{"id":5262,"date":"2026-07-29T11:30:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T11:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/?p=5262"},"modified":"2026-07-29T11:30:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T11:30:19","slug":"getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to Meribel from the UK: The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve decided on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/meribel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meribel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your ski holiday, the next question &#8211; what&#8217;s the best way to get there?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that reaching Meribel from the UK is straightforward, whether you prefer to fly, drive or take the train. The right option depends on your budget, how much flexibility you want, whether you&#8217;re bringing your own ski equipment and who you&#8217;re travelling with.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With direct flights from airports across the UK, straightforward motorway routes through France and even rail connections into the heart of the Alps, there are plenty of ways to make the journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most people, we&#8217;d recommend flying into Geneva and taking a private transfer, but that isn&#8217;t the right option for everyone. In this guide, we\u2019ll share how each option compares and what we usually recommend after over 20 years based here in Meribel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Which_option_would_we_choose\" >Which option would we choose?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Flying_to_Meribel\" >Flying to Meribel<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Geneva_Airport\" >Geneva Airport<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Chambery_Airport\" >Chambery Airport<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Grenoble_Airport\" >Grenoble Airport<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Lyon_Airport\" >Lyon Airport<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Flying_from_the_UK\" >Flying from the UK<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Getting_from_the_airport_to_Meribel\" >Getting from the airport to Meribel<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Private_transfers\" >Private transfers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Shared_transfers\" >Shared transfers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Train_via_Moutiers\" >Train via Moutiers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Hiring_a_car\" >Hiring a car<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Car_hire_or_transfer\" >Car hire or transfer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Driving_from_the_UK_to_Meribel\" >Driving from the UK to Meribel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Travelling_by_train_from_the_UK\" >Travelling by train from the UK<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Bringing_your_own_skis_or_snowboard\" >Bringing your own skis or snowboard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#What_Ski_Basics_can_help_with\" >What Ski Basics can help with<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/getting-to-meribel-from-the-uk\/#Ready_to_start_planning_your_trip\" >Ready to start planning your trip?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_option_would_we_choose\"><\/span><b>Which option would we choose?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it&#8217;s your first visit to Meribel and you\u2019re joining us on a typical Sunday changeover day, we&#8217;d recommend:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fly to <\/span><b>Geneva if traveling from a main UK airport\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Book a <\/span><b>private transfer<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s the combination that gives the best balance of flight choice, value and convenience for most UK guests.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Flying_to_Meribel\"><\/span><b>Flying to Meribel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5169 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-25.png\" alt=\"meribel ski resort \" width=\"1140\" height=\"480\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-25.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-25-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-25-1024x431.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-25-768x323.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1140px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1140\/480;\" \/>For most UK skiers, flying is still the easiest and quickest way to reach Meribel. There are four main airports serving the resort, each with its own advantages.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geneva_Airport\"><\/span><b>Geneva Airport<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Most visitors<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most of our guests, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gva.ch\/fr\/passagers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geneva<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the airport of choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it isn&#8217;t the closest airport, it offers the widest choice of flights from the UK, competitive prices and generally the greatest flexibility if plans change. It is also well set up for handling large numbers of winter travellers and there are two main routes to Meribel, which can help avoid the worst traffic on busy Saturdays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Transfer time to Meribel:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 2 hours (allow longer on busy Saturdays and Sundays)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Typical direct flight time from London:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 1 hour 40 minutes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chambery_Airport\"><\/span><b>Chambery Airport<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Convenience if you can find the right flight<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Chambery+airport&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chambery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the closest airport to Meribel, making for the shortest transfer. The downside is that flights are generally more limited and often more expensive, particularly during peak weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Transfer time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 1 hour 30 minutes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grenoble_Airport\"><\/span><b>Grenoble Airport<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Finding alternative flight deals<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grenoble.aeroport.fr\/en\/accueil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grenoble<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> works well if flight prices suit your dates, although services tend to be more seasonal than Geneva. Transfer times are similar to Lyon, but roads can become busy during the school holidays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Transfer time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 2 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lyon_Airport\"><\/span><b>Lyon Airport<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Extra flexibility<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lyonaeroports.