In December I was invited to Courchevel to see just why it is one of the most in demand luxury ski resorts in the Alps. It wasn’t my first time in Courchevel, I have been to the resort a number of times before but it was my first time staying in anything other than a chalet.
I was welcomed by the very hospitable staff at The Grandes Alpes. The Grandes Alpes is a unique concept. If you’re looking for the personal feeling of a chalet but with the facilities and services of a 5* hotel then the Grandes Alpes is for you. This amazing property consists of nine luxury serviced suites. There are the six three bedroom suites; Amethyst, Jade, Garnet, Beryl, Topaz and Onyx and three four bedroom suites; Ruby, Serpentine and Emerald.
Each suite comes with it’s own Butler. I was staying in Ruby Suite and my Butler for the week would be Anton. He had spent his summers working in luxury hotels in the Caribbean, and his winters looking after those on their luxury ski holidays in Courchevel. The Butlers are there to ensure your have a relaxing holiday, taking care of your every request and keeping the suite immaculately clean. Each morning, in the comfort of my suite, Anton laid out a delicious breakfast with a choice of fruits, yogurts, fresh pastries, breads, cured meats, smoked salmon, pancakes eggs…the list goes on. This set me up for my days of seeing some of the finest luxury chalets and high end hotels that Courchevel has to offer.
Whilst the suites can be booked as a full unit, some can also be booked on a room by room basis so you can still enjoy this amazing property even if there you are just a small family or a couple.
The Grandes Alpes is situated in one of the best locations in Courchevel 1850. The property is directly opposite the Tourist Office in the heart of the resort. The ski shop within the building leads directly out onto the Bellecote green piste making it ski-in, ski-out and accessible by ski for all abilities. The driver service at Grandes Alpes is also their for you 24 hours a day but, with the property so well located, you will probably find that you don’t need it. Unless of course, like myself, you end up trying the local night spots like La Mangoire or Nokken and then being too cold or worse for wear to make the 5 minute walk back to the property.
The Grandes Alpes has a great spa area by Valmont, the prestigious Swiss skincare brand. This is the perfect place for relaxing after a day of skiing one of Europe’s best ski areas. Massages can be arranged or you can simply relax in the swimming pool or hammam.
For those of you who like myself enjoy gourmet catering, you won’t be disappointed during your stay at the Grandes Alpes with the wonderful Japanese Restaurant “Le Bizan”. Executive Chef Paulo Bianchi brings a wonderful magical fusion of contemporary Japanese cuisine designed to enhance your taste buds and take this cuisine to a new level. It was some of the tastiest Japanese food that I have experienced. I can see why the hotel Manager flew to Milan to convince Paulo and his team to relocate to Courchevel and was so proud to have him on board.
For those looking for something different to a hotel but with the personal service of a luxury ski chalet then you should definitely consider staying in one of the suites in the Grandes Alpes Private Hotel. We can arrange your luxury ski holiday in Courchevel staying in one of these amazing suites and would love to have a chat with you about what makes them so special. You can call us on +44 1202 203 650 or alternatively send us an email.
