Hôtel Le Ski d'Or ★★★★

The hotel is in the ski resort of Tignes, in the heart of Savoie. It combines authenticity, luxury and comfort, with typically Savoyard wooden interiors and endless views across the mountains. The location couldn’t be better: it is in the centre of the resort next to the ski lifts. It’s one of the highest resorts in the Alps meaning that it gets plenty of great quality snow; together with Val d’Isère, it forms l’Espace Killy with over 300km of pistes and two glaciers, and offers everything from Alpine skiing to helicopter rides.

Savour a delicious hearty breakfast from a table with extensive views over the mountains before heading out to conquer the slopes. Simply cross the road and you’re off. If you are a skier or snowboarder this is heaven, and even if you’re not - or you just fancy trying your hand at something else - Tignes is not short of options. You can ice-skate on the frozen lake – ice depth permitting – explore the snowy mountains on horseback, go ice-climbing, or even take a helicopter trip. If all that sounds like a bit too much effort then take the funicular up to Glacier de la Grande Motte and sip a hot chocolate on the terrace of the Panoramic Hotel.

After all that fresh air and exercise it’s lovely not to have to travel too far to get back to the comfort of the hotel. The outside of the hotel might not have you reaching for your camera, but it’s inside that its charm starts to work on you. The decor is modern but still warm and cosy. The same ambience extends through into the 27 bedrooms which are comfortable, spacious, and decorated with natural materials and soft colours. The fluffy duvets, deep pile carpets – which are an absolute treat for feet that have spent a day in ski boots - and wood panelling make it feel like a luxurious haven. The bathroom has everything you need, and the robe, slippers, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries make you feel at home. It’s everything you could want from a ski hotel: luxurious and cosy. When you’re ready, wander down to the hotel’s main reception areas and choose to warm up from the inside out by sinking into one of the deep sofas near the fireplace and sampling a hot chocolate or a tea from the bar’s selection of ‘Dammann teas’. Or head to the hotel’s spa and choose between a spell in the sauna, Jacuzzi, or Turkish bath, or surrender your aching muscles to the skills of a massage therapist.

With relaxation well on its way, you’ll be ready for some dinner in the hotel’s Hors Piste restaurant. It’s decorated with warm colours and exposed beams, which gives it a cosy feeling. The menu offers a range of dishes including some Savoyard specialities like rack of Aveyron lamb, which I chose to round off with warm raspberry soufflé. On Thursdays you can enjoy a seafood buffet including fresh oysters. What could be more decadent than enjoying the taste of the sea whilst gazing out of the restaurant’s windows to the snow-covered mountains of the Espace Killy? Finish off the evening with a nightcap in front of the fire, before heading back to your room to cocoon yourself in the downy duvet. With all that fresh air, exercise and good food you’ll have one of the best night’s sleep ever.