HOTEL MONT BLANC

Plush Alpine chalet in chic Megève

THERE ARE FRENCH ALP RESORTS and then there's Megève: old money, quiet glamour and Le Mont Blanc. And this classy Alpine chalet hotel in the unspoilt town centre is now as much a landmark as the snow-covered mountain it was named after.

Owners Jean-Louis and Jocelyne Sibuet have made this once dilapidated village chalet drop-dead chic. Blond pine and oak panelling throughout glow invitingly. The confident mix of English country house, aristocratic Austrian and trad Haute Savoie styles works a treat. A charming interior courtyard where you can sit in the afternoon sun with home-made cakes and vin chaud and a tiny outdoor pool (only open in summer) complete the Mont Blanc's alpine idyll.

Numerous stars have stayed, and two of the frescoed suites are named after celebrated French writer Jean Cocteau, whose drawings and paintings adorn the walls. Old panelled walls, floors and ceilings  imbue the place with all the feel of an old Alpine hunting lodge.

Perky Savoyard plaids

Cosy meets plush in Hôtel Mont Blanc's gorgeously appointed rooms, displaying a fabulous eye for detail. Honey-coloured panelling forms a warm backdrop to well-dressed beds, rich soft furnishings and furniture, fashionable fabrics and  perky Savoyard plaids. It's all very pulled-together and deeply comfortable. Suites have the wickedest big baths, and ours had a balcony overlooking the village square.

A charming Tyrolean-style breakfast room kick starts the day (with style, naturellement). Traditional afternoon tea in the drawing room has become a social fixture, as are drinks on the terrace in fine weather. No question that après-ski and dining here are the smartest.


Hôtel Mont Blanc was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mike North

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Named after Jean Cocteau's play of the same name, Les Enfants Terribles is a chic brasserie with an open kitchen where you can sneak a peek at chef Thierry Guinot at work. Choose from Alpine raclettes, fondues, and mixed grills,  and do leave room for the afternoon teas, calorific hot chocolate and delicious cakes served every afternoon in the front salon.

Dining out
Megève is not short of chic restaurants, and  you could start with a trip to sister hotel Les Fermes de Marie, where there's a restaurant specialising in absolutely delicious Savoyard cheese dishes. Splash out at  Lodge Park or try the popular Coin du Feu.

See & Do
Chances are you'll be on the piste in winter or out walking in the summer months. Megève's highly rated slopes are tailor-made for intermediate skiers, and if hurtling through all that white stuff  isn't your scene, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride from the village square or try some open-air skating.  You can always while away an afternoon breathing in that wonderful Alpine air with a warming vin chaud.

Shop
Megève has a full complement of luxury boutiques and even shopaholics won’t be disappointed. It's just the place to snap up chic outdoor wear, jewellery and snow boots.

Spa
The new Pure Altitude spa at Hotel Mont Blanc is a symphony of silver and white – very fittingly reflecting its Alpine surrounds with snow-sprinkled walls, igloo cabins and snowball lamps. Treatments are based on mountain plants and natural ingredients, and there's a swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi and four treatment cabins.

After dark
Megève is abuzz with après-ski nightlife, so don't plan on too many early nights. There's a casino where you can hit the gaming tables, and some great live music venues. Head for the Club de Jazz to hear live piano and sax, or disco-dance nearby at Palo Alto. Relax at the bar lounge at Fermes de Marie or Lodge Park, have a drink on the Mont Blanc's sheltered outdoor patio while the sun goes down or – even better – soak away those ski-slope aches soaking in your jacuzzi bath.

Dates
January
Watch a polo match on the snow while sipping champagne on ice – perfect.

March
The Golf Snowcup is lively and fun – wrap up warm.

July
It's time for the Megève Jazz contest – a week of great sounds.

GETTING THERE

Location
Place de L'Eglise, 74120 Megève

Parking
There is no direct car access (pedenstrianised street), and you will need to use nearby garage or street parking.

Trains
Sallanche – 12km

Taxis
40 EUR from the train station.

Airport
Geneva – 75km, or Lyon – 170km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 230 - 670 (winter). Summer rates are lower.

Open/closed
Open all year apart from two weeks in May and October

Check-in
4 pm

Check-out
12 noon

Minimum night stay?
Yes, during some winter periods

Breakfast
Breakfast is served until 11am

Room service
Available morning and evening

Children
No restrictions

Pets
Pets are welcome

Air conditioning
No, not needed!

Languages
French, English and Arabic

Wedding license?
No

You contact
Véronique Pellicier – owner