Alps: the finest hotel spas in the mountains

Hôtel Ermitage - Evian Resort | Spa Quatre Terres

The spa? Like a cocoon of mineral serenity, the Spa Quatre Terres evokes the omnipresence of nature: taupe-coloured walls, grey-toned pebbles, slate flooring, natural light flooding the relaxation lounge, the murmur of a waterfall. A world conducive to deep relaxation, where sauna, hammam, indoor pool with whirlpool and outdoor pool all contribute to a sense of well-being.

In the nine treatment cabins (including one duo suite), therapists work with three partner brands: Altéarah with natural, healthy and authentic cosmetics, TooFruit, with organic products for children, and Olivier Claire, a pioneer in clean beauty for over ten years.

Fascinated by the riches of nature, Olivier Couraud (Claire is the first name of his mother, who taught him the basics of phytotherapy), has put together a range of eleven products. His natural formulations, free from colorants and parabens, are brought to the highest level of authorized concentration to maximize their effects. It plays with the synergy of plant active ingredients from precious and rare species, principally native sea fennel cells, wakame extract, fresh sunflower pollen and plant hyaluronic acid.

To be discovered during the 50-minute Olivier Claire Facial Care, currently the most popular ritual at the Quatre Terres spa. After a diagnosis, the therapist tailors the experience to the client's skin type and aspirations. To begin, the practitioner applies Lait Démaquillant Haute Performance (High-Performance Cleansing Milk) with a cotton pad, which tingles a little but awakens the cells. This is followed by a grain-free High Performance Scrub, a sweet treat for sensitive skin that brightens the complexion, or a grainy Scrub (oyster shell powder and kiwi seeds) effective at removing impurities and dead cells from combination and oily skin. After applying a Collagen Mask to combat the signs of skin ageing, a plumping Global Serum, bursting with antioxidants, is gently massaged into the skin. Then the High-Performance Global Mask on the face and neck smoothes out expression lines. Like a photoshop effect!

For thirsty skin, apply Nutritive Cream with Native Cells enriched with shea butter, or for normal to oily skin, apply Rich Cream with Native Cells enriched with marine collagen, a lighter product despite its name. The result: a luminous, moisturized face, redefined features and the disappearance of signs of fatigue.

The frame? Built in 1908-1909 by landscape architect Henri Martinet (who designed the gardens at Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen), this Anglo-Norman-style building is set in the verdant grounds of the Evian Resort, abundant with flowers in fine weather.

The style? Het Hotel Ermitage Evian Resort werd tot de jaren 1930 bezocht door een eliteklantenkring en in 1950 omgebouwd tot een ziekenhuis. Het kreeg zijn oorspronkelijke bestemming terug toen het in 1991 werd gekocht door de Société des Eaux Minérales d'Evian. Completely renovated in 2010 by decorator Patrick Ribes and designer Delphine Chaumont Aidan, the four-star Evian Resort combines conviviality and authenticity. Like a family home. The decor features numerous references to nature: sober lines and raw elements such as wood, stone and leather, in shades of brown and plant motifs.

Gastronomy? In the restaurant La Table, chef Alexandre Krizan prepares a cuisine based on local, seasonal produce. The two musts: Sunday brunch and signature cocktails at La Bibliothèque, the cosy English-style bar. And a 5-minute walk across the park to the Michelin-starred Les Fresques restaurant at the neighbouring Hôtel Royal.

How many keys? 80 rooms, including 23 family rooms, and 6 suites with lake-view balconies. In the bathrooms, pebbles and slate reinforce the mineral character of the setting.

Where to find us? In Haute-Savoie, on the heights of Évian-les-Bains, between the Alps and Lake Geneva.

We particularly like

• The ski shop, with top-of-the-range equipment for sale or hire, for skiing in the Bernex and Thollon-les-Mémises resorts, 15 minutes from the resort, or the Portes du Soleil, 45 minutes away;
• Kid's Resort, shared with Hôtel Royal, which organizes ski days in Bernex with dedicated instructors;
• Organized dog-sledding and snowshoe outings in the Val d'Abondance;
• An exceptional natural environment to recharge your batteries.
• Two golf courses at the Evian Resort Golf Club (18-hole and 6-hole).

Hôtel Ermitage Evian Resort
80 rooms, including 23 family rooms, and 6 suites from €220 per night with breakfast.
960 Avenue du Léman, 74500 Neuvecelle

Le Coucou, Méribel | Spa Tata Harper

The spa ? This cocoon of serenity, entirely dedicated to Tata Harper Skincare, the Ecocert Green Life-certified American brand, offers rituals combining plant biotechnology and cutting-edge massage techniques. Like Le Coucou Signature Facial Care, which invigorates, protects and moisturizes. New this winter: the Snowga program. Over one or three days, it combines skiing, osteopathy sessions, sports massages and daily yoga. Complement it with a break in Le Coucou Méribel water park.

What's the hotel like ? Overlooking the oldest resort in the 3 Vallées, on a mountainside, this five-star ski-in/ski-out hotel, part of the Maisons Pariente collection, is designed by Pierre Yovanovitch. Conceived as a family home in Méribel, it blends sleek contemporary decor (a hundred leagues away from traditional mountain hotel decor) with quirky details such as cuckoos and owls. On the food side, the Beefbar's exceptional meats rival the Biancaneve's Italian menu.

