This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

As the first snows of the season start to fall, mountain towns across the Alps welcome winter visitors with a slew of smart new hotels and reimagined grand dames. The many joys of an Alpine trip, with its mind-calming mountains and chest-puffing pistes, don’t always compensate for the overpriced apartments or unmemorable tour operator chalets. So, it’s a shrewd idea to break with tradition this season and consider a stay in a paint-still-wet hotel in a resort you’ve never visited. Splash out on a new opening in a golden-ager like Gstaad, Courchevel or Cortina d’Ampezzo, or take your pick from a more affordable all-rounder like La Plagne or Madonna di Campiglio. Maybe this winter is the time to appreciate the great pleasure

See Full Page