Zannier Le Chalet

Rooms

Le Chalet has four rooms and eight suites, all of which are deeply luxurious. Wood is a key element in their design – oak floors, soft pine walls, ceilings – and the look is very Swiss-chalet. Colours are muted, and lighting is dim, but picture windows bring in natural light – dazzling white in winter, golden in summer. Furniture is handcrafted locally, while coffee table books and artefacts give a subtle nod to Zannier's properties in Namibia, Vietnam and Cambodia. All rooms have kingsize beds, Sonos music systems, and all bathrooms have rain showers and large baths, perfect for bubbly soaks.

At 30sqm, the two Deluxe Rooms are the smallest (and darkest), but both can connect with Suites. Prestige Rooms are slightly larger (40sqm), each with a living area and a terrace with mountain views. The Junior Suites take things up another notch with most having open fireplaces; our favourite in summer was light-filled Number 5 with its deep sofa looking out to the slopes.

The four Suites are spectacular. Suite 4 is a duplex, with a kingsize bedroom on the mezzanine, and balconies on both floors. Suite 3 is also a duplex, with one kingsize bedroom in the attic and a living room that can be converted into a twin bedroom for kids. We loved our Suite 2, ideal for couples with its chunky four-poster bed, a walk-in wardrobe and a cosy dining area. It also worked well for our daughter staying in the connecting Deluxe Room. At a whopping 140sqm, Suite 1 is the largest spanning two floors and featuring two bedrooms, an enormous fireplace and a semi-open bathroom.

Note: only the suites have a Nespresso machine and kettle, but you can help yourself to free tea and coffee in the main bar.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Radio
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Beautifully prepared, locally sourced food is a big part of the ethos here. Breakfast is a continental spread, served either in your room or at the restaurant (no room service in summer). Expect flaky pastries, just-baked rolls and an array of delicious jams or raw honey from their own vineyard, dairy products from the surrounding mountains, and cold cuts from local butchers. Eggs are cooked to order.

In winter, the restaurant La Ferme de mon Père serves French fare from the Haute-Savoie region. Dinners are based on sharing dishes where fresh vegetables often take centre stage - think truffled millefeuille with avocado, or smoked carrot tagine. The wine list is extensive – ask for pairing recommendations.

If you're around for lunch, a light daytime menu (croque monsieurs, club sandwiches, soups etc) is offered in the lounge (winter only). Afternoon tea, or the patisserie buffet as it’s known, is also served here, with a tempting selection of cakes, biscuits and hot drinks to choose from. There’s also cosy lounge bar where in winter you can sip cocktails and aperitifs by the open fire and in summer help yourself to soft drinks and small snacks. If you're out skiing for the day, there are plenty of excellent high altitude restaurants, many of which are accessible for non-skiers.

The hotel restaurant is closed in summer, but it's only a 10-minute stroll into the heart of the village and you’ll be spoilt for choice. Megève has a reputation as a gastronomic hotspot, with almost 90 restaurants to choose from - everything from trendy pizza joints to Michelin-starred eateries. The concierge is on hand to make recommendations and bookings. Try the fondue at Le Restaurant Alpin, or soak up the views of Megève and Mont Blanc from Face au Mont Blanc. We loved Le Hibout Blanc, a buzzing bistro with fabulous service and the largest chocolate mousses we’ve ever seen, and Le Refuge for the caramelised veal sweetbreads and Grand Marnier souffle. For top end dining, splash out at three Michelin star Le Flocon de Sel.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

In winter:

• The skiing here is world-famous, comprising 136 groomed runs and totalling over 400km. It's ideal for intermediate skiiers but there are also great beginner facilities. Alex, the super concierge, will help you arrange ski passes and equipment, and the chauffeur will shuttle you to the slopes. Lessons, heli-skiing and ski safaris are all bookable via the hotel
  
• Other snowsports on offer include electric snow biking, dog-sledding, snowshoe trekking, bobsleighing, ice-skating and excellent cross-country skiing with 45km of varied trails
  
• Spend a day in Megève, indulging in some luxury shopping, browsing the art galleries or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride along the cobbled streets
  
  In summer:
  
• Head off on valley walks or mountain hikes. Megève is in a very open valley, so the slopes are not too steep. Start with the unique Calvary Way, a gentle trail leading up from the village dotted with 15 oratories and chapels, or the 45-minute hike to the Belle au Bois waterfall.
  
• Take the 10 minute cable car up to the summit of Mont D'Arbois for breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain
  
• See the mountains from a bird’s eye view and go paragliding or take a scenic private plane tour over Mont Blanc
  
• E-mountain bikes can be hired easily or try rafting or canyoning, plus there's rock climbing in Chamonix, or swimming and boating on the lakes at nearby Annecy or Geneva
  
• Le Palais in Megeve is the largest sports complex in the Alps offering pools, balneotherapy, an ice rink, tennis courts, football fields, and a fitness centre
  
  Both seasons:
  
• Rejuvenate sore ski muscles at the spa, where there’s a small indoor pool, steam room, sauna, and a range of treatments (book in advance) using organic plant-based products
  

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Hot air ballooning
• Mountain biking
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Skiing
• Snowsports
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Trekking
• Well being

Kids

Children are welcome at Le Chalet, and there are various accommodation options that work well for families. In winter, the restaurant offers kid-friendly meals. Megeve has all sorts of kid-friendly activities, from reindeer feeding to tobogganing.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Suites 1 and 3 both sleep four, each with twin bedrooms for kids. Suite 3 can also interconnect with a Junior Suite to accommodate a larger family. Suite 2 can connect with a Deluxe Room and Suite 4 can take an extra bed (on request) and connect with either a Deluxe or Prestige Room. Junior Suites can also fit an extra bed (on request). Baby cots can be setup in all rooms.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour
• Hospital: 25 mins
• Supermarket: 10 mins' walk

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Le Chalet is located in the French resort of Megève in Haute-Savoie, south-east France. The region borders Italy and Switzerland.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Geneva (87km), which has exits into Switzerland and France. It's just an hour's drive away and has international flights from many European cities and beyond.

From the Airport
Private transfers can be arranged by the hotel, or you can hire a car (see below).

By Car:
If arriving via Geneva Airport, it’s worth picking up your hire car on the Swiss side of the border, as you’ll find it easier - and probably cheaper. Note that you’ll need a vignette (annual permit) to drive on Swiss motorways. For car rentals, click here to see our recommendations. The hotel is just 13km from the motorway in Sallanches, and it's a 20-minute drive up the mountain from there.

By Train:
The nearest railway stations are St Gervais and Sallanches, both of which are just 20 minutes away by car.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.