Set in the Bavarian Alps and nestled between mountains and lakes, the Tannerhof feels more like a small village than a hotel. No frills, unconventional, easy-going, and sustainably-minded, its slopeside position enjoys sweeping views of the Leitzach Valley and the Wendelstein. Founded in 1905, it is run by the fourth generation of the von Mengershausen family and has a holistic approach to hospitality that seeks to immerse its guests in nature.

A cool new player on the Austrian Alpine scene, Seebichl is a coal-black house, located on a hilltop above the Schwarzsee and walking distance from Kitzbühel. Once Leni Riefenstahl’s film studio, it has been designed as the antidote to the traditional, antler-strewn Alpen hotel, and has the feel of a laidback and rambling summer home — albeit one with a creative, forward-looking mindset. Seebichl has 26 rooms, a beautiful garden terrace, and a locally-inclined restaurant.

A contemporary spa hotel, Nidum puts the natural beauty of the Seefeld plateau center stage. Fall is a particularly special time when Tyrol’s mountainous backdrop transforms into a kaleidoscope of gold and is bathed in warm light, days are still sunny enough to make the most of its panoramic terrace as well as the area’s famed hikes and mountain biking trails. Back at the ranch, the spa waits to soothe any achy muscles with its infinity pool, saunas, steam baths, and its natural pond.

Nestled in the Dolomites’ Alta Badia, The Ladinia is the quintessential mountain inn and Corvara’s first. Open in 1930, and a sister hotel to the iconic La Perla, it has 13 rooms, traditional Ladin interiors that hold centuries of stories, and beautiful views of Mount Sassongher. The glorious Alta Badia is a riot of fall colors, especially come October when the larches turn red, which can be best enjoyed by the area’s magnificent hiking and biking trails. Fall days are often sunny here.

Saltus is located on the edge of a forest, high up in the secluded mountain village of San Genesio, and yet not far from Bolzano in South Tyrol. The Dolomites’ first eco-hotel, its superpower is the Forest Spa, nestled deep in the spruce forest, which is almost entirely chemical-free and an oasis of purity and tranquility. Two Sky Pools, one indoor and one outdoor, are heated all year round and have spectacular 180-degree views of the Dolomites.

The Brecon, is an Alpine hideaway that will bring hospitality to the Swiss Alps like that of a generous friend who intuits your every need – with the facilities of a luxury Alpine chalet at hand. Tucked away in the mountain village of Adelboden, 45 minutes from Bern and two hours from both Zurich and Geneva, its offering is about warm hospitality, careful attention to detail, and delectable freedom from the outside world. The adult-only property is complete with a sensory spa.

Perched above the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana at 2112m, the Chetzeron started life as a gondola lift station and restaurant (hence the height) before being transformed in 2014 into the minimalist Alpine hotel we know today. With epic views over the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, it is a true sanctuary for those in search of rest and relaxation. In autumn, delight in your meadow surroundings and tick off its endless footpaths and mountain bike trails.

My Arbor is a tree hotel, built on stilts, high up in the tops of the surrounding trees. A refuge on the tree-covered mountainside of the Plose, in the middle of nature and just 10 minutes from Brixen (Bressanone) in South Tyrol. As the hotel name suggests, the My Idea plays an essential role. My Arbor guests are invited to find what often comes up short in hectic everyday life: time for themselves and the greatest possible freedom for their own rhythm.