Méribel
in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Méribel's Rond-Point des pistes is where Le Coucou sits, a ski-in, ski-out hotel from the Maison Pariente family designed by Pierre Yovanovitch. It looks like a traditional chalet outside and delivers playful design inside: unexpected twists, warm and contemporary. Terrace tables fill quickly at lunch; the après set gathers in the spa or over dinner.

The cluster of chalets that make up Refuge de la Traye sits remote above Méribel, reachable only by off-roader through snowy forests, which is of course the point. Traditional interiors (thick woods, hot fireplaces) with high-tech finishes. The team are excellent: ski suggestions, activity ideas, raclette on request. The spa does hydrafacials; the cinema fills the evenings.