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.
Amazon Creek, one of the most gorgeous chalets in the Chamonix valley, is running a 3-night yoga and wellbeing retreat from 22nd-25th September.
The chalet is the perfect destination for yoga, with plenty of terrace space and private gardens, fabulous spa facilities to indulge in after your work-outs and an outdoor infinity pool.
The chalet sleeps 10 and is offering the opportunity for guests to practise daily yoga with Lisa Bond, a highly qualified yoga instructor, personal trainer and sports massage therapist. Lisa was trained by Bikram Choudhury and has had a regular yoga practice for over 10 years, teaching in London and Buckinghamshire. She can teach complete beginners through to advanced students, and will also be on hand to advise on nutrition, general exercise and guidance on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The retreat is priced at just £1,000 per person, based on single occupancy, with a £100 per guest reduction for double occupancy. This price includes daily yoga sessions, daily fitness activity of some kind (including mountain biking and walking), posture clinic assessment, delicious and detoxifying meals and snacks, fresh juices and all drinks, plus two massage treatments, full use of the spa and swimming pool, airport transfers and in-resort chauffeur driven vehicles.
For more information just contact the Chic Chalet Guide and to find out more about the sublime chalet read our Amazon Creek review.
Hosted by the lovely Chalet Maurice, the Ashtanga Yoga Retreat in Zermatt is a week-long fully inclusive course to be held from 28th August to 4th September in Zermatt. Taught by Sarah Cullen of Updog Downdog, the retreat will give yoga enthusiasts the opportunity to either begin or deepen their Ashtanga practise in exquisite Alpine surroundings.
Two daily yoga sessions are scheduled, a traditional Mysore Ashtanga practice in the mornings and a more relaxing Yin-style to be held late afternoons. There are a range of other activities that can be organised for guests which include fly fishing, Via Ferrata and rafting. Massage and spa treatments are also available.
For guests who simply wish to relax and unwind, Chalet Maurice offers supreme comfort, with a fully equipped wellness centre in a secluded elevated location overlooking Zermatt village. There are stunning views of the Matterhorn too.
The retreat costs CHF 2,400 per person based on shared twin rooms. For more information, and what is included in the price, or to book, simply contact the Chic Chalet Guide. ^
Chalet Girl, a delightful, feelgood movie about a young girl working in a luxury ski chalet finding love on the slopes of St Anton, opens nationwide on the 16th March.
We at The Chic Chalet Guide have seen a preview of the film, which stars Bill Nighy, Bill Bailey and Brooke Shields. It is a charming movie depicting the adventures of Kim, played by Felicity Jones, who lands a plum job doing a season as a chalet girl in glitzy St Anton. There she meets and falls in love with Jonny, the rich son of the chalet owner, played by Ed Westwick.
All runs far from smoothly of course, their romance thwarted by Jonny’s posh, ice princess girlfriend (Sophia Bush) and scheming mother (Brooke Shields). When she is not working, however, Kim develops a real talent for snowboarding. Cue rather improbable progress on the slopes and dramatic competition win.
We won’t give any more away, but we do recommend you go see it – Chalet Girl is a perfect, Friday-night flick, with happy endings all round and a Richard Curtis, fluffy, feelgood vibe. It could have been as cheesy as a tartiflette, but it isn’t.
Beware however – the luxury chalet that is featured in the film is not a real chalet at all: the exterior is the St Anton Museum, and the interiors are all shot on a specially built set. ^
Fans of Val d’Isère’s legendary Dick’s Tea Bar, which also has a sister bar in Méribel, might be glad to know that it is undergoing a serious upgrade and refurb in time for the coming ski season. The famous nightclub, which has been an institution since it opened over 30 years ago, will reopen in early December as a smarter kind of Alpine hot spot that will still combine fun and great service with good drinks and excellent music.
The bar was originally opened in 1979 by Dick Yates-Smith but was sold in 1997 to Brown Rock who in turn sold it to Mark Warner and then, most recently, to the large tour operator Tui. Now it has been taken over by Whitecap Ski, a small organisation run by two 26-year-old entrepreneurs, Seb Hall and Alex Fateh.
“Although customers have remained loyal and still go to Dick’s in their thousands, a new lease of life and facelift was clearly needed,” says Hall. “Improvements will see new lighting and sound systems installed as well as a complete new layout, new furniture and improved service across the board.”
Under Whitecap Ski, both of Dick’s venues will have far better table service than before and will offer a range of premium vodkas and champagne as well as beer, wine and spirits. New cocktails will be introduced too, including ‘The Dick’s Iced Tea’, a powerful, blue Alpine variation on its Long Island cousin, and ‘The Ski Boot’, a vodka-champagne cocktail served in a ceramic boot-shaped vessel. ^
In what could be seen as the ultimate branding statement for a luxury ski chalet, the operators of stunning Zermatt chalets Les Anges and Maurice have commissioned Fork Tree Skis to produce their very own Elysian branded skis. Commercial director Angeline Davies is delighted with the result. “They are gorgeous! I can't wait to try them,” she says of her bespoke lightweight telemarks.
At the moment the skis are just available to Elysian staff, but there is a hope that the chalet company will extend the range to guests for next season.
Fork Tree Skis specialise in producing individually tailored skis right down to the graphics that the client can chose to design themselves if they wish. Tom Pinches, who lovingly crafts each and every ski, has even gone so far as to build all his own machinery to make the skis. “Tom really is dedicated to making the best skis,” says Angeline. “He will make any kind of skis you like. He was very thorough and had a long questionnaire that covered every aspect of our skiing – a million things to get the skis just right for us.”
Designer Rebecca Bishop of Red Bishop Design is responsible for the cool starry graphics on the skis. “She has taken our corporate brand image and colour, and made it fun and girly,” says Angeline, adding that they are “perfect for the Elysian girls,” referring to herself and director of operations Philippa Short. ^
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
• Amazon Creek yoga retreat, Chamonix
August 11
• Luxurious summer yoga retreat in Zermatt
July 11
• Chalet Girl movie opens next month
February 11
• Dick's Tea Bar goes chic
November 10
• Elysian Collection launches own branded skis
November 10
• 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
• Former Descent chalets rise from the ashes
Sept 09
Chalet Savana, Megève
Due to be reviewed
February 2012
Chalet Vallee Blanche, Verbier
Due to be reviewed
February 2012
Chalet Jasmine, Verbier
Due to be reviewed
February 2012
Shemshak Lodge,
Courchevel 1850
Due to be reviewed
February 2012
Chalet Griottes, Meribel
Due to be reviewed
February 2012
If you think there is a chalet that meets our criteria and should be featured on the site, please email us with your suggestion.
Over the season we will be bringing you some excellent offers, so keep checking out our dedicated Offers page for the latest discounts and deals on some of our gorgeous chic chalets.
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chalet guide
ski resort reviews & directories
To help you decide which ski resort to choose for your luxury ski chalet holiday, and to make your skiing break totally brilliant, we are compiling resort guides and directories for you to consult. We tell you everything you need to know, and not just the practical things such as airport transfers and ski school, but where to find the most delicious mountain restaurants, the hottest rocking après-ski joints, the steepest adrenalin-pumping ski runs and much more.
Chamonix, Verbier and Zermatt are our first resort guides and there will be more to follow over the coming weeks.
• Chamonix resort guide
• Chamonix directory
• Verbier resort guide
• Verbier directory
• Zermatt resort guide
• Zermatt directory
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