Le Chalet Zannier

Checking into Le Chalet Zannier feels like a special occasion. It’s not just that this exclusive hotel, located in the French Alps, just outside the village of Megève, is a paragon of modern elegance and first-class service. It’s also that it’s closed for most of the year.

That’s right: ski season only. No one’s going to try to convince you how pretty the mountains look in the spring, or tell you about the hiking trails and alpine lakes, or talk about the trees’ changing colors in autumn. You’re here for one reason only. Or, two, technically: to ski or snowboard, and to relax in the lap of luxury. (Is that three?)

There are just twelve rooms, too — Le Chalet Zannier is often booked in its entirety by families or groups — so you’ll have to plan ahead. The reward is simple. It’s the alpine paradise of your dreams, lavish yet wonderfully cozy. The decor mixes minimalism with rustic chic: think vaulted ceilings made with beams of rough-hewn wood, white linen sofas, stone fireplaces, hand-thrown pottery, the occasional plant. Integrated in-room sound systems, Nespresso machines, and free wi-fi are standard features, as are views of the village and mountains.

The idea is that you feel like you’re in your own private chalet, but with all the amenities you’d expect at a five-star hotel: a huge indoor swimming pool, a great spa, and a gourmet restaurant, La Ferme de mon Père. The adjacent wine bar is also a lovely spot for après-ski and small plates. Breaking the spell that you’re alone up here at Le Chalet Zannier, both restaurant and bar are open to the public. But only to discerning guests, of course, who manage to make it here during the brief but glorious window of time between mid-December and the end of March.

Text courtesy of Tablet Hotels