Translated by Bethszabee Garner

Not all resorts are in the same boat. Several of them will not be opening their doors this year, while others are not particularly concerned about the weather, as they are, in principle, assured of good snow cover, like in Tignes, which even offers skiing in summer, or in Val Thorens (2,300-3,200 m), the latter seemingly seeking ‘revenge’ for not having been desired at its creation in 1972. It has become unmissable, with its luxury hotels (Altapura, Fitz Roy, Kho-I-Nor, Pashmînâ) overrun as soon as the season begins. Of course, there are still the big names to satisfy the greatest number of people. Avoriaz, Chamonix, Courchevel, La Plagne, Megève, Méribel, Saint-Gervais, Val d'Isère…

Before thinking about taking a trip to Switzerland or even Italy, as the resorts are often linked to each other for even more possibilities. Our route is therefore very arbitrary, favoring new developments with a big focus on Megève. We only lend to the rich !

Les 3 Vallées: an enchanting route

With its 600 km of slopes, its legendary resorts, its 22 five-star hotels including five luxury palace hotels, and its 1,000 ski instructors, Courchevel leads the way in every sense of the word, when the resort accumulates assets, day and night, and a party atmosphere everywhere. The Tournier establishment, an iconic player in the resort, is expanding its offering with six new venues: La Cabane, formerly La Cantine, a restaurant by the slopes at lunchtime and a lively after-ski venue in the evening, including an indoor pétanque court, a first in the resort; La Kasbah, which replaces the bar l'Équipe, for authentic oriental cuisine. The hotel Le Pilatus has been enriched with La Maison du coucou, under the direction of the former chef of Cap Horn, as well as L'Ânerie des pistes, dedicated to Savoyard specialities. Finally, the new The Cat Club, in collaboration with Indie Groupe, promises festive evenings with DJs and exclusive guests. Add Aventure by Bagatelle Groupe and you have a full agenda.

The hotels in action

The Annapurna***** hotel, jewel of the Maison Pinturault, also unveils Rendez-Vous, a new restaurant honoring traditional French cuisine: chef Jean-Rémi Caillon revisits classics while pastry chef Téophane Faucher offers iconic creations such as the Chartreuse soufflé. The group is also taking the opportunity to showcase its new ‘Altai’ chalets (Irbis, 356 m², Beloukha, 397 m², Khoton, 506 m², with its spectacular 120 m² spa and indoor swimming pool), all offering their own elegance and differences.

Barrière Les Neiges, a palace, is also enhancing its gastronomic offering with the arrival of Loulou, a renowned Parisian restaurant with a menu inspired by the Alps and Italy, offering specialities such as truffle pizza and pasta al pomodoro. In terms of wellness, the hotel is proud of its collaboration with Elodie Raheria, an internationally renowned expert in beauty treatments and founder of SeeMyCosmetics. While La Sivolière*****, with its 35 rooms, family suites and apartments renovated in an Alpine style, is home to chef Nicolas Perrin, a former collaborator of Frédéric Anton, who revisits the great French classics. This is an opportunity to highlight the 20 years that Florence Carcassonne has been working at this establishment, which would not be the same without her expertise.

For festive moments, you can trust Olivier Fargier, creator of the emblematic Funky Fox, Éléphant and Pélican, who is launching Le Tigre this season, a contemporary snack bar for skiers in search of flavor and relaxation, on the snow front of Courchevel Moriond (Courchevel 1650, open every day until 6pm).

Les Airelles, between its two addresses, Courchevel and Val d'Isère, is coming up with new ideas, even adding the Palace of Versailles for its ‘Royal Winter Tour’, a unique tailor-made holiday: from €20,000 for seven nights spread over the three destinations. In detail, the Val d'Isère palace, in the heart of the village, with its 41 keys, including 9 suites and 5 private penthouses, with a dedicated butler, its 4 restaurants: Palladio, La Grande Ourse, Matsuhisa and Le Piaf, its 1,200 m² Guerlain spa, not forgetting the Chalet Schuss, a private residence designed by interior designer Christophe Tollemer, which this year welcomes back the famous pastry chef Cédric Grolet.

