Frequently asked questions
Booking your Méribel rental
This page gathers the questions our guests ask most often, from the first enquiry through to departure day. It applies across our whole collection, in Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret, Méribel Village, Morel, La Renarde and the hamlets of the valley.
If your situation is unusual or your question is not here, write to us directly: our local team replies within the hour, in English or French, with no automated response.
How do I book a property?
You can book directly online from the listing you like, or write to us with your dates, party size and the children's ages. We check real availability and send you a personal proposal.
The second method is often more effective, especially for a first stay: it lets us suggest several options and sometimes steer you towards a neighbourhood better suited than the one you had in mind.
Can I place an option without committing?
Yes, and it is strongly advised when several families are travelling together. We hold the property temporarily, removing it from availability while everyone confirms.
The option is free and commits you to nothing. It avoids the frustrating situation where the ideal chalet goes while the group is still exchanging messages - very common for Christmas and February weeks.
How does payment work?
A deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is settled before you arrive. You receive a clear contract setting out the total amount, the payment schedule and all applicable terms.
Online payment is secure, and bank transfer remains available if you prefer. Nothing is charged before you have approved the proposal in full knowledge of the terms.
What are the cancellation terms?
They appear on every quote and on the contract, before any payment. They vary according to the period and the notice given before arrival, as everywhere in the Alps.
We always recommend taking out travel insurance, particularly for stays booked months ahead or involving a flight. It is the only genuinely effective protection against the unexpected.
Why book direct rather than through a platform?
With no intermediary commission, our direct rates are on average 20% better for identical properties and dates. We also undertake to match any better price you find elsewhere.
Beyond price, you deal directly with the team that actually manages the property, knows its quirks and will be on site during your stay. Concierge service is included, not charged as an extra.
The property and what is included
All our rentals follow the same baseline standard whatever the budget: hotel-quality bedding, a properly equipped kitchen, wifi and end-of-stay cleaning included. The differences lie in size, location and comfort features.
Each listing sets out precisely what is provided. If you are unsure about a point that matters to you, ask before booking: we know every property individually.
Is linen provided?
Yes. Sheets, pillowcases, bath and hand towels are included in all our rentals, along with end-of-stay cleaning. Beds are made for your arrival.
Extra housekeeping and a linen change during your stay can be added on request for a supplement. It is a popular option for stays of two weeks or more.
What time are check-in and check-out?
Check-in is generally from 4pm and check-out before 10am. These times let our teams prepare the property thoroughly between stays.
Outside busy changeover Saturdays, adjustments are frequently possible. Tell us about an early flight or a late arrival: we accommodate it whenever the schedule allows.
How do we collect the keys?
We welcome you in person at the property, at your actual arrival time, even in the evening. We hand over the keys, show you around and explain the heating and equipment.
There is no keybox, no compulsory trip to an agency and no waiting. It is also when we share the practical information of the moment: shuttle times, which shops are open, which tables to book.
Are pets accepted?
In certain properties only, and by prior agreement. Mention it in your first enquiry and we will send you the relevant selection directly.
A cleaning supplement generally applies. Note that some owners decline pets for allergy reasons, which we respect strictly.
Is there wifi and parking?
Wifi is available in every one of our properties, and fibre now serves most neighbourhoods in the valley. Speeds are ample for remote working or family streaming.
As for parking, most of our properties include a private space or garage, stated on each listing. We confirm this systematically before booking, and give dimensions if you are arriving in a large vehicle.
Can we get a cot and a high chair?
Yes, in most properties and on simple request. Travel cot, high chair and baby bath are available, generally free of charge or for a token amount.
Tell us the children's exact ages when booking: it also helps us steer you towards properties with secured stairs or the quietest bedrooms.
Organising your stay
Our role does not stop at handing over the keys. We prepare everything that can be prepared in advance, so your first evening feels like a holiday rather than a shopping list.
These services can be ordered when booking or during your stay. Nothing is imposed: you choose only what is useful to you.
Can you prepare our lift passes?
Yes. Order them with your booking and they will be waiting in the property when you arrive, sparing you the ticket-office queue on the first morning - often long during school holidays.
