Les Fermes de Marie

Les Fermes de Marie is a luxury Alpine property overflowing with Haute-Savoie charm from top to bottom. The chalet-style architecture is lovely in every detail, and the hotel smells like fresh pine and warm fires. Les Fermes is a nine-building complex, and a stay here feels like a getaway in a private lodge, rather than a hotel. The property is filled with stone, rustic wooden beams, at least one fur lampshade, and a few select pieces of locally sourced taxidermy hanging on the walls. In addition to the antelope heads, the walls are hung with black-and-white photographs of cattle and picturesque mountain scenes, and there are cool, quirky collections on display, including authentic cowbells, ceramic pitchers, leather-bound books, and funky but fabulous antiques. The vibe is cozy and secluded, and guests can find plenty of nooks and crannies in which to enjoy an apres-ski cocktail or mulled wine. The stylishly worn leather lobby sofas are inviting, and the lighting is warm and low. The spa carries the same luxe rustic aesthetic, with plenty of wood and river rocks, and white birch tree trunks as wall treatments throughout. Even the kids' club is thoughtfully decorated, with polka dot mushroom tables, and a cozy vibe that would tempt some adults to a game of foosball. Les Fermes de Marie is the ultimate ski hotel, yet even without the skiing, this high-end property has serious appeal for the many couples who visit, as well as families.

Les Fermes de Marie is a 10-minute walk from the center of the Haute-Savoie town of Megeve, where guests can visit the Megeve Museum, ride the Chamois Gondola up the mountains, go shopping, or ski. The hotel runs a shuttle to town, but the ski slopes are an easy walk from the hotel, which provides equipment storage and a pro shop. The Megeve Sports Centre, which offers cross-country skiing, ice skating, and much more, is 15 minutes from Les Fermes. The hotel can be difficult to find the first time; guests should be sure to have good directions or a GPS. The closest airport is actually over the Swiss border in Geneva, an 80-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms at Les Fermes de Marie are picturesque and charming; each feels like an individual Alpine chalet with traditional (but high-end) Haute-Savoie woodwork, beamed ceilings, warm fabrics, and fun rustic touches, including barrel lamp bases, cow photographs, and checked or plaid accents. The tendency at these quaint lodges is to fill them to bursting with tchotchkes, but this hotel's rooms retain a handsome sense of style, with rich bedding and sharp antique pieces like the desk we saw in the Red Room that we visited. While most rooms are spacious, some can be cramped -- the smallest rooms on site come in at only 12 square meters of space (22 square feet). Room features include flat-screen TVs with cable channels and pay movies, DVD players, minibars (in most), safes, and free Wi-Fi. Many rooms have private balconies with stunning mountain views, and suites and chalets with multiple rooms are available. Bathrooms are nothing short of spectacular; these large spaces have slate or granite floors, raised sinks with contemporary fixtures, shower/tub combos, high-end toiletries, and sit-down makeup vanities in many. Some rooms have separate showers and tubs. Light sleepers should be aware that rooms near reception, and those that open onto a common lounge area, tend to be noisier. 

Les Fermes de Marie features several restaurants, including La Salle a Manger, which offers extravagant dinners each evening, dedicated to specific ingredients such as truffles. The Alpin Restaurant is open only during the winter months and serves Alpine specialties featuring cheese, as well as rotisserie meats. Le Traditionnel serves local, seasonal ingredients, mostly cooked in the oven, and pays special attention to foods that boost energy and fitness, as the hotel hosts a large number of skiers and other athletic types. The hotel bar is a cozy spot for drinks, and while breakfast is offered, it is not included with bookings.

Pure Altitude Spa is a top notch day spa offering a wide variety of treatments, including prenatal and hot stone massage, reflexology, Ayurveda, scrubs, wraps, facials, and more. The spa has indoor and outdoor saunas and hot tubs, a steam room, and sells a line of indulgent products. The hotel has a gorgeous indoor lap pool, lit beautifully, with picture windows and mountain views. The fitness center is equipped with cardio machines and free weights, as well as a heavy bag for boxers. The kids' club, Le Hameau des Enfants, is not free, but there is a dedicated kids concierge, and the facility includes a dining room, computer stations, classes in arts and crafts, gardening, clowning, and field trips. Cooking lessons are offered to both kids and adults, and twice a week there is a fondue-making lesson. The hotel’s gift shop sells wine, area crockery and other crafts, luxe blankets, and the hotel’s own cookbook. Wi-Fi is free throughout.