Hôtel Le Fer à Cheval ★★★★★

The chic resort of Megève sits at 1,100 m on the slopes next to Mont Blanc, the epitome of an authentic Haute-Savoie mountain village. The area around the resort abounds with farms and you’ll find locals as well as tourists in the cafés. The Sibuet family have managed to capture the essence of this delightful village within the wood-clad walls of Le Fer a Cheval, and the result is a hotel with a soul. Decorated in harmonious colours, it’s an authentic mountain chalet with a touch of luxury. The atmosphere of warm serenity is partly down to the décor, but it’s largely down to the professionalism of the staff, who always have a ready smile.

The hotel has 53 rooms and suites with a simple but luxurious design. Contemporary patterned fabrics mix with the romance of wood-panelled walls. They are complete with mini bar, safe, desk area, and flat-screen TV. The bathrooms have a shower as well as a bath –particularly welcome after a long day on your feet – and hairdryer plus robe and slippers. Deluxe rooms have a balcony with breathtaking views.

The hotel’s bar is a wonderful place to unwind in. Settle down by the fire and replace expended calories with some patisserie for afternoon tea. Or if the spa is more your idea of relaxation, then return to the bar later for cocktails and canapés instead. In the hotel’s spa, you’ll find pure relaxation within a haven of wood, stone and glass. Alternate between stretching out your muscles in the pool - with its colour-changing lights – and then soothe them in the sauna. For something more decadent try the eucalyptus scented steam room, followed by a cold shower, aromatic exfoliation then essential oil massage, or indulging yourself with one of the Decleor treatments.

Come dinner time, you can explore Megeve’s culinary reputation; it boasts over 90 restaurants, many of them award-winning. However, you don’t even have to cross the threshold for divine cooking; you just need to decide between the hotel’s two restaurants. Le Traditionnel is an elegant wood-lined dining room decorated with soft colours where gourmet chef Christophe Corus creates rich flavours with fresh seasonal ingredients. It’s safe to say that, despite cheese before bedtime, it would be impossible to have anything but sweet dreams in the delightful haven that is Le Fer a Cheval.