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Bring your children on a ski holiday to Méribel
Here's why we recommend Méribel as a family destination.
Travelling anywhere with children can be challenging, and in a ski resort it can be doubly so with things like lift passes, equipment hire and ski lessons to arrange (never mind hats, gloves, snotty noses and the rest...!). Méribel is a family-friendly resort that makes all these things as easy as possible.
The choice of hotels and rental accommodation in Méribel is constantly improving, with new establishments opening every year offering top quality accommodation with services for families. Some come with spas and swimming pools all under one roof - great for a quick après-swim session with those children still needing to burn off some energy before dinner.
Sitting above the Méribel ski resort, the Pierre & Vacances Crets Residence is one of our finest residences in the French Alps following a recent renovation: apartments have been enlarged and redecorated in warm colours, and top-of-the-range furnishings and equipment installed.
The residence "Les Fermes de Méribel" has spacious and comfortable apartments divided between six small stone and wood chalets. It lies in a pleasant wooded environment in the heart of Méribel Village.
Residence du Tueda is located in the most recent part of Méribel-Mottaret resort, at walking distance from ski lifts and close to the resort centre. It is made up of four savoyard-style buildings and divided into two areas linked by a public inclined lift. The apartments enjoy splendid views the skiing runs.
Located right on the pistes in the centre of Méribel-Mottaret close to the ESF ski school and next door to a ski hire shop.
Tucked away in the forest and only accessible by ski or foot, Adray Télébar blends rustic alpine comfort with a lively atmosphere - perfect for couples, families and friends alike.
The residence is located in the heart of Méribel-Mottaret. A shopping centre is also close by. In the heart of the 3 Vallées, this is an authentic Savoy resort with large chalets.
Over the past few years, Méribel has made great efforts to ensure families enjoy unforgettable holidays, leading to the resort being able to be a part of the coveted ‘Famille Plus’ scheme. Officially recognised and bestowed only on those resorts and destinations proven to provide activities, services, entertainment and prices favourable to those holidaying with kids in tow.
Méribel operates a great free bus service every day throughout the winter season. A fleet of buses operates around resort from 07:15 right through until 00:30, there are four different routes linking the whole of resort together.
Méribel-Mottaret is a purpose-built resort dating from the 1970s. It shares Méribel’s chalet-style architecture but most of its accommodation is in the form of large apartment blocks and hotels. The resort is mostly car-free and much of the accommodation is ski-in, ski-out. It has a good selection of shops, services, bars and restaurants.
Les Allues is a charming traditional Savoyard village just a short gondola ride from Méribel. It offers a genuine Alpine atmosphere with a mix of chalets, apartments and essential amenities. Ski access is good, though the return run may close early in the season. It’s perfect if you want a peaceful stay close to the slopes with authentic village life.
Méribel Village is a small, traditional hamlet of chalets and converted barns and is a popular destination for those who prefer a tranquil, village atmosphere.
Méribel is the biggest and best known village in the valley with the widest selection of bars, restaurants and shops. Famous for its picture postcard chalets and chalet style apartment buildings and hotels, Méribel has retained all the charm of a traditional mountain village with its wood and stone buildings and forest setting. Fast, modern ski lifts offer easy access to the Méribel valley ski area (150km of pistes) and the three Valleys (600km of pistes).
Brides-les-Bains is a bustling spa town at 600 metres down at the bottom of the valley, linked with Méribel by the Olympe gondola lift. This valley town offers a decent range of accommodation at a fraction of the price of the Méribel resorts.
La Tania is a small, family-friendly resort known for its traffic-free centre and charming wood-clad buildings. Sitting between Courchevel and Méribel, it offers easy access to the Trois Vallées ski area and a relaxed, good-value atmosphere. Perfect for those seeking a quieter, welcoming ski holiday.
As a resort popular with families you are guaranteed an excellent range of skis and snowboards for all ages of children in the rental shops throughout the resort. The ski techs will help you all find what you need from beginner skis up to the top of the range.
And once you're all kitted out youll find there are lots of easily accessed beginner areas around the lower slopes, some not requiring a pass, so it's easy to practice with the kids. A state-of-the-art lift system has been designed with children in mind - the chairlifts have child safety features; gondolas are accessed via gentle ramps; tricky draglifts have been replaced by slow-loading chairlifts; and new chairlifts are fitted with weather shields and even heated seats that keep smaller skiers cosy. Plus Méribel offers favourable lift pass prices to families, making valuable savings.
This welcoming ski hire shop in Les Allues is centrally located in the heart of the village, between L’Arbé Restaurant and the Sherpa mini-market, just a short walk from the bus stop.
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Meribel? Just visit the Skiset Espace Gliss store!
Ski & Snowboard Rental near Hotel Le Savoy. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your first skiing day.
SPORTS 1600 is located at Altitude 1600, between the Route des chalets and the route de la renarde. Kerry and Romuald and team are on hand to welcome and assist you.
This ski hire shop is based in Méribel and offers a mobile delivery service throughout the resort, making it easy and stress-free to get your equipment wherever you are staying.
The tuition available in Meribel is truly brilliant. You'll find ski schools offer lessons for little ones, and the resort's popularity with the British means they all speak English.
If you want to help them with some practice after their lessons, the younger children adore the fun zones on the ski slopes. Méribel’s easy Inuit piste features Arctic-themed games for smaller skiers to enjoy, and children’s entertainers lay on free activities here six days a week. Mottaret’s Yeti Park has a wide and gentle green run featuring gongs, trumpets, igloos and mystery tunnels. Sledding is always very popular and takes place in safe zones away from the ski slopes, sleds can be hired in resort.
