Luxury ski chalets: The Chic Chalet Guide to luxury Chalet Chopine, Meribel, France

Chalet Chopine
Méribel
Sleeps - 10

From £8,500 exclusive chalet per week,
up to £29,500 in peak weeks

Stylish, cosy, family-friendly
chalet in superb central location

usp
Chalet Chopine is a great, south-facing, central Meribel chalet that is stylishly furnished and priced well. An excellent find.

location
The chalet is located really handily, in the Dou du Pont enclave of Meribel just up from Chaudanne. It is ski-in and can almost be skied out of, with a short walk down the hill.

style
The chalet was updated two winters ago and feels nicely contemporary without being too modern and designer. The timbers everywhere are stained modishly grey, there are comfy faux fur throws on sofas and updated bathrooms, but there are the occasional slightly random, lavish touches such as gold lamp bases, glittering bathroom tiles and swathed curtain material. The overall effect is cosy and comfortable, however. ^

rooms
The bedrooms are all different and rather opulently furnished, with plenty of rich mauves and purples and gold. All are good sized, featuring unusual carpentry and generous bathrooms fully equipped with Jo Malone toiletries. ^

food & drink
The food at Chopine is of the highest standard. As with its sister Meribel chalets Aurore and Boreale, the chef sources food wherever possible from the market in Moutiers which takes place twice a week. The focus is really on the guests and what they want to eat, however. Anything can be done, from sushi to spag bol, but it tends to include European-based dishes such as classic French or Italian. Dietary requirements and preferences are discussed with guests in advance of their stay, and the chef will sit down to discuss the specific menu for the week on the first night.

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. The house champagne is Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut. ^

service
The service at Chopine is excellent. The staff are perfectly professional but also friendly and chatty and not standoffish, becoming a part of your holiday if you wish but staying out of the way if not. ^

spa facilities
Chopine has a lovely, roomy spa area incorporating a big indoor Jacuzzi with great views and a waterproof remote control to operate the music. There is also a hammam or steam room with aromatherapy oils and different coloured lights, and a generous-sized sauna. A massage table for some additional pampering can also be set up within the spa area. ^

children
Chalet Chopine is wonderfully family-friendly, particularly given its great central location and not-too-huge size. There is a downstairs cinema room which tends to be adopted by children who can watch a range of kids’ DVDs or play on the PlayStation. 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 perfectly happy to help build snowmen, make pizzas or even take the kids sledging too. All needs are discussed in advance of staying. ^

extras
There is the great cinema room downstairs with plenty of DVDs, the full Sky package and PlayStation plus range of games. A full range of massages can be arranged with Ski Physio, a visiting massage company which focuses more on deep tissue sports massages than gentler treatments. ^

for skiers
As at Aurore, 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 plus 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 gentle wake-up stretch that can spill over into Pilates or yoga for the guests who aren’t skiing. There are hundreds of cross-country ski tracks around the resort too, as well as walking tracks. Then there is the pool and the cinema in Meribel, plus a climbing wall, ice skating and bowling. ^

best thing
The spa area and central location. ^

worst thing
Some of the slightly over-the-top interior design touches. ^

getting there
Geneva is possibly the easiest main hub, from where the transfer is around two hours, or you can fly to Chambery where the transfer is about one hour 15 minutes. Transfers can be arranged by the chalet at an extra cost. ^

bottom line
The chalet is priced on an 8 +2 basis, the +2 being children. Because of this it is excellent value, starting at just over £800 pp per week rising to £2665pp at February 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.

Scores out
of ten

Chalet - 8
Service - 9
Room - 8
Food & Drink - 9
Luxury - 8