Planning your skiing trip for 2020? There’s a new hotel on the scene: Le Coucou, a five-star ski-in/ski-out hotel perched in the mountains of Méribel, France. The newest venture from boutique hotel group Maisons Pariente, Le Coucou boasts 55 rooms including 29 suites and two private chalets – the latter offering panoramic views of the surrounding Alps.

Beautiful interiors come courtesy of renowned architect Pierre Yovanovitch, who retains the traditional aesthetic of the region while adding a touch of the playful flair he’s known for. Upon entering the hotel, for instance, guests are greeted with a stunning fresco on the five-meter-high dome ceiling created by artist Matthieu Cossé and commissioned by Yovanovitch.

The hotel also showcases a number of blue chip artworks selected personally by Yovanovitch, including: Ugo Rondinone, Eduardo Chilida, Natalia Jaime Cortez, Alexander Calder, François Morellet, Claude Viallat.

Each room, suite and chalet has its own individual character, featuring bespoke floor to ceiling elements created specifically by Yovanovitch and his team. The spacious chalets are home to four en-suite bedrooms, a living area and a games area, as well as a private ski room and pool.

Skiing is tiring business – but luckily Le Coucou offers plenty of opportunity for relaxation. The hotel has both an indoor and an outdoor pool, alongside six treatment rooms, a sauna, and dedicated space for personalised pilates and yoga classes.

And after a long day on the slopes, guests can head to one of the two restaurants at Le Coucou: BiancaNeve and Beefbar. The former offers Italian cuisine from chef Riccardo Giraudi: think antipasti, mozzarella and charcuterie, paired with wines from the adjoining wine cellar. Beefbar – a nod to the hotel’s name – specialises in rare meats with prestigious origins, from Australian Wagyu to Japanese Kobe.

Méribel caters for all ages and ski abilities, but Le Coucou offers many more activities than just skiing and snowboarding. Fancy pony sledging down the slopes? Riding through the sky in a hot air balloon? Hiking through the forest? The opportunities are endless at this charming winter wonderland.

This is the third opening for Maisons Pariente in 2019, following closely behind the opening of Hotel Lou Pinet, Saint Tropez in June 2019 and the reopening of the refurbished Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provence on 1st May 2019. The Pariente family have their sights set on Paris for a fourth addition to the collection in 2021.

Nightly rates at Le Coucou start from 440 Euros on a bed and breakfast basis. Visit lecoucoumeribel.com for more information. For reservations email [email protected]