With the ski season kicking off with gusto, we've teamed up with hip hideaway experts i-escape.com to bring you our top ten mountain boltholes with serious style appeal…
Ferme de Montagne, French Alps
This seven-room hotel more than qualifies for the ‘luxury ski chalet’ label. Think traditional décor, sophisticated Michelin-inspired food and a plum location beside the Portes du Soleil ski resort of Les Gets from which you can get straight onto the slopes. Other activities include chocolate-making, ice-skating, dog-sledding and even parapenting (paragliding off a mountain).
This ski-in/ski-out hotel near Gstaad is big on design and even bigger on views. A 1960s mountain lodge with clean lines and a hint of Bauhaus, it's located right on the slopes. Rooms are simple yet stylish, whilst the hotel’s terrace (and outdoor hot tub) is the perfect place for a spot of alfresco après-ski.
Boasting the ‘sunniest terrace in the Trois Vallées’, Le Portetta is a stunning chalet-style hotel with a piste-side position in Courchevel 1650. The hotel caters for families of all sizes, but don’t let the family-friendly tag fool you into thinking this hotel lacks finesse. Alpine-chic touches give Le Portetta an elegant feel throughout, and with a prime ski-in/ski-out setting as well as a children’s ski school, it will suit skiers both little and big down to the ground.
If adventure sports are your thing, then the Cambrian is a good option. Set high in the pretty Swiss village of Adelboden, at the end of a wide valley surrounded by forested mountains, the local slopes are so impressive that the FIS World Cup passes through here every year. With a full host of snow activities, including skiing and snowboarding, snow-tubing, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, husky sledging, snowshoeing and ice-face climbing, there is enough action here to thrill even the most adventurous of snow enthusiasts.
Chalet Bibendum, in the well-to-do Chamonix valley, has a cosy house party vibe. The chalet itself is a work of art – think crackling fireplaces, soaring beams and bedrooms filled with quirky mountain touches. Owners Olaf and Jolanda are perhaps its biggest selling point – they’re happy to organise every minute of your stay to ensure you have the best getaway possible. Add to that fabulous food and easy access to the local ski slopes, and you and your friends will never want to leave.
Whitepod is a remote eco-camp in Switzerland, offering stunning views and a real back-to-nature vibe. It comprises 15 uber-cosy, igloo-shaped pods with toasty wood-burners, fully equipped shower rooms and comfy beds, all clustered around a central wooden chalet. This isn’t about noisy bars, busy streets and adrenalin junkies, it’s about getting away from it all and enjoying the pristine mountain surroundings. Best of all, Whitepod has its own private slopes suitable for beginner- and intermediate-level skiers – you'll basically have your very own private ski escape.
Hameau Albert 1er, French Alps
The ultimate winter getaway for those who want both good ski and good food. This famous Chamonix hotel, built in 1903, not only offers a free shuttle service to the resort’s long runs and challenging off-piste areas, but also has 2 Michelin stars in its impressive Restaurant Albert 1er. Spend the rest of your time experiencing Chamonix’s buzzing après-ski scene, indulging in pampering treatments at the hotel spa, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from your bedroom.
From the minute you enter this super-slick design hotel, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a film. Everything about the Omnia is impressive, from the reception’s sleek granite, blond wood and big windows to the terrace with sweeping views of swanky (and car-free) Zermatt. The slopes are just as stunning, with a mix of runs to suit all abilities – plus the famous Gravity Park will go down well with snowboarders.
This hidden mountain hotel in the French Alps is a temple to cool, contemporary design. From statement furniture and a striking open staircase to waterfall showers, digital art and designer lighting, Mineral Lodge is serious about style. There’s a state-of-the-art media room, salons with fireplaces, and a dining room where breakfast and dinner are served around a giant resin table. Plus, it's got easy access to the slopes, and is just 50m from the lift to Les Arcs.
vigilius mountain resort, South Tyrol, Italy
This retreat in South Tyrol mixes über architecture with eco credentials, frosted Alpine peaks, two authentic restaurants and a spa with altitude. Set on a Vigiljoch summit, a mile above the Ultimo Valley, the views are breathtaking – especially from the panorama terrace. Vigiljoch’s slopes are perfect for beginners and improvers, plus guests can join lessons led by the hotel’s own ski instructor, once a downhill ski champion – good luck!
For more snowy hideaways, see i-escape.com.
