Val Thorens hotels

Possibly the coolest ski room in Val Thorens (if not all of France) can be found at Fahrenheit Seven. Forget cold, cramped boot rooms with tiny ski lockers and instead enjoy this spacious and stylish space, furnished with sofas, foosball, a ski store, a giant TV for watching ski racing, and even a bar.

But the ski room is not the only reason why Fahrenheit Seven is one of the best hotels in Val Thorens. I love the retro vibe of this hip hotel, with its geometric patterned carpets and ski pictures from the 1970s.

Plus, the hotel is home to four bars, a restaurant with a wonderful terrace, and a wellbeing space that’s perfect for reviving post-ski legs. The other reason why I rate Fahrenheit Seven is the price: this is an excellent mid-range option.

Hotel Altapura, the “highest ski palace in Europe,” sits at the foot of the Plein Sud piste. It opened in 2011, when it was the first 5-star luxury hotel to arrive in the resort, and remains one of the best hotels in Val Thorens today.

I love this property for many reasons: the ski-in/ski-out location, the helpful staff in the hotel's ski shop, the indoor/outdoor swimming pool and the hotel rooms with blockbuster mountain views. The main reason why I think this is one of the best luxury hotels in Val Thorens, however, is their Kid's Corner.

This free space is open from 12.30 pm to 8 pm and welcomes children aged 3 to 12 years old, with lots of fun activities to keep them occupied while you have a drink, go for dinner or take a post-ski nap.

The elegant slope-side Le Fitz Roy is one of my favourite hotels in Val Thorens. The self-proclaimed “luxury mountain club” is the perfect combination of chic and cosy: a welcoming, modern-day Alpine retreat that feels like home.

The stylish 72 rooms and suites are individually designed but share common themes, including vintage ski magazine covers and piste maps. I’m particularly fond of the posters of local Three Valley ski legends that line the walls.

Other reasons why I think Le Fitz Roy is one of the best hotels in Val Thorens include the book-filled library, the Alpine massage treatment at the gorgeous hotel spa and the moody Le Roy Bar, which is the perfect spot for swapping ski stories once the lifts have shut.

Ski trips are one of our favourite things to do as a family, and I'm always looking for hotels like Le Hameau du Kashmir that cater to both parents and kids. Families are a big deal at this 4-star hotel and residence.

Located at the entrance to Val Thorens, Hameau du Kashmir offers both guestrooms and self-catering apartments. If you’ve ever travelled with young children, then you’ll understand how much easier it is to tackle mealtimes if you have a kitchen.

Other treats for families include the fantastic swimming pool with mountain views and the games room, complete with pool table and foosball tables. Not to mention the joys of ski-in/ski-out convenience.

I always try to support local businesses when I travel, which is one of the reasons why I like Hotel Le Sherpa. This family-run property is a charming Savoyard chalet that's been catering to happy skiers since 1976.

The wood-clad rooms are welcoming and cosy, with all the hallmarks of a traditional French mountain hotel: pine furniture, red and white checkered curtains and red patterned carpets. My favourite rooms are the Junior Suites with Mezzanine on the hotel's fourth floor, which enjoy beautiful resort views.

Other reasons why Le Sherpa is one of the best hotels in Val Thorens include its half-board option, which is extremely good value. That said, you may have to factor in a few more miles on skis given how many dishes are served every evening (five!) and the generous dessert buffet.

Le Val Thorens is one of the coolest hotels in town. This retro hotel is one of the oldest in town—it opened in 1971, the same year that Val Thorens first started welcoming skiers—and remains one of the best hotels in Val Thorens today.

I love everything about it, from the oversized mustard velvet sofa in the communal area and the old-school jukebox to vintage books celebrating life in the mountains. Not to mention the bar-terrace 1971 that plays 1970s music. Le Val Thorens is not only a stylish place to stay, but also a really fun one.

The other reason I recommend this boutique hotel in Val Thorens is La Fondue, the hotel restaurant that serves up great big bubbling caquelons of cheese. It's the perfect post-piste treat.

The 5-star Koh-I Nor hotel in Val Thorens was named after the 105.6 carat diamond in the dazzling crown that once belonged to the Queen Mother Elizabeth. There are no regal connections here, however, more the name was chosen for its meaning: “Mountain of Light.”

The property, one of the best hotels in Val Thorens, is part of Les Enticelles collection, a leading luxury hotel group in the French Alps. Consequently, it has everything you would expect from a high-end hotel: spacious, light-filled rooms, delicious food, an enormous spa, and its own ski store.

We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed a delicious Croque-Truffe (an indulgent croque monsieur with truffles) and a glass of white wine on the hotel's sun-soaked, south-facing terrace.

One of the most unique hotels in Val Thorens is also one of the most outstanding, a colourful high-end hideaway where you can check into an igloo.

The 5-star Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge has been ranked as one of the best hotels in Val Thorens ever since it first opened and there are lots of reasons why: the playful design with bold, neon colours; the Pashmina Spa by L'OCCITANE; the retractable veranda on the terrace with mountain views; and the Michelin-star restaurant, Les Explorateurs.

But what I really love about this hotel are the two whimsical igloo pods on the rooftop. One comes with views over the Cime de Caron, the second highest summit of the Trois Vallées, and the other overlooks the Massif de Péclet and comes with its own Nordic Bath. Glamping has never looked so good.

Located in a quiet corner of Val Thorens with direct access to the piste is the Alberta Hotel. A friendly ski retreat that's a great option for families thanks to its quiet location near the ESF kindergarten.

Housed within a revamped low-level block from the 1970s, the Alberta Hotel has just 22 rooms (including options with bunk beds for families with younger kids), a cheery restaurant (half-board options are available) and a small spa area. This isn’t the place to come if you're after a range of treatments, but the hot tub and sauna were very welcome after I returned from a day on the slopes.

What really makes the Alberta one of the best hotels in Val Thorens, though, are the prices. This small hotel offers great value for money, so book early.

If, one day, I’m lucky enough to have a mountain lodge of my own, then it will look very much like the Hôtel des 3 Vallées. This 4-star property is stylish, homely and perfectly positioned for being first on the slopes in the morning.

One of the main reasons why the Hôtel des 3 Vallées is one of the best hotels in Val Thorens is because of its staff. The team are on hand to help with everything from booking transfers and organising ski passes to recommending tasty spots for dinner (there are a lot of good restaurants in Val Thorens, after all).

The only thing that some guests might find inconvenient is the spa area. Its small size means you have to register in the morning for a post-ski time slot.