08 Sep 2014
New and revamped hotels
Avoriaz
The Sibuet family who owns the five-star hotel l'Altapura in Val Thorens and several luxury hotels in Megève is opening a new hotel in Avoriaz. L'Hotel des Dromonts has been completely renovated by the Sibuet Group to combine vintage style and modern comfort. It has a Pure Altitude Spa, offering treatments with organic products made with local plants, a sauna, a steam room and a fitness area.
The hotel has two restaurants; La Table du Fromager serves traditional mountain dishes such as tartiflette and fondue. The second restaurant is a chic bistro, Les Enfants Terribles, based on the successful other Enfants Terribles brasseries in Megève and Val Thorens.
From €200 per night per person with breakfast
Beaufortain
Cozy three-star hotel La Ferme du Chozal in Hauteluce has created a 12th bedroom in a Mazot. A Mazot is a small Savoyard building where farmers used to keep valuable goods such as hay, food, tools, etc. Le Mazot du Chozal is an authentic Mazot from 1849 which has been converted into a luxury and cosy suite on two levels. On the first floor, there is a bedroom with a balcony with views of Mont-Blanc, and on the ground floor there is a lounge and a luxury bathroom. The Mazot also has a private terrace. Guests can enjoy total peace while benefiting from the hotel's service and its gourmet restaurant.
From €140 per room per night with breakfast
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Located in the heart of Chamonix, 3-star hotel Pointe Isabelle is re-opening its doors this winter after being completely revamped. Its 45 bedrooms are decorated in a Swedish style. The new owners have kept the original name of the hotel. The hotel had been named after Isabella Straton, the famous mountaineer who was the first woman to climb Mont-Blanc in winter. She completed this feat in 1876 with her husband the famous guide Jean Charlet.
From €183 per room per night with breakfast
Les Gets
Le Chasse-Montagne is an old farm from 1820 which has been transformed into a charming hotel. Located at 1,350m overlooking the resort, Le Chasse-Montagne is directly on the slopes and offers a 360 degree view of Mont Chéry and the other mountains around. There is a huge terrace facing south and an outdoor jacuzzi.
The 11 bedrooms are decorated in a chic alpine style with stone, old wood and steel.
The restaurant Le Chasse-Montagne will also be open to non-guests.
Morzine
The successful British company Rude Chalets is expanding in Morzine. The Laury's hotel has become the Rude Lodge. Located in the centre of the village, the Rude Lodge offers accommodation from £25 per person per night, breakfast included. The nightclub Le Paradis has become the Paradis @Rude to offer a unique après-ski with rock band playing twice a week and French Djs.
Val Cenis
In Val Cenis, the new owners of 3-star hotel Alpazur, have completely renovated the building. The cosy hotel now offers 28 spacious and comfy bedrooms, as well as a sauna and jacuzzi.
From €96 per room per night with breakfast
Val d'Isère
Hotel Le Grand Paradis, located at the foot of the Bellevarde and Solaise runs, has become Le Yule, a new 5-star hotel. It has 41 bedrooms decorated in a vintage Scandinavian style, spread over five floors. Le Yule has a brasserie with a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, a lounge bar, a cinema and a spa Nuxe.
From €350 for 2 per night
Val Thorens
A brand new Club Med is opening in December 2014 in Europe's highest ski resort. The Club Med Sensation 4 Tridents will have 384 bedrooms, including 12 deluxe bedrooms, 5 junior suites and 6 suites. It offers a new restaurant concept: on top of the main restaurant, it has three tasting areas, Le Comptoir Gourmand, the Bar Lounge and the Cave à Vins. The new Club Med also includes a 600m2 Spa Club Med by Carita. With a young, chic but relaxed atmosphere, it will fit perfectly well in the resort.
Annecy
The Impérial Palace in Annecy, ideally located just by the lake, has been bought by property group PVG. They have completely refurbished the 99 bedrooms and the reception. A new brasserie l'Impérial is opening, managed by Michelin starred chef Jean-Christophe Ansanays-Alex. The Impérial is aiming at becoming a 5-star hotel.
