New accommodation – and the best eco-friendly places
Samoëns: In the heart of the village, the very latest MMV group Club Residence has just opened, and it will welcome its first winter holidaymakers as from next 17 December! From the residence, there is easy access to the “Grand Massif Express” cable car, which serves the Grand Massif ski area. The 102 warm apartments are elegantly decorated and they feature balconies to make the most of the sunshine until the end of the day. The residence, which is built like a chalet with stone and wood, was awarded the “Silver Pyramid” prize for its low-carbon building design. After a long sporting day, you can also relax in the pool area with free access, featuring a heated indoor-outdoor pool, and an indoor sauna and hammam, together with an outdoor hot tub. From €749 per week www.mmv-holidays.co.uk/en
Méribel: The Antarès residence, which partly opened last winter, is now finished. This luxury residence, located in the Belvédère area, has a beautiful spa with a sauna, hammam, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and aqua circuit. In association with the Biologique Recherche brand, an exclusively professional cosmetics brand, the ANTARES WELLNESS CLINIC treatments combine a clinical approach to beauty care with pure, concentrated products and original, rigorous protocols. Biologique Recherche is available in major cities around the world, allowing you to continue your treatments once you return from your holiday. The Antarès residence has the first wellness clinic in the Alps. It offers medical services that give you a complete overview of your current state of health in order to guide you towards specific treatments and therapies to improve your quality of life. A unique range of interactive services are designed to produce the best results for individual skin and body characteristics. www.antares-meribel.com/
Ski Vertigo: for skiers and snowboarders who love a catered chalet holiday, Ski Vertigo is the new company to book with this winter. Offering a carefully chosen selection of chalets in Reberty 2000 (Les 3 Vallées), Tignes and Val d’Isère, Ski Vertigo provides the complete ski package of a fully catered week in the French Alps, plus return flights with British Airways to Lyon and exclusive transfers, all fully bonded and with ATOL protection. https://skivertigo.co.uk/
Eco accommodation in the Val d’Arly
Les Cabanes entre terre et ciel: You’re going to have to look towards the treetops to spot one of the four luxurious « nests ». Although all four are totally immersed in the forest, each cabin offers a different ambiance: the « nest » tree house boasts a huge 30 m2 terrace perched 9 meters above the ground; the « Mont-Blanc » tree house is the perfect place to relax with its private jacuzzi and sauna; the « stream » tree house is a kid’s dream since it is equipped with a suspended bridge, a tube slide and a treetop net to relax in, and finally – the latest addition – the splendid « leaf » tree house is perched 15 meters above the ground and has an outdoor jacuzzi, brazier, and panoramic rooftop terrace which offers an impressive view of Mont-Blanc. And with the personalised services on offer (doorstep breakfast delivery, fondue, champagne bottle…), the sky is the only limit! Prices: starting at 280 € / night. Info: www.cabanes-entreterreetciel.fr
Le Toî du Monde: after having inherited his grandma’s farm house (built in 1886 ntl), Florent Perrin completely renovated it in 2019, transforming it into a convivial and environmentally-friendly lodge, restaurant, and live music venue. On top of just wanting to offer people a ‘happy place’, the establishment was meant to be as eco-friendly as possible. It is carbon neutral and self-sufficient in terms of energy – the wood used for heating is produced on the premises, a lot of the produce used in the kitchen comes directly from its own garden and the remainder comes from local suppliers (within a 10 km radius).The lodge can sleep 2 to 20 people for one night, one weekend or one week. People love its outdoor jacuzzi, bowls court, and two electric charging ports. The restaurant was built in the old barn. Its high ceilings and beautiful ancient timbers offer just as much pleasure through their aesthetics as they do through the food. Its traditional smokery is still used to cure fish and meats. From the dining hall you can admire the work of the chefs in the open kitchen. The food is traditional and yet sophisticated. The Toî du Monde has been designated by ‘Gîte de France’ as a 4-star eco-lodge and awarded a Bib Gourmand and ‘Etoile Verte’ (in reference to its sustainable cuisine) by the Michelin Guide. www.letoidumonde.com/
Super deals and special offers!
In Samoëns, the lift pass is free for children aged 8 and under! Most resorts offer a free lift pass to children up to 5 years old.
Buy one, get one free in La Rosière: the resort is really going the extra mile by offering two weeks for the price of one! Fancy being one of the first – and the last – to ski the Espace San Bernardo? Thanks to the joint efforts of the Ski Area and accommodation providers like Le Refuge, Le Crystal (above), Le Tyrol, Adélie Immobilier, La Rosière Immobilier, Le Diamant des Cimes and L’Aiglon, it’s within your grasp. Book a week-long stay on the opening week of the season (10th to 17th December 2022) and receive free accommodation for the last week of the season (15th to 22nd April 2023). This offer also applies to the purchase of a 6-day ski pass. Hurry, places are limited!
Budget accommodation in Les 2 Alpes: in the last few years, two cool hostels have opened in Les 2 Alpes: The People hostel and Base Camp Lodge. Base Camp Lodge, which is in the centre of the resort, has a dormitory where a bed costs €45 a night. The hostel also has comfy private rooms from €115 per night. Guests can make their own breakfast or can get breakfast at the hostel’s restaurant for €10. www.hotel-basecamplodge.com
Discounts for visitors coming by train to La Rosière: the ski resort’s management has decided to reward visitors who come as far as Bourg-Saint-Maurice by train. The Ski Area will offer all rail travellers a 15% discount voucher on their next ski pass. Accommodation providers are also offering these travellers certain services, which would normally have to be paid for, free of charge, such as the hire of linen.