28/04/2023
Nature has endowed France with the majestic beauty of the Alps. With a diverse landscape, the famous ski resorts offer some of the best resorts in Europe.
One of those resorts is Courchevel and Meribel, with chalets and hotels with typical French flair. If you can't decide whether to choose Meribel or Courchevel for your next winter break, here are detailed reviews to help you make a better decision.
Meribel and Courchevel Overview
Let's take a look at the following general information about Meribel or Courchevel to get an overview before choosing the ideal location for your winter holiday.
Meribel - The Heart of Three Valleys
Meribel is located in the heart of the vast ski area in the Three Valleys. The slide at Meribel is 150 km long with a height of up to nearly 3,000m. Meribel's sunny south-facing slopes can slide straight to Courchevel, Val Thorens, and St. Martin.
The villages of Meribel are traditional, with elegant architecture but always full of energy. This location has always become one of the popular choices of skiers around the globe.
Courchevel - The Most Luxury Winter Paradise
Courchevel is known as a luxury winter paradise. Located in Le Trois Vallées, it has the most extensive ski lift area in the world, with 600 km of ski runs and more than 180 lifts. Courchevel also has many beautiful snow slopes which suit all abilities.
In addition, Courchevel also attracts tourists thanks to its classic-style villages with a wide variety of luxury chalets and hotels. Besides, the towns in Courchevel also have excellent facilities such as 2-star Michelin restaurants, 5-star resorts, etc. That's why this place has become a high-class and luxurious resort destination for the elite.
Meribel or Courchevel: Which is Worth Visiting?
The following are detailed analyzes and evaluations of the two ideal ski destinations, Méribel and Courchevel. We will review factors such as transportation, services, utilities, etc.
Transportation
There is no train station in Meribel. If you want to use this transport, you can just take the train to Moûtiers station in Courchevel. Meribel is close to Courchevel, only 8.7 km away,ww and takes 27 minutes by car.
Therefore, the distance from other airports to Meribel and Courchevel is similar depending on your chosen airport. Following are the distances and times from other airports to Courchevel or Meribel.
| Nearest Airports to Courchevel | Times & Distances | Nearest Airports to Meribel | Times & Distances |
| Chambery Airport | 109km | 1h30 | Grenoble airport | 94.4km | 1h07 |
| Grenoble Airport | 180km | 2h10 | Chambery airport | 103km | 1h30 |
| Lyon Airport | 185km | 2h10 | Lyon airport | 180km | 2 hours |
| Geneva Airport | 190km | 2h25 | Geneva airport | 183km | 2 hours |
Activities
Both Courchevel and Meribel possess a wide variety of activities. Each place has its own unique features. While Courchevel has ice climbing, Meribel has a golf course and camping. However, both locations offer popular non-ski activities like ice rinks, snowmobile circuits, etc.
Leisure
Regarding leisure, there's certainly no denying Courchevel's variety of activities and facilities. The number of restaurants in Courchevel is almost double that of Meribel (115 vs 75).
However, restaurants in Meribel still possess the high quality of having a Michelin restaurant like in Courchevel. Both locations have spas, ski schools, and kindergartens, but only Courchevel has cinemas.
Properties
Dubbed a resort paradise, Courchevel owns more chalets and hotels than Meribel (nearly 90 with more than 30). In which Courchevel has 4 5-star hotels, while Meribel has only 1.
Estimate Price
Meribel is known for being a place for people of all levels with incredibly affordable prices. The cost of chalets and hotels in Meribel ranges from $150 to $350. On the contrary, Courchevel is a place for the elite with luxurious and classy chalets and hotels full of amenities. Therefore, the accommodation cost here is much higher, with an average price of 250 to 500 USD a night.
Conclusion
Above is the analysis and comparison between Meribel or Courchevel. For those with a limited travel budget, Meribel is an ideal location. As for high-class tourists who love luxury and are full of amenities for their travel, come to Courchevel.
To book chalets and hotels in Courchevel, visit the Chalet and Apartment Rentals Website. Home to more than 300 luxury accommodations with helpful guides and suggestions to make your trip even more remarkable.