In Val d'Isère again, there are other unmissable addresses, such as the Barmes de l'Ours, the Savoyard flagship of the Relais & Châteaux, ideally located at the foot of the famous Olympic Bellevarde trail. It has a lot going for it, with 76 rooms and suites on four floors, each with a different ambience: Scandinavian style, American lodge, Alpine chalet and contemporary decor, the Sisley spa (1,000 m², 11 treatment rooms, jacuzzi, hammam and saunas), the Kids Club and the only bowling alley in the resort. At mealtimes, everyone heads for one of the hotel's three restaurants run by chef Antoine Gras: the Coin Savoyard with its regional specialities, La Rôtisserie, with its open kitchen, offering traditional mountain dishes and delicacies grilled, spit-roasted and so on, and the Table de l'Ours (Michelin-starred).

A tour of Switzerland: Bella Tola in the Val d’Anniviers

In the Val d'Anniviers, this beautiful family establishment with 28 rooms is a fine example of alpine hospitality. It has been extended with two chalets, decorated in an alpine style with original furniture, antique objects and animal skins. The ambience and the attention to detail in the decor are the key words of the establishment. The culinary offering adds to this with two restaurants: Le Tzambron, where regional specialities are served (fondue, raclette, cheese crust, etc.), and Chez Ida, whose creative cuisine gives pride of place to seasonal produce. The Ô des cimes, the high-altitude spa, with its two panoramic terraces, its heated swimming pool (32°C), deckchairs facing the peaks, Finnish sauna, hammam, ice fountain, and its three massage and treatment rooms (Alpéor) is the perfect complement. The beautiful slopes of the Valais are just a stone's throw away.

Small resorts playing big

On the road that leads to Les Menuires, then to Val Thorens, you can't miss passing by Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. There is at least one good reason: La Bouitte, a splendid Relais & Châteaux***** in which the entire Meilleur family is involved, René and his son Maxime, giving gastronomy its letters of nobility (two Michelin stars). And if you don't take advantage of the cosy and luxurious charm of their hotel, some beautiful new chalets invite you to other special moments, such as the chalet of Édouard with its 460 m² over five levels, 6 en-suite bedrooms and its wellness area (from €13,400 per week) or, less large (280 m²) but still elegant, the Snow Fall chalet, 5 bedrooms, heated indoor pool (from €13,500 per week).

There are other villages that attract ‘those in the know’. Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, for example, between Saint-Gervais and Megève. There too, there is a renowned hotel, the Armancette***** (Almae Collection, Leading Hotels of the World), as well as some very beautiful chalets (‘Au pays du mont Blanc’), notably Ancolie (550 m²): 5 double rooms, 2 dormitories (2 and 4 beds), large living area with fireplace, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, cinema room, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, fitness room, ski room, with a superb view of the Dômes de Miage, all at the foot of the slopes.

Megève, between luxury and tradition

It was last October, on the occasion of Toquicîmes, the 17th of the name, a very beautiful event highlighting ‘mountain gastronomy’, with multi-starred chef Yannick Alléno as guest of honor, that we were able to rediscover this lively city, even more so when it emerges from its pretty autumnal torpor in the first days of winter, going from 3,000 inhabitants to several tens of thousands. And the luxury brands are not mistaken, investing in the city centre, even if the most visible brand remains A.Alard, which will soon celebrate its centenary (2026), a tribute to the creator of the ski legging Armand Allard, in 1926.

The ***** star hotels, the proof by 9

The 5-star reference hotels also answer this call and there are no fewer than 9 renowned hotels, often right in the heart of the village. The cosy Soleil d'or, in addition to its legendary chocolate shop (Ah ! Mamie Chocolat!) and its unique rooftop with cocktail bar, is opening a cheese shop this year with delicious Savoyard fondues (from €32, every evening). Le Mont Blanc, L'Alpaga, Les Chalets du Mont d'Arbois, Le Fer à Cheval, Les Fermes de Marie (with its magnificent restaurant, superb cheeses and tempting desserts), Le Four Seasons, Le M de Megève, Zannier Hôtels Le Chalet, complete the list.

