1. Dolomit, Italy
New this season, this family-run boutique B&B is set in the pretty village of La Villa, just north of Cortina, in the Dolomites. Perfect for low-key après-ski relaxation (the owners run a twice-daily shuttle service to the nearest cable car), its 18 bedrooms are spacious but at the same time cosy. The decor is stylish, and the bathrooms are more lavish than you would expect in a B&B, with designer fittings - one even features its own sauna. Other guests have access to a little forest sauna which can be privately rented, and there's also a restaurant and pizzeria on site
Dolomit B&B, Strada Colz 9, La Villa, Italy (00 39 0471 847120; www.dolomit.it). B&B starts at €64 (£49)
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2. Naze’s Hus, Austria
This four-star B&B in Mellau, west of Innsbruck in the Austrian Alps, is set in a protected historic monument. A sensitive renovation in 2005 won Naze’s Hus a local tourism innovation award last year; all the rooms are furnished with ecologically sustainable materials and are suitable for people with allergies – the beds are even made out of a special wood that recent studies claim enhances the quality of your sleep. If you’re keen to take some of the environmental philosophy home with you, the B&B also has a small shop that sells organic products from the region.
Naze’s Hus, Tempel 73, Mellau, Austria (00 43 650 462 7929; www.nazeshus.at). B&B from €82 (£63)
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3. La Ferme du Baptieu, France
An 18th-century Savoyard farmhouse renovated by local craftsmen, this five-room B&B has oodles of charm. An antidote to more modern mountain lodges, it may have such contemporary amenities as Wi-Fi, a sauna and a Jacuzzi, but it is decorated in a relaxed, traditional style that speaks of family heirlooms rather than a quick dash round Ikea. Winter-sports aficionados are a 15-minute drive from the Espace Killy, Paradiski, La Rosière and Sainte Foy ski areas, and can also try snowshoeing and dog-sledding. With 48 hours’ notice, the owners will also rustle up dinners based on delicious local produce.
La Ferme du Baptieu, Sainte Foy en Tarentaise, France (00 33 479 069 752; www.lafermedubaptieu.com). B&B from €140 (£108). Dinner costs €35 (£27) per person
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4. Les 4 Saisons, Switzerland
Set in the Valais region, with easy access to skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh-riding and relaxing thermal baths, Les 4 Saisons may be a luxurious B&B, but it’s also understated. Modern inside but constructed in traditional chalet style, it features spacious rooms that are simply furnished with comfort rather than ostentation in mind. Bathrooms are contemporary; Wi-Fi has been installed. More important than the establishment’s interiors, however, are the spectacular mountain views from the sunny terraces and panoramic windows in the breakfast room. There is also a small shop selling local crafts and produce.
Les 4 Saisons, Ovronnaz, Valais, Switzerland (00 41 79 818 4046; www.les4saisons.ch). B&B starts at Sfr180 (£83)
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5. La Ferme de Cupelin France
Tucked beneath Mont Blanc, in the spa resort of St-Gervais, this B&B in a French farm is big on traditional Savoyard styling (with lots of pine, open fires and checked curtains), as well as modern comfort. There are seven rooms and four suites and, with both the Prarion skiing resort and the St-Gervais thermal spa close at hand, there’s plenty to keep you occupied during the day. In the evening, you can book dinners that are strong on organic, locally sourced produce, and, if you’re musical, there’s an open invitation to play the farm’s piano.
La Ferme de Cupelin, 198 route du Château, St Gervais-les-Bains, France (00 33 450 934 730; www.ferme-de-cupelin.com). B&B starts at €124 (£95)
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19 January 2008, Chosen by Rhiannon Batten