Le Coucou Méribel
55 rooms and suites, from 460€ per night.
464 route du Belvédère, 73550 Les Allues-Méribel

Altapura, Val Thorens | Spa by Codage

The spa ? At an altitude of 2,300 m, this 1,000 m2 spa blends glass paving stones, granite and birch forests to offer the Codage line of 100% clean products made in France. Discover a range of face treatments (such as L'Expérience Visage Couture) and body treatments (such as L'Expérience Corps Couture), following the Nordic spiral course, which alternates dry and wet heat, waterfall showers and icy snow friction in an igloo. With its vast pool and wellness area larger than any other hotel in Val Thorens, Altapura is indeed the resort's finest 5-star spa hotel.

What's the hotel like? Right on the ski slopes of Europe's highest resort, this generously proportioned, elegant establishment exudes a chic Nordic atmosphere, tinged with inventive touches: bleached wood, dry stone, arty furniture, a wall of old skis and an outdoor bar made of 1980s ski boots. A new Italian restaurant completes the Altapura's restaurant offering, including the fun dairy and its mountain specialties.

Altapura
88 keys, from €266 per night.
Rue du Bouchet, 73440 Val Thorens

Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges Courchevel

Its location overlooking the Bellecôte slope, just a stone's throw from the center, is already a major asset for this 5-star hotel inaugurated in 2016. From the moment you enter, you'll love the warm atmosphere of the lobby, dressed in different types of wood, where families of sheep made of wood and wool laze in front of an open fire. Everywhere, the décor imagined by Nathalie Ryan revisits Alpine codes, as evidenced by the chandelier at the center of the staircase, composed of translucent white balls evoking a snowfall, and the carpeting in the corridors echoing the tracks of skis in powder snow. In the 22 rooms and 20 suites of the Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges, some with balconies or terraces, the decor is unashamedly mountainous: blond woods, wool or (fake) fur plaids, tree trunks as coffee tables... In terms of suites, the 206^m2 duplex Les Neiges suite deserves a very high mention.

The Appartement des Neiges, a 310^m2 duplex penthouse with dedicated butler service, is the epitome of luxury. In the Fouquet's des Neiges restaurant, the hallmarks of Fouquet's Paris are evident: wood panelling enhanced by the crisp red velvet of the banquettes and armchairs, and Harcourt portraits of actors. Its superb terrace provides direct access to the slopes, where large sofas surround braziers used to cook the meats enjoyed at B Fire, the second restaurant run by Italian-French-Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco, 3 stars in Menton.

The 1000^m2 Diane Barrière spa is bathed in natural light. It houses 6 cabins, one of which is a duo, a 20 m pool with aquatic course, hammam, sauna and outdoor jacuzzi. Treat yourself to Biologique Recherche treatments.

Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges Courchevel
42 rooms, from €2,300 per night
422 rue de Bellecôte, 73120 Courchevel

Hôtel Mont-Blanc, Chamonix | Spa Clarins

The spa ? An invitation to relax, this 250^m2 spa offers a breathtaking view of the Mont-Blanc massif. Stamped Clarins, it features exclusive natural products, combining aromatic and phytotherapeutic delights. This winter's star treatment is the Haute Montagne Special Ski Massage, a deep, dynamic treatment that eliminates muscular and joint tension. In addition to the hammam, sauna and Nordic shower, there's a heated outdoor pool for swimming while contemplating the most famous peak in the Alps.

What's the hotel like ? A legendary address in the valley since 1849, the Hôtel Mont-Blanc, a Belle Époque palace and member of the H8 Collection group, retains its hushed atmosphere of yesteryear, enlivened by contemporary touches added by Sybille de Margerie, who renovated the hotel. The interior designer played with black-and-white checkerboard marble and light woodwork, punctuated by powdered or bright colors. A cocooning style to face the extreme cold.

Hôtel Mont-Blanc Chamonix
44 keys, from 300€ per night.
62 Allée du Majestic, 74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc

Airelles Val d'Isère | Spa Guerlain

The spa ? This 1,300^m2 wellness area features a 20 m-long pool reminiscent of a medieval washhouse, with stone arches and a vaulted ceiling. Designed by Guerlain, this exceptional Val d'Isère spa offers exclusive treatments, including the Kingdom of Snow, which combines a moisturizing facial with a body massage to relax aching muscles. Also unique is the Le Boudoir treatment, which combines hand and foot reflexology with a leg massage.

What's the hotel like? On Val d'Isère's snow front, this imposing building, with its Sarrazine tower and lancet windows, is the resort's only luxury hotel with direct access to the slopes. Inside the Airelles Val d'Isère, architect Christophe Tollemer has reinterpreted the atmosphere of the aristocratic Alpine mansions of yesteryear. The new Loulou restaurant offers dishes combining Italian flavors and Alpine traditions. Enjoy lunch on the 800^m2 sunny terrace.

Airelles Val d'Isère
41 keys including 9 suites and 5 apartments, from 900€ per night.
145 Rue de la Poste, 73150 Val d'Isère

Armancette, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains

The spa ? A cocoon of authenticity, opening onto a heated, semi-covered pool with a spectacular view of the Miage domes. In the three cabins, therapists perform KOS Paris treatments, featuring natural formulas and organic active ingredients (prickly pear seed oil, acai berries and babassu butter). There's also a new Day Spa package with access to the aquatic area, massage or facial and lunch.

What's the hotel like ? Set in a Savoyard village high above Saint-Gervais-les Bains, this Leading Hotels of the World-certified boutique hotel caters to lovers of unspoilt landscapes, far from the show off. The architecture (granite, tavaillons, lauze) blends perfectly with the natural setting. Inside Armancette, old brushed wood and rare natural stone create a mineral scenography. Both intimate and kid-friendly.

Armancette
19 rooms, from €450 per night.
4088 route de Saint-Nicolas, 74170 Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains