L'Aiguille Grive Hotel ★★★★

The Les Arcs resort was founded in the 1960s by a group of passionate visionaries and oozes a cool, sporty vibe, but is also a fantastic family resort. The hotel sits on the slopes of the Les Arcs, less than 20 minutes from SNCF station Bourg-Saint-Maurice by funicular. Seemingly suspended between the mountains and the sky in the middle of this area of outstanding natural beauty, the hotel has direct access to the slopes. On the Saturday of your arrival you’ll be offered a welcome drink in the lounge bar and be met by some ski representatives who will be there to help make sure your stay is everything you want it to be.

Fuelled by the buffet breakfast in the hotel’s L’Aiguille Grive restaurant, which offers stunning views through the bay windows, it’s off to ski school; and, after a few comedy moments on the first morning, we slowly re-awakened our muscle memory and found our snow legs. Les Arcs 1800 offers a variety of slopes, including long descents with plenty of steep slopes for the more adventurous. There are a range of lessons on offer, including ones for beginners and even private lessons so you can really focus on your technique. There’s also full or half-day off-piste skiing courses available. For those who don’t ski, or just fancy trying something different, there are plenty of mountain trails for snow-shoe walking and there’s also an ice-rink where you can perfect your triple Lutz...

The hotel’s appearance reflects the avant-garde spirit of Les Arcs and the influence of architect Charlotte Periand. Wood and glass are combined to achieve stunning results. The energy-efficient bioclimatic-design building has been awarded the BBC Effinergie label (BBC 2005), the most demanding distinction in the category. The interior manages to be cosy yet chic, and is bathed in natural light. The bedrooms are all you could wish for after a day tackling the slopes: stylishly decorated with light wood and soft greys with the occasional bright splash of colour, creating a stylish, comfortable and restful environment. Each one has a private balcony with a stunning view of Mont Blanc. There’s a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, desk and ski locker complete with boot warmers. It’s such a treat to change out of your bulky wet ski gear into the comfort of the robe and slippers.

For a lunch stop between runs, the Aiguille Grive restaurant is easily accessible from the slopes. It opens out onto a huge, stunning, south-facing terrace with large reclaimed teak tables. You can even enjoy a spot of sunbathing on the red deckchairs after lunch. Chef Thierry Denes has created a menu which combines mountain cuisine with lighter dishes. It’s in the evening though that the restaurant really comes to life, with tall bay windows and tables covered in flickering candles, the setting is magical. One of my favourite parts of the day was heading though to the lounge bar after dinner and relaxing by the open fire with a glass of Savoyard Chignin or Mondeuse, swapping tales of the day’s adventures on the slopes.