France, MeribelJanuary 23, 2024, by Isa de Laat

Tips for your winter sports holiday in Méribel: these are the best restaurants, hotels and activities

Winter sports
France, Meribel, January 23, 2024, by Isa de Laat

Tips for your winter sports holiday in Méribel: these are the best restaurants, hotels and activities

Six hundred kilometers of slopes, one family friendly destination, guaranteed snow, a bit of luxury and really good hotels and catering, what more could someone want? Meribel in France ticks all the boxes. Located in the heart of Les 3 Vallées and in the Savoie Mont Blanc region, experts, beginners, families and avid athletes are welcome. Not just in winter, you can actually relax there all year round. Read our summer tips for Méribel here.

But for now we will focus on winter sports. And not just on it diehard skiing, but also (non-ski) activities such as snowshoeing and horse riding. And of course we will tell you where to stay and dine (did you mention that there is very refined gastronomy here?).

Good to know:

Good to know:

Before we start with the hotspots that you should definitely not miss during your visit, it is good to know how Méribel is divided. That is in three villages:

  • Méribel Mottaret: close to the slopes, it is the perfect place for families and athletes. Mottaret is the ideal place for that outdoor activities.
  • Méribel Center: this is packed with activities, such as swimming, hockey and skating.
  • Méribel Village: a very nice small village with a charming and authentic atmosphere.

Accommodation

Accommodation

The offer 'where to sleep' is Huge. This is where you need to be:

  • Le Coucou: We wrote about Le Coucou before and we could do that more often. A fairytale hotel right on the slopes. And not one but two restaurants, a spa, a baby and youth club and an outdoor and indoor swimming pool.
  • Kaila: beautiful hotel and cozy family business, win-win. Le Kaila is located in the heart of the 3 valleys and offers tailor-made luxury.
  • L'Helios: Another wonderful luxury hotel on the slopes is L'Helios in the Allues valley. Comfort with a beautiful view over the ski slopes.
  • Refuge de la Traye: nice concept. These are eco-luxury chalets, inspired by classic Savoyard design, complete with chapel, shepherd's hut and spa. A combination of cozy and chic and you may have guessed it: here too, a good view.

 

Having lunch

Having lunch

Oooooh, perhaps one of the biggest advantages of skiing in France is the food. And in Méribel they have something for everyone: restaurants with Michelin stars, relatively cheap restaurants, sunny terraces or cozy places in front of the fireplace. Lunch? This is where you should go:

  • The Mayan Altitude:  located at an altitude of 2300 meters and with a gigantic terrace. You have to love the choice of interior (lots of color), but we certainly do. You get a Himalayan and Tibetan feeling. A place for meat lovers, thanks to the charcoal grill, the butcher's block and a maturing cellar based on an old-fashioned method.
  • La Creperie 2 Doron: at the foot of the slopes and affordable. The place for pancakes. Kids happy, you happy.
  • Le Clos Bernard: Relaxing in the sun loungers is also part of it, right? This is wonderful at Le Clos Bernard. You in chill mode and the kids playing in the background, before they eat in their own special children's teepee.
  • Le Refuge de la Traye: it is a short walk (five kilometers to be precise) from the village of Le Villard. But that walk on snowshoes or on touring skis is well worth it when you arrive at the restaurant. Not the least restaurant, but a good one in collaboration with the Michelin-starred chef Akrame Benallal.

 

 

To dine

To dine

From lunch we can quickly move on to the evening. Because although it is lovely in Méribel during the day, this winter sports destination really comes to life in the evening. In the evening we go to:

  • l'Ekrin: the pinnacle of luxury is the star restaurant in hotel Le Kaila. Imagine: an aperitif by the fire, piano in the background and all in the mountains. The menu includes fish from the Mediterranean, but also pine bud honey, saffron or Savoy snails.
  • 80: good for variety, because every room has a different atmosphere in this restaurant. Think of a backdrop of explorers, architecture, underwater explorations, safaris, hot air balloons and aircraft replicas. For traditional and iconic brasserie dishes.
  • La Course des Alpes: an old cinema transformed into a good dose of luxury. For those who want to taste what this region has in store. Mentioned in the 2024 Michelin guide – then you can be sure you're in the right place!
  • Le Close Up:  only the dessert is frozen at this restaurant where they cook with fresh products. Be sure to order a champagne here. In addition to excellent meals, expect some entertainment. Owner François is a magician and performs card and coin tricks after the meal.
  • Lily: as if you were at home, but without doing the dishes. The restaurant serves home-made French cuisine, simple and well prepared. And you can take all that goodness home with you later, thanks to the delicatessen shop with a selection of ripened cheeses, fine meats and homemade dishes. best of all: the wine cellar.

Activities

Activities

That food is really good. But winter sports remain an active holiday and they know that all too well in Méribel. A selection of the activities:

  • Horseback riding: is possible all year round at the De Nordic Ranch. And then not it basic horse riding, but also ski joëring, pony sledding or traditional horse riding. Even more magical in the snow.
  • Black Forest Mission toboggan run: speed it up a bit. Go! The Black Forest Mission toboggan run is 3,4 km long. No standard toboggan run here either, but you have to save the people from the forest as the wizard Galdwick.
  • Snowshoeing: snowshoeing is hot. This is also the case in Méribel.
  • Paragliding: and for the thrill seekers among us, there is still this way to discover Méribel from above. Who's in for eagles, birds, roe deer, red deer or chamois spotting from the air?
  • Fat Bike: Not only in Amsterdam do you see these mountain bikes with large tires, which allow you to cycle through snow. Loisibike organizes two-hour tours through the mountains, where professionals tell you everything about the ski area.
  • Fly: and if you want to go all out, just take a plane or take a flying course. Méribel has its own Aeroclub, its own instructors and its own runway.

 

Relaxation

Relaxation

It's still a holiday. Relaxation it is. Wellness in abundance at Méribel, even in the depths of winter. Even more relaxation? We say do it. Check out the following activities:

  • Yoga: in Méribel you can do that natural heart of snow outdoors at the Lac de Tuéda.
  • Rocket Evasion: a walk on snowshoes and Qi-gong, a combination of quiet walking and the simple movements of this discipline.
  • Massage therapy: massage therapist Laetitia invites you to Beauty & Mass émoi to relax with a massage with essential oils or Shiatsu.

Several roads lead to Méribel

Méribel is easy to reach in several ways. Option one is by car or bus. From the Netherlands it is about a 12-hour drive (depending on where you come from, of course). The train is also an excellent (and sustainable) option.

Or go by plane. Méribel is close to several international airports: Chambery (1 hour, 20 minutes drive), Lyon (2 hours drive), Geneva (2 hours, 15 minutes drive) and Grenoble (2 hours, 30 minutes drive). Then rent a car from Sunny Cars at the airport, so you can go anywhere on the spot. Ideal, right?

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