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at three convenient points in Méribel.
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
This ski school is the largest in France and one of the oldest, having been established in 1945. Offering a wide range of private lessons they can ensure the needs of your entire family/group are met.
Parallel Lines is Méribel’s biggest British Ski and Snowboard School. With 28 instructors in peak weeks, whether you’re taking your first turns or exploring the off-piste that The Three Valleys has to offer.
Run by an Anglo-French team since 2001, this ski school knows the area inside out. Their highly qualified, multilingual instructors specialise in tailor-made lessons to suit every skier or snowboarder.
When travelling with children, short transfers to resort are a must and Méribel has good transport links to the main airports. Grenoble Isère and Lyon airports are both around two hours away, while Chambery is just over an hour and Geneva airport is just over two hours away.
This company offers private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to Meribel, nearby areas, and resorts across the Alps. With great value fares on all journeys, it’s an easy way to save money.
Enjoy safe, reliable airport transfers to Méribel, Courchevel, and the wider Three Valleys, taking the stress out of your journey to the mountains. This service isn’t a call centre or a fleet - it’s a network of independent, owner-operated drivers who live and work in the Alps year-round, bringing decades of local knowledge and experience to every trip.
Helping holidaymakers enjoy seamless airport transfers since 2008. From prompt and professional drivers, to stylish and well-maintained vehicles. A journey with them is more than just a transfer. Their aim is to ensure all their customers travel in comfort and with confidence.
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
The team has been organising airport transfers to ski resorts around France since 2012. Their aim has always been to make independent travel to ski resorts cheaper and easier for everyone.
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
The restaurants and bars here are generally very down-to-earth and child-friendly, making them good for taking children out in the early evening. Most establishments have wifi so you can get online with iPads and games consoles if required - especially useful for keeping the teens who've tagged along occupied. You can expect children’s menus, high chairs etc and families are always made welcome.
Located at the heart of the Three Valleys, Barometer Bar offers a warm, vibrant, and stylish setting with a truly international atmosphere. Whether you’re visiting Méribel for skiing, sightseeing, or simply to unwind, this bar and restaurant provides the perfect place to relax, enjoy great food, and soak up the lively alpine energy. Open every day, Barometer is famous for serving some of the best pizzas in town, alongside a menu inspired by both French and Italian cuisine.
Welcome to Tsaretta, a unique bar, restaurant, and live music venue open all year round in Les Allues, Méribel. Combining incredible food, a vast selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, and some of the best live music in the Meribel valley, Tsaretta offers something for everyone under one roof. Grab a cold beer, order from the delicious pizza and burger menu - which is also available to take away - and soak up the friendly, vibrant atmosphere.
Since 2007, the friendly team at Aux Petits Oignons has been welcoming guests with warmth, good food, and a genuine Méribel spirit. Proudly part of the Méribel 1600 community, this year-round restaurant and bar is loved by locals and visitors alike for its relaxed atmosphere, great value, and home-cooked dishes made with care.
Part of the Hotel le Mottaret, this bar has a fantastic sunny terrace serving lunch and après-ski tunes, just 50m from the Perdrix and Furet green runs.
Perched right on the edge of the piste, En Bord de Piste Bar in Méribel is the perfect spot to unwind, whether you’ve been skiing all morning or simply want to soak up the alpine atmosphere.
Lodge du Village (LDV) stands above La Terrasse du Village as Méribel Village’s most iconic après-ski and late-night venue, offering a complete day-to-night experience under one roof. Open from midday, LDV is the ideal stop for lunch, a casual bite between runs, or a relaxed family meal. Their upstairs snack bar, Miaou Miaou, serves a selection of satisfying favourites throughout the day, including hot dogs, loaded fries, and smash burgers - ideal for refuelling before heading back to the slopes or settling in for the afternoon.
A wealth of activities and entertainments for children are on offer throughout the season, with extra fun laid on during the school holidays. There is something to enchant every child, from igloo-building, pony-sledding and treasure hunts, to eagle shows and marshmallow parties.
If the weather is poor or you just want a change from the slopes, then don’t miss Méribel’s Olympic Centre. Children can let off steam at the 25m pool and slide, scale the climbing wall with local mountain guides, the ice-rink holds regular party nights and tournaments, and there is also a bowling alley complete with children’s equipment.
Escape the busy slopes this winter and get a biathlon lesson!
This activity is accessible to those comfortable in water, no need to be a professional diver or swimmer, you just have to be smart at using the water movements, obstacles and waves.
Learn one of the oldest and most elegant forms of skiing with the French ski school this winter.
White water rafting is accessible to all who love the natural environment and who are in search of a bit of adventure. These excursions will leave you with some unforgettable memories.
Skiing is for everyone and everyone should be able to enjoy the mountains. The official French ski school offer adaptive lessons with specialist instructors for a variety of disabilities.
Strap on your snowshoes and discover the Meribel trails with a qualified instructor.
Find out all about what is happening in the Méribel Valley and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsMéribel hosts a number of events throughout the summer and winter months, some of which span the entire Three Valleys. Two such events are Les 3 Vallees Enduro in April with every type of snowboard, ski and telemark racing imaginable, and the 3 Vallées Addict Tour mountain bike festival every July. The Tourist Office also organises children's events and activities during the school holidays.
See allUpcoming Events
