# Meribel Unplugged > Meribel Unplugged (meribel-unplugged.co.uk) is the ultimate independent guide to Meribel ski holidays in the French Alps, created and maintained by Rob Smart — a British seasoned expert with 38 winter seasons in Meribel (as of 2026). The site provides honest, unbiased, and comprehensive information for British and international visitors planning ski or snowboard holidays in Meribel, covering accommodation, travel, skiing, resort services, and local history. It is not a commercial tour operator; all reviews and recommendations are personal and independent. ## Site Overview - **Website:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/ - **Editor & Founder:** Rob Smart (email: rob-smart@meribel-unplugged.co.uk | phone: 0044 751 328 4227) - **Original creator:** Robert Smart Junior (created the first version in 2003; sadly deceased) - **Target audience:** British and international skiers and snowboarders planning holidays in Meribel, France - **Coverage:** Meribel ski resort — accommodation, travel/transfers, skiing/snowboarding, resort information, history, and seasonal life - **Season:** Winter ski season, typically early December to the 3rd weekend of April - **TripAdvisor rating:** 5 stars — 6,173+ traveller reviews - **Copyright:** © 2026 Meribel Rob Smart Publications. All rights reserved. --- ## About Meribel Meribel is a ski resort in the Savoie département of the French Alps, located in the Tarentaise / Vanoise region. It sits at the very heart of Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys) — the world's largest ski area with over 600 km of pistes and 180 ski lifts. - **Altitude:** Main town at 1,450 m; Mottaret at 1,750 m; Les Allues village at 1,300 m; Meribel Village at 1,500 m - **Ski area access:** Courchevel reachable in 15 minutes; La Tania in 20 minutes; Les Menuires in 20 minutes; Val Thorens in 45 minutes - **Ski season:** Lifts open early December, close 3rd weekend of April - **History:** Meribel was discovered as a ski resort in 1936 by Scottish-born Peter Lindsay (1900–1971), who purchased land in the valley and built the first lift (the "Red Dragon") in 1938. Post-WWII, he worked with architects Paul Grillo and Christian Durupt to develop Meribel in traditional Savoyard style — stone, slate roofs, and wood cladding. This planning foresight protected Meribel from the uglier developments seen elsewhere in the Alps. - **1992 Winter Olympics:** Meribel hosted the women's downhill race and ice hockey. The Olympic Centre (swimming pool and ice rink) remains a key resort facility. - **Energy:** Meribel uses its own hydroelectric supply, powered by the mountain river year-round. - **British connection:** Meribel is one of the most popular French Alps resorts among British skiers, largely due to Peter Lindsay's founding influence. Over 10 English-speaking ski schools operate in the resort. --- ## Accommodation Meribel Unplugged lists 100+ chalets, self-catered apartments, and hotels across all areas of the Meribel valley. Accommodation is divided by village/area to help visitors choose the right location. ### Accommodation Guide - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-accommodation-guide - Full breakdown of all Meribel villages, their altitudes, transport links, local amenities, and accommodation types ### Villages & Areas | Area | Altitude | Notes | |------|----------|-------| | Meribel Main Town | 1,450 m | Central; free bus from 7:30 am to midnight; main lift centre at Chaudanne | | Meribel Morel | ~1,500 m | Near Altiport chairlift; supermarket, bars, ski shops | | Meribel 1600 | 1,600 m | 5 min walk to Doron piste; shares amenities with Morel | | Le Plateau | Above 1,600 m | Near Rond Point; almost ski-in/ski-out; bakery, supermarket | | Rond Point | 1,700 m | Right on the piste; famous Ronny Bar (live music daily); ski-in/ski-out | | Belvedere | ~1,700 m | Exclusive area; 4-star and 5-star hotels; built for 1992 Olympics | | Altiport | ~1,600 m | Near beginner green piste; peaceful; private planes and helicopters | | Mussillon | ~1,400 m | 5–10 min walk to centre; mainly catered chalets; own supermarket | | Meribel Village | 1,500 m | Built 1998; 5 min on free bus; Golf chairlift to Altiport; English pub | | Les Allues Village | 1,300 m | Original 14th-century village; 10 min bus to Chaudanne; own supermarket and ski shop | | Le Cruet | 1,300 m | Small hamlet above Les Allues; limited chalets only; 8 min to Chaudanne by bus | | Chandon | 1,350 m | Quiet hamlet; suits families; 10 min to Chaudanne by bus | | Raffort | 1,400 m | Own gondola (5 min) and free bus to Chaudanne; mostly catered/self-catered chalets | | Gittaz | 1,400 m | Near Meribel Village; few fully catered chalets; chalet companies offer private minibuses | | Meribel Mottaret | 1,750 m | Satellite village; mainly ski-in/ski-out apartments; several hotels; 10 min bus to Meribel town | ### Accommodation Types **Catered Chalets** (by area): - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-chalets (Main Town) - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/catered-chalets-meribel-les-allues - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-village-catered-chalets - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/mottaret-catered-chalets - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-chandon-catered-chalets - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-raffort-catered-chalets - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-la-gittaz-catered-chalets - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/le-cruet-catered-chalets **Self-Catered Chalets** (by area): - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-self-catered-chalets (Main Town) - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-les-allues - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-village - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-mottaret - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-chandon - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-raffort - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/self-catered-chalets-meribel-la-gittaz - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-le-cruet-self-catered-chalets **Self-Catered Apartments** (by area): - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-apartments-for-rent (Main Town) - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-village-apartments-for-rent - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-les-allues-apartments-for-rent - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-mottaret-apartments-for-rent - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-chandon-apartments-for-rent - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-season-accommodation (Season Apartments) **Hotels** (2★ to 5★): - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-hotels (Main Town — 8 hotels, including 5★ Kaila at Chaudanne and Le Coucou at Belvedere) - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/hotels-meribel-les-allues - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/accommodation/meribel-mottaret-hotels - Valley-wide total: 20+ hotels from 2★ to 5★ --- ## Travel & Getting There ### Airport Transfers - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/meribel-airport-transfers - Main airports serving Meribel: Geneva, Lyon, Chambery, Grenoble - Transfer times: Geneva (~2.5 hrs), Chambery (~1.5 hrs, nearest), Lyon (~2.5 hrs), Grenoble (~2.5–3 hrs) - Rough cost: 75–150 euros per person return (private, 4–8 passengers) - For 1–3 passengers, shared transfers or public bus are more economical - Recommended operators: Snowlinx, Pacifique Transport, Bens Bus, Meribel Airport Transfers, GSM Transfers, Cool Runnings, Savoie Transfers, My Mountain Transfers, Ski Hame Transfers - Helicopter transfers available via Whitetracks: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-helicopter-transfers - Free shared transfer forum: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/transfers ### Airport-specific sub-pages: - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/geneva-airport-meribel-transfer - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/transfer-lyon-airport-meribel - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/transfer-grenoble-airport-meribel - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/transfer-chambery-airport-meribel ### Other Travel Options - **Cheap Flights:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/cheap-flights-meribel - **Rail Travel:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/rail — Snow trains and Eurostar from London & Paris to Moutiers (via Chambery and Albertville); Moutiers is 20 min from Meribel main town, 15 min from Les Allues - **Coach Travel:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/coach - **Public Bus Service to Meribel:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/bus-services - **Road Travel:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/meribel-by-road - **Car Hire:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/car-hire-meribel - **Car Parking (local):** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/meribel-car-parking - **Airport Parking:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/airport-parking - **Taxis:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/travel/meribel-taxis --- ## Skiing & Snowboarding ### Meribel Skiing Guide - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-skiing-6-day-ski-guide - Free printable 6-day ski guide available (email rob-smart@meribel-unplugged.co.uk to request) - Covers on-piste ski routes for intermediates across all three valleys - Best morning skiing (9–11 am): Tougnète side (faces morning sun); groomed pistes - Après-ski: Folie Douce (DJ and dancers 3–5 pm), Rond Point / Ronny Bar (live music daily) - Lifts open around 9 am; Chaudanne gets busy at 9:30 am when ski school begins - Off-piste skiing recommended with a qualified guide; best January–April above gondola mid-stations - Beginner skiing: Meribel Altiport area (green pistes) - Advanced skiing guide: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-skiing-guide-advanced - Intermediate skiing guide: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-skiing-guide-intermediates - Beginner skiing guide: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-beginners ### Ski Schools - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-ski-schools - 10+ ski schools with English-speaking instructors; all levels including off-piste and heli-skiing - Children's ski lessons: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/skiing-for-children-meribel-france - Baby Boomers ski club: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-skiing-baby-boomers ### Ski Hire & Shops - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-ski-hire-ski-rental - Covers ski hire, snowboard hire, and ski/snowboard retail shops ### Lift Passes - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-lift-pass-ski-passes-3-valleys - Full 3-valley pass recommended for all but absolute beginners - Daily extension for other valleys available (~35 euros/day) ### Snowparks - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-snowparks ### Piste & Ski Map - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-piste-map ### Webcams - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-webcams ### Weather / Snow Reports - Snow report: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/snow-report-meribel-2 - Weather forecast: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/weather-meribel ### Photo Gallery - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/meribel-photos - Live action photography: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/photography ### Skiif App Reviews - https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/skiing/skiif-app-reviews --- ## Resort Information ### Bars, Pubs & Nightclubs - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-bars-pubs-nightclubs - Notable venues: Folie Douce (Saulire side), Rond Point / Ronny Bar, Jacks Bar (Chaudanne — live bands Mon–Fri), LDV (Meribel Village — outdoor marquee, live bands), O'Sullivans night-club (Mussillon area) - 3 dedicated night-clubs: 2 in main town, 1 cellar club in Mottaret ### Restaurants - In-resort dining: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-restaurants - Mountain restaurants: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-mountain-restaurants ### Activities - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/activities - Includes: Olympic Centre (swimming pool, ice rink), cross-country skiing, paragliding, dog sledding, and more ### Olympic Centre - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/olympic-centre - Built for the 1992 Winter Olympics; hosts ice rink and swimming pool ### Emergency Services - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/emergency-services - Covers: ambulance, doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, police (gendarmerie and municipal), fire service ### General & Practical Information - **Banks:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/banks - **General Services:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/general-services - **Shopping:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/shopping - **Post Office:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/post-office - **Tourist Office:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-tourist-office - **Telephone Directory:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/telephone-directory - **Meribel Road Map:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-road-map - **Local Bus Service:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-bus-service (Free; runs ~7:30 am to midnight; serves all areas) - **Childcare:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/childcare-in-meribel - **Camping / Motorhomes:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/camping-meribel - **Vets:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/vets-meribel - **Property for Sale:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/property-for-sale - **Radio Meribel:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/radio-meribel - **What's On This Week:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-whats-on - **Meribel Magazines:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-magazines (Includes Rob Smart's free 6-day ski guide) ### History - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/resort-information/meribel-history - Founding by Peter Lindsay (1936); first lift (Red Dragon, 1938); 1992 Winter Olympics; history of ski schools, social scene, and ESF ### Season Work - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-season-work --- ## News & Blog - **Latest News:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-news - **Meribel Mole Blog:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-blog - **Meribel Blogs Archive:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/meribel-blogs.htm --- ## About the Team - **URL:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/about-us - **Rob Smart** — Editor; first visited Meribel in 1982; 38+ winter seasons; independent and unbiased advisor - **Robert Smart Junior** — Created the first Meribel Unplugged website in 2003 (deceased) - **Zhaoling Ma (Ling)** — Rob's wife; photographer; assisted with early site content - **Cyndi (XU)** — Ling's daughter; graphic and web designer (HTML and WordPress); designed the current site --- ## Contact - **Email:** rob-smart@meribel-unplugged.co.uk - **Phone:** 0044 751 328 4227 - **Contact page:** https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/contact-us - Rob typically replies same day or next morning --- ## External Links & References - Wikipedia on Meribel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meribel - Official Meribel Tourist Office: https://www.meribel.net - Sitemap: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/sitemap_index.xml - Privacy / Disclaimer: https://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk/privacy