An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £10,500 exclusive chalet per week,
rising to £36,500
Smart, minimalist chalet in
exclusive Meribel enclave
usp
Chalet Aurore is an understated, minimally furnished exclusive Meribel chalet. It is quiet, has dramatic views up to Mont Vallon and faces due south so there is plenty of lovely sunshine.
location
The chalet is located in the exclusive Lotissement de Brames enclave about five minutes from the main Chaudanne hub by car and five minutes down from Motarret. It is highly secure, the enclave having its own security barrier entranceway, and it is so quiet that nature comes and visits at regular intervals. During our visit three deer were grazing among the trees in front of the chalet. A dedicated chauffeur service is laid on for guests throughout the day until 6pm and is on call in the evening up until around 10pm.
style
Simple, modern and tasteful. There is little to offend in this chalet – the colour palette is beiges and browns and caramels, and there is some interesting art on the walls including classic old skiing pictures which have been mounted on aluminium. ^
rooms
The rooms are similarly uncomplicated and stripped bare in style, all a good size and each coming with its own balcony. They are all en suite too, and each has a bath as well as a shower. Toiletries are Jo Malone. ^
food & drink
Aurore excels at food and drink. Its chef sources food wherever possible from the market in Moutiers which takes place twice a week, but the focus is really on the guests and what they want to eat. He can prepare anything, from sushi to spag bol, but a menu is discussed on the first night and tweaked for the rest of the week. It tends to include European-based dishes such as classic French or Italian.
We had the creamiest, most delicious tartiflette during our stay, accompanied by a simple salad, then the following night we had chicken breast stuffed with foie gras with parsley pomme puree and morelle and champagne sauce, followed by a divine pear and star anise tart with vanilla cream cheese. Oh, and a platter of local cheese, and an array of meltingly fabulous home-made chocolates to go with coffee. Breakfasts were works of art too, embracing beautifully arranged fresh fruit, heaps of Greek yogurt and runny honey, and a generous basket of pastries and breads together with hot options.
The wines include two house reds (a Cabernet Sauvignon and a St Chinian) and two house whites (a Sauvignon and Chardonnay), but no local Savoie wines because the nice ones are way too pricey and the cheaper ones are not good enough. A small à la carte wine list includes good but pricey local reds and whites plus some bigger French options such as a Chablis Premier Cru, a Sancerre and a Pomerol Chateau. The house champagne is Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut. ^
service
It is service with a smile at Aurore. The staff are impeccable; they spring to attend to your every need, from setting a DVD up in your bedroom to even plumping up the cushions on your bed, and they will happily stay and chat if you wish but will then fade away if you want some privacy. The perfect combination. ^
spa facilities
There is a good-sized sauna, an outside Jacuzzi and a 10m outdoor heated swimming pool. There is also a separate massage room for uninterrupted, private pampering. ^
children
Aurore has an enormous home cinema with pool table and comfy sofas which becomes a kids’ paradise if wanted. Kiddy toys can be supplied with the outdoor pool, and children’s mealtimes can be separate from the adults’. There is a library of board games and childrens’ DVDs, plus bum boards and sledging which can be enjoyed just outside the chalet. Guests are asked in advance of their visit about their needs. PlayStations and Wiis can be arranged if wanted. Children’s lunches are also laid on in the chalet at no extra charge, allowing little ones a rest in the middle of the day. Highly qualified English Norland Nannies can be flown out from the UK and hired at an extra charge, or else locally qualified nannies and babysitters can be sourced. Existing staff are also happy to help build snowmen, make pizzas or even take the kids sledging too. ^
extras
The chalet lays on wow extras for guests each week, such as fireworks, making big, creative ice bars in the gardens with furs everywhere, arranging picnics on the pistes or a surprise sledging trip or building an igloo. There is wi-fi throughout too, plus on the terrace outside so you can sunbathe and work at the same time. ^
for skiers
The chalet offers a ‘zen ski’ package for both skiers or non-skiers, which includes a gentle warm-up in the chalet in the morning for skiers and the hiring of a guide for the day. The cost is included in January trips but is an extra price for the rest of the season. The chalet also works with Elite Ski school which can look after all levels, from serious off-piste to gentle cruising. ^
for non skiers
The chalet’s ‘zen ski’ package involves a warm-up stretch that can spill over into Pilates or yoga for the guests who aren’t skiing. It can take place on the terrace or in the big cinema room downstairs which can be cleared out and have mats put down. Just up the valley there are hundreds of cross-country ski tracks, as well as walking tracks from just outside the chalet. Then there is the pool and the cinema too. In resort there is a climbing wall, ice skating and bowling. ^
best thing
The food and service. ^
worst thing
Some might prefer a little more soft furnishings and chintzy stuff to the chalet’s rather masculine, minimalist styling. ^
getting there
Either fly to Geneva, from where the transfer is around two hours, or go to Chambery where the transfer is about one hour 15 minutes. Transfers can be arranged by the chalet at an extra cost. ^
bottom line
Prices start from £1050pp per week, rising to £3460 pp at half term. ^
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 - 8
Service - 9
Room - 8
Food & Drink - 9
Luxury - 8
Chalet Aurore has
a sister chalet, appropriately named Chalet Borealis, which is next door and a mirror image – great for booking together for big groups.
Quickfinder
• Summer
• USP
* Location
• Style
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
* Service
• Spa Facilities
• Children
• Extras
• Skiers
• Non Skiers
• Best Thing
• Worst Thing
• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Other chalets in Meribel
• Summer
Bookings and enquiries: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
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
