Courchevel or Méribel for a family ski holiday?

We teach families in Courchevel and in Méribel every winter, and this is one of the questions we are asked most. The honest answer: you cannot really go wrong. Both resorts are part of the Three Valleys, both have gentle areas for children and long runs for parents. The differences are in the atmosphere and in how your days are organised.

Courchevel: four villages, four characters

Courchevel is made up of four villages at different altitudes:

• Courchevel (1850) is the highest and most famous, with the widest choice of runs from the snow front, luxury hotels and chalets, and a lively village.
• Courchevel Moriond (1650) is quieter, with a sunny ski area that suits families and intermediate skiers.
• Courchevel Village (1550) and Courchevel Le Praz (1300) are smaller and calmer, with easy lift access to the main ski area.

Choose Courchevel if you like having everything close to the snow, want a wide choice of easy runs straight from your door, or are travelling with skiers of very different levels who will split up during the day.

Méribel: the heart of the Three Valleys

Méribel sits in the central valley, between Courchevel on one side and Les Menuires and Val Thorens on the other. It is known for its chalet-style buildings and village feel, with Méribel Village and Méribel Mottaret nearby.

Choose Méribel if your family wants to explore the Three Valleys during the week, likes a traditional chalet atmosphere, or has confident skiers who want to reach Courchevel and Val Thorens easily.

What matters more than the resort

In our experience, three things make a bigger difference to a family week than the choice between the two resorts:

1. Where your chalet or hotel is. Being close to the lifts and the beginner areas saves a lot of walking with small children and heavy boots.
2. When you go. The February holidays are the busiest weeks. January and March are calmer and often better for young beginners. See when to book for 2026/27.
3. How the children are taught. A patient instructor who enjoys teaching children turns a cold, tiring first day into a day they want to repeat.

Mixed-ability families

Many families have a beginner, a confident teenager and parents somewhere in between. With a private instructor you can split the day: the children in the morning, the adults or the teenagers in the afternoon, or everyone together for the last run. Both resorts make this easy because the instructor comes to you.

Our take

If you want a lively base with everything at your feet, Courchevel. If you want a central base and a chalet atmosphere, Méribel. Either way, we can teach you in both. See our lessons for children, or read more about private lessons in Méribel and in Courchevel.