The best hotels in Val d'Isere

"Once a far cry from Courchevel 's designer boutique and Michelin-starred, Dacha-luxe fanfare, and equally bearing little resemblance to Meribel's old money, largely French and British family ski scene, snow-sure Val d'Isère always attracted a more adventurous tribe with its high peaks and exhilarating runs. And where do they stay? Why, at the best hotels in Val d'Isère, of course."

"Its sporty, low-key demeanour and peak conditions for high-altitude madcappery (heli-skiing, snowmobiling and the like) caught the attention of hoteliers, weary of the consistently disappointing snowfall afflicting the usual ski season culprits, and the rampant butchering of traditional Alpine character in the name of hedonism. With its St Tropez and Courchevel stomping ground, Airelles' 2020 opening signalled a seismic shift for Val d'Isère, as did the arrival of Le K2 Chogori, raising the resort's hotel game to accompany the lifestyle, outdoorsy appeal."

Val d'Isère historically attracted adventurous skiers drawn to high peaks and exhilarating runs, differentiating it from Courchevel's designer luxury and Meribel's old-money family scene. The three-to-four hour transfer from Geneva is considered worth it for reliable conditions and the extensive well-connected runs across the Espace Killy (now Haute-Tarentaise) linking Val d'Isère and Tignes. The village retains traditional charm with a 17th-century church and a compact layout. The après-ski scene ranges from boisterous sunny lunch parties to refined bars. Recent luxury hotel openings, including Airelles in 2020, Le K2 Chogori and Experimental in 2024, elevated the resort into a snow-sure, sporty destination favored by the global elite.

Read at CN Traveller