MIL8

You won’t drive to the door of your hotel if you’re lucky enough to travel to Avoriaz: you’ll park in a lot outside the resort and make the rest of the journey in a horse-drawn sleigh. It’s a fitting introduction to the charming clifftop village, the highest in the massive Portes du Soleil ski area, and home to MIL8, a new ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel housed in a futuristic-looking wooden chalet. The interior aesthetic pays homage to the resort’s early days — the village, where the streets double as pistes, was dreamt up by Jean Vuarnet, downhill champion at the 1960 Olympics — with mod furniture, cool wood paneling, and a deliciously retro cocktail bar for après-ski drinks. Guest rooms are stylish and light-filled, with king-sized beds, porthole windows, Nespresso machines, and views of the snowy peaks; many have private balconies. The hotel’s sophisticated brasserie focuses its menu around local ingredients, and a state-of-the-art wellness center features a heated outdoor infinity pool and a glass-encased spa, all with sweeping views of the Alps.