Best Luxury Hotels in Rhône-Alps

Guests here are housed in one of 70 bedrooms, some in chalets and ‘mazots’ (a kind of Savoyard mountain hut). Les Fermes de Marie came into being in the 1980s but now has a classic chalet feel (think Game of Thrones-style; wood panelling, fur throws, sheepskin cushions and rustic four-poster beds). Its new-look Pure Altitude Spa was launched in 2019, with 17 treatment cabins, hot and cold ceder ofuro soaking tubs, a child-friendly indoor-outdoor swimming pool and an adults-only indoor pool. There’s also a hot tub on the terrace, the Traditionnel restaurant and two further eateries that open during high season.

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.

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.

Get a taste of Italy, right in the heart of France. This villa’s building design echoes the Renaissance style found peppered through the Old Town. Inside there’s a mix of modern and period furnishings with 18th-century frescoes, large french windows, and 32 rooms. Outside, there’s a sleek pool and large jacuzzi with loungers (from here you can take in the surrounding panorama, from the hillside vantage point). Part of the Relais and Chateaux portfolio, the residence is refined and elegant, committed to fine food that’s crafted using the freshest produce. Les Terrasses de Lyon has a Michelin star, along with some of the best views in town.

With just four private luxury chalets to choose from, guests at Hotel Village La Mourra can be sure that they will be treated to an intimate atmosphere and a personalised service. Indulging in treatments in the My Blend by Clarins is the perfect way to unwind after spending the day on the slopes, while guests are also treated to a sauna and steam room to unwind in. the hotel also comes complete with a seventeen-metre pool, while a team of physiotherapists and an osteopath are on hand to pamper guests from head to toe. The chalets feature beautiful marble bathrooms and large bathrooms, while the reclaimed wooden furniture features colourful and cosy touches. Lovers of Japanese cuisine are also sure to love the selection of dishes that are served in the cosy dining room.

If you’re travelling with a larger group, take a look at Alpaga. Its three-storey chalets can sleep up to 20, with apartments catering for 6, as well as rooms for singles, couples and families. The restaurant, La Table de l’Alpaga, has been recognised with two Michelin stars and specialises in fine plant-based cuisine and there’s a bistro, L’Onyx, as well as lighter food served in the lobby-side bar. Spa de l’Alpaga offers a little hydro adventure, with an in-pool bubble couch and massage jets, all moodily lit and clad in dark grey stone for atmosphere. Alpaga may be a high-end hotel, but it suits those who prefer a relaxed approach to finery.

Found at Rond Point, this is an uber-stylish five-star boutique property with direct ski-in/ski-out access. Family-owned (it’s part of a small chain) a Parisian architect, Pierre Yovanovavich, was brought in to create a mid-century feel, that stands apart from the region’s Alpine themed hotels. 54 forms of accommodation make use of a retro palette, such as mustard yellows, salmon pinks, moss greens and burnt terracottas. Elsewhere, it has a boot room, a Tata Harper spa, gym, yoga studio, indoor-outdoor pool, kids’ club and the Beef Bar diner with Mediterranean-inspired dishes, as well as lots of succulent red meat.