We also advise on the most economical formula for your group: Méribel Valley pass or 3 Valleys pass, with or without day extensions.
Can groceries be delivered before arrival?
Yes, and it is one of our most appreciated services. Send us your list and we will put the shopping away in the property, including fresh bread and pastries for the first morning.
After five hours on the road or the train, not having to go out again genuinely transforms the first evening, especially with young children.
Do you arrange transfers from the station or airport?
Yes, from Moûtiers TGV station and from Chambéry, Geneva and Lyon airports. We set the timing to your train or flight, both ways.
Journeys are monitored in case of delay, so you are never left stranded on arrival. Night transfers present no particular difficulty.
Can we book a private chef or massages?
Of course. Our concierge team arranges private chefs, massages, extra housekeeping, childcare and restaurant reservations, including in periods when the best tables are fully booked.
These are best booked ahead for school-holiday weeks. Tell us about your plans, particularly if it is a birthday or a special occasion.
How do we get around the resort?
The free Méribus shuttles link every village and neighbourhood in the valley, from morning until evening during the season. In Mottaret, the Chalets gondola additionally works as a free neighbourhood lift.
The result: most of our guests leave the car parked all week. We give you the exact timetable for your week on arrival.
Choosing your neighbourhood and dates
These are the two decisions that most influence a successful stay, well ahead of the choice of property itself. The same apartment delivers a completely different experience in Mottaret than in Les Allues.
We live here year-round and know the nuances of each neighbourhood. Describe your group and your priorities: we will tell you frankly where you will be happiest.
Which neighbourhood should I choose?
Méribel Centre suits those who want everything on foot, shops and après-ski included. Méribel-Mottaret is the choice for ski-in ski-out and altitude. Morel and Méribel Village are the safe bets for families with beginners.
The hamlets of Mussillon, Chandon and Les Allues offer authenticity, calm and the gentlest rates, at the cost of a few minutes on the shuttle. Each neighbourhood page on our site explores these differences in depth.
When is the best time to ski?
January combines cold snow, empty pistes and softer rates: the connoisseurs' month. February concentrates the European school holidays, with an intense family atmosphere but a very busy resort.
March offers the best compromise between sunshine and snow quality, and April delivers very pleasant spring skiing at low prices. December, finally, is mainly about festive magic.
Is Méribel good for beginners?
Very much so, and it is one of the resort's strengths. The learning zones at the Altiport and the Rond-Point are physically separated from the link pistes, avoiding crossings with fast skiers.
The ski schools, ESF and independents alike, have many English-speaking instructors. We book your lessons at the same time as the property, which is essential for the February holidays.
What is there to do if you do not ski?
The Olympic Park in Méribel Centre offers a pool, ice rink, spa, climbing wall and bowling. Add snowshoe trails, scenic flights from the altiport and the Brides-les-Bains thermal baths, reachable by the Olympe gondola.
Several lifts accept pedestrians, allowing non-skiers to ride up for lunch and share the meal with the rest of the group. It is often the best moment of the day.
What about outside the ski season?
The valley enjoys a lovely summer season from mid-June to mid-September: hiking to Lake Tueda and the Vanoise, lift-served mountain biking, 18-hole golf at the Altiport and road cycling on legendary cols.
Accommodation rates are then 40 to 60% lower than in winter, putting very large chalets within reach. Our dedicated Méribel in summer page covers all the activities.
A question that is not answered here?
Write to us describing your plans: possible dates, group make-up, skiing level and budget. The more precise your enquiry, the more precise our answer, and we will tell you frankly what is feasible and what is not.
Our local team replies within the hour, in English or French, seven days a week during the season. Every stay is different, and the right questions asked early make for successful holidays.
Continue exploring the valley
The Meribel valley reads as a set of connected neighbourhoods, and the right choice often comes down to two or three details of position. To compare, have a look at Le Laitelet, Morel - Altitude 1600, Chandon, Les Allues, Meribel Mottaret and Meribel Village.
Our practical guides complete these neighbourhood pages. They cover Meribel in summer, accommodation in Meribel Mottaret, buying property in Meribel, apartment rental in Meribel, the weather and snow report and ski lessons, which is enough to plan the whole stay before you even book.