When I was a child skiing on plastic bags in Mount Hermon, wearing three pairs of pants, a jacket, and gloves, I never imagined there was such a thing as a ski resort, and I certainly never imagined that I would spend every winter, for twenty years, at different resorts in France. My first time, I realized pretty quickly that I wouldn't be able to ski, but skiing became my favorite vacation.
Therefore, when I decided to write to you about hotels and ski resorts in France, I gave up on information related to the slopes and snow and concentrated on describing to you my personal experiences at each site through the hotels I stayed in. At every stage of my life – as a young woman with friends, a newlywed with a partner and a mother of a child – I spent time in different hotels, which suited the periods of my life.
I stayed at some of the hotels I recommend, and I drank coffee or ate at a restaurant in some. There are hotels I went inside because they are famous or simply beautiful from the outside and make you want to visit. I will bring you all of these and more in this article.
If you want more tips on organizing, choosing sites, and traveling with children, you can find them in the article. Skiing holiday in France with children.
Which ski resort is right for you?
בFrance There is the largest variety of ski resorts, and the most trails. In order to choose the site that is best for you, you need to consider several things that will influence your decision, such as:
- budget
- Romantic vacation for couples or with children
- Attractions on site
- Good surfing schools
To help you choose a ski resort and a hotel, I have collected a variety of accommodation options for you in three leading sites in France, each of which will suit different types of people and different needs.
Ski resorts offer different accommodation than the hotels you are familiar with from cities in France. Hotels often offer apartments for couples, families or groups of friends. The apartments have a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and multimedia facilities.
As a young couple, we stayed in a romantic log cabin. When we traveled with a group of friends, we took a large apartment with an emphasis on practicality for everyone. As a family, we were looking for an apartment in a complex so that the children could enjoy additional facilities such as a pool or playground (and of course babysitting services, so that we parents could also enjoy ourselves 🙂 ).
I divided the accommodation in the villages into several categories:
- Cheap apartment hotel for a couple or family
- Comfortable apartment hotel for a couple or family
- A pampering apartment hotel for a couple or family
**Important note: Due to the short ski season and high demand, it is advisable to book a hotel well in advance**
Ready? Let's start with the first site.
Val Thorens
Val Torrance Located in the Three Valleys region of the French Alps, and spread over about 600 kilometers, it shares ski runs with two other resorts, Courchevel (Courchevel), which is the best known of them. The sites in the Three Valleys were built in the mid-twentieth century and many of the hotels and guesthouses are located right on the ski slopes.
Val Thorens is recommended for holidays with children, and for people who like lively places and evening activities on site. Val Thorens has many places to stay, some close to the center and some a little further away. Here are some of my suggestions:
Luxurious hotels in Val Thorens for couples or families
Altapura
Ski resorts have always been a place that inspired thrillers and spy movies. It is where the rich, kings, heads of government, celebrities and wealthy people meet. They come to ski on the white slopes and enjoy luxurious cocktails, gourmet meals, a pampering spa and of course – to run the world. For more information and reservationsHotel Fitz Roy
Prefer fine whiskey to cocktails? Antique oak to neon design? You probably like a classic local style with perfect comfort and service. The hotel's location in the heart of the site allows easy access to the village center and the ski slopes. Despite the central location, it allows you to enjoy a relaxed and luxurious experience. Of course, a hotel of this level has a spa and a gourmet restaurant, where you can order great food (and if you insist, they will serve it in your room). For more information and reservationsHotel Pashmina Le Refuge
A romantic ski vacation is a wonderful idea. If you're planning one, you'll probably want privacy, luxurious rooms, a balcony that's just yours overlooking the snowy mountains, room service around the clock, a jacuzzi or massage just for the two of you in an intimate setting, gourmet meals, and of course some skiing. For more information and reservationsCheap places in Val Thorens for a couple or family
2 room cabin Val Thorens
A ski vacation is not cheap and you prefer to invest in equipment, training and yet live in a sweet and comfortable apartment. This apartment and its sisters are just for you. Comfort, simplicity, proximity to the ski slopes and an amazing view from the balconies. For more information and reservationsMontana Premier Residence
I stayed at the Montana Apartments a few years ago with my family and discovered the fun of being in the center of things. I love ski resorts but not surfing, and when they went out to surf I went out to the center of the village, I enjoyed watching the surfers over a glass of hot cider, watching people from all over the world fill the village with joy and especially in groups of small children, who surf much better than me. For more information and reservationsVal Thorens-Cosy Lauzières 315
In cheap apartments at ski resorts, functionality sometimes compromises the atmosphere, but if you are at a ski resort, you want an apartment decorated with light wood and a sense of homely warmth that brings the atmosphere inside. That is exactly what you will find here. Add to that proximity to the village center for shopping, ice skating, children's events and of course proximity to the ski slopes. An excellent and very comfortable hotel for a family with children. For more information and reservationsHotel apartments in Val Thorens for a couple or family
Alberta Hotel & Spa
Imagine yourself in a hot tub after a day of skiing. The water is warm, bubbling, relaxing your muscles, while you look out at the snowy landscape outside. In the evening, after a good sauna, sipping mulled wine in front of the fireplace, and then an excellent meal. And I haven't said a word about skiing yet. In my experience, hotel pampering upgrades your vacation, especially when the weather is stormy outside or when darkness descends on the countryside. For more information and reservationsThe Portillo
What makes a hotel in a ski resort romantic? You'll be captivated by the authentic oak wood design right from the entrance. The entire hotel has cozy corners with a rustic touch that will put you in the mood. A fine French restaurant, amazing rooms. The hotel's romantic secret: a lovely spa with a jacuzzi for the two of you, surrounded by huge windows so you can drink wine in the bubbling water and watch the snow fall outside. For more information and reservationsHotel Le Val Chaviere
Want to meet Heidi, the daughter of the mountains? The Alps are more than ski resorts. Over the centuries, the villagers on the Swiss and French sides have developed a style, design, cuisine, clothing and hospitality that characterize them. If you want to stay in an authentic local style, you have come to your hotel. Local design in red tones (familiar to you from the Swiss flag), antique furniture made of rough wood and local cuisine rich in textures and flavors. For more information and reservationsCourchevel
The undisputed queen of the ski resorts in the Three Valleys. It consists of four small villages and is suitable for beginners and advanced skiers. Today, Courchevel is considered the trendiest resort. In the French Alps.
