LeCrans Hotel & Spa

"A chalet-like building of wood and stone, with terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows in nearly every room, LeCrans is by far the most exclusive spot from which to appreciate this posh ski resort’s dramatic views of the jagged Alps. These vistas are also found at the buzzing restaurant, a dining room with a roaring fireplace and gray cedar walls and beams, and the intimate Cinq Mondes spa, with a lap pool made from Vietnamese green stone and an outdoor Jacuzzi. The 15 guest rooms are richly furnished—it’s clear that the designer, Christophe Decarpentrie, didn’t cut any corners—and are named after mountains and ranges: The airy, light-filled Everest Junior Suite, for instance, is green and gold with high ceilings, a charming tropical-themed mural on the wall behind the bed, and a fireplace. It’s also clear from the eyepopping rates that the hotel expects its guests to appreciate such fine details, despite the fact that the deluxe and superior rooms are on the small side. You pay to be coddled in such a privileged location, just 300 feet from the slopes in a glitzy resort studded with Chanel and Hermès boutiques."