B&B and chalets
Combloux
La Barmaz is a beautiful traditional Savoyard house which had been converted in a small 5-bedroom hotel, with stunning views on the Chaine des Fiz, Aravis and Mont-Blanc. Breakfast and dinners mainly made of local products are served to the guests. La Barmaz will open for winter 2014-15.
From €75 to €115 per room
Courchevel
Courchevel has a new B&B. Located in le Praz, Chalet l'Etagne includes four beautiful double bedrooms and a family suite, all fully equipped and tastefully decorated. There is large lounge and a small spa area with a sauna and a Jacuzzi.
Méribel
Les Chalets du Hameau are luxury catered chalets with large bedrooms, cinemas, spas and all the services needed for a ski holiday. A new chalet has been built, in the heart of the Raffort, the highest hamlet in Méribel Valley. The new chalet, 'L'Ecume des Neiges', can sleep up to 16 people, on four levels, accessible by lift.
Tignes
Freeride champion Guerlain Chicherit lets his luxurious chalet in Tignes-Les Brévières. It includes six spacious suites, a gym, a jacuzzi and a game room. Breakfast and afternoon tea are served to guests. The décor match the ski champion, it is sporty, arty and rock'n roll!
Vallée d'Aulps
La Ferme du Lac Vert in Montriond is a traditional farmhouse built in 1842 which has been completely renovated in 2010 to offer a luxurious accommodation. The chalet has ten bedrooms, and can sleep up to 24 people. The meals are prepared by chef Sharif Gergis who took part in the BBC programme Masterchef in 2006 and went into the quarter final.
St Gervais
B&B the Mont-Joly in St Gervais has been taken over by a British couple, Brendan and Miranda. There are two twin rooms and three family rooms, which can accommodate couples with babies.
New residences
Avoriaz
After opening several new 3 and 4-star residences last winter, Avoriaz is opening another luxury residence in December, the Kouria. A building of 61 apartments has been completely renovated and converted into a luxury residence made of 17 apartments, with an indoor swimming pool, a steam room. The ski-in, ski-out residence, located in the centre of the resort, will offer a wide range of services. The architecture of the Kouria respects the unique architecture style of Avoriaz.
Flaine
The resort is changing and becoming more upmarket. Since 2007 five new residences have opened (two 3-star, one 4-star and one 5-star). This winter, two new residences are opening.
P&V Premium Les Terrasses d'Hélios has a direct access to the chairlift. Designed in a Savoyard style with stone and wood, the 119 apartments have large French windows with balcony or terrace with beautiful views of the Grand Massif. The 5-star residence includes an indoor pool, a children pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi and a Deep Nature Spa. There is a day nursery for the P&V Premium clients.
Les Terrasses d'Hélios will open in December 2014.
Odalys Le Panoramic, located in the heart of Flaine Forêt, at the foot of the chairlift des Grand Vans, has 75 apartments. The three-star residence has a TV/ multimedia lounge, a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, sauna and a steam room. It will open in February 2015.
Valmorel
La Grange aux Fées is a new MGM/CGH residence, perfectly integrated in Valmorel's architecture. The ski-in, ski-out residence has 34 luxurious apartments, from one to three bedrooms. It has a spa Ô des Cîmes and an indoor pool, as well as a paddling pool.
More stars
Les Suites du Montana in Tignes has been awarded a fifth star. The 27 suites have their own sauna, jacuzzi and fire place.
The K2 in Courchevel has become a Palace (a grade above 5-star).
In Les Arcs, Residence Les Arolles has been completely renovated to become a four-star residence. In La Plagne Centre, hotel Araucaria has been awarded a fourth star. The spa has been revamped and a balneo therapy pool has been built. From €86 per person per night B&B
In Le Grand-Bornand, Chalet-hotel Les Cimes now has four stars.
