and if you need a large terrace with breathtaking views, a cinema room, designer décor or a pet-friendly property, make sure you book as early as possible.

You'll also find that many high-end companies offer concierge services who’ll take care of everything, from your ski passes to your lessons, your equipment hire, chauffeur services to take you to and from the slopes or drive you around resort, private chefs and spas with massages on demand. You're spoiled for choice in Meribel!

Apartments in Meribel are generally rented out on a self-catered basis. However, this doesn't mean that you need to take care of everything yourself since many accommodation providers offer a wide choice of add-ons to boost your holiday experience.

Catering
Catering is often top of the list of add-ons and can range from private chefs, welcome packs for your first day, or grocery shopping to fill your fridge and pantry before you arrive. There are plenty of private chefs and catering companies working in Meribel, so take your pick – you can hire them for the length of your stay or just a one-off special dinner. Also, in the post-Covid world, food and drink delivery services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

What else is there?
Accommodation companies offer numerous add-ons to make your holiday as hassle-free as possible. When booking your apartment, you can often include lots of other services for an additional fee, from ski hire to ski passes, ski lessons, transfers, activities and anything else you can think of. This means that you can relax knowing that all the different bits of your holiday will be taken care of. Some may even offer a bespoke concierge service through which you can book high-end treats such as a 24-hour chauffeur, massages or private tours.

Apartment rental rates depend on many things:

• facilities and services
• location within the resort
• desired dates
• size of your party
• length of your stay

In general, you can benefit from discounts if you're booking early and outside the main busy holidays (Christmas, February half-term, Easter, July and August).

Millions of euros have been invested in the tasteful development and renovation of former hotels and apartment blocks giving a real boost to the self-catering accommodation market in Meribel without damaging the mountain feel of this magical place. Many of these renovations, as well as some of the new-builds, boast five-star facilities including indoor swimming pools, spa rooms, terraces with mountain views and even private hot tubs.

Where can you find luxury apartments in Meribel?
Le Belvédère is an upmarket area on the piste towards the top of Méribel. While far from the restaurants and bars of Méribel town centre, this smart district offers high-quality apartments in swanky residential blocks and easy access to the ski area. Méribel Village is another good choice for those looking for an apartment at the top-end of the range. This separate resort, just a five-minute drive from the main town of Méribel, is an increasingly popular destination in its own right. The apartments here are mostly recently-built and attractive, with easy access to the ski area. A few even offer admission to their own spa and pool.

If you’re looking to organise a corporate trip or a holiday with a big group of friends, Meribel is a great place to host it. A charming Alpine village with great nightlife and plenty of choice when it comes to group accommodation, Meribel has lots going on and it’s situated in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

Where can you find big apartments for groups in Meribel?
When booking an apartment for a large group of friends or a corporate retreat, you want to make sure you're as close to the heart of Méribel Centre and La Chaudanne as possible. This is where all the action's at, including the best nightlife and a wide range of restaurants, bars and plenty of things to do. Le Plateau-Le Rond Point in Méribel is another area offering a large number of apartments in sizeable blocks, all within a couple of minutes’ walk from the pistes and with a range of shops and restaurants on their doorstep.

Meribel is really well set up for mountain-loving families, with plenty of activities for all ages and a host of family-friendly apartments. Family holidays tend to have their own unique requirements, and services for families in Meribel can ranges from providing cots and highchairs in accommodation to babysitting and childcare services. Depending on what is going to make or break your family holiday, make sure you discuss it with your accommodation provider before you book.

Where can you find family-friendly apartments in Meribel?
If you're travelling with young children, then being away from the resort's hustle and bustle while also enjoying easy access to the beginner slopes is usually high on the must-have list. The Altiport area is a quiet, wooded site at the top of Méribel, perfect for those seeking a tranquil base. The chalet-style apartment blocks here are ideally placed, lining the beginner piste in winter and golf course in summer.

There are some great bargains to be had in Meribel when booking your accommodation outside the main hotspots in resort.

How can you save money on your Meribel accommodation?
The cheapest area to stay in Méribel is Brides-les-Bains. This spa town at the bottom of the valley is connected to Méribel via a gondola lift and offers great prices on apartments at the expense of being far away from the resort's centre and its amenities. For those willing to go a bit further up on the price ladder, Méribel 1600 has a wide range of apartments, varying from small and inexpensive 60s-style studios in large blocks to more attractive and spacious flats in pretty chalets, so it's fairly easy to find budget-friendly accommodation here.

Ski-in/ski-out apartments are the most sought-after in Meribel. There's no better feeling than being able to put your skis on right outside your front door.

Where can you find ski-in/ski-out apartments in Meribel?
Méribel Mottaret offers a vast number of self-catering apartments, mostly located in fairly large blocks. This separate resort was founded in the 1970s as a car-free village with ski-in/ski-out accommodation. It is divided into two parts: Le Laitelet, terminating at Le Hameau at the top, and Le Chatelet, built in preparation for the 1992 Olympics. The top and bottom of the resort are linked by a gondola lift and a free bus service, the Meribus. Mottaret offers especially fast and comfortable lift access to all the skiing in the world-class 3 Valleys ski area.