Best for trendsetters
Bang in the middle of Val d’Isere’s main street, the new Hotel Avenue Lodge is sleek, shiny and sophisticated. With stripy faux fur bedding here, dark-wood cladding there and black-stone tiling everywhere — right down to the bijou spa — you'd be forgiven for thinking this boutique hotel was in New York. See and be seen sipping cocktails on a cowhide stool or leather chair in the lounge bar, surrounded by more black stone and hints of red. After post-ski partying at slopeside Folie Douce, or dining at Michelin-starred La Table de l'Ours, this is the place to crash. And next morning, you’ll be a short five-minute walk from the lifts. hotelavenuelodge.com
Best traditional ski hotel
For chalet styling with five-star ski hotel facilities, check into the new Chalet RoyAlp in Villars, Switzerland. Wood floors, walls and ceilings, two giant wooden bears and roaring fires give a dreamy Alpine feel — but don’t worry. Chalet cute is offset by ski babe chic with a glamorous waterfall chandelier that descends four floors, an urban-cool bar, and a stunning spa that you’ll never want to leave (nab the fireside loungers, if you can). Rooms are spacious, with woodsy décor, large bathrooms with two-person tubs and walk-in closets the size of a London flat. Best of all, you can ski straight in after a day on Villars slopes or the glacier at Diablarets. Just 90 minutes from Geneva, Chalet RoyAlp makes an ideal weekend ski break, but spoil yourself and stay longer at this picture-perfect ski hotel. It would make a great honeymoon ski hotel, too, for those looking to canoodle on the slopes. royalp.ch.
Best luxe-for-less
One of America’s most popular ski areas, Lake Tahoe is little known by Europeans. The opening of the new Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe should help change that. This 170-room ski-in, ski-out, hotel in Northstar, on the California side of Lake Tahoe, is just 45 miles from Reno Airport, and 200 miles from San Francisco. The enormous spa has separate areas for men and women, each with rain experience, steam, sauna and Jacuzzis. Guest rooms are contemporary, with cream and rust décor and marble bathrooms, and each room comes with its own small fireplace for romantic evenings in. Rates are less than you’d expect for a hotel of this calibre. ritzcarlton.com
Best design ski hotel
In Sweden, of course. The new Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre is the country's first true design ski hotel, but boy, it was worth the wait. Blond wood, granite and copper detailing set the tone, while old Swedish photos and quilted velvet bedding keep it cosy. Rooms are for 2 to 16 people with multiple bathrooms, living rooms and kitchen areas in the larger suites. The Swedish spa experience is, of course, a must, and the one here features Sami-inspired rooms for unique local treatments. copperhill.se
Best for a weekend break
It’s hard to beat Jiva Hill Park for a weekend ski break. Within 15 minutes of stepping outside Geneva Airport, you’ll be checking in. And in another five minutes, you’ll be on the slopes of Monts-Jura where tree-lined pistes abound to keep beginners and intermediates entertained — advanced skiers might want to arrange a helicopter transfer to more challenging slopes. The rooms are attractive, with contemporary décor and huge bathtubs. The ice-cold plunge bath in the spa, followed by a jittery stumble to the adjacent sauna or steam room, does wonders for relieving muscle fatigue. Most rooms and the pool provide views of the nearby mountains. The restaurant doesn’t quite match the hotel’s standards, giving you a good excuse to check out the gourmet offerings in Geneva. jivahill.com
