An independent guide to luxury ski chalets
From £11,280 exclusive chalet per week
“We’ve been expecting you Mr Bond”
usp
Chalet Maurice is a former Descent International property, so the very fact it made the Descent grade suggests the sort of level of luxury you can expect.
location
The chalet is in the exclusive residential Petit Village area of Zermatt, which is full of smart, privately-run chalets. No rowdy late-night frolicking up here, but by the same token the bars and restaurants are a distance away. There is a taxi on near-permanent stand-by for guests, however, ready to whisk them wherever they want to go. Plus there is a stunning private funiculaire to transport guests up to the chalet from ground level.
style
The style is sort of James Bond mountain lair. It’s very pared-down and sleek, with lots of bare wood, creams, and charcoal greys. All infinitely stylish, in fact, with stunning views across the town to the Matterhorn from the main living space and balcony.
rooms
The best room has to be the top floor, which is immense, has an uninterrupted view of Zermatt’s iconic mountain, a vast bathroom and its own giant fireplace. All rooms are, once again, tastefully done out in beiges and taupes, with huge beds and loads of space. The toiletries are the luxury Swiss brand Jardin des Alpes, which use natural flora grown in the valley of Zermatt no less. ^
food & drink
The chalet insists that it will be continuing in Descent’s finest tradition of ‘bespoke’ service, food and drink. If you want bangers and mash every mealtime, you can have it; if you want foie gras for breakfast, it’s yours. There are no set menus but there are, however, signature dishes created exclusively by the chalet. We ate fabulously, the breakfasts being among the best chalet breakfasts we have had, with special home-made yogurts and mueslis, and the pre-dinner canapés were out of this world too. The house champagne, Perrier Jouet, was permanently on tap and the choice of wines was outstanding, from Chateau Margeaux to Chateau Neuf-du-Pape and Chateau Lafite, as well as a choice of pretty decent house wines. ^
service
Descent set the gold standard for luxury ski accommodation, and Maurice insists it will be maintaining the same feeling of pure indulgence. Descent’s managers trained at Greycoat, the UK specialist in first class domestic staff recruitment and training, and you could tell. They were more of the silent, professional, Jeeves school, than chummy. The Perrier Jouet, for instance, was ever-flowing – we never had to ask for a glass, it would just appear (beside the drawn bath or handed to us in Tiffany flutes as soon as we walked in the door). The fire in our room was always lit with impeccable timing for when we came down off the slopes too. ^
spa facilities
The chalet has a stunning wellness area on the ground floor with a sauna, massage room and shower, as well as fabulous mountain views and access to a perfectly located outdoor hot tub on the terrace. ^
children
Chalet Maurice is filled with books, games, sledges, and the latest films and entertainment systems. Babysitting facilities, high chairs, cots, changing facilities, baby listening service and separate meals can all be arranged easily. The chalet can even turn one of the unused rooms into a playroom for the week, if there is availability. Private lessons or ski school for aged threes and upwards can be arranged – whatever suits the family -- and children can be taken to school each day by the staff and collected and entertained afterwards. There is no minimum age in the chalet either. ^
extras
In addition to the expected heated boot racks, sauna and outdoor hot tub, Chalet Maurice also has sledges, a Nespresso machine for perfect coffee and a lift to all floors. ^
for skiers
Instructors from Stoked, the local ski school, are prebooked in advance of all stays, especially for peak weeks. They covered all abilities, from one of our group wanting an off-piste blast to another near-beginner seeking a little gentle tuition. Other instructors from other ski schools can be booked too, if requested. ^
for non skiers
Chalet Maurice has a great space for yoga sessions (a local instructor can be booked easily), a large TV room with huge plasma screen and surround sound plus further LCD screen with DVD and digital satellite. There are toys, games, books, CD's DVD's and videos galore, plus an iPod docking station – and all the attractions of the resort itself, of course. Wellness days at the finest spa in town can also be booked, or an afternoon with the local cheesemaker watching and learning about their art – or you can enjoy a cooking course with the chef in your chalet. ^
best thing
The knockout views of the Matterhorn and the stunning main living space. ^
worst thing
If you are looking for cute traditional Alpine cosiness, this isn’t the right chalet. It’s too sleek and smart for that. ^
getting there
You can get to Chalet Maurice from either Geneva or Zurich airport and can be picked up by car or can take the train (both are extra). The train from Geneva takes 4 hours (5 hours from Zurich) and takes you right up into the centre of Zermatt where there are lots of taxis or horse drawn sleighs to take you to the chalet.
A taxi takes about 3hrs 30 mins from Geneva, 4hrs 30mins from Zurich. Alternatively you could drive, but you need to stop and park at Tash and get into a taxi to take you the remaining 7km (Zermatt is car free).
A helicopter transfer from either Zurich or Geneva takes around an hour. ^
bottom line
Chalet Maurice sleeps 12 and costs from £1226pp per week, including breakfast, tea and dinner, champagne and house wine. It has to be booked exclusively – they don’t do it by the room. ^
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 - 9
Room - 9
Food & Drink - 8
Luxury - 9
Don't miss out on a horse drawn sleigh from Chalet Maurice to your chosen
restaurant, a mug of home made hot wine in your hand.
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Bookings and enquiries: enquiries at chicchaletguide.co.uk Telephone:
+44 (0)7772 853996
guest book
"It doesn't get any better than this. Maurice is total bliss"
"The professionalism and effortless efficiency of the staff-with-a-smile -- a first rate team"
"It was truly fantastic and I honestly can't think of anything I'd improve on"
"It had incredible attention to detail which made us feel like royalty"
summeR
B&B (Includes breakfast and afternoon tea)
Price CHF 13,400
Fully Catered (Includes breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner six nights)
Price CHF 18,480
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