The impeccable slopes, the attractive prices already offered by specialized operators to encourage early booking, doubled by flexibility and cancellation policies that cover a refund of up to 24 hours, urges us to sketch the first holiday plans. Most of the ski areas are ready to give us safety and to be able to practice the last carve turns learned from the previous season. To arouse your curiosity, we have selected three exclusive areas in France where designer shops, elegant restaurants or après-ski blend perfectly with fast climbs and pristine slopes.
Courchevel 1850 - Three Valleys Paradise
The tallest of the five villages in Courchevel, officially named Courchevel 1850, is the ideal holiday choice for this resort in France, located at one end of the Les Trois Vallées ski area. With gondolas heading in three different directions, the resort is home to an impressive number of four- and five-star hotels, as well as hotels with palace status or luxury cottages. The Trois Vallées Paradise, with its 600 kilometers of maintained slopes offers long and light green ski slopes, ut also endurance challenges for the advanced skiers.
Where could you stay?
What inspired us is Barrière Les Neiges 5 *, a welcoming palace built of wood and white marble, completed with silky fabrics that perpetuate the warm authenticity of a mountain cottage with elegant contemporary furniture. For gourmets, the hotel offers two restaurants, including the legendary Fouquet brasserie and a BFire Argentine restaurant. On the edge of the Bellecôte slope, just above the main ski lift station and a stone's throw from the resort center, Les Grandes Alpes 5 * has the best location of all the five-star properties in Courchevel 1850. Is it a hotel? Is it a luxury cottage? Les Grandes Alpes is both, with nine beautifully arranged apartments on the slope, offering all the facilities of a five-star hotel, including butler service, bar, gourmet restaurant, Swiss Skincare Valmont spa and a small indoor pool.
How do you get there?
At the confluence of two airports, Courchevel leaves you the option to land in Switzerland, in Geneva, at a distance of 187 kilometers or even in Lyon, at an equal distance, of approximately 185 kilometers. TAROM flies 5 times a week to Lyon and Wizz Air 3 times a week, from Bucharest to Geneva. Blue Air has also scheduled flights from Bucharest to Lyon.
Megève - The St. Tropez of the Alps
Megève, a former agricultural village, was founded in 1916 by Baroness Noemie de Rothschild, who decided that France should have its own St. Moritz. The resort managed to attract French stars like a magnet back in the 1950s, when singer Yves Montand relaxed with Brigitte Bardot and Jean Cocteau at the base of his slopes. Today, Megève is home to nine five-star hotels and five Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as some of the best mountain spas in the world. Shiny boutiques and galleries run through the bustling medieval center and cobbled streets, along with an outdoor ice rink and a splendid church, which complete the landscape for a perfect winter holiday.
Where could you stay?
An intimate and bucolic paradise for families, Les Fermes de Marie 5 * is definitely the ideal location for those looking for a change of scenery and pampering. The rustic luxury is achieved by combining an idyllic green frame, high quality Savoyard wood and an elegant decor. The exceptional natural setting of the Hotel Flocons de Sel 5 *, a member of Relais & Châteaux, located on the heights of Megève, the intimacy of the spa, the spirit of the cuisine and the quality of service come together to make it a truly unique place for a romantic dinner, a relaxing and comfortable getaway. A Michelin 3-star chef, Emanuel Renaut, offers a subtle and inventive cuisine that can be associated with any of the many varieties of chosen wines. Enjoy the finesse of the ingredients, the technical mastery of the chef and the interaction of the textures, which are intertwined with delicate spices, to create a culinary masterpiece.
How do you get there?
Megève is equally accessible from Geneva Airport. The 90 kilometers can be traversed in less than an hour and a half. You can also find flight options at Lyon Airport, which is also 175 kilometers away and only two and a half hours drive to the center of the mountain resort.
Alpe d’Huez - Underestimated authentic luxury
If you are looking for truly exceptional slopes or apres activities, relaxing but authentic luxury, Alpe d’Huez could be the ideal destination. With the first traction lift installed in France in 1930 by engineer Jean Pomagalski, powered by the engine of an American truck from World War I, the resort has gained real prestige after luxury hotels, restaurants and a private airport completed the town. After a day on the slopes, enjoy a champagne reception and a fantastic meal at one of the unique traditional chalets, whose spas and wellness rooms are also legendary. The Michelin-starred restaurant L’Altiport is also famous among gourmets for authentic and delicious local cuisine and the outdoor terrace offers a superb view.
Where could you stay?
Hotel Au Chamois d'Or 5 * is our choice for spending a unique and elegant stay and enjoying the view of the heights of the resort. Nestled in a mountain gate, the chalet offers an unusual view of the snow-capped Grandes Rousses mountain and incredibly easy access to ski schools, ski lifts and other cable cars. Pic Blanc, here we are!
After a day of skiing, a sweet fatigue numbs your legs, and the relaxation at the NUXE Spa will bring you a moment of pure relaxation, which is worth enjoying if you choose a ski holiday in France. You will enjoy a quiet and harmonious energy in the heated pool, hammam, sauna or jacuzzi. Dishes made from the best local products in the Alpes d'Huez, tastefully improved, you will have in the menu of the restaurant run by chef William, a perfect unity between tradition and modernity!
How do you get there?
Just 150 kilometers from Lyon Airport, the Alpe d'Huez is accessible by car. You have to drive on the motorway for about an hour, for the first 99 km and then on a picturesque road, for another 60 minutes, which prepare you for the spectacular image of the ski slopes. If you land in Geneva, you will spend about two and a half hours by car for a journey of 211 km.
So when it comes to planning an exclusive ski holiday, France is and will remain a memorable winter experience. Remember that skiing is the perfect activity in these unusual times, when we need more than ever nature getaways for relaxation and recovery. Flights are accessible, resorts and hotels are ready. Have you already made your plans to book your ski season in France, 2021?
