Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles

What the classifiers highlight

Courchevel's first hotel to reach palace status, an Austro-Hungarian fantasy of turrets and carved wood balconies built ski-in, ski-out. Forbes rates it five stars and dwells on the service: ski butlers who carry equipment and warm boots before lunch. The 32 rooms and 15 suites carry garnet carpets and hand-painted frescoes; kids get a heated treehouse and a ski program.