In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · France
Meribel
Spend 2–3 days skiing in Meribel; add a half‑day lift ride to Courchevel or Val Thorens if you have extra time.
Meribel is a three‑village ski resort in the Savoie Alps. Direct trains reach Moutiers (≈1 h 45 min from Paris) and a shuttle bus brings you to the centre. The lift network links to Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, so a short extra day lets you sample neighbouring resorts.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Dec–Mar (peak ski season)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (off‑season, limited lifts)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ski lift ticket (1‑day) | €55–70 |
| Beer (pub) | €6–8 |
| Olympe cable car (single ride) | €12–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GVA · Geneva Airport
- Bus or shuttle to Moutiers (~2 h), then local bus to Meribel
- LYS · Lyon–Saint‑Exupéry
- Train to Bourg‑St‑Maurice, then bus to Meribel
- CMF · Chambéry Airport
- Direct bus to Meribel (≈1 h 30 min)
Typical fares
- Paris → Moutiers (TGV)
- ≈ €80–120, 1 h 45 min (check schedule)
- Moutiers → Meribel bus
- ≈ €10–15, 20 min (check times)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk within Meribel centre; free village bus runs 7 days a week to surrounding hamlets and lift stations, operating until late evening.
See and do
Known for
- Alpine skiing
- Olympe cable car to Brides les Bains
- Après‑ski bars
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Courchevel | Lift via Olympe cable car, then inter‑resort lifts; about 30 min total | ≈45 min |
| Val Thorens | Inter‑resort lifts through Les Menuires; about 1 h total | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Les Menuires | Lift network from Meribel centre; 15 min ride | ≈20 min |
Sleep
- Delicious Mountain Chalet
- Catered chalet, up to 16 guests, hot‑tub, sauna; good base for ski days
- Mountain Heaven Chalet
- 10–12 guests, hot‑boot warmers, free Wi‑Fi; near Meribel centre
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?say kohn kom-byan |
| Where is the lift? | Où est le téléski ?oo eh luh tay-lez-kee |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter road traffic can be heavy; allow extra travel time from airports.
- Lift queues are long in peak season; consider early‑morning runs.
- Prices in bars and restaurants are high; a pint of beer costs €6‑8.
Meribel is a safe ski resort; watch for icy sidewalks, keep ski equipment locked, and follow lift safety rules.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Meribel yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Alpine skiing
- Olympe cable car to Brides les Bains
- Après‑ski bars
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Meribel: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Meribel, revision 5139128 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5139128
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/meribel). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.