Courchevel is not just a ski resort. It is also clubs, restaurants, hiking trails, attractions such as ice climbing and paragliding. It is the most cosmopolitan of the three resorts. It is visited by young people from all over the world, celebrities and anyone who likes to see and be seen.
Due to demand, accommodation prices on the site are not cheap, but the site is famous for its Chalet, which can make your vacation a little cheaper. It is a rustic wooden cottage where you can stay even in large groups to reduce your stay.
If you are a party animal and love the good life, Courchevel will not disappoint you.
Luxurious hotel apartments and hotels in Courchevel for a couple or family
Hotel Le Chabichou
What does a hotel need to host the jet set from all over the world? Stunning rooms, meticulous design, staff that will take care of your every request, a spa that includes a jacuzzi, sauna, heated pool, beauty treatments, massages – and all that before we even talked about the fantastic location, proximity to the runways, and proximity to the celebrities who come to stay there. For more information and reservationsHotel Annapurna
Annapurna Hotel is built of local wood and French windows, so you can connect with the amazing view in every activity you do. A jacuzzi with a perfect view, a dining room with a view, a fitness center, professional beauty treatments, a sauna, a restaurant and a lobby make the view part of the design. For more information and reservationsThe Saint Joseph
Where does the aristocracy stay in Courchevel? Where can you find counts, princesses and noble families sitting at the table next to you in the dining room? You guessed it. Saint Joseph offers its guests a luxurious, luxurious and elegant experience, and provides them with service staff ready to fulfill their every request. The hotel is decorated in the style of Rococo palaces, with magnificent antique furniture, a spa including beauty treatments, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a gourmet restaurant. For more information and reservations3-star hotels in Courchevel
Hotel Edelweiss
A hotel that is a restaurant that is a hotel. If you are a fan of excellent food and a rich wine cellar, the Aldwiz Hotel offers you, in addition to charming rooms and a courteous staff, the “Henri” restaurant, of which it is particularly proud – and rightly so. After a day on the slopes, it is fun to end the evening with a luxurious meal at your hotel, drink local wine, warm yourself in front of the fireplace and indulge until your eyes begin to close. For more information and reservationsHotel the Snowflakes
Hotel Le Falcone is perfect for those who love to live in the heart of the city, be in the center of things and feel the vibe of the ski resort right at the hotel's doorstep. And if you're already at the hotel, why not try their spa? For more information and reservationsThe Charvin Mountains
“Love at first sight” – that’s what I call the hotel. I didn’t stay there, but every time I passed by, I looked at the facade decorated with flowers and greenery, and I felt that it invited me to enter, even if only for a glass of hot cider. Of course, I couldn’t resist, so I went inside and the hotel does reflect its external beauty. I sat down for a cup of coffee with a plate of local cookies in front of the fireplace, and it felt like a family living room with kind and smiling staff. I promised myself to stay there the next time I come to ski in France. For more information and reservationsCheap hotels in Courchevel for a couple or family
The Solaret
The most retro there is. I arrived at the hotel with some guys who preferred to spend their money on entertainment in Courchevel rather than on luxurious rooms. When we arrived, I immediately felt like I was back in the seventies, and not in a bad way. The hotel is decorated in colors that were classic in the seventies (orange, brown and warm), and anyone who grew up in those years will immediately feel at home. This is not an old hotel, the design is aimed at having a seventies atmosphere. If you are also in a good mood, and you want a comfortable hotel with a fully equipped kitchen and a cool living room, you have found a great place. For more information and reservationsAriondaza
When it's snowy and cold outside, it's nice to come back to a warm apartment that feels like home thanks to its homely design, spacious kitchen, comfortable dining area and rooms for you and the children. The apartment is close to the village center, so you can pop to the supermarket or take the family for an evening out in the village center. Courchevel offers cool attractions for children and adults throughout the day, but if you decide to stay in the warm house and curl up with a book or a movie, the apartment will be ideal for you. For more information and reservationsChamonix
The White Queen sits on the roof of the world between the three borders – France, Switzerland and Italy – with the Mont Blanc serving as its beautiful canopy. Chamonix is the oldest ski resort, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1924. It has the highest and most challenging ski runs in Europe. Four villages are located in the complex, and it is the highest inhabited place in the world.
Chamonix attracts experienced skiers who love to ski on the slopes but also enjoy freeskiing (where permitted, of course). The towns on the site are picturesque with a special charm, a product of the border triangle, where each country has left its mark. Local folklore, excellent food, boutique shops and a variety of activities, including lively clubs. Unlike other ski resorts, Chamonix is visited all year round, even in seasons when it does not snow. The river flowing between the houses and the always snowy Mont Blanc make it a tourist destination and not just a ski resort.
When I was discharged from the army, I went to my family in Grenoble. My cousin, who was a ski instructor, took me to Chamonix, dropped me off at a cafe and went skiing on the free slope. Night fell and he didn't come back. A twenty-year-old girl is looking in stammering French for her cousin, who returned at first light because he got stuck at the summit due to avalanches. So that I wouldn't tell his parents, I was treated to a pampering tour and princess-like shopping on site.