1 The Chabichou, Courchevel
Can it get much better than satisfying the deep hunger born on the ski slopes with a meal in a two-Michelin-star restaurant? Yes, when you happen to be staying at the hotel that houses the restaurant, giving you a guaranteed table night after night, with bed just a short walk along the corridor. That's the deal at the Chabichou, a charming chalet hotel in the heart of Courchevel 1850 which has became a gastronomic highlight after owner of 40 years and chef Michel Rochedy gained the restaurant its first Michelin star in 1979 and a second in 1984.
Guests stay on a half-board basis, and although the four-course set evening meal doesn't feature the most expensive, intricate choices from the full-blown Michelin experience, it has some delicious dishes, including the best fish soup I've ever tasted.
'Every evening there is an item on the half-board menu from the ¿ la carte menu so that by the time they leave, guests will have tasted a range of our specialities,' says Rochedy.
A typical half-board menu starts with a duck and foie gras terrine with ?g chutney and beetroot vinaigrette, then a selection of fish in a basil sauce on a bed of vegetables, an impressive cheese board and baked apples with honey. If you want to go the whole hog and upgrade to the full gastronomic range complete with dishes from a brochette of grilled snails with pistachio to a roulade of pork with salty bacon in a wine sauce, you get 20 per cent off the rates of €80 (£52) for a traditional menu or €140 (£91) for the seven-course menu.
Surprisingly, the Chabichou only rates as a three-star hotel. There are roaring fires and a timbered cosy bar, plus a few extras, from the small glass peephole allowing guests to look down into the wine-lined cellar, to a seating nook whose ceiling is lit by star-shaped lights.
The hotel is family-run and it shows: Madame Rochedy seems to be almost omnipresent, but when she is absent, she is replaced by one of her sons, Christophe and Nicolas. Meanwhile, her husband whips up his creations in the kitchen, telling guests a few secrets every Thursday morning in a cookery class followed by a slap-up lunch of the dishes created for €75 (£49). OTM
The deal Supertravel (020 7962 9933; www.supertravel.co.uk) has seven nights' half board for £1,015 including flights and transfers, taken in the period from 9 February to 23 March, after which the price drops to £965pp.
2 Fairmont Chateau, Whistler Snuggled at the foot of Canada's Blacktop and Whistler Mountains, the lure here is the spa with everything from massages to mustard baths. The deal: Ski the American Dream (020 8552 1201; http://www.skidream.com) has seven nights' room-only for £1,129, including flights to Vancouver and transfers.
3 The Riffelalp, Zermatt Overshadowed by the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a village full of typical old-style Swiss charm. This ?ve-star hotel has a ski-in ski-out position, sauna, steam room and pool, and a bowling alley too. The deal: Inghams (020 8780 4433; www.inghams.co.uk) has seven nights' half board for £1,309 with flights to Geneva and transfers.
4 Amangani, Jackson Hole This Wyoming resort, a blend of stark lines and open spaces, is a must for the view alone, overlooking snow-capped mountains from the outdoor heated swimming pool. The deal: Wentworth Golf and Spa (01344 844622; www.wentworthtravel.com) has seven nights' staying in a suite on a room-only basis for £2,658 including international and domestic flights and transfers.
5 Thurnhers Alpenhof, Z¿rs This Austrian resort has become a second home to royalty. There's even a private mini-cinema. You can ski straight out of the hotel onto the piste. The deal: Elegant Resorts (01244 897333; www.elegantresorts.co.uk) has one week's half board in a junior suite from £1,580 including flights to Zurich and transfers.
6 Les Fermes de Marie, Meg¿ve Decorated with traditional Savoy craftmanship, this French hotel has the feel of a large family home. This is where Parisians go when they ski, and to relax afterwards in the calming spa. The deal: Ski Solutions (020 7471 7777; http://www.skisolutions.com) has one week's half board for £1,050, including flights to Geneva and taxi transfers.
