Review: Armancette Hotel, Chalets & Spa

_Location: The only hotel in the quaint village of Saint-Nicolas de Véroce, Armancette puts clients in the authentic heart of the French Alps. The village is part of the Evasion Mont-Blanc, the third-largest ski area in France, with more than 275 miles of slopes. The hotel is an hour and 15 minutes from Geneva airport by car, and a 20-minute and 40-minute drive from Megève and Chamonix respectively.

_{First impressions:} Clad in traditional wood and twinkling fairy lights, the hotel’s exterior exudes chocolate-box charm. Inside, it’s a different story, with sleek marble, modern lighting and elegant furnishings and artwork. Set on the site of a former bakery, the property was likely once the epicentre of the village and still feels so today, with a lively tearoom serving homemade bread and viennoiseries to guests and locals.

_{The facts:} Armancette, part of the French-owned Almae Collection, opened in July 2019 and features 19 rooms and suites and four standalone chalets. Hotel rooms are individually styled, with a different colour scheme and type of marble in each.

There are two restaurants – the Mont Joly bistrot for relaxed, hearty fare and fine-dining restaurant La Table d’Armante, which offers a tasting menu of local produce. Wellness facilities include a heated indoor and outdoor pool and three Jacuzzis. The hotel is 150 metres from the nearest chairlift and has a ski room with individual heated lockers.

_{Ideal for:} Families will adore the quieter nature of Saint-Nicolas de Véroce – a great alternative to busier, après-ski-fuelled resorts in France. The hotel offers a great variation of rooms for families and features a kids’ club and babysitting service. The Evasion Mont-Blanc is also the nearest key skiing area from Geneva airport, making it ideal for time-poor clients.

_Explore: Ski over to Megève or Chamonix, or enjoy a long lunch at La Folie Douce Saint Gervais Megéve. Non-skiers can go dog-sledding or snowshoeing, while summer trips promise hiking, mountain bike rides and via ferrata.

_Wow: The ski-in ski-out chalets, which range from four to eight bedrooms, are an excellent option for those travelling in larger groups. With one located in Saint-Nicolas de Véroce and the other three on a plateau above the village – an eight[1]minute drive from the main property – clients can have the best of both worlds, enjoying the proximity of a full-service hotel while relishing in the privacy of a prime mountainside location.

_{Book it:} Winter rates start from €690 at Armancette and from €835 per night at the Saint-Nicolas Chalets.
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