By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
L'Aiguille Grive is the most stylish small hotel in Les Arcs: a four-star cluster of wood-and-glass chalets on the slopes above Arc 1800, with ski-in ski-out access, a sunny terrace and views across the valley to Mont Blanc. It pays homage to Charlotte Perriand, the designer who helped create Les Arcs in the 1960s and 70s, and it combines a dozen or so hotel rooms with private chalets for families and groups, all linked to a central lodge with a restaurant, bar and lounge.
L'Aiguille Grive is the most stylish small hotel in Les Arcs: a four-star cluster of wood-and-glass chalets on the slopes above Arc 1800, with ski-in ski-out access, a sunny terrace and views across the valley to Mont Blanc. It pays homage to Charlotte Perriand, the designer who helped create Les Arcs in the 1960s and 70s, and it combines a dozen or so hotel rooms with private chalets for families and groups, all linked to a central lodge with a restaurant, bar and lounge.
Location: Arc 1800, Les Arcs
Les Arcs is one of the great ski resorts of the French Alps, a family of villages above Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the Tarentaise valley, linked by the Vanoise Express cable car to La Plagne to form Paradiski, one of the largest ski areas in the world. Arc 1800 is its largest and liveliest village, with sunny, south-west-facing slopes and long views to Mont Blanc.
L'Aiguille Grive stands in the Charmettoger area, right on the slopes beside the Maitaz blue run, a few minutes' walk uphill from the centre of Arc 1800. There is no road to the door: guests arrive on foot or on skis, and the hotel runs a snow vehicle for luggage and evening pick-ups. By train, the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station climbs to Arc 1600 in a few minutes, with a shuttle onwards; Geneva airport is about three hours away by road.
Rooms and chalets at L'Aiguille Grive
The hotel has around a dozen double and twin rooms, each with a balcony, many facing Mont Blanc, a heated ski locker and a calm, contemporary style. For families and groups, the private chalets have four to six bedrooms, sleeping up to around 12, with their own living and dining rooms, fully equipped kitchens and terraces. You can cook for yourselves, eat in the hotel restaurant, or book a private chef.
The buildings were designed by the Paris architects Atelier COS, with interiors by Pierre-Marie Couturier that mix Alpine and Scandinavian style: wood, glass, deep sofas and fireplaces. When it opened in December 2013, it was the first low-energy (BBC) building at this altitude in Les Arcs.
Facilities at L'Aiguille Grive
The central lodge has the reception, a lounge bar with an open fire, the restaurant and a south-facing sun terrace with deckchairs, one of the best places in Arc 1800 for lunch or a sunset drink. The kitchen cooks simple, fresh mountain dishes and lighter contemporary food with Savoyard produce, and half board is available. There is a sauna, bookable in advance, massages can be arranged in your room, and there are ski rooms with heated boot racks. It is a relaxed, sociable place rather than a big spa hotel; for a large pool and spa, see Hotel Taj-I Mah in Arc 2000.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the end of the ski day, when you glide down the Maitaz run to the terrace, unclip your skis and sit in the late sun with a vin chaud, watching the light turn pink on Mont Blanc across the valley.
In the morning, you step out of the door and onto the piste, with all of Paradiski ahead of you.
Why L'Aiguille Grive is one of the best mountain hotels
L'Aiguille Grive earns its place for its design and its sense of place: a modern, low-energy hotel that honours Charlotte Perriand's vision for Les Arcs, with ski-in ski-out access, superb Mont Blanc views and a rare combination of intimate hotel rooms and private chalets. It is also excellent value for a four-star ski-in ski-out hotel in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.
In Les Arcs, the five-star choice is Hotel Taj-I Mah. Nearby in the Tarentaise, see Club Med Tignes and Les Barmes de l'Ours in Val d'Isère. Read our guide to the best hotels in the French Alps.
When to go to L'Aiguille Grive
The hotel is usually open from early December to mid-April for skiing, and in July and August for summer. January and March offer the best value and quieter slopes; the February school holidays and Christmas are the busiest weeks. In summer, Arc 1800 is a base for hiking, mountain biking and golf on one of the highest courses in Europe.
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Questions, answered
- Where is L'Aiguille Grive?
- L'Aiguille Grive is in the Charmettoger area of Arc 1800, in Les Arcs in the French Alps, on the slopes a few minutes' walk from the village centre.
- Is L'Aiguille Grive ski-in ski-out?
- Yes. The hotel sits on the slopes beside the Maitaz blue run, with direct access to the Paradiski ski area.
- Does L'Aiguille Grive have chalets?
- Yes. As well as hotel rooms, it has private chalets with four to six bedrooms, kitchens and terraces, and guests can use the hotel restaurant and services.
- Does L'Aiguille Grive have a spa?
- There is a sauna and in-room massages, but no large spa. For a pool and spa in Les Arcs, Hotel Taj-I Mah in Arc 2000 is the best choice.
- How do I get to L'Aiguille Grive?
- Take the train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the funicular up to Arc 1600 and a shuttle to Arc 1800, or drive about three hours from Geneva. The hotel has no road access, and it can collect luggage by snow vehicle.
