An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £2395 pp/week
including flights & transfers
Knock-out flagship chalet
perched on rocky cliff-top
usp
Eagle’s Nest is a large, stunning chalet with every possibly luxury and an imposing position high above the town… rather like an Eagle’s Nest, in fact. Hence the name.
location
Just two minutes from the edge of La Face piste, and ten minutes walk from the village. There is a regular driver service from the bottom of the Les Carats elevator.
style
It’s fabulous and grand yet supremely cosy, with old wooden beams and antiques scattered throughout. Heavy curtains, deep sofas and warming fireplaces all make for a gorgeously comfortable place to come into from the ice-cold outdoors.
rooms
There are three double and three twin bedrooms and a single room (all en-suite). Each is decorated in warm, neutral shades, with lots of old wood, and some rooms house some quite unusual antiques. They’re all a decent size and have their own state-of-the-art integrated sound systems. ^
food & drink
The chalet’s private chef lays on the usual breakfast, afternoon tea and fabulous five-course dinner on six nights, with wine expertly chosen by a Master of Wine. The menu we enjoyed kicked off with langoustine bisque followed by melt-in-the-mouth ham hock and foie gras terrine with grape chutney, roast rack of lamb with fondant potatoes and creamy Savoy cabbage. It finished with a stunning hot raspberry soufflé with almond biscotti – and then a full cheese platter. Laurent-Perrier, the house champagne, was on tap to accompany the delicious canapés each evening before the meal. ^
service
The operator of Eagle’s Nest always puts it best team of staff in there, instead of one of its other chalets, and it shows. They try and arrange anything and everything, and you get the feeling if you asked for a baby grand piano or 75” TV it would be there for when you come down off the slopes. ^
spa facilities
The chalet has a stunning wellness area including fantastic indoor pool (7m by 5m with a jet stream), sauna and steam room. Because of the position of the chalet, perched on the mountainside, there are incredible views, despite the spa being on the lower floor of the chalet. Treatments can be organised in advance or during your stay. ^
children
As well as private nannies, the operator has a dedicated children’s club in Val d’Isère, run by a qualified team of childcare professionals. It caters for children from four months to 13 years. Each morning, they are picked up by the kids’ club team and whisked away for a day of fun - activities include painting, baking, sledging and ice-skating. This service costs extra, from £275 per child per week. ^
extras
There are flat screen TVs in the bedrooms, wireless internet throughout, Xbox 360s, DVDs and an integrated in-built multi-room music system. There’s also a beautiful sun terrace with views over the town and a lift that connects all floors. ^
for skiers
When you book your stay at Eagle’s Nest, the team will discuss your requirements for skiing – tuition, equipment hire and so on – and make the arrangements in advance, so that everything is ready and waiting for you. However, once there, your chalet host can still sort everything out (we managed to book a guide without arranging in advance, but then it wasn’t a peak week). Favoured ski schools are Oxygene and Progression. ^
for non skiers
Eagle’s Nest has its fabulous wellness area, with beautifully tiled pool, steam room and sauna, which is an incredibly relaxing place to while away an afternoon. The chalet also has plenty of space for curling up in a corner with a book or DVD, while Val d’Isère also offers a whole load of non skiing activities from snow shoeing and skidooing to ice-climbing, ice driving, husky sleigh rides and even patisserie classes. ^
best thing
Its incredible position. The views from the dining room table, swimming pool and terrace are fantastic too. ^
worst thing
Because of its extraordinary location the driver service can only go up as far as the Les Carats elevator – but it’s a very short walk from there. ^
getting there
Grenoble is probably the nearest airport, taking about 2hrs 30mins to reach Val, or else Geneva. Alternatively, you can get the Eurostar to Bourg St Maurice from where it is 40 minutes up the mountain to the resort. Private transfers are laid on from all airports/train stations and are included in the price. ^
bottom line
A stay at Eagle’s Nest starts at £1,415 per person for seven nights on a full-board basis, including British Airways club class flights, private transfers, and six five-course dinners with wine, full English breakfasts and afternoon tea. Laurent-Perrier champagne is served on six evenings. ^
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 - 8
Food & Drink - 8
Luxury - 9
Don’t forget your camera to capture the breathtaking views.
Quickfinder
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* Service
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• Best Thing
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• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Other chalets in this resort
Bookings and enquiries: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
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