Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles

Character and identity

Set piste-side in Courchevel 1850, Les Airelles cuts an Austro-Hungarian silhouette of fairytale turrets, carved wood balconies and storybook Tyrolean detail, the first hotel in the resort to earn France's palace distinction. Inside, 32 rooms and 15 suites lean into garnet carpets, gingerbread-toned wood and hand-painted frescoes, with antique cuckoo clocks keeping time. Common areas sprawl across six restaurants, a fire-warmed lounge with oversized sofas, a ski room, a boutique and a La Mer spa. Ski butlers handle (and heat) your boots; a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Hermès-lined horse-drawn carriage handle the rest. The register is plush, theatrical, attentive.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is total theatre: a palace-rated address where the design, the kids' programming and the ski-butler choreography all run at the same pitched intensity. Worth it for families and couples who want maximalist Alpine fantasy with serious slope access. Book a suite to do the décor justice, and remember that half-board is included, which softens the maths on dining.