An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £5880 for whole chalet plus food & drink
Superb ski-in ski-out
luxury home in Méribel
usp
Chalet Bartavelles (which means 'partridges' in French) is a luxuriously appointed, elegant, spacious, perfectly located ski-in ski-out chalet in an exclusive enclave of Méribel (and 80% of Méribel's chalets are not ski-in ski-out, so this is the place to be).
location
The chalet is positioned just off the Doron home run on Route des Chalets, possibly the most exclusive road in Méribel. Guests have to go about 10 paces up a short slope to get to the run and have an effortless slide down to arrive right back at the chalet. It is as easy as it gets: no drivers to co-ordinate or uncomfortable 4x4s to climb into the back of. The chalet is also just below the ever-popular Rond Point après bar, and just across from the fast six-man Adret chairlift, meaning guests don’t have to drop down to the busy Chaudanne hub.
style
Indulgent, classic opulence: overstuffed sofas, richly brocaded armchairs, chintzy curtains in the bedrooms. It feels supremely comfortable and there is huge amounts of space to absorb everyone with ease. ^
rooms
There are five en-suite bedrooms, the two at the top of the chalet being the most roomy and impressive, but all are lovely. Each has space for a day bed or small sofa, and the bathrooms are all sleek, having been kitted out with the most modern of shiny chrome fittings. ^
food & drink
Food and drink at Chalet Bartavelles 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
This is a genuinely luxurious chalet, with impeccable service to match. The staff are mature, highly experienced, and live out, so you ultimately have the place to yourselves. ^
spa facilities
There is an outdoor Jacuzzi which remains perfectly private, despite the chalet being so close to the Doron run, and the chalet also has a sauna. In-house massages and beauty therapies can be organised at extra cost. ^
children
Chalet Bartavelles is a proper private mountain home owned by a family, and as such it is really well set up for all ages. There is plenty of space for groups to find privacy, with a separate games room with cinema and DVD library, Sky and billiards. Most children gravitate towards this, leaving the opulent main living space for the grown-ups. ^
extras
There is a wonderful cinema room which has a billiards table in it too. Wifi throughout.
for skiers
Méribel is in the heart of the Trois Vallées, the very middle of the three, so it has access either way to an extraordinary amount of skiing – the largest ski area, in fact, in the world. It has plenty of sunny, wide, tree-lined slopes for beginners and children, but also fantastic off-piste itineraries. And all set above hundreds of gorgeous traditional chalets, which Méribel is famous for (the ski chalet was invented there). ^
for non skiers
There is a pool and a cinema in Méribel, plus a climbing wall, ice skating and bowling. There are also hundreds of cross-country ski tracks around the resort, as well as walking tracks. Non-skiers can even try their hand at husky-sledding, while there are also numerous festivals throughout the season, from comedy to music. ^
best thing
The convenience of ski-in ski-out and overall spaciousness. ^
worst thing
The stairs – you can easily get lost and forget which rooms are on which floor, there is so much space. ^
getting there
Geneva or Lyon are the easiest hubs for Méribel, the transfer being around two hours from both, or you can fly to Chambéry where the transfer is about one hour 15 minutes. Transfers can be arranged but are charged extra. ^
bottom line
Chalet Bartavelles costs from 6,700 euros (approx £5880) for the whole chalet, with food and drink on top. ^
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 - 9
Room - 9
Food & Drink - 9
Luxury - 9
Treat yourself to a good browse through some of the gorgeous coffee table books – a perfect pastime in front of the roaring fire.
Quickfinder
• USP
• Location
• Style
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
• Service
• Spa Facilities
• Children
• Extras
• Skiers
• Non Skiers
• Best Thing
• Worst Thing
• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Summer
• Weekends and
short breaks
• Other chalets in Méribel
• Shared chalet accommodation
how to book
Email: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
guest book
"The chalet was quite outstanding as were all the staff involved – nanny, chauffeurs, the guide, the masseuse etc. We spent a little time together on the last day wondering whether there could possibly have been any room for improvement and we all failed."
"We had the most wonderful time. The chalet was stunning and suited us so well. After many years of trying to find the right balance for us as a family, I believe we have found it. We really look forward to coming back next year. Thank you to all the staff who were truly superb."
"Our stay was once again fantastic. The chalet is in perfect condition and the staff were absolutely wonderful and professional. A great, great experience; everybody very happy and looking forward to our next visit."
summer
Open by arrangement, either catered or
self-catered.
Other chalets that open during the summer.
weekends and short breaks
Only last minute, a couple of weeks before the date, if not sold as a full week.
See which other chalets offer long weekends and short breaks
CHALET SHARES
Only last minute, a couple of weeks before the date, if the chalet has not been sold in its entirety.
Other chalets that offer shared chalet accommodation or boutique weeks
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