In the heart of La Mongie, the flagship resort of the Hautes-Pyrénées and gateway to the chain's largest French ski area, La Voie Lactée revives the spirit of the seventies. A 1970s building transformed by a passionate Tarbais couple, this south-facing 4-star hotel boasts five floors but only twenty rooms, like a manifesto of intimacy. Each room tells its own story: antique furniture, retro knick-knacks and local textiles, from ewe's wool plaids to bespoke headboards, all exude chic ecology and Pyrenean craftsmanship. A number of spacious rooms, some of them interconnecting, are ideal for families, with terraces to boot. After skiing, enjoy a sauna or Nordic bath in the open air, before meeting up at the Milky Way bar for a fire and homemade hot chocolate. Massages with ODEN organic cosmetics, a small fitness room, comforting snacks and local aperitifs complete the house spirit. There's no restaurant, but a smart menu of jars and suggestions of the best local addresses. A romantic, warm and unexpected address, just 300 metres from the slopes.