An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £4,850 per week plus food and drink
Stylish ski-in ski-out property
in Courchevel 1650 enclave
usp
Chalet Aster is a beautiful, contemporary chalet with plenty of space, style and light.
location
The chalet is located up in the quiet, exclusive district of Belvedere in Courchevel 1650. It is a very desirable location, with a ski-in ski-out position just beside the slopes.
style
Mountain chic – lots of skins on the floor, chocolate leather sofas, bleached wood and designer lighting.
rooms
The bedrooms are all a really good size, all with balconies and incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The master master bedroom is particularly spectacular, encompassing a small living area that looks out onto the slopes. The other master bedroom (it is fair to say that this chalet has two masters) has the bed jauntily sitting at an angle, with space for a gorgeous Louis XV chair and foot rest, while there is a charming quad bedroom for children, with four single beds lined up alongside one another dorm-style. The bathrooms are well appointed and the toiletries are L’Occitane. ^
food & drink
Food and drink at Chalet Aster is wonderfully flexible. The chalet is run on a Freedom to Choose basis, meaning that guests are interviewed in detail prior to their stay, asked whether they will be wanting five course gourmet feasts every night or just simple but delicious two course suppers, and then charged at cost at the end of the week on everything they have.
The chalet also has a wine list with about seven each of red and white wines ranging from local Gamay and Apremont at around €8 up to fine wines at around €28 and four different Champagnes. Guests help themselves during the week and just pay for what they've used. Alternatively the chalet can order specific wines for guests in advance or they can bring their own - quite a few guests ship wine in advance. ^
service
The service at Chalet Aster is perfection – attentively professional but not stuffy and over formal. The staff are mature and experienced and live out of the chalet. ^
spa facilities
Chalet Aster has a top of the range Jacuzzi with spectacular mountain views. Treatments and massages can also be arranged in the chalet at extra cost. ^
children
Children have their very own TV/games room to play in safely away from any adult intrusion. It has Sky and a DVD player. Chalet Aster is also excellent for sledging, because it sits right on the snow and has plenty of lovely, gentle slopes leading down to it that are perfect for sledging on. ^
extras
Fresh flowers, magazines and daily newspapers are laid on, as well as a champagne reception on arrival. There is also a garage and off-road parking, enough for two vehicles, as well as wifi and a guest PC and fax. ^
for skiers
Just perfect. The chalet is genuinelyski-in ski-out out. Simply pop on your skis out the back of the chalet and scoot down to the nearest lift, then at the end of the day peel off the home run and ski right back into your room (if you have one on the ground level at the back overlooking the slopes). And you have Courchevel and the wonders of the Three Valleys on your doorstep. ^
for non skiers
There is designer shopping up at Courchevel 1850, with everything from top fashion and eyewear to gifts, home decorations and luxury jewellers on offer. 1850 also has excellent art galleries, fantastic delicatessens, wine cellars and also local markets with regional foods and local specialities. Alternatively, active non-skiers can go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, try some snowmobiling or ice skating or skidooing, go bowling, indoor climbing or even try the floodlit toboganning track which is great fun for all the family. ^
corporate groups
The Chalet is well set up for corporate groups and business clients.
Read more on organising a corporate trip to the Alps. ^
best thing
The stylish ski-in ski-outness. ^
worst thing
Not being in Courchevel 1850? We don’t think so. Despite the caché of the address, Courchevel 1850 has little charm compared with leafy, forested Belvedere just 200m down the mountain. ^
getting there
Courchevel is around two hours from Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon. Alternatively, Chambéry is just 1hr 15 minutes away if you can get flights. The chalet price does not include airport transfers although it has its own luxury transport service, complete with snacks and films and leather interiors, which offers guests a discount. ^
bottom line
Chalet Aster costs from 5,500 euros (approx £4,850) in the winter, plus food and drink. ^
bookings & enquiries
If you would like to make an enquiry or a booking, please email enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk. Remember, we have visited all the chalets we feature so can give you totally unbiased, independent advice on all of them. The prices we quote are also the list prices quoted by the chalets themselves, so there is no advantage in going to the chalets direct.
Chalet - 9
Service - 8
Room - 9
Food & Drink - 9
Luxury - 8
Do have a go at sledging, either on the slopes just outside the chalet or the public toboggan run from Courchevel 1850 down to 1550. It is surprising fun, especially at night when it is floodlit.
Quickfinder
• USP
* Location
• Style
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
• Service
• Spa Facilities
• Children
• Extras
• Skiers
• Non Skiers
• Corporate Groups
• Best Thing
• Worst Thing
• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Summer
• Weekends and short breaks
• Other chalets in Courchevel 1650
how to book
Email: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
guest book
"Excellent in every respect. Truly superb. Personal, friendly and professional service."
"Just a note to thank all your staff for making our holiday at Chalet Aster such a success. It is by far the best skiing holiday we have had and all our party felt the same. We would definitely like to re-book for the same week next year."
"After our fourth holiday at Chalet Aster I can honestly say, nothing compares. Thank you all so much for your professionalism and consideration. We can't wait for next year."
summer
Open by arrangement on a catered or self-catered basis.
Other chalets that open during the summer.
weekends and short breaks
Chalet Aster can offer weekends and short stays by arrangement.
See which other chalets offer long weekends and short breaks
St Anton | Les Cerniers | Chamonix | Courchevel 1650 | St Gervais | Les Gets | Laax | Lech | Megève | Méribel | St Martin de Belleville | St Moritz | Nendaz
Portes du Soleil | Sainte Foy | Sierre-Anniviers | Tignes les Brévières | La Tzoumaz | Val d'Entremont | Val d'Isère | Verbier | Veysonnaz | Zermatt