Le Refuge de Solaise

The highest hotel in France takes the ski-in, ski-out concept to a new level. Le Refuge de Solaise isn’t just positioned near the slopes: it’s located inside an old cable car station sitting high above Val d’Isère in the French Alps. Only accessible by gondola, the wooden chalet is now a boutique hotel with accommodation options ranging from luxurious suites to dormitory-style bunk beds. Amenities vary widely — higher-end rooms have fireplaces, freestanding tubs, and glorious views over the valley — but the rustic-chic aesthetic is consistent throughout, with massive windows letting in abundant natural light by day and industrial lamps casting a warm glow over knotty wood-paneled walls at night. A pair of restaurants offer traditional French dishes and wood-fired pizzas before a dazzling snow-capped backdrop, and the cozy bar doubles as a breakfast venue. The hotel’s sleek spa, complete with a heated indoor pool, is a great place to decompress after a day out in the mountains.