The origin story of Megève – at least as the luxury ski resort you see before you today – is dominated by one name, the Rothchilds, who brought glitz, glamour and rich friends to the small town’s slopes. But its hospitality scene belongs to another, Sibuet, the name behind the one and only hotel in Megève to achieve anything close to iconic status. Les Fermes de Marie’s story starts back in 1989, when baker-turned-hotelier Jean-Louis Sibuet built the property, quite literally, after adventuring across the mountains with his wife Joceylne, collecting the traditional Alpine wood and furnishings that would be used to create their hamlet-style hotel. Now in the hands of grandchildren Marie and Nicholas Sibuet, the hotel has developed a personality and patina of its own, with cosy rooms split across the nine chocolate box chalets and dressed with carved wood panelling, traditional checks, and plenty of hefty throws. It’s all so picture-perfect that one private chalet, Le Chalet des Fermes de Marie, even had a starring role in Emily in Paris, as Camille’s enviable Christmas family chalet.
The restaurants double down on cosy Alpine vibes. Le Restaurant des Fermes serves up comfort dishes and an all-you-can-squeeze-in dessert buffet. Indulge (again) in chocolat chaud and homemade gâteaux by the fire at goûter time, and Le Carnotzet, simply described by the hotel as “the cheese restaurant”, delivers on its promise with an easy to choose from menu of either raclette or fondue. Children will think they’ve been whisked away to a magical winter wonderland with their own kids’ club, a family-friendly pool and a kids’ concierge for planning activities such as sledding and sleigh rides. While they’re being kept busy, parents can slope off to the fantastic spa, launched by Marie’s mother, for nourishing treatments with the Sibuet’s own plant-based beauty brand, Pure Altitude.
Price: Rooms from around £365 per night.