Alpaga

Rooms

There are 22 designer rooms arranged over 2 buildings, plus a third building encompassing 5 much larger suites, and 6 self-contained chalets in the grounds. The hotel rooms range from Classic to Deluxe and Prestige; the Prestige Rooms are the largest, sleeping 3 people, with a single bed located either behind the main double or on a mezzanine above it. All rooms have either a terrace or balcony and are linked via underground tunnels to the main reception building and bar/restaurant, so guests do not need to walk in the snow.

We stayed in a Deluxe Room, which was quite gorgeous. The colour scheme was grey - from dove-grey stained pine walls to charcoal grey faux-fur cushions and throws. There was grey granite stone in the bathroom, which had a separate bath and a shower with a slate seat, no less. Other rooms are themed either snow-white or beige, and we particularly liked Classic Room 19’s flawless white décor.

Suites are larger, with their own lounge, terrace and kitchen, as well as chic décor punctuated with neon-bright cushions and contemporary chairs. Despite being the smallest, the 1-Bedroom Suites are good for families as they have a bunk-bed corner in the main living space. If you want more space, or are travelling with friends, plump for the 2- or 3-Bedroom Suites, which each have a mixture of double and twin bedrooms.

There are also 6 individual chalets (sleeping 6-14) scattered around the resort. They are far more traditional in design, with natural wood walls, open fires and comfy sofas in earthy shades.

All bathrooms are supremely well-appointed, with toiletries by Diptyque.

Features include:

• WiFi

Eating

Alpaga has 2 restaurants: Le Bistrot de l'Alpaga (open daily for lunch and dinner), which is a bistro and bar area serving casual dishes like fondue, hamburgers and risotto, and La Table de l’Alpaga (open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday), which in more gastronomic and is the proud winner of two Michelin stars. The chef in the latter does highly imaginative twists on contemporary mountain dishes and likes to use underrated vegetable varieties such as turnips and Jerusalem artichokes. Everything apart from the bread is homemade, from the delicious jams to the pasta, and all dishes are wonderfully light. We had a frothy pistachio cappuccino with lemon as an amuse-bouche, followed by a selection of farm eggs cooked in different ways and sprinkled with black truffle. Our main course was a truly heavenly lobster ravioli, and dessert was a melting chocolate soufflé accompanied by a powerful thyme-flavoured Serpollet digestif. This really is dining of the finest standard.

The price of your stay, whether you are in a room, suite or chalet, includes a buffet breakfast. This involves the usual fresh pastries, yoghurt, cold meats and cheeses, as well as a hot tray of bacon and scrambled eggs and fancy variations such as sweet butter and soya milk. Guests can choose to dine in their room, suite or chalet for an additional charge.

Those staying in either the suites or the chalets also have the option of self-catering in their kitchens, which have microwaves, ovens, fridges, kettles and Nespresso machines (chalets also have freezers); a 24-hour room service menu is available, and chalet guests can book a private chef. Other dining options outside the hotel include a broad range of restaurants in Megève, encompassing everything from a 3-star Michelin eatery to pizza joints, Italians and Chinese restaurants.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• The skiing is excellent in Megève and the hotel shuttles guests on demand to local slopes. There are 3 ski areas - Rochebrune, Le Mont D’Arbois and Le Jaillet, which are good for all levels. The resort is also linked with St Gervais, Les Contamines and Combloux (all on the same pass)
  
• Try Nordic skiing, as opposed to Alpine skiing, during which your heel is not fixed to the ski - there are 40km of trails in the area
  
• If you tire of the slopes, try some other adventure sports: ice climbing, snow-shoeing, ice diving or snow biking
  
• Get a birds-eye view of the Alps by paragliding, or take a hot-air balloon or sightseeing flight
  
• Go dog sledding in winter, or cani-rondo (walking with huskies pulling you) in summer
  
• Though skiing is off the cards, summer also allows for mountain hiking - Megève is in a very open, Heidi-like valley so the slopes are not too steep
  
• When the snow has melted, rafting and canyoning become an option, plus there's rock climbing in Chamonix, or swimming and boating on the lakes at nearby Annecy or Geneva
  
• Back at Alpaga, the top-end Spa de l’Alpaga has a tempting menu of treatments including massages, facials, dedicated men's treatments, manicures and pedicures
  
• You can also unwind in the spa's indoor pool (with massage jets) and the steam room, or take a dip in the alfresco hot tub which has gorgeous views of Mont Blanc

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Skiing

Kids

Alpaga welcomes families, has good facilities for them, and the flexible accommodation options mean you can tailor your getaway to your needs.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms, suites and chalets have space for a baby cot (free of charge), and Prestige Rooms have a single bed (in addition to the double), so would work for a family with 1 young child. Two rooms - a Classic and a Prestige - can interconnect, sleeping up to 5 people.

However the suites and chalets are the best option for families in general, as they're larger and have full kitchens. The 1-Bedroom Suites have bunk beds in the living space, and can therefore sleep up to 4 people, while the 2-Bedroom Suites have a private twin room as well as a double. The 3-Bedroom Suite has 2 doubles and a twin bedroom. The chalets are the most spacious by far, sleeping 6-14, with plenty of communal space and a self-contained ground-floor apartment (great for grandparents or teens).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour (Geneva)
• Shops, including a pharmacy: 5 minutes (Megève)
• Hospital: 25 minutes (Sallanches)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Alpaga is located just outside the French resort of Megève in Haute Savoie, southeast France. The region borders Italy and Switzerland. Geneva is 70km west, Turin is 200km south and Grenoble is 115km southwest.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Geneva (88km), which has exits into Switzerland and France. It's just an hour away and has international flights from many European cities and beyond - click on the links below for a list of airlines.

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 Sallanches in the valley and is a simple 10-minute drive from the motorway up the mountain - unlike many mountain and ski resorts, there are no endless hairpin bends to negotiate. There is free parking at the hotel.

By Train:
The nearest train stations are St Gervais and Sallanches, both of which are just 15 minutes away by car.

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

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