Terminal Neige Totem

Flaine, Pays du Mont-blanc, France

The lowdown An industrial-luxe outpost on the Alpine slopes.

Best for Ski lovers with a penchant for brutalist architecture.

Built from scratch during the Sixties, the resort of Flaine is located high up on the tree line, but not super-high, so it’s ideal for skiers and boarders of all levels. Originally comprising a series of lodges and apartments, mostly all designed by Marcel (Wassily chair) Breuer in typical brutalist style, the Terminal Neige Totem is the first to be recast as a plush hotel. Each of the doubles, club doubles and suites is dressed in hip, urban fashion, with open ceilings, bold blocks of charcoal and subtle graphics (we loved the wide expanse of glazing providing uninterrupted views outside). The spa includes an outdoor hot tub, gym and hamman, while food is catered for by two well-stocked diners offering buffets and sharing plates. Once you’re out on the slopes, there are lifts to numerous spots across the Grand Massif, so it’s worth getting off the beaten track to lose the crowds and find the pristine snow. Book it Double rooms from approx £135, including breakfast (totem.terminal-neige.com).