Rest, relaxation, gastronomy, spa and skiing are on the program for winter sports in the French Alps. To all those for whom skiing is not the sport of choice, come and relax in these exceptional altitude spas. Of course also some great experiences are available during the summer with many activities ! Find the best 5 Alpine resorts for spa lovers. Take a spa break in the French Alps for romantic escapes or detox programs.
Read further with the next blog. France has some of the world’s greatest ski and snowboard areas. Discover and dream about the 10 best downhill ski resorts in France.
To start our list of the best 5 Alpine resorts for spa lovers, let’s start with Avoriaz. What is very striking about Avoriaz is that cars are banned! A 100% pedestrian bias that sparked heated debate at the time of its construction. On arrival, you must park your vehicle and forget about it during your stay. In Avoriaz, carriages have replaced taxis. We discover the station, bundled up under a thick white coat.
One of the newest hotel The new Avoriaz hotel is called Mil8, after the altitude of the resort. With its 42 rooms and suites, its lounge-fireplace, its terrace, its bar, its spa with a view (infinity pool on the summits, counter-current pool, “Snow Eternelle” care products created by the freestyle ski champion Raphaëlle Monod Sjoström), d’Avoriaz’s second hotel – after the legendary Les Dromonts – uses the codes of the avant-garde architecture of the pedestrian resort. Each room is entitled to its own view of the Portes du Soleil! A building covered with larch, an interior warmed with leather, wool, steel and concrete, a children’s area (with climbing wall), healthy and gourmet altitude cuisine, hot chocolates and cheese boards at the après-ski bar, you can settle in at Mil8 like at home.
At the foot of Mont Blanc, Megève is a very authentic village, a place with incredible charm: many chalets, fir trees, a small river in the heart of the houses, the direct view of the mountains without forgetting of course many shops. A stay combining mainly winter sports, relaxation (SPA), city tour and Savoyard cuisine. That’s good because many activities are possible in this resort! It is true that originally, we tend to think that Megève is only a “gentrified” resort, reserved for a certain elite, but in the end the resort has a real mountain charm and the activities offered in the surroundings are rather accessible.
To enjoy the SPA, what better than the Grand Hotel Soleil d´Or: 120 years of history are hidden behind this iconic facade at the entrance to the village of Megève. Inside, 16 rooms and suites, from 21 to 39 m2, as well as 3 XXL independent chalets. A tribute to Megève’s – forgotten – thermal past, in addition to the swimming pool and hammam, a pretty Gemology spa (which uses precious minerals), the promise of relaxing treatments. At the hotel’s – intimate – table, the generous menu is signed Flora Mikula from mountain products. At the panoramic bar, which surrounds a replica of the village fountain – filled with bottles of Champagne -, we serve house cocktails and on the ground floor, we meet around a hot chocolate at the Jean Paul Hévin chocolate factory… What else?
Thanks to a history, an area and exceptional services, Val d’Isère is one of the most beautiful and popular resorts. An international resort unlike any other, probably because it is built around a bell tower and traditional houses. Here we cultivate the smile, the emotion, the conviviality, the sharing.
The Hotel Mademoiselle: Interior architecture by Christophe Tollemer, antique furniture, painted beams, a monumental staircase, a magical children’s kingdom, a ski lounge, all on the snow front… With its 41 rooms and suites, its 5 apartments luxurious on the top floor with a dedicated butler (the largest, with a fireplace and bathroom in the tower, is 200m2), the hotel has a team of 172 people… Something to be pampered! On arrival, choose one of the four Guerlain waters (Winter In Russia is the hotel’s olfactory signature), which will perfume your room before heading to the spa Guerlain, 1200m2. We choose the “Snow Kingdom” treatment, a relaxing facial treatment, before a splash in the swimming pool (20m long), inspired by the decor of a medieval washhouse, surrounded by large sleds as day beds while sipping, a healthy drink at the Echoppe.
Renowned resort in Savoie, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc remains a true village with a mountain soul at an altitude of 1035 meters. One hour from Geneva airport, it has retained its charm of yesteryear, still evoking the time when the first pioneers began to attack this mythical mountain and its sea of ice in the Vallée Blanche. Very international, Chamonix has everything for an idyllic stay: a pedestrian center, shops among the most prestigious brands, starred restaurants, a thermal spa, a casino, a jazz club and regular musical events throughout the year.
The Héliopic Sweet & Spa: Perfectly located in the heart of Chamonix Mont-Blanc, in the city center, the Heliopic Hotel & Spa is the ideal refuge to indulge in winter sports and summer activities in the Alps. . Its elegant setting and its atmosphere imbued with serenity make it the perfect place for nature lovers. The NUXE Spa at the Heliopic Hotel & Spa invites you on a soothing journey, with a view of the Mont-Blanc massif. To recharge your batteries, an ice cave, whirlpool bath, cold water well, hammams, sauna and herbal tea room offer a unique multi-sensory experience. Winter or summer, after skiing or in the mountains, dive into the indoor swimming pool, a place of rest and relaxation.
Winter and summer sports resort, known for its very sunny climate, Alpe d’Huez (1860m) is a huge paradise for lovers of skiing, clean air and space. Located on the Grandes Rousses massif, Alpe d’Huez grand domaine Ski is linked to the village resorts of Auris-en-Oisans, Huez-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas. Its summit, the Pic Blanc, rises to an altitude of 3330 m and offers a magnificent panorama of the Ecrins National Park and its prestigious peaks, the Meije, the Muzelle, the Aiguilles d´Arves, the Mont Blanc … The resort is equipped with structures that complement the natural assets of the site to offer holidaymakers indoor and outdoor, sporting and cultural activities. The geography of the area, characterized by a gentle drop in altitude at the bottom of the slopes, is conducive to learning how to slide gently on the green slopes and the 2 areas reserved for beginner skiers. One hour from Grenoble and less than 5 hours from Paris, Alpe d’Huez offers a wide range of activities to share with family and friends…
At its highest point, the Pic Blanc Hotel has a crazy character with its wooden facade and its architecture that brilliantly evokes the cocooning spirit sought by travelers. The SPA du Pic Blanc is a refined cocoon of 350m2 with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and relaxation area, all developed in partnership with the Pur Altitude brand.
I hope you enjoyed this post on my top 5 Alpine resorts for spa lovers. If you want to take advantage of those establishments and let yourself be cocooned, contact us in order to create a superb itinerary in the Alps in summer and winter!
