An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
Here are all the very latest goings-on from the world of luxury ski chalets, from new openings to the arrival of star chefs. Please email us if you have any chalet news you'd like us to consider.
The famous 23-year-old Snowline chalet brand is to be merged with its upmarket sister brand, VIP Ski, from this winter.
The move reflects consistent improvements to the Snowline product, which has traditionally been positioned below VIP in terms of luxury. It is also a resounding victory for chic chalets generally, proving that guests are continually pushing for better quality chalets and higher levels of service.
James Brine, VIP sales manager, told The Chic Chalet Guide: “We have moved to a single brand because Snowline and VIP had become so close that there was very little difference between the two. We have released some of the weaker chalets that were in less good locations, but it is basically business as usual for VIP customers and a whole lot more choice for Snowline customers.”
The combined Snowline/VIP portfolio will consist of 58 chalets, 22 of which were former Snowline properties, in 7 different resorts ranging from Meribel to Zermatt. The fusing of the brands means that all chalets will now offer the VIP extras such as bathrobes and slippers, as well as champagne reception on the first night.
VIP Ski will continue to offer its Platinum, super high-end, service at a few select chalets, including Taiga Lodge in Meribel which is pictured here and featured on The Chic Chalet Guide. ^
Nicky Dobree, owner/designer of Ferme de Moudon in Les Gets, is launching a stylish range of downtime cashmere for guests at her sumptuous chalet from next winter.
The initial offering will be a pair of gorgeously soft 4-ply cashmere bed socks which will be available to buy at the chalet or online at fermedemoudon.com. The long socks, priced approximately £55 a pair, come in a chunky cable knit and are made in Scotland from the finest Mongolian cashmere fibres. They have been specially designed to be robust enough to wear around the chalet and not just in bed.
Nicky told The Chic Chalet Guide: “I know that when I come in from a great day’s skiing all I want to do is bask in a delicious bath and then slip into something comfortable but also luxurious. I feel that a cashmere range of clothes to relax in is something that many would relish. Padding around the chalet in the softest, cosiest clothing would simply complete the Ferme de Moudon experience."
Word has it that yoga trousers and a cashmere wrap will follow, as well as a rucksack specially designed for Ferme de Moudon guests by handbag guru Bill Amberg. ^
The Chalet Girl, the new movie to be released next winter starring Felicity Jones, is using the pretty, old-fashioned St Anton Museum for the exterior shots of the chalet where Jones works. The actual chalet itself, where the interiors have been filmed, is yet to be disclosed.
The movie is to be released next January and is based on the book of the same name by Kate Lace, which carries the line on the flyleaf: “Falling in love can be a slippery slope.” It tells the story of a young working class girl who lands a chalet girl job in an ultra-glam ski resort. She is totally out of her depth until she discovers her natural snowboarding genius – and, of course, the boss' gorgeous son.
Jones, who starred in the Diary of Anne Frank and the TV series Worst Witch, went undercover at the Amalien Haus in St Anton for a week to learn the tricks of being a chalet girl.
“She did all the usual chalet girl chores and nobody had any idea who she was!” says an insider.
The film also stars Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia, The Good Wife) and Tamsin Egerton (St Trinians). ^
The gorgeous collection of chalets in Courchevel 1650 hitherto known as Les Chalets de Vanoise, after their local National Park, have been rebranded. They are now called Le Portetta Mountain Lodges, taking the name from their boutique sister hotel just down the road, where chalet guests benefit from special rates for spa treatments and dinner in the restaurant.
The move was prompted by the desire to build on the link between the properties and the shared ownership. The chalets include Chalet Chamois, which is featured on our site, and fellow chalets Blanchot, Marmotte and its tiny sister chalet Petite Marmotte. ^
Chalet Auriane, the lovely contemporary chalet in the Verbier back-door resort of La Tzoumaz, has undergone an impressive refurb, making it even more lush and luxurious. Its owners engaged the services of a superb London interior designer, Hugh Berry, who has designed interiors for Fortnum and Mason, various Bond Street jewellers, multi-million apartments and even a castle, to finish off the interior of the property.
“The designer’s brief was to improve the warm and welcoming contemporary feel,” explains the owner, Paul Jenkins. “We wanted the chalet interior to have a warm feeling with a glamorous twist that gave it the feel of a chic hotel but that was still very relaxing.”
