I worked for a winter in Val D’isere back in the mid-90s, I felt back then that skiing in Tignes was great but that the town lacked soul and felt very purpose-built and very unlike the playful Val D’isere.
Fast forward two and half decades and we were to be invited to experience the new Hotel VoulezVous in Tignes le Lac of all places. After a fantastic drive that winds its way around the mountains for forty minutes, we arrived in a very snowy Tignes le Lac at 2100 metres above sea level and oh my how things have changed!
A peek inside the property’s playful interiors
The general architecture had been altered and improved with more modern and cosy chalets and hotels dotted here and there. We pulled up outside the Hotel VoulezVous and found a very modern yet playful exterior standing in front of us; as soon as we jumped out of our trusty steed, the doorman was there ready to offload our luggage and park our car for us; true service 5-Star style.
Owned by Les Étincelles the Hotel VoulezVous is part of a collection of chalets, hotels, residences and restaurants with outstanding service, based in ski resorts that traditionally were not known for their 5-star luxury service; it seems that Hotel VoulezVous is part of the change that is taking Tignes in a whole new, playful direction.
The interior design is elegant yet super cool, with a very chilled vibe as one wanders around the hotel. We loved the amount of space throughout the building. The bar area, known as ‘Icebreaker’ has many comfy areas to chill after skiing or to recline after dinner; all under a great glass roof that keeps the place well-lit.
They tend to have a local DJ, live music and entertaining acts in this area which brings the place to life; and if you catch the singing fever yourself they even have a couple of Karaoke rooms, so you can scream the house down to your heart’s content without upsetting the locals and attracting all the local chats & chiens. Once you have drunk your fill and lost your voice, you can retire to one of the many playful and alpine chic bedrooms.
Our suite was spacious with stunning views of the lake and the mountains, with plenty of storage and hanging space we could make ourselves at home whilst keeping the place uncluttered and looking as it was intended, sleek and chic.
When it comes to cuisine, the French certainly know what they are doing and Hotel Voulez Vous is no exception. The restaurant Il Savoia is based on the gastronomy of the Duchy of Savoy which straddles France and Italy, so the menu is a fusion of two of some of the best cuisines on the planet all utilising local quality producers through the various seasons.
Of course, with the Italian influence, there are pizzas on the menu all made with a ‘triple world champion’ dough recipe! Breakfast is a smorgasbord for the taste buds as well, with a very large selection of pretty much everything one could desire for breakfast.
However, the culinary adventure does not stop at the doors of the playful Hotel VoulezVous, with Les Etincelles owning several other properties in the area one can organise meals at the other venues. We experienced a wonderful lunch at Les Terrasses Restaurant at The Levanna Hotel which is right on the side of the piste, so very easy to access. An alpine bistro with a mixture of homemade burgers, and truffle pasta and its speciality is seasonal seafood from platters, oysters and other delights from the sea.
We also experienced lunch at Le Gourmet Restaurant in the wonderful 5-star Les Suites du Montana Hotel. From pan-fried foie gras to Breton lobster and Aubrac beef, we ate like French royalty, when they were still around; I never thought that I would experience such cuisine in Tignes les Lac.
On our last evening, we had a very special experience, the hotel arranged for a cab to take us down to Tignes Les Brevières down below the dam at 1550 at their wonderful Le Tetras Restaurant in their chalet-hotel Tetras Lodge.
With stunning large windows overlooking the river flowing through the snowy landscape and modern alpine interiors makes for a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The chef Violette Rullo produces very high-end cuisine worthy of a Michelin star with such delights as gravlax trout with beets, smoked eel and crayfish cappuccino with fennel, tender roast beef fillet or roasted Arctic char fillet; make sure not to miss this experience.
Aside from the gourmet cuisine and funky bar, the Hôtel VoulezVous is very well positioned being only 50 metres from the pistes and 200 metres from the ski lifts. The ski room is quite the experience too, with service unlike any other, your equipment is ready and waiting meaning that you will waste none of that precious ski time. Once back from your day out, make sure to hit up the spa with its 600 m2 of relaxation space with sauna, steam room and pool and of course check yourself in for one of their many various massage and treatments.
If you are looking for a night with a little more action then head over to Le Strike nightclub; formally a bowling alley the venue has now been put to much better use and our evening was certainly one not to forget. Possibly one of the largest Alpine nightclubs with space for a couple of buses as part of the interior design, and a cocktail menu which will keep you up all night, do not expect to be catching first lifts in the morning.
It seems that Hotel VoulezVous and it sister establishments really have changed the face of Tignes for the better, with what appears to be the ‘Midas Touch’ Everything that Les Etincelles touches is gold and we certainly can not wait to experience everything else that have to offer in the Alps.
Hotel VoulezVous Tignes le Lac
56 Bcle du Rosset
73320 Tignes
France
