Hotel guide to Val d'Isere

Chalets and apartments are usually the most popular accommodation options when it comes to ski holidays. They tend to offer more room, more flexibility in terms of catering and, sometimes, better prices. However, hotels are also a great choice for those visiting Val d'Isere, especially when you're not coming for a full week.

Why book a hotel room instead of a chalet or an apartment in Val d'Isere?
If you aren't planning on a full week ski holiday, hotels can offer much more flexibility on dates, plus many can't be beaten in terms of extended services and facilities such as gourmet restaurants, spas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, tennis courts, childcare, bike and/or ski hire, flexible catering options... the choices are endless. And even though some apartment and chalet companies have recently made their booking requirements more flexible, the reality is that many can only be booked for six or seven days especially in peak season.

Val d'Isere has a great choice of five-star hotels offering plenty of grandiose glamour, palatial premises, and beautiful bars and restaurants. As you'd expect, most of them have their own spa facilities and quite a few have their own ski hire shops in-house too, so you don't have to travel far to pick up your gear when you arrive. This also means that there's somewhere to store it all at the end of the day. From chic, elegant and modern designer establishments to the more traditional chalet-style hotels, Val d'Isere has plenty to offer at this end of the market.

Our favourite luxury hotels in Val d'Isere
These are the Val d'Isere hotels that, in our opinion, stand out from the rest thanks to their top-range facilities and services:

1. Le Blizzard Hotel
   Modern-meets-Alpine design at Le Blizzard Hotel, located in the heart of Val d'Isère just a few metres from the pistes. This is a great luxury option for families thanks to its large family rooms and the possibility to book childcare. The spa is situated at the foot of the famous Bellevarde slope and there are two restaurants to choose form.
   
2. Christiania Hotel
   If you're looking for more traditional charm, then the Christiania Hotel is a good option. Also in the centre of Val d'Isère and near the slopes, this hotel has a wonderful spa and beauty salon, a lounge bar and a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the pistes.
   
3. Le Refuge de Solaise
   Le Refuge de Solaise is the highest hotel in France, at 2,551m. A refurbished lift station, there's no road access in the winter, you'll have to take a gondola to access the hotel – which means that you'll also be the first on the slopes in the morning, and the last to leave the mountain. With breathtaking views, a gourmet restaurant and a fully-equipped spa, you'll feel like you're on top of the world.

Val d'Isere has a good selection of aparthotels (apartment buildings with hotel facilities) that are great for groups or families sharing accommodation. Many of these apartments can accommodate small groups and, for larger parties, you can rent more than one.

Top group-friendly aparthotels in Val d'Isere
These are our favourite apartment residences with hotel facilities and services in Val d'Isere, offering spacious accommodation for groups.

1. Le Franchet & Le Chantel
   Located in the quiet area of La Daille, the apartments at Residence Le Franchet & Le Chantel sleep up to eight people. They're very close to the departure of the Funiculaire at the bottom of the Bellevarde piste, and offer a swimming pool, tennis courts and playground in the summer.
   
2. Chalets de Solaise
   The four-star Residence Chalets the Solaise is in the centre of Val d'Isère. It is made up of two buildings which are linked by an outside court, providing a huge central relaxation area that opens onto the outdoor heated swimming pool. Apartments here accommodate up to seven people.
   
3. Les Balcons de Bellevarde
   Also in La Daille, 200m from the Funival railway, Les Balcons de Bellevarde offers fully refurbished apartments sleeping up to seven people. The building has a kid's area and you can choose from a wide range of options here including shopping deliveries and a baby kit.

Most hotels in Val d'Isere are more than happy to welcome young children and many of them offer family rooms. However, there are many other things to consider, such as distance to the pistes, amenities and services within the hotel and facilities in the neighbouring area.

Best family-friendly hotels in Val d'Isere
This is where we'd book a room if we were travelling with young children.

1. Club Med Resort
   The Club Med holiday resort is located in a tranquil location above Val d'Isère. Besides not having to worry about hidden costs thanks to its all-inclusive options, the hotel offers interconnecting rooms, a kid's club, evening entertainment and a large indoor pool.
   
2. Le Tsanteleina Hotel
   This stylishly furnished four-star hotel has spacious rooms for families as well as a concierge service that will take care of your every need, from babysitting to ski passes, transfers, ski lessons or a table at one of the local restaurants. There's also a spa and a gourmet restaurant in the hotel.
   
3. Kandahar Hotel
   Kandahar Hotel sets aside half of its rooms to specifically accommodate families. Built in 1955, this is one of the first Val d'Isère hotels and is conveniently located in the town centre, opposite the Bellevarde Face. As well as a sauna and steam bath, the hotel has a children's playroom and provides extra services such as babysitting and massages.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Val d'Isere offering decent quality rooms at reasonable prices. Many are located in the town centre, making them a good place to base yourself on your mountain biking or ski holiday while saving some money at the same time.

Top best-value hotels in Val d'Isere
In our opinion these hotels offer the most 'bang for your buck'.

1. Avancher Hotel
   Avancher Hotel underwent a huge transformation in 2017 that included the creation of a new spa and bar as well as a new Lodge with apartments for guests. It has a cosy, traditional chalet feel about it with 17 comfortable rooms and a sunny terrace to relax on at the end of the day.
   
2. UCPA
   The UCPA is close to the centre of resort and offers rooms for three to eight people sharing, sleeping up to 250 in total. This is an all-inclusive hotel that's well-known for its affordability. As well as including ski hire, passes, lessons and full-board in its price, there is a weekly entertainment programme which you can opt in or out of.
   
3. Hotel du Fornet
   Ideally located in the peaceful rural setting of the old village of Le Fornet, just 2km from the centre of Val d'Isère, Hotel du Fornet offers simple yet comfortable accommodation. There are only 12 rooms, as well as a spa area with jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, plus a massage room offering treatments.

Almost all of the hotels in the Val d'Isere area boast easy access to the pistes and ski lifts, either sitting right next to the foot of the slopes or just a short trip away by one of the free local buses.

Our favourite hotels near the lifts
If we were to choose, these would be our favourite hotels in Val d'Isere with ski-to-door access.

1. Le Samovar Hotel
   Le Samovar Spa Hotel in La Daille sits right at the foot of the ski lifts and the numerous pistes that come back down into the village centre. The recent refurbishment here blends the more traditional chalet-style hotel with a twist of modern fixtures and fittings, giving it a really warm and welcoming feeling.
   
2. Les Barmes de l'Ours Hotel
   The five-star Les Barmes de l'Ours Hotel can be found in the centre of Val d'Isère, close to the bottom of La Face piste. Its Scandinavian-style décor highlights this hotel's luxury facilities, including a games room, a kid's club, an in-house ski hire shop, a large spa, a lounge bar and three fine restaurants, including Val d'Isère's only Michelin-starred eatery.
   
3. Le Savoie Chalet Hotel
   Le Savoie Chalet Hotel has its own spa facilities and can be found just a three minute walk from the Solaise chairlift, which accesses the Solaise peak, and the Olympique cable car going up to the Rocher de Bellevarde. A five-star hotel, it has all the services and facilities you can think of including a lounge bar and extras like fluffy bathrobes and plush slippers.