Best Luxury Hotels in France

This has been a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2018 and while the building has roots dating back as far as the 15th century, it was transformed into guest accommodation in the late 1790s. It has since received several makeovers, under the ownership of Sofitel. Now it’s a sophisticated designer property with 88 bedrooms ranging from singles to a prestige suite. This Grand Dame also includes the blissful Spa by La Cloche with products from Carita and Vinésime, Les Jardins restaurant housed in a glass atrium and Le Bar, with its enviable wine list.

Located just 50 metres from the foot of Tignes’ pistes with ski-in and ski-out facilities, Le Grand (previously known as Le Grand Hôtel au Rond-Point des Pistes) is a very modern affair. 38 rooms and suites offer warming yet soothing decor that echoes its surroundings with contemporary flair. Found in the heart of the 1850 village (shops and restaurants are minutes away), the four-star establishment offers incredible 180° views from the restaurant. The gym and spa feature a sauna, steam room, relaxation area and an elliptical bike which can be used to prepare leg and arm muscles ahead of a hard ski session.

Providing a distinct and different aesthetic to many of the other hotels in the region, Hotel Des Trois Vallées has a post-war and mid-century interior style. Room types are titled: Comfort, Privilege, or Suite, with a Nespresso machine, minibar and balcony in each. Dine on authentic local table d’hôte menus while seated at rustic trestle tables in L’Épicerie. Slow down at the Spa des 3 Vallées, with its Turkish Bath, sauna and Grand Jacuzzi. And escape the crowds in a setting that’s far enough of the beaten track, yet still in the heart of Alpine activity.

This hotel has a unique position on top of what was once an Olympic ski jump. Part of the Oetker Collection, it’s palatial, with a resort feel – there’s a beauty and hair salon, La Prairie spa, pool, salt sauna, boutiques, a smoking room and the largest children’s club in Courchevel. L’apogée has 53 guest rooms, a penthouse and two private chalets. Sushi is prepared in its restaurant, Koori (meaning ‘ice’ in Japanese), with French fare at Le Comptoir L’Apogée. By day Le Bar de L’Apogée serves light lunches, while by night the venue becomes a cocktail lounge accompanied by the sounds of live singers and DJs.

Ski-in and ski-out of Hotel La Sivoliere. Accessible accommodation is available with all 35 rooms, suites and apartments having been refurbished by interior designer Sara Copeland. It has earned Family Plus certification with Mini Sivo Captains on hand to entertain young ones in the Mini Sivo Room, and magical mini handcrafted wooden bunks in some rooms. Here, you can book a dog-sitter to walk your pooch – canines received a basket to match the room and their own meal menu. The hotel dates back to 1950 and is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and Savoyard speciality cuisine.

Taking its name from the surrounding snows, this mountain chalet gives direct access to the slopes. This Hotel Barrière has 20 guest rooms, 22 suites and a penthouse, all draped in sumptuous cream and silky white fabrics with strewn faux furs, offsetting the natural wood structure. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Les Neiges has two restaurants, a bar, a cigar lounge and a pretty terrace for exterior dining accompanied by the DJ’s beats. And in the Diane Barrière Spa, guests will find six treatment booths, a hammam, sauna, cold bath, swimming pool and aquatic course, all spread across 1,000 m2 of pampering space.

A short stroll from the heart of 1850 lies this collection of apartments. Sleeping between two and five in each suite, the resort caters to a wide range of parties. Eschewing the more traditional Alpine cuisine, this hotel serves exquisite sushi in its Japanese restaurant, Sumosan. The Six Senses Spa’s encompasses 7,500 sqft of treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a juice bar and Kneipp foot bath therapy – with rituals accompanied by Organic Pharmacy products. There’s also an on-site ski rental shop and boutique, so you can pack lightly for inbound travel.

More Asian fortress than French ski lodge in its aesthetic, the architecture of this hotel stands out in Courchevel 1850. Perched on the Bellecôte piste, Aman Le Melezin offers ski-in/ski-out facilities. Once inside you’ll find that familiar Alpine vibe. There are 31 bedrooms and suites, some of which have balconies, private hot tubs and fireplaces. There’s much to keep you onsite apres-ski, with a cigar bar, fine Japanese dining (think sushi, sashimi and Wagyu beef) at Aman’s Nama restaurant and a two-storey spa with a columned indoor pool made from Capri stone.

Located 5km from the centre, Villas Foch is made up of two private 17th and 18th-century mansions. While the building may be old, the hotel is brand new, having recently opened in the summer of 2021. Just 20 bedrooms and eight suites ensure an intimate atmosphere in this sumptuous period property that’s adopted sophisticated modern decor touches. Each room is soundproofed with a free minibar and use of an espresso machine, but guests can also buy snacks at the in-house deli, or in the bar lounge. Accessible and family-friendly, the hotel also features a full-service spa and swimming pool set in a stone-arched cellar.

Take a five-star spa holiday at Les Sources De Caudalie. Set beside a peaceful lake, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in the countryside, yet it’s just a 20-minute taxi hop back to the city centre. The hotel’s menu of ‘vinotherapy’ treatments has been inspired by the region’s produce and there are both indoor and outdoor pools. Additional alfresco amenities include a tennis court, a 3-hole pitch and putt golf course and free bike hire to explore the surrounding Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards. The building is grand, but it was crafted using reclaimed materials from local farms. And, combined with its own kitchen garden, Les Sources De Caudalie boasts an excellent carbon footprint.

Known as Bordeaux’s trendy district, The Old Docks, is home to this unique and inviting 4-star hotel. Conveniently located to explore the region, the hotel comprises stylishly appointed 149 rooms each with oversized windows from which guests can take in the local area below. Guests can enjoy a swim with a city view at the indoor pool on one of the highest rooftops of Bordeaux or relax with a drink or two in the upscale bar whilst all-day authentic Italian cuisine is served at the Gina Restaurant & Bar.

Featuring one of the best restaurants, not only in the region but the world, Flocons de Sel has been awarded a rare three Michelin stars for its cuisine. Chef Emmanuel Renaut – himself indigenous to the Haute-Savoie area – is at the helm and invites guests to join him on nearby forest walks, to experience foraging for mushrooms and medicinal plants, while learning more about sustainability. Initially designed to be a family home, this 5-star Relais & Châteaux property is set high up overlooking the village. The hotel incorporates a spa and three restaurants. Bedrooms and suites are spacious, all with either terraces or balconies, some with open fires or wood-burning stoves.