Les Fermes de Marie
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Review
Character and identity
A cluster of wooden chalets set back on a country road a 10-minute walk from Megève village, Les Fermes de Marie is the hotel that reestablished this resort as a serious Alpine address when the Sibuets opened it in 1989. The 70 rooms are spread across pretty timber buildings built from recycled farm beams, with sloping snow-laden roofs and the scent of firewood at the door. Jocelyne Sibuet's design language runs to muted greys, baroque antiques and gilded antlers. Two restaurants under chef Nicolas Sintes (ex-Daniel Boulud) anchor the dining, and the Pure Altitude spa is a destination in its own right.
Who's it for
Best for:
Part-time skiers and chic forty-somethings with young children who want deep-comfort Savoyard cooking, a serious wellness programme and discreet service that handles everything from private cooking classes to helicopter rides. Couples after a fireside, design-led Alpine stay will be equally at home, in winter or summer.
Should look elsewhere:
Hardcore skiers who want ski-in, ski-out won't find it here; you're a short walk from the village rather than on the slopes. Anyone uncomfortable with the heavy use of fur and animal skins in the decor should look at a different aesthetic. Nightlife seekers will want to head into town.
Bottom line
What sets this property apart is the package: rustic-chic interiors, a genuinely excellent spa, and Savoyard cooking with real precision (organic eggs with chestnuts, Beaufort cheese ravioli, black truffle pasta). Book the two-bedroom Mont Blanc suite if budget allows, for its south-facing balcony and eaves-level living room. Summer rates reward those who can untether from ski season.