The result is bang on brief. Luxurious wallpapers have been used, as well as new pictures, rugs and beautiful chenille throws all in plum tones. Berry has also introduced one or two unique chalet features, such as quirky moose heads wearing ski goggles in the kitchen and a life size papier mache tiger, bought years ago by the owner from an Oxford Street shop window display and transplanted from his UK home to the Alps.
“He was feeling a little squashed in a London house with two growing boys so was flown to Verbier where he now takes pride of place, much to the children and guests’ delight, in the warm, golden tones of the new updated scheme. He is in splendid residence, and the last thing you see before you hit the slopes,” says Jenkins.
Because of this refurb, the Chalet Auriane’s overall rating has been upgraded to a 9 from last season’s 8. ^
Filming got underway in St Anton this week on a new movie, The Chalet Girl, which is to be released next January. The film is a romantic comedy and stars Felicity Jones (Diary of Anne Frank, left; TV series Worst Witch) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) as the ‘hot new things’, as well as Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia, The Good Wife) and Tamsin Egerton (St Trinians).
The film tells the story of a young girl from a working class suburb who lands a chalet girl job in an ultra-glam ski resort, where she's totally out of her depth until she discovers her natural snowboarding genius – and, of course, the boss' gorgeous son.
Ms Jones went undercover for a week as a chalet girl to research for the role, and our spies are currently on the case to find which luxury ski chalet she trained at and which chalet the film is being shot at. Watch this space. ^
Zermatt chalet specialist Mountain Exposure is trading on the resort’s reputation as a top foodie destination by installing the first Michelin-starred chef in a chalet.
Irish super-chef Garry Kirwan, who won the coveted star when he ran The Commons Restaurant in Dublin, joins the operator’s flagship chalet The Lodge. He will be producing gourmet dinners and breakfasts for up to ten clients until the end of the 2010 season in late April. A typical mouth-watering dinner menu, starting with fine canapés and complimentary Champagne, might include his signature dishes of chicken and wild mushroom sausage with celeriac puree and pancetta jus, or pan-fried seared turbot on crushed baby potatoes with spring onion and a mussel broth topped with wilted spinach.
Kirwan, who forms a chef and host team along with his wife Ann, told The Chic Chalet Guide: “We love it here. It is an opportunity to ski in a world-class resort and offer quality food to truly appreciative clients. Zermatt is renowned for both gourmet and skiing excellence, and we're delighted to be a part of both.”
Mountain Exposure also offers a unique Gourmet Ski Guide service to guests and non-guests – for a small fee. They will secure bookings and escort you to any of the resort’s top hidden-away mountain restaurants in time for a long lunch or just afternoon tea. ^
More design influences from beyond the Alps, this time Japan. A stunning new-build private chalet opens this season, nestled high up in a pine and fir forest in Veysonnaz near Verbier. It is owned by a brother and sister, Ashlee and Andre Bernis, who are both half Japanese and who have loyally followed the instructions of their Japanese grandmother in the construction of the property. It was built to ancient feng shui and Shinto-Buddhist principles, with peace, serenity and escape in mind. There are six superking bedrooms, a hammam, yoga deck and sauna, outdoor hot tub, and beautifully subtle Japanese touches throughout, including Asian-twist food and Far Eastern antique pieces.
Co-owner Ashlee told The Chic Chalet Guide: “We hope clients will benefit from the positive and energizing atmosphere at Hidden Dragon. The experience is a holistic one and we hope to nurture the mind, body and the good life, returning our clients home happier, healthier, rejuvenated and refreshed! Having said all that, it is no monastic experience - good food, good wine and fun are all on the menu and we pledge to surprise and delight our guests daily.”
The chalet costs from £2000pp per week. A full review to follow in December. In the meantime, contact us at enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk for any further information. ^
A chalet with possibly the biggest ‘wow’ factor in the Alps has just become available, in Zermatt. Called the Zermatt Loft, it is designed by the renowned local artist and architect Heinz Julen, who up till now has been using it as his own private mountain home. The chalet is a fabulous rock star party space, with several stunning features such as a suspended central table which can be hoisted aloft to create more dancing room below, its own VIP lift, floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the stunning views, oh, and a Steinway grand piano. The designer property has three double bedrooms including an island bed on a rotating floor in the master suite, no less.