Then there is the Lodge Park of the Sibuet family (Les Fermes de Marie), which has just been awarded its fifth star following a complete renovation that has revealed new suites as well as a new temple of wellness with indoor pool, sauna, hamam, fitness centre, ice room and Himalayan salt room, without forgetting the Pure Altitude treatments. It could have been tenth on the list, but the famous Flocons de sel, dear to Christine and Emmanuel Renaut, is closed until 2025 for major renovations. However, you can still find its mountain bistro-style cuisine at Le Prieuré, at the heart of the village, as well as in Chamonix, at the Auberge du Bois. The Soleil d'or Prin chocolate factory, or in its mountain restaurant in Saint-Gervais, the Boitet.

Mountain gastronomy but not only that

And since we are on the subject of gastronomy, there are several places not to be missed. We start with the Saint-Nicolas (in the Au coin du feu Hotel) where an effective duo is at work: the brother, Marvin Lance, in the kitchen, and his sister Elisa in the dining room, doing better than good, in a lively exercise that does not forget the conviviality of a mountain resort. Still on the subject of gastronomy, with three establishments, chef Julien Gatillon (a disciple of Yannick Alleno, former two-star chef of the Four Seasons Megève) demonstrates the diversity of his talent as well as his imagination. In the heart of the village, Vous on the ground floor and Anata on the first floor, present two aspects of this. The first, a 14-seater counter, offers top-flight French gourmet cuisine. Facing the diners, precise, attentive and talented, the duo Jean Pastre and Paul Arnaud Martin bring Julien's ideas to life. The second, upstairs, expresses the best of Japanese cuisine, bringing together chefs Keiji Ishii and Yohan Delhommeau in front of the custom-made wooden counter (only 12 seats) for perfectly mastered dishes. But it is clear that it is his first restaurant, Nous, which stands out by welcoming, with his charming wife Sonia, in their home, a select few (from 2 to 12 people). A few days before their arrival, the guests make up the menu with the chef, perhaps a free reign based on the best seasonal produce, or a choice of seven dishes according to their tastes and desires, or a theme based on a key ingredient (lobster, wagyu beef, game, etc.). For drinks, they can choose from the cellar or pick from a menu of more than 400 options (seven days a week, lunch and dinner. Reservations required (juliengatillon.fr), from €250 to €300 (excluding wine).

Marc Veyrat, tales and legends of mountain gastronomy

Working with a few bed and breakfasts (Le Logis des amoureux), we find the unmissable Marc Veyrat, the man with the hat, who has just opened a very pretty house (539 chemin des Ânes). I went with him to the surrounding forests for an introduction to picking herbs and mushrooms - when it's the season and only early in the morning! - and it was really very informative. It's a shame that this brilliant and cultured man can sometimes show a (bad) character that does him a disservice. What remains is a double extraordinary culinary experience in a warm setting, which compensates for this. The first with him (dinners: Thursday, Friday, Saturday evening; menu at €450, excluding drinks), the second with Christine, his wife, the cook at the hearth (Sunday evening; menu at €220).

A double champion for the famous savoyard fondue

You will certainly not fail to discover the restaurant perched high up in the heart of nature of Édouard Dupuy (La Petite Fontaine), two-time winner of the amateur competition for the Best Fondue in Megève, and of the French selection of the Mondial de la fondue, who will wear the tricolor colors during the international final in Tartegnin (Switzerland) in November 2025.

Luxury chalets are very trendy

If you haven't booked a 5-star hotel and don't have ‘your’ chalet, rent one! There is a plethora of options and you can quickly reach dizzying heights... in terms of price! Personally, I have chosen the Chalet Purdey (286 m²) in Combloux, perfect for a family holiday with 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and a breathtaking view of the Mont Blanc. It is located just 50 metres from the slope that will take you to the Beauregard cable car, and 10 minutes from the centre of Megève. This modern and elegant chalet, like all those offered by the group (emeraldstay.com), promises an unforgettable stay. Everything in the region is geared up to make it so. We look forward to seeing you!