Grandes Alpes Hotel

Simply put you won’t find a better Alpine hotel in the whole of France, in fact probably the world. THE SUITE/ROOM The layout is intelligent, cosy and yet spacious, simple but OH so stylish. What I find particularly clever is the snug atmosphere despite its large footprint. We stayed in suite Serpentine 3 - 100 Sq ft 1 bed suite and each area flowed effortlessly into the next space. The hi-tech integrated music and airplay system allows you to play your favourite music or play your favourite TV show throughout the suite, it is as if you have a living soundtrack to start your day. The two living room spaces are perfect for entertaining and the dining area can be compared to a Michelin starred restaurant in your own suite. Think James bond meets Terence Conran. The bedroom and bathroom area were so well furnished and the shower had so many elements to cater for every shower mood. The kitchen was filled with little treasures to quench every thirst and the hallway came stocked with a ridiculously large wine fridge stocked full of the finest wines. We managed to peak into the other suites and rooms and all have the same vein, if you stay in the individual rooms they are the same as the bedrooms in the suites and very accommodating. Onyx was a 3 bedroom suite that felt like you were on your very own private super yacht in the Alpes. THE BUTLER Mia was our very own personal butler throughout our stay and life will never be the same after having this experience. We are quite private people and were a little concerned by this service but after 24 hours we couldn’t do without her. Each morning Mia would present a perfect breakfast fit for the Queen, there was something different every day and we would come back for leftovers at brunch. Mia is undoubtedly world class in her industry who has extraordinary culinary genius as well as finesse in everything she does, with an incredible resume to support she seemingly made everything effortless. Mia became a friend and it was this service that separates Grandes Alpes from the elite to the unparalleled with a truly unique experience served by the best in the world. THE FOOD & DRINK Room service is a culinary delight catered by a wonderful Michelin chef famous for Master chef Ukraine. I do not know of another hotel in the world that serves Michelin starred food as part of room service, it is the equivalent to fine dining by every standard. Christian the bar tender is a world class cocktail genius who makes EVERYTHING and a drink on the hotel bar is the perfect way to end a day. One night we opted for the private chef and this meal was abundant and flavourful cooked in front of your eyes, a feast for the taste buds and very good value for money. We washed this down with a fine Margaux and life was complete. LE BIZAN My favourite experience of the trip was Le Bizan. This is not just a restaurant it is an enchanting story. From the second you enter you are transported to the heart of Kyoto in the heart of the Alpes (stick with me), this is endorsed by the knowledge that the man in front of you Masa was once private chef to the Emperor of Japan. We seemingly fell in love with this incredible place. As a newbie I opted for the 5 course taster menu and within seconds I was hypnotised by this culinary wizardry. Masa walks you through the menu educating you about the delicacies and history of this amazing cuisine. I don’t know how to explain the taste but can only say it was clean, simple, flavourful, exciting and fresh. Masa is a perfectionist and will not serve anything unless it is of the best standards, every item on the menu is sourced from the finest producers in the world and it is this attention to detail that makes it the finest Japanese restaurant in Europe. THE SPA We lived in here from 3-5pm, it is heaven and that is all I have to say about that. THE LOCATION You are DIRECTLY on the best slope in Courchevel. The hotel has a very bespoke ski rental whom will place your skis directly on the slope right in front of the hotel, all you have to do is head to the boutique on the ground floor and sit down whilst they personally put on your ski boots (you don’t even need to move) then you walk 10 meters out of the front door and jump into the skis. It is that agreeable. After a hard days skiing you jump out of the skis and run to the bar whilst they do all the heavy lifting, everyone needs this in their life. THE TEAM Galina – General Manager Mia – Personal Butler Orianne – Front office Manager Manon – Front office Manager Anaelle - Reception Tom – Concierge These are a few superstars of the hotel world and they will make your stay unforgettable. It is testament to a business when management take time to source the best. From Michelin chefs to award winning cleaning staff when you get such a fine team under one roof rest assured you have a house fit to manage royalty. CONCLUSION I struggled to leave the suite to go skiing which was of course the purpose of my stay. It may be pricey but this is the next level of ski hoteling and I salute the entrepreneurs who had the vision to create such a masterpiece. With a total of 9 suites you are very lucky to stay in this place, it is a secret only known by lucky few. This is not just a hotel, it is a life experience that you should allow yourself to have at least once. Hands down the best ski hotel in the world!