"This pioneering, chalet-style hotel was built from scratch in 1989 out of old timbers salvaged from Savoyard farmhouses. It was the brainchild of local couple Jocelyne and Jean-Louis Sibuet, who went on to create a mini empire of small, interesting properties scattered across the Alps, Lyon, Provence, and St. Bart’s. Along with all that gorgeous pine—sloping beamed ceilings, slated wood terraces, four-posters, and open fireplaces—comes comfort: a cozy mix of textures and muted shades from silvered cow-skin rugs and creamy flannels to soft wool plaids and deep leather sofas, plus the occasional baroque carved antique. After a stint on the powdery slopes, have lunch on the terrace of Le Restaurant Alpin and order the divine three-cheese fondue—worth every calorie. Those who aren’t die-hard ski bums can work it off in the heated indoor pool at the Pure Altitude Spa, where signature treatments are packed with Arctic berries, botanical extracts, and anti-aging mountain edelweiss." - CNT Editors, Betsy Blumenthal