Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1541556
P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F M R T R I P P E R ( L E S A R TO) ; H I D EO U T V I L L A S villas to book LE SARTO, MEGÈVE Tech entrepreneur Thibaud Elzière started the swaggeringly named Iconic House group with his brother four years ago with a single mission: to create a network of world-class villas that straddle the divide between boutique hotel and private home, or what they've dubbed maisons hôtelière. This is the seventh addition to that portfolio, in the heart of Megève, France; the fully serviced retreat, complete with chalet manager and staff, including a full-time chef, is a smart counterpart to the property the pair also owns and runs in Courchevel. It was originally built in the 1940s by architect Henry Jacques Le Même, who helped Baroness Noémie de Rothschild transform this French backwater into a playground for the piste-loving jetset when he built her first chalet there. He went on to build more than 200 others nearby, including this one. Le Même's signature chalet du skieur style became a default there, as did his emphasis on double sloped roofs and wood cladding. Le Sarto is typical of his designs, but it's received a deep-pocketed renovation that's also upgraded its amenities, including an indoor pool, yoga studio, and gym, plus a professional kitchen and seven en-suite bedrooms. VILLA VIIMA, LAPLAND There's more incentive to visit Lapland than the hope of catching sight of Santa off-duty—it's the ideal place for a family to hone its ski skills, thanks to gentle, wide slopes and lower elevations that allow everyone from beginners to black diamond regulars to find somewhere to enjoy. Levi is the largest resort, with extensive downhill and cross-country options, and it's just 5 miles from the luxury, 5-bedroom Villa Viima. The 3,300-square-foot property has its own supersized two-story sauna—it's Finland, after all, where there's one for every two people in the country—as well as a fireplace-equipped cinema lounge and a snow-ringed Jacuzzi. Hideout Villas, the Finnish-owned operator of the property always provides full staff with every rental, including a villa host and driver. The other bonus of a ski trip to the Arctic Circle in midwinter: Stay up late and you could be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the elusive, mystical Northern Lights—and since the Solar Maximum's 11-year cycle is peaking right now, your chances are better than ever. Stay at this villa, and you don't even need to venture outside for a viewing, as the roof has skylights. A rchitect Henry Jacques Le Même helped Baroness Noémie de Rothschild transform Megève into a playground for the piste-loving jetset. Among Villa Viima's luxe amenities is a two-story sauna. Originally built in the 1940s, Le Sarto underwent a major renovation, including the addition of an indoor pool. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M