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?
The answer is simple: because you don't want to stay here for a full week. Even if apartment and chalet companies have recently made their booking requirements more flexible, offering shorter stays especially during the off season, the reality is that most chalets and apartments in Meribel can only be booked for six or seven days. However, with hotels you can customise the length of your stay, from a weekend ski trip to a five-day holiday – it's your choice.

Hotels also tend to offer extended services and facilities: gourmet restaurants, spas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, tennis courts, cycle and/or ski hire, flexible catering options... the choices are endless.

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. On the contrary, Meribel boasts not one but two hotels awarded with the highest rating.

Our 3 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 Meribel, Le Kaïla is located in Meribel Centre, in the heart of La Chaudanne and 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 Meribel.

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

1. Les Fermes de Meribel
Located in the charming resort of Meribel Village, Les Fermes de Meribel 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 Meribel 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 breathtaking 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 3 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.

Top 2 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 apres-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 5 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 4 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 Meribel 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 Meribel 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 Meribel Valley. There is a large terrace boasting an outdoor jacuzzi and a restaurant with apres-ski DJ sets.

3. Alba Chalet Hotel
Location, location, location is what is all about and Alba Chalet Hotel is in the perfect spot with ski-in and ski-out access (20m to the blue Doran piste!). The double and triple bedrooms are spread over four floors, and there's a wellness area with a sauna, steam room and whirlpool spa-bath that's the perfect place to unwind after a day on the slopes.

4. Adray Telebar Hotel
Situated right on the piste, next to the Adret chairlift in Meribel 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.

Have a read through our Where to Stay Guide to give you an idea of what each of the areas in and around Meribel has to offer. There are also plenty of chalets and apartments to book here – our Chalets Guide and Apartments Guide will help you choose the perfect option for you.