2 Best Hotels in Méribel, Lyon and the Alps

Spectacularly situated at the edge of the pistes and at the heart of the three valleys, this classic chalet-style hotel has playfully appropriated all the Alpine motifs for a contemporary but no less luxurious alternative to the region's more established grand dames. Earthy jewel tones in the rugs and plush furniture harmonize with rustic wood-clad walls and endless views of snowy peaks and blue skies from the private balconies. The hotel's three restaurants (the Beefbar, the Italian Biancaneve, and Le Fumoir) cover all your dining needs (including fondue!) and the on-site ski room, fabulous indoor-outdoor pool, and Tata Harper spa will outfit and pamper you in the glamorous style to which everyone in Meribel aspires. Areas for kids and teens, as well as adjoining rooms and two private chalets, make this a good choice for families.

On the main drag running through Méribel, Le Savoy has a traditional stone-and-wood facade that leads to a rustic restaurant with wide-plank floors and rough-hewn beams that call to mind an old-time ski lodge. That's where things take an unexpected turn, with a bar where the furnishings are every bit as brightly colored as the creative cocktails. The guest rooms are completely contemporary, with nice details like bedside alcoves where you can leave the book you're reading or charge your iPhone. Each room has a private locker in the ski room where your boots are kept nice and toasty. The sauna and steam room are great places to relax after you hit the slopes.