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lyon<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers plenty of international connections and can sometimes provide great value flights. It&#8217;s a good alternative if Geneva prices are high, although traffic around Lyon can add time to your journey during peak weekends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Transfer time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 2 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Flying_from_the_UK\"><\/span><b>Flying from the UK<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest advantages of skiing in Meribel is the number of direct flights available from across the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the airport and time of year, you can usually find direct services with airlines including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.easyjet.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">easyJet<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishairways.com\/travel\/home\/public\/en_gb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">British Airways<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jet2.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jet2<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ryanair.com\/gb\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryanair<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tui.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TUI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (seasonal)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct flights operate from many UK airports including London Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast and more, with Geneva usually offering the greatest choice in terms of options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re travelling during school holidays or over Christmas and New Year, it&#8217;s well worth booking flights as early as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_from_the_airport_to_Meribel\"><\/span><b>Getting from the airport to Meribel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4740 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-12-1.png\" alt=\"Driving to the meribel in the French alps\" width=\"1140\" height=\"480\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-12-1.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-12-1-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-12-1-1024x431.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/SB-Featured-Images-12-1-768x323.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1140px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1140\/480;\" \/>Once you&#8217;ve landed, there are four main ways to reach resort.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Private transfers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shared transfers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Train<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring a car<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Private_transfers\"><\/span><b>Private transfers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Families, groups and anyone wanting the easiest journey<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most guests, this is the option we&#8217;d recommend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A private transfer meets you at the airport and takes you directly to your chalet. There&#8217;s no waiting around for other passengers and no need to navigate unfamiliar mountain roads after travelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re travelling as a family or a group, it often works out surprisingly good value once the cost is shared.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shared_transfers\"><\/span><b>Shared transfers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Solo travellers, couples and those looking to save a little<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re happy to trade a little convenience for a lower price, a shared transfer can be an excellent option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shared transfer companies run scheduled services from the main airports, prices vary by provider and travel date, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/travel\/\">travel<\/a> page for current options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Services such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Ben%27s+Bus&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ben&#8217;s Bus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> operate from Geneva on most weekends throughout the winter, with some weekday services available too. Alternatively, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.altibus.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Altibus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> runs scheduled coach services from Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble and Chambery, usually via Moutiers before continuing up to Meribel. From Geneva, the journey takes around 2 hours 45 minutes, while Lyon is around 3 hours 15 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main downside is flexibility. You&#8217;ll need to travel to a timetable, there may be multiple stops along the way, and you won&#8217;t be dropped directly at your chalet. However, if you&#8217;re travelling as a couple or solo and keeping costs down is the priority, they&#8217;re worth considering.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Train_via_Moutiers\"><\/span><b>Train via Moutiers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Couples and adults who aren&#8217;t in a rush<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;d rather avoid hiring a car or paying for a private transfer, travelling by train to Moutiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bainsis is another great option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Geneva, Lyon and Chambery, it&#8217;s possible to travel by train to Moutiers, although you&#8217;ll usually need to make at least one change along the way. The journey from Geneva Airport takes around 3\u00bd to 4 hours, while from Lyon it&#8217;s typically around 3 hours, depending on connections. From Moutiers, it&#8217;s then around 25 to 30 minutes by bus or taxi up to Meribel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s not the fastest option, but if you&#8217;re travelling without children, packing relatively light and aren&#8217;t in a rush to get into resort, it can be a great and scenic way to reduce your travel costs. Compared with a private transfer or hiring a car, taking the train can work out noticeably cheaper, particularly for couples or solo travellers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main trade-off is convenience. You&#8217;ll need to work around train timetables, make connections and organise the final journey up to Meribel, but for some travellers that&#8217;s a worthwhile saving.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hiring_a_car\"><\/span><b>Hiring a car<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Exploring beyond Meribel and maximum flexibility<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring a car gives you complete flexibility, particularly if you&#8217;re planning to explore beyond Meribel, visit neighbouring resorts or arrive outside the main changeover days.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winter driving in the Alps isn&#8217;t quite the same as driving in the UK, so it&#8217;s important to make sure your rental car is properly equipped. Depending on where you&#8217;re travelling, French regulations may require winter tyres or all-season tyres carrying the correct certification, and snow chains too, even if you don&#8217;t end up needing them. Always check exactly what&#8217;s included with your hire car before you travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4752 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/driving-in-the-alps.png\" alt=\"Snow chains for driving in the Alps\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/driving-in-the-alps.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/driving-in-the-alps-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/driving-in-the-alps-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/driving-in-the-alps-768x512.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/>Whichever airport you choose, the final part of the journey follows mountain roads from the valley up to Meribel. They&#8217;re well maintained, but conditions can change quickly after snowfall, so it&#8217;s worth taking your time and keeping an eye on the forecast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a guide, expect to pay around \u00a3300 to \u00a3600 for a week&#8217;s car hire during the ski season, although prices can increase significantly during school holidays and other peak weeks. It&#8217;s always worth comparing prices across a few providers before booking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Motorway tolls will also need to be factored into your budget. For example, if you&#8217;re driving from Geneva, tolls to Moutiers are typically around \u20ac15 to \u20ac20 each way, before the final climb to Meribel on non-toll mountain roads. Journey times from the main airports are generally between 1\u00bd and 2\u00bd hours, depending on which airport you fly into and traffic conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4736 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/1.png\" alt=\"Tolls when driving to the driving to the alps in France\" width=\"836\" height=\"500\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/1.png 836w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-768x459.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 836px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 836\/500;\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Car_hire_or_transfer\"><\/span><b>Car hire or transfer?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People often ask which offers the best value between rental cars or a private transfer. There&#8217;s no single answer, but here&#8217;s how we&#8217;d generally think about it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Choose a private transfer if:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you&#8217;re staying in Meribel all week<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you don&#8217;t want to drive after flying<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you&#8217;re travelling with family and friends\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">convenience is your priority<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Choose a hire car if:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you&#8217;re planning to explore the surrounding area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you&#8217;re arriving outside the busiest weekends<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you want complete flexibility throughout your holiday<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you will have somewhere convenient to park it once you arrive<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many groups of four or more, the overall cost can be fairly similar once transfer costs or car hire, fuel, tolls and parking are all taken into account. Often, the decision comes down to convenience rather than price.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Driving_from_the_UK_to_Meribel\"><\/span><b>Driving from the UK to Meribel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Families, longer stays and anyone bringing lots of kit<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Driving from the UK gives you complete flexibility and is often a popular option, particularly for families or groups travelling together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The journey from Calais to Meribel is around 570 miles (920km) and takes approximately 8 to 10 hours of driving, excluding the Channel crossing, fuel stops and comfort breaks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most guests choose either the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle or a Dover to Calais ferry before continuing through France on the motorway network towards Albertville, Moutiers and finally Meribel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it&#8217;s a longer journey, there are some real advantages. You don&#8217;t need to worry about airline baggage allowances, you can pack all of your ski equipment, and having your own car in resort gives you the freedom to explore the wider Three Valleys if you wish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do bear in mind that motorway tolls add to the cost. From Calais to Meribel, you can expect to pay around \u20ac75 to \u20ac90 each way in French tolls, plus fuel and your Channel crossing. During the winter months, you&#8217;ll also need to make sure your vehicle complies with the latest French mountain driving regulations. We cover everything you need to know in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/driving-in-the-alps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our guide to driving in the Alps.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For families or groups of four or more, driving can often work out surprisingly cost-effective once the costs are shared, especially if you&#8217;re travelling with plenty of luggage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Travelling_by_train_from_the_UK\"><\/span><b>Travelling by train from the UK<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Best for:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Couples, environmentally conscious travellers and anyone who enjoys making the journey as much of the trip as the destination<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travelling to Meribel entirely by rail takes a little longer than flying, but it&#8217;s a comfortable and surprisingly straightforward option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the winter, from December to Febraury, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurostar.com\/uk-en\/train\/ski-train\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eurostar Snow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> runs from London St Pancras to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourg-Saint-Maurice<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> every Saturday and back on Saturday mornings and selected Sunday afternoons. Outside of these services, you can travel via Paris and connect onto the French TGV network where you can travel to Moutiers from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourg-Saint-Maurice<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The journey all the way to Moutiers typically takes around 8 hours, depending on connecting train times, after which it&#8217;s a 25 to 30-minute bus or taxi up to Meribel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest advantages is luggage. Unlike flying, you can bring generous luggage allowances, including skis or a snowboard, without many of the additional baggage charges that airlines apply.