L'APOGEE COURCHEVEL

In February I visited the latest addition to the Oetker Empire, L’Apogee in Courchevel 1850. With such a great pedigree it would be hard to go there without expectations, great ones at that.

So it is with great pleasure that I can confirm that the property and service meets all expectations and then some...

Located in Le Jardin Alpin, on peak that was once home to an Olympic ski jump, it surely has some of the best views.

My first impression was a good one. A warm welcome at the front door, followed immediately by the Front Desk staff “ah, Miss Mactavish, we have been expecting you” - perhaps they had googled me to see what I looked like? Or perhaps that fact that I was not decked out in the usual designer gear of Courchevelistas gave it away?

I was immediately shown to my room and have no doubt that the staff take great pleasure in the WOW effect! I could not help myself, I was blown away! Interesting that I had already seen twelve of the fifteen five star hotels in Courchevel by this point and I was still "wowed". My room was gorgeous, spacious, welcoming, the wonderful furnishings caught my eye, especially the emerald green leather headboard, now that was to die for, a huge bed with crisp bed linen, gorgeous green velvet drapes, and the views!!! WOW again! I would enjoy sitting in bed looking down the slopes into Courchevel and across to the mountains. The balcony, on two sides, would oft tempt me outside to take photos and enjoy the crisp clean air.

Every penny, or should I say Euro, has been carefully and well spent, the hotel is chic and oozes so much class that it will surely make the other 5 star properties in the resort sit up and take note, and well it should.

The beds are vast and heavenly, the baths well designed, deep and inviting and the Bamford toiletries are the perfect choice. Welcome amenities for VIPs include L’Apogee branded down jackets (which I wear at every opportunity), gorgeous furry slippers and Sisley spa products, perhaps save the products for home and just pamper yourself in the Sisley spa? At least that is what I did and I can certainly recommend the massages.

Looking for something for the kids? The two kids clubs – Mini VIP 1850 for ages 4 to 10 and Free Style 1850 for ages 11 to 15 are the best I have seen anywhere and will not disappoint even the pickiest of children.

The food and service is impeccable, I ate lunch in the bar my first day, and confess that it is the first time I have eaten a club sandwich with Christofle cutlery J. The Champagne lounge is warm and cosy and a great spot for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner at the signature restaurant, Le Comptoir de L’Apogee is not to be missed - be sure to have the sommelier suggest some wines, he has some great recommendations and some surprises. Not being a fan of white wine, I agreed to try his suggestion and found that I very much enjoyed it as well as it complementing the course perfectly.

With great food and wine and cool music from the resident DJ, meals here are not to be rushed but savoured and enjoyed in good company.

Not to be missed, L’Apogee has already played host to celebrity guests and royalty and is, I feel, the pièce de résistance of Courchevel 1850.