The 10 best ski stations for a snowy break in the Alps

Altiports, luxury hotels and lodgings, Michelin-starred restaurants, spas, luxury shops, various high-end activities and exclusive events... These are the features of these excellent resorts, which offer winter sports in a comfort and prestige recognized throughout the world.

Courchevel

Located at the end of the 3 Valleys, one of the largest ski areas in the world, Courchevel is composed of four villages. The highest, Courchevel 1850, is the most exclusive with the most upscale hotels, numerous Michelin starred restaurants and a main street lined with luxury boutiques with the legendary European brands such as Gucci, Moncler, Chanel and Dior. Courchevel proudly boasts 7 starred restaurants, a record in the mountains. Celebrities from all 5 continents flock there. The village is also home to the largest ski school in France, which also offers very high quality services.

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Megeve

This ski resort was created by members of the Rothschild family. It has hosted for many years noble families who have shaped its reputation. Nestled between the Italian and Swiss borders, the ski area offers 445 kilometers of slopes with a wide open amphitheater shaped area with a unique view of the Mont Blanc massif from every summit. Megève is a very popular spot in Haute-Savoie and is located in the Evasion Mont Blanc area. Alpine pastures, pine forests, wide open spaces alternate for an authentic skiing in an exceptional environment. From a lifestyle point of view, Megève is to France what Saint Moritz is to Switzerland, a luxury ski resort with undeniable charm. The village is made up of small paved streets lined with luxury boutiques and traditional stores. Megeve does not offer ostentatious luxury, but true refinement. Its luxury is to offer a lively and elegant village life all year round.

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Meribel

Launched by the British Colonel Lord Lindsay, Meribel attracts since 1938 an international clientele. The heart of the 3 Valleys offers a charming and high-flying hotel business. Each of the resort's villages has its own particularity but keeps a Savoyard imprint to promise you a total change of scenery. Méribel seduces above all by its discreet charm and the quality of its ski area. If the heart of the resort is home to luxury stores and high-end hotels, it looks more like a high mountain village than an ultra concrete ski resort. Yet, with 40,000 beds, it is one of the largest Alpine resorts. Wood, local stone and mountain slate have been used and concrete has been banned. All the elegance of Méribel comes from this initiative. Méribel Les Allues is the most exclusive village of the five and offers prestigious services in terms of restoration, relaxation and residence.

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Val d'Isère

Once a simple family resort, Val d'Isere is now one of the most popular high-end ski resorts in Europe. However, the luxury has not changed the traditional atmosphere of the place. In the town center, old buildings are in the spotlight and Val d'Isère is part of the Espace Killy, the most beautiful ski area in the world according to many. Here, luxury abounds, with quality cocktail bars, Michelin-starred restaurants and 6-star hotels. The slopes are all better than the others, served by 5-star cable cars put into service at the time of the 1992 Olympic Games. Over the last twenty years, Val d'Isère has experienced a spectacular progression in quality and has become one of the world's elite resorts. Don't miss the unmissable electro concert at the Folie Douce: it's the place to be for jet setters!

Chamonix

Facing Mont Blanc, Chamonix cultivates a balance between tradition (old fashioned palaces brought up to date) and new trends (design decoration). The slopes of the resort are divided into 4 ski areas (Le Brévent - La Flégère, Balme, Les Grands Montets and Les Houches), suitable for all levels with a multitude of skiing activities. Once off the slopes, you will find yourself in a cosmopolitan village due to its proximity to Switzerland and Italy. Spa and fitness, shopping, restaurants with starred chefs... Chamonix is a resort full of surprises.

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Val Thorens

If the highest resort in Europe (2300 m) is sporty, it satisfies a demanding clientele thanks to its architectural transformation, the rise of its après-ski with the opening of high-flying restaurants and Michelin starred tables, the creation of residences chalets of high standing and design that also offer among the most beautiful spas of the French Alps.

Saint Moritz (Switzerland)

This is one of the most famous Swiss resorts, especially for its posh atmosphere and because it has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. It perfectly combines the pleasure of the slopes during the day and the entertainment of the après-ski evenings. The most courageous will find one of the steepest downhill slopes in Switzerland with a vertiginous slope of 100% on the top of the Piz Nair. If you decide to go there, we strongly recommend that you take the Glacier Express. On its journey, the train passes through magical mountain landscapes that are part of the UNESCO world heritage. St. Moritz is also famous for its mineral water springs, turquoise mountain lakes and numerous luxurious spas. St. Moritz regularly hosts the biggest names in Hollywood as well as many European royal families. Nearly 10,000 private jets land here each year. Its main street, via Serlas, is dotted with luxury boutiques such as Chanel or Bulgari, frequented by customers who arrive in horse-drawn carriages. St. Moritz retains its sporting DNA by hosting an annual World Cup skiing event.

Cortina (Italy)

In Cortina, skiing is a serious business. Let's not forget that the resort hosted the Olympic Games in 1952, and offers one of the best ski areas in Italy. The village is an absolutely charming place where grand 19th century mansions dominate the urban landscape with a distinctly Italian style. Cortina is one of the most fashionable resorts in Italy, frequented on weekends by Romans and Milanese who flock to the ski, shopping and fine dining. Glamour and luxury are the order of the day, with two Michelin-starred restaurants run by the same family for several generations. The appeal of the gourmet restaurants and designer boutiques means that the slopes can be surprisingly quiet, so the snow stays fresh and the fun of winter sports isn't threatened by the popularity of the resort. Access Faloria's south-facing slopes for wide cruising runs that are best suited to intermediate skiers. Otherwise, chase a challenging black at 2,930m and ski across to Rio Gere (1,680m), before taking two high-speed chairlifts to Son Forca and beyond. The Grand Hotel Miramonti Majestic, the resort's iconic hotel, was featured in the James Bond classic, For Your Eyes Only.

Zermatt (Switzerland)

On the Italian border of the Valais, the southernmost canton of Switzerland, Zermatt nestles at the end of the 30 km Nikolaital valley, at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world. Almost a third of the Alpine peaks above 4000 meters majestically frame the ski resort of Zermatt, which has become a paradise for the most experienced mountaineers. Its ski area is not only the highest in the Alps, it is also considered one of the best developed in the world, offering a year-round daring sporting experience in the heart of the steepest destination. The climate is of exceptional quality: with 300 days of sunshine per year, the recorded rainfall is the lowest in Switzerland. The air in Zermatt is clear, dry and clean, as only electric vehicles without combustion engines are allowed to drive through the village - and have been since 1947.

Gstaad (Switzerland)

Known throughout the world but often mispronounced, the posh Swiss resort is a bit like the Saint-Tropez of ski resorts. Beyond its worldly aspect, the resort offers an impressive ski area with its 220 km of slopes going up to 3000 meters of altitude and offering a large mountain panorama to its skiers. Non-skiers can of course find all the world-famous luxury brands as well as numerous bars and restaurants, so that they can have a great time in a festive and prestigious setting. Gstaad even allows the most passionate to ski at night by lighting some of its slopes.

All these resorts offer a comfort and a standing recognized throughout the world. Residents of the Côte d'Azur have an advantage because of their geographical proximity to the Alps and their exceptional resorts. However, the luxury of the Côte d'Azur also lies in the immediate proximity of the Isola 2000 resort, which is 1.5 hours from Nice and 2 hours from Cannes, ideal for a day or weekend getaway to enjoy the snow and winter sports.

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