The chalet costs from £1200 pp per week, on a self-catered basis. Full review to follow soon. Contact us on enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk to find out more. ^
Pamela Nicholson, the mother of rock violinist Vanessa-Mae, has just opened up her extraordinary new property, Chalet Himalaya, for rental. The chalet, which is located in Val d’Isère, is a unique blend of Tibetan and Asian furnishings, all housed in a former 17th century Alpine monastery. It has four sumptuous bedroom suites, all with their own separate sleeping and relaxation areas and hand-made bespoke hardwood beds. Each room also has its own giant walk-into bath, carved out of a solid 800 kilo piece of marble, which is so big that it is classified under French building rules as a ‘swimming pool’. There are ancient, huge carved Tibetan wooden doors, handmade rustic railings imported from the Steppes of Mongolia, remote-controlled fireplaces, a marble swimming pool that sinks and even luxury loos with sophisticated multiple hygiene functions such as ‘front wash’ and ‘rear dry’.
The chalet costs from £1388pp, based on eight adults sharing. Read the full review here and for all enquiries contact us on enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk. ^
Ferme de Moudon, the iconic chalet which memorably featured in Channel 4’s Grand Designs in 2004, is to go solo following the demise of Descent International. The stunning Les Gets property, described as ‘beyond perfect’ by one guest, is honouring all deposits lost through the collapse of Descent and is now marketing itself independently.
Nicky Dobree, the owner and designer of the chalet, broke new ground in luxury chalet design with Ferme de Moudon and her work has been imitated extensively ever since. She is now the lead designer of luxury chalets in the Alps.
Dobree told The Chic Chalet Guide: “Descent established extraordinary levels of service in the chalet market and at Ferme de Moudon. We want to build on that, and to make it more personal and local, sharing the hamlet’s 1000-year history by featuring local wines and cheeses and giving all guests an even more personal, home from home experience.”
The chalet will be keeping on many of the original staff inherited from Descent. For all booking enquiries, email us on enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk. ^
A number of former Descent International chalets are beginning to emerge from the debris of the company’s collapse. Several are clubbing together under a new marketing banner, while others are forging ahead individually. Chalet Maurice, a cutting edge property in Zermatt, is going to be continuing to market itself independently.
At the same time Yellowstone Lodge, the former Descent chalet based in Sainte-Foy, will start the 09/10 season as a boutique hotel rather than chalet. It has six rooms which will be bookable individually, a fabulous U’Luvka vodka bar where guests can hang out, a helipad 50 metres away, and access to Marianne Brechu, the former French downhill team member, who acts as guide for the guests. Prices from £151pp per night, including breakfast, afternoon tea, four course dinner, champagne and house wines. Yellowstone will also morph back into a chalet for peak weeks, costing from £2060pp based on 12 sharing. ^
A beautiful new ski chalet opens in the glitzy resort of St Moritz this December which promises to set new standards in bespoke luxury chalet accommodation. The giant 5000 sq ft property consists of seven en-suite rooms and is run by multilingual staff to cater for St Moritz’s multinational clientele. The owners are German, the architect Swiss, the lighting by British designer Robert Clift and the fabrics and upholstery by the world famous Italian designer Etro. The whole modern yet sumptuous interior is topped off with a mix of Portobello Road finds and cutting edge contemporary art including Philippe Starck designed gnomes and Robert Motherwell paintings. Prices start at £2,423pp per week, based on 12 sharing. Read the full review here.
News headlines
• Snowline chalet brand shifts upmarket
July 10
• Ferme de Moudon launches exclusive downtime cashmere range
July 10
• St Anton Museum is 'chalet' in The Chalet Girl movie
June 10
• Courchevel chalets rebrand
May 10
• Chalet Auriane gets refit and upgrade
May 10
• Filming begins in St Anton on The Chalet Girl
Mar 10
• Zermatt flagship chalet hires Michelin-starred chef
Jan 10
• Hidden Dragon – Japan comes to the Alps
Nov 09
• Stunning new rock star chalet in Zermatt
Nov 09
• Vanessa-Mae’s mum unveils her Asian-influenced mountain lair
Nov 09
• La Ferme de Moudon to go solo
Sept 09
Chalet Bear, Klosters
Due to be reviewed
December 2010
Tivoli Lodge, Davos
Due to be reviewed
December 2010
Chalet Eugenia, Klosters
Due to be reviewed
December 2010
Shemshak Lodge, Courchevel 1850
Due to be reviewed
January 2011
If you think there is a chalet that meets our criteria and should be featured on the site, please email us with your suggestion.
Les Cerniers | Chamonix | Courchevel 1650 | Les Gets | Laax | Lech | Méribel | St Martin de Belleville | St Moritz | Nendaz | Sainte Foy
Tignes les Brévières | La Tzoumaz | Val d'Isère | Verbier | Veysonnaz | Zermatt