Montana Lodge & Spa

It’s not every day a new high-end ski resort is simply willed into existence. But Montana Lodge & Spa’s proprietors are counting on their ability to do just that. Rather than join the crowd in an established resort town, they’re hoping a stylish luxury boutique hotel is all it will take to attract upscale customers to the hitherto humble ski resort of La Thuile.

The first great hotel in an emerging destination is always more exciting than the one that finally turns the place into a bona fide hotspot, and Montana Lodge & Spa is careful not to go too far too fast. The exterior, though modern, is classic in style, taking care to blend in with the established architecture. But once you’re inside, you’ll see you’ve stumbled on something much more than the average ski lodge.

Modern construction means modern spaces; these rooms are genuinely spacious, which is important — it’s not natural to stow yourself into a cramped space after a day under the Alpine sky. The design leans heavily on rustic, unfinished wood, but alongside plenty of luxe modern Italian furniture the effect is far from unpolished. And the comfort is largely in the details: between the Hästens mattresses and the in-room Lavazza espresso machines, you’ve got little choice but to start the day with a surplus of energy. Add a classic Italian restaurant and a brand-new spa, and you’ve got the beginnings of a proper Alpine resort — minus the luxury trappings of an established resort town.

How to get there: Montana Lodge & Spa is approximately 132 km by car from Geneva International Airport via E25/A40 and SS26 and 157 km by car from Turin Airport via E612/E25/A5 and SS26.