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I am not usually one to wax ecstatic, but my recent stay at Les Airelles in Courchevel was just perfection. Living part time in what is a skiers paradise in Montana it took a destination wedding of a dear friends’ daughter to get us to pack up our ski gear and trek to the French Alps. Needless to say, the wedding festivities were surreal and extraordinary and beyond description, and our accommodation was just as sublime.

We arrived in Geneva in the late afternoon and were picked up by a very enthusiastic driver who told us to settle in for the two and a half trip to Courchevel 1850. For those who are not in the know, Courchevel is one of the jewels of the French Alps, and within Courchevel there are several villages located at different altitudes with the most luxurious accommodations and shops located at 1850.

When we booked for the wedding I had considered a couple of other hotels including Cheval Blanc and the Aman, but after a deep dive knew that Les Airelles best fit my aesthetic and expectation of the perfect Alpine ski vacation. Decorated in the manner of a Tyrolean fantasy palace every detail at Les Airelles seemed exquisite. These decisions were made by researching on the Internet, so I was hoping that the reality did not disappoint, and in fact it exceeded my expectations.

As our car approached the hotel at the very highest point of the small town we were met by a swarm of Maître Chasseurs (master hunters in Les Airelles speak) who are constantly on duty to fulfill your every desire whether acting as a bellman or driver into town, or someone who can fetch you a cappuccino. While this may seem Disney-like, I believe that the staff at Les Airelles has a certain pride of service that sets them apart from the staff at other hotels.

Our first impression of Les Airelles as we stepped out of the car was pure wonder and pleasure. You can not help but smile as you enter this particular fantasy world. The price point at Les Airelles is VERY steep, but as we figured it would most likely be our only trip to Courchevel we went all out. It is some consolation that the rate includes half board (breakfast and either lunch or dinner at one of the hotel’s many restaurants) and once you gain an understanding of the exorbitant prices in the area it is easier to stomach the high room rates.

We had booked a Junior Suite Prestige Valley View (the hotel consists of 48 rooms, 17 of which are suites), and when we were shown to our room we took note not only of the champagne and treats for us, but also a veritable mountain of welcome gifts including his and her silk pajamas and eye masks, his and her Fusalp jackets, cosmetic bags and skin products. This was just totally over the top, I was sold. Each consecutive night (we were booked for 5 nights) we received additional goodnight gifts on our pillows including a delectably scented candle, ski socks, and sunglasses. Not quite a gift, but equally impressive is the complimentary laundry service for essentials: underwear, socks, pjs, ski layers, tees and shorts are all included.

After reveling in our dreamy suite we ventured out to explore a bit before dinner. We got to witness the ski room sans the morning/evening rush and appreciate all of its beauty. When we were there again in the morning it was filled with guests and a multitude of ski butlers ready to get everyone set for the day. The tiny kitchen attached to the ski room is never without snacks and coffee and hot cocoa to keep everyone fueled up. As you would expect there are tiny shops stocked with every ski item you may have forgotten, or want to treat yourself to. There is also an amazing on-site boutique called Vanille & Lilas which is perfectly curated and filled with treasures you can’t find anywhere else in Courchevel and beyond.

There is even an over the top “teen” club that was pretty appealing to all of us.

As far as the food goes, there are four restaurants on property and two additional restaurants on the slopes where guests of the hotel can use their daily credit. On the first night we decided to give the Italian restaurant a try and found the food to be incredibly fresh, plentiful, and beautifully presented, the only negative being it is not highly spiced, so everything is slightly flat. There were many options for me and my gluten free pescatarian diet, so I was quite happy even with the bland spice level.

The Bar at Les Airelles is busy all the time, and it is a perfect place to enjoy a nightcap before retiring to bed. The drinks come with the most amazing caramelized hazelnuts as well as chocolate and popcorn which make everyone happy.

All of the public spaces are jewel toned and inviting, truly a fantasy land.

The breakfast buffet is so extensive that it is hard to capture. The most significant attraction not only for breakfast, but also at all other meals is that the pastries are supplied by world renowned Pâtissier Cedric Grolet of Paris. This is an amazing coup as in Paris people line up outside his shops for the chance to sample his creations. The few I tasted were quite pleasing (there are several gluten free choices) but the consensus was the croissants were better in Paris.

I managed to control myself as far as breakfast was concerned, yummy fruit and delicious Café Americanos were enough for me; my husband did most of the sampling.

Courchevel 1850 is not the average ski town, rather than tee-shirt shops all of the high end boutiques are represented so even if you are not skiing there is plenty to occupy your time.

Like a cruise ship we were never too far from our next meal. Having savored dinner and breakfast it was now time for lunch.

Lunch at Les Airelles is also a buffet, and if the weather cooperates it is lovely to eat outside. The endless options were tempting and ranged from Sushi to grilled meats and veggies. The ever present pastries beckoned, as did some chilled wine and excellent french fries.

One of my favorite spaces turned out to be Le Fumoir, the cigar room adjacent to the Fondue restaurant. The smell of cigars was not overwhelming, and it was completely charming.

Outside the window of Le Fumoir there is a perfect vantage point to view the Gucci branded Gondola that allows ski access to the hotels on top of the mountain.

Also on property are two cinemas that can be booked for private screenings, a La Mer Spa and a fabulous hair salon which I visited twice during my stay. Every single service and interaction we experienced was exemplary.

As I mentioned, there is a traditional Fondue restaurant on property, Le Coin Savoyard where we dined one evening. The meal was not light (or healthy in any way) but it was absolutely delectable and satisfying. The Truffle Fondue was just beyond.

We did venture off campus to Bagatelle for an amazing Aprés celebration as part of the wedding festivities, where the setting and vibe was off the charts.

Another favorite for a traditional European lunch on the mountain is Le Chalet du Pierres which happens to be part of Les Airelles. The food (I started my detox and ate very cleanly) was delicious and the setting was atmospheric. The people watching was quite fabulous as well.

Before we knew it our vacation was coming to an end. Our flight was at 10 am out of Geneva so we were picked up from the hotel at 5:30 am; and to be honest it was hard to tear ourselves away, though the delicious coffee and Laduree macarons helped to ease the pain a bit. I limited myself with the photos here, I must have taken a hundred more as the hotel was just that picturesque and charming. If you desire a completely over the top luxurious and indulgent getaway I would book Les Airelles ASAP. Perhaps a honeymoon or major anniversary? It is completely idyllic.

I am already investigating their properties in Provence Airelles Gordes and St Tropez so I can get another taste of their magical hospitality.

On the way back to the States we enjoyed another excellent flight on Swiss, so I know that our experience flying to Europe was not a fluke. The service in the First Class cabin is terrific.

Because we were returning to Montana we had to do an overnight at Chicago O’Hare. While our room at the Airport Hilton was convenient it was about as drastically different from Les Airelles as you could imagine, thus expediting our re-entry back to the real world!

I hope that this article conveys even a fraction of how wonderful this hotel experience was. The only reason that I don’t think we would consider returning is that the week of magnificent wedding celebrations could never be replicated, thus we will relegate this most perfect fantasy trip to our memory banks and return to another Airelles property instead.