An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £745 pp/week
Cute chalet in Brit-free
Trois Vallées village
usp
La Ferme de Belleville is a charming, refurbed 400-year-old Savoyard farmhouse, one of three private chalets managed by The Alpine Club, a company specialising exclusively in St Martin de Belleville that is run by married couple Helen and Chris Raemers. They are on hand in the chalet or resort every day, which adds a rare personal touch.
location
La Ferme is tucked away in a peaceful location in the heart of the quiet Trois Vallées resort of St Martin de Belleville, but down the hill a little way from the main lift. Walking uphill is probably not desirable, but the chalet minibus will whisk you up in just three minutes.
style
Farmhouse chic, with exposed timber beams, vaulted stone ceilings and rustic stone walls paired with wolf fur throws and cowhide rugs.
rooms
Cosy but not huge, with toasty underfloor heating. The White Company supplies the toiletries, which makes a welcome change from the ubiquitous Molton Brown. There are lovely soaps, lotions, shower gel and, crucially, bubble bath (why do so many chalets not supply this?). The main communal area spreads out beneath an ancient vaulted ceiling, with roaring log fire and open plan kitchen so you can watch your gourmet dinner being prepared. Kids can crash in their own TV cave down below in the basement. ^
food & drink
La Ferme’s chefs tend to be professionally trained Australians or New Zealanders with a genuine passion for food and who produce a sort of world cuisine with a contemporary edge. Certainly the nosh was a highlight of our stay. Genuinely impressive dishes, expertly and coolly created in front of guests in the open kitchen, were put in front of us each night – and we loved the petits fours served with coffee afterwards. The Asian sweet braised pork belly with nam jim dressing was fabulous, as was the pineapple tarte tatin with gorgeous roasted coconut ice cream and star fruit chips. House wines were good, but there was also the option of a selection of unusual wines (at an extra cost) chosen by a sommelier from Wine Mark, a top distributor run by Brits, to pair with two of the chef’s menus. The champagne is J.J. Richard & Fils Cuvée Prestige Tradition, an excellent fizz from a very small supplier. It is not included, however, and costs an extra 35 euros per bottle. ^
service
Highly personalised. Chris and Helen welcomed us themselves, checked up on us regularly throughout our stay, and were there to say goodbye at the end. Real attention to detail, refreshingly from the company owners themselves, while the chalet manager and chef were quietly professional too.
spa facilities
There is no spa in the chalet, but La Ferme works closely with La Bela Vya, a spa housed in the gorgeous 2 Michelin-starred La Bouitte restaurant hotel in a neighbouring hamlet, which is worth a visit in itself. A driver comes and collects guests, whisking them off for lovely natural mountain treatments such as hay baths and wraps using local milk and honey. ^
children
La Ferme de Belleville is a great chalet for children. They have their very own den to play in, down in the basement – a strictly no adults zone (although it does double as a small cinema when the children are in bed). This has children’s DVDs and a selection of games. Separate high teas can be arranged for kids too, while the staff can also take little ones to the slopes in the morning. The chalet also knows a selection of good English nannies in resort and can book ski lessons, arrange skis and babysitters. They will even, for an additional cost, buy nappies and baby food, to save you struggling onto the plane with them. Kids paraphernalia such as stair gates, high chairs and car seats are also available. ^
extras
There is wifi throughout. Guests can arrive and depart when they like, and dine when they like too. ^
for skiers
The chalet easily booked guides/instructors on our behalf using English-speaking instructors from the International Ski School which was set up four years ago specifically for St Martin skiers. La Ferme also works closely with New Generation in Meribel, which offers private instructors and a range of clinics. ^
for non skiers
There is the usual collection of DVDs (to be viewed in the kids’s basement den), board games and iPod docking stations as well as cosy log fire, but La Ferme is possibly too small to hang around in during the day. St Martin and its surrounding area has lots to offer, however. The chalet can organise snow shoe walks and dog sleigh rides, as well as skidoo rides and parapenting. There are also magical torch-lit tours of old St Martin by night, followed by tastings of local products. ^
best thing
The food, and the living area. ^
worst thing
The room, which wasn’t very large and didn’t have a bath (some do, however, so check on booking). ^
getting there
St Martin de Belleville is at the beginning of the Val Thorens/Les Menuires valley in the Trois Vallées. Best to catch a flight to Chambéry if possible, or else Geneva, from where it is a two hour drive. La Ferme de Belleville doesn’t offer transfers but uses Trois Vallées specialist Mountain Express for all airport and train station transfers straight to the chalet. They will organise this on booking – cost is extra. The nearest train station is Moutiers, and pick-ups can be arranged from there too. ^
bottom line
The chalet sleeps 12/13 in six bedrooms on an individual room or exclusive chalet basis, priced an average of £995pp (starting from £599pp for the first week of the season up to £1725pp for half term week). ^
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 - 8
Service - 8
Room - 7
Food & Drink - 9
Luxury - 7
Bring slippers. La Ferme has warm-as-toast underfloor heating but guests are asked to remove outdoor shoes.
Quickfinder
• Summer
• USP
* Location
• Style
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
* Service
• Spa Facilities
• Children
• Extras
• Skiers
• Non Skiers
• Best Thing
• Worst Thing
• Getting There
• Bottom Line
• Bookings & Enquiries
• Other chalets in St Martin de Belleville
• Other chalets to suit corporate groups
Bookings and enquiries: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
guestbook
"The chalet and the food were excellent, but it's the personal attention that makes the difference between good and marvellous"
mike and karen
"“I’ve never been so pampered in my whole life! On our honeymoon in Mauritius, we stayed at the five-star Prince Maurice which is recognised as one of the best hotels in the world but The Alpine Club was even better!”"
richard lewis
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