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The train won&#8217;t suit everyone. If you&#8217;re travelling with young children or trying to maximise your time on the slopes, flying is usually the more practical choice. However, if you&#8217;re not in a rush and prefer a more relaxed journey with some fantastic scenery along the way, it&#8217;s a brilliant alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bringing_your_own_skis_or_snowboard\"><\/span><b>Bringing your own skis or snowboard<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you&#8217;re flying, driving or travelling by train, it&#8217;s worth thinking about whether bringing your own equipment is the right choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2633 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"group of skiers walking to the slopes holding their skis\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/46202928354_7e08b91629_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/>If you&#8217;re flying, most airlines allow ski equipment as an optional extra, but policies and prices vary considerably. Booking sports baggage at the same time as your flights is usually the most cost-effective option, and it&#8217;s worth checking whether your ski boots can be packed within your standard luggage allowance. Previously many airlines allowed ski boots to be carried in their boot bags as under-seat hand luggage, however, now this size often exceeds the underseat baggage allowance so it\u2019s always worth double checking before you fly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re travelling by transfer, remember to let your provider know you&#8217;ll be bringing skis or a snowboard so they can arrange a suitable vehicle. If you&#8217;re driving, make sure your equipment is packed securely and that your vehicle has enough space for passengers and luggage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few simple tips can make travelling with your equipment easier:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Book ski\/sports baggage when you book your flights, if flying.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Label ski bags clearly with your contact details.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let your transfer provider know you&#8217;ll be travelling with ski equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Double-check your luggage allowances before you travel.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re deciding whether to bring your own equipment at all, it&#8217;s worth comparing the cost of ski carriage and transport against hiring in Meribel. For many guests visiting for a week, ski hire is the simpler option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For any guest staying with us at Ski Basics, you will receive up to 30% off ski hire with our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/meribel\/ski-hire.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommended local hire shops<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It saves travelling with bulky luggage and means your equipment is ready and waiting when you arrive in resort.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Ski_Basics_can_help_with\"><\/span><b>What Ski Basics can help with<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although you book your own flights, trains and hire cars when staying with us at Ski Basics, we&#8217;re always happy to help point you in the right direction if you&#8217;re weighing up the different options.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve booked your travel, we can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/travel\/transfers.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help arrange a private transfer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with our trusted local partner, from Geneva, Chambery, Grenoble, Lyon or Moutiers, so everything is ready before you arrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re unsure which airport to choose, have questions about arrival times or want advice based on your group, just <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">get in touch<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We are always happy to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ready_to_start_planning_your_trip\"><\/span><b>Ready to start planning your trip?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whichever way you choose to travel, getting to Meribel is much simpler than many first-time visitors expect. For most guests, we&#8217;d recommend flying into Geneva and taking a private transfer to resort, as it offers the best balance of flight choice, value and convenience. However, if you&#8217;re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/skiing-with-children\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travelling as a family,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> looking to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/affordable-ski-holiday-tips\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">keep costs down<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or planning to explore more of the Alps, driving or taking the train could be the better option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re still weighing up the different routes or have questions about<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> travelling to Meribel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, our team is always happy to help. Having welcomed guests to the resort for over 20 years, we&#8217;re on hand to share practical advice and help you choose the option that best suits your trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve sorted your travel plans, why not <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/catered-chalets\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explore our handpicked collection of catered chalets<\/span><\/a><b>,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all located exclusively in Meribel, or take a look at our holiday planning guide for everything from lift passes and ski hire to what to pack and where to eat in resort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once you&#8217;ve decided on Meribel for your ski holiday, the next question &#8211; what&#8217;s the best way to get there? The good news is that reaching Meribel from the UK is straightforward, whether you prefer to fly, drive or take the train. The right option depends on your budget, how much flexibility you want, whether [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travelling-to-meribel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5262"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5267,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5262\/revisions\/5267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}