Le Portetta

The Portetta is actually that rather rare thing: an extraordinarily well-run hotel. Full disclosure here. We are regular guests and have been returning, as many, many others do, at least once, often twice, a season for the last seven or eight years, including, quite miraculously, during the pandemic. The reasons we keep going back are manifold but obvious. Superb location, metres away from the Ariondaz bubble in Courchevel 1650 Moriond. Friendly and very well-run ski room, with a wide range of the latest equipment for skiers of all levels. Super comfy and practical bedrooms, with plenty of often overlooked storage space. Top of the range linen, including high thread count bed sheets and luxurious towels. Plentiful hot water at key junctures of the day with excellent water pressure – not always a given in ski hotels! Faultless, and always friendly, housekeeping. These may be the basics but they are fundamental to the success of any such establishment and, in all our years of visiting, we have never known the Portetta to get them wrong. Unsurprisingly, the Portetta is a very popular Three Valleys location, with its buzzy outdoor terrace and justly renowned rustic Italian restaurant, ‘Cucina Angelina’ by Angela Hartnett. Even residents must ensure they reserve a table. The cosy, traditionally decorated, salon is, however, for hotel guests only and serves a huge range of drinks including well-executed cocktails and delicious hot chocolates all day. As with any great hotel, the backbone of its success is the staff. The Portetta runs on the infectious energy of a mainly very young team of bilingual 20-somethings, for whom nothing is too much trouble. The reception/front of house team are warm, welcoming, professional and somehow able to magically resolve any challenge, be it a complex room combination, a simple ski pass or a coveted terrace table at any number of Courchevel’s lauded mountain restaurants. This seamless hospitality is quietly and adroitly orchestrated by the always affable and accessible Portetta manager, Nicolas, who is frequently to be found making his rounds of the terrace and the salon in a rotating selection of very singular sweaters. The festive season at the Portetta is particularly special with the staff and the kitchen team pulling out all the stops to help the guests, and particularly the many young families, celebrate Xmas and New Year in style. Be warned: you need to book early! Very highly recommended!

This is an outstanding ski in – ski out hotel situated in Moriond or Courchevel 1650. My high expectations were met in full. Welcome was excellent, check in was effortless, then we were shown to our room and our bags delivered to by the helpful staff. Our valley view room 216, although compact, was tastefully furnished and warm. Lots of storage space, a safe, and a fridge with complementary water. The luxurious bathroom was well fitted, bath robes of course and slippers supplied. Turndown service in the evening, bed linen changed every day. Towels changed sometimes twice a day. The lounge area is also tastefully decorated with a log fire for relaxing in the evening. There was live music (Tim O’Connor on guitar with French Violinist Benjamin Lallement) one night, which was excellent. The fire and ice bar and restaurant on the terrace is excellent for lunch or après ski drinks. The weather was hot and sunny last week, and it can be a bit of a sun trap here. The ski room in the basement is on the most memorable things about Le Portetta. The staff from Sport 2000 who look after this area do a brilliant job. Your warm boots are brought out each morning. The staff will assist you in fitting your boots and will have your skis ready in the rack just outside each morning. The best ski room in the 3 valleys! I have no hesitation in recommending this outstanding hotel, each of the staff we met, genuinely tried their best to deliver great service make you welcome.

Le portetta, a sister hotel to fantastic boutique hotels in the UK known as ‘the pig at...’ in Courchevel 1650, where you can ski in and out each day straight on to the ariondaz bubble. Angela Hartnett has set up an Italian Cucina and rooms come half board with the hearty piggy breakfast and a four course dinner that even the most active skiers will rarely manage to eat. In so many other ways it lives up to its reputation, it is cosy with a constantly stoked hearth central to the lounge, the fire and ice bar serves an excellent selection of apres ski cocktails, all the staff are attentive and drinks flow with far too much ease! The spa was also worth a visit, therapists were friendly and professional. One disappointment was the limited option available for vegetarians in the Cucina Angelina - with literally no veggie options all week for a main courses and whilst the wait staff were happy to put something together - the chef seemed less pleased and these dishes seemed to be similar to those offer children and were not at all well executed.