Le Refuge des Aiglons Chamonix

From the outside, the
hotel looks like a 20th-century imitation of a Swiss chalet, with
wooden balconies and a ubiquitous cream paint job. Inside, though, the hotel is
pleasantly contemporary, and the strictly functional lobby has tiled floors,
neutral walls, a large front desk, and small stand of tourist brochures. There are
several public areas throughout the hotel, including the stylish lounge that’s
part of the light-flooded Le “A” Restaurant, and is lined with modern couches
with vibrant, brown-and-blue patterned throw pillows as well as decorative
birch elements. Shelves filled with knickknacks give and decorative panels
give the common areas a decidedly Scandinavian appeal, a motif that runs
throughout the hotel, and there is also an attractive outdoor terrace for
guests -- who run the gamut from couples and families to solo and business
travelers -- to take in the mountain views.

The hotel isn’t in the
middle of the action in Chamonix, though it isn’t quiet and removed either, as a
busy roadway passes just outside. Walks to the charming center of town take 10
minutes, where a huge array of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and bars line a
clutch of pedestrian streets. The Aiguille du Midi Cable Car, which leads to
Aiguille du Midi, a series of stunning terraces with panoramic views of the
French, Swiss, and Italian Alps (as well as Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in the
chain), is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Free shuttle buses are available
throughout the valley to the various ski resorts, and many of the lines stop at
the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car station. Family-friendly Les Houches ski resort
is about 20 minutes away by bus or 10 minutes by car, and the closest
international airport in Geneva, Switzerland, takes a little over an hour to
reach by car.

In a town brimming with
ski-lodge style guest rooms, the bright, contemporary guest rooms initially seem
like a breath of fresh air. On further inspection, however, they are a bit
austere, even when taking the minimalist aesthetic into account, and we didn’t
love the thick, brown carpets. However, the overall light blue, driftwood, and
cream color scheme does feel light and airy, a fitting choice for this sky-high
mountain town, and the elongated, abstract wall art looks truly fresh and
contemporary. Beds have duvets, blue bed runners, and wood veneer headboards,
and rooms are outfitted with light wood veneer furniture side tables and desks
with simple, Scandinavian silhouettes. All rooms are spacious (starting at 20
square meters, or 215 square feet) and include mini-fridges with bottled water,
flat-screen TVs, electric kettles with coffee and tea, and safes, while many
rooms also have balconies. Seating is limited to blue armchairs or sofa beds in
guest rooms, which makes it feel like there’s a substantial amount of unused
space. Bathrooms are contemporary, with slate tiles, square stand-alone sinks,
oak-framed mirrors, slippers, toiletries, and bathtub/shower combos. Guest
rooms on the road-facing side of the hotel can pick up a good deal of traffic
noise and there are no air conditioners, which can make rooms uncomfortable
during the increasingly frequent summer heat waves.

One of the standout
features of the hotel is its outdoor Nordic-style swimming pool, which is
heated by wood pellets. The pool also includes a hot tub, but
the mountain views are interrupted by neighboring houses and buildings and the
area doesn’t feel particularly exclusive or private. The hotel also features the
Deep Nature Spa, which could be lovely, though we saw lots of dirty grout in
the steam room and the tropical wall art felt wildly out of place given the
hotel’s location in the French Alps. A variety of spa and massage treatments
are available and the spa also includes a sauna. There is a small, clean
fitness center on-site with five cardio options and a universal machine, though
the space lacks natural light, and the hotel has a small game room with
foosball as well. On-site Le “A” Restaurant serves good breakfast, lunch, and
dinner, including modern takes on traditional French plates, and offers a bar
and lounge area for cocktails as well. There is a lovely outdoor terrace
attached to the restaurant, but guests should keep in mind that breakfast is
not included with any booking. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk and
babysitting services and cribs are available for guests with children, as well
as a kids’ area with bean bags, toys, and books. The hotel offers a free activity
program, including yoga to hiking, with advanced booking through its website,
and there is a ski storage room and ski rental shop on-site. Private and public
parking are available, though there is a fee for both and private parking must
be reserved in advance. Wi-Fi is free throughout and there are also conference
rooms on site with audiovisual services available.