| A little look into the winter wonderlands of the | | | | Staff wise, the best chalets have the very best |
| world's very best chalets and lodges. As the | | | | staff - butler, concierge, driver, housekeeper, chef, |
| popularity of skiing has grown exponentially over the | | | | dedicated ski guides and instructors, sports |
| last 20 years, and as snowboarding and other winter | | | | therapists, nannies, nutritionists and physios. They are |
| sports have also taken off, the demand for high end | | | | responsible for the luxury of detail - fresh flowers, |
| mountain-based holidays has exploded. In fact, so in | | | | towels and bedlinen, home baked cakes and pastries |
| love with snow and ice are the nation's | | | | every morning, the finest coffee, the best meat and |
| holidaymakers, that they now demand just as much | | | | fish and local seasonal produce. Some companies |
| from their Winter holidays as they do from their | | | | have even offered the services of celebrity chef |
| luxury Maldivian beach breaks and Caribbean | | | | consultants such as Tom Aikens, endless vintage |
| Christmases. | | | | Krug, Norland nannies, and Jo Malone beauty |
| The traditional and fairly basic chalets of old still exist, | | | | products. |
| and business is as good as ever in that market, but | | | | A concierge is almost par for the course now with |
| the luxury chalet business is now in a league of its | | | | luxury chalets - a good concierge has superb |
| very own. Jacuzzis and hot tubs, swimming pools, | | | | knowledge of the surrounding area and excellent |
| gymns and spa rooms, private balconies and ensuite | | | | contacts, so that you'll always know what to do and |
| wet rooms, games rooms and bedside log fires, all | | | | where to go. They can guarantee you the very best |
| come pretty much as standard in a luxury chalet | | | | tables in the very best restaurants and bars, and the |
| these days. But there's more too - in fact pretty | | | | best tickets for the most 'must attend' resort parties. |
| much anything is possible. | | | | In fact they can be your private event organiser too |
| Size & Capacity | | | | - planning heli skiing trips or building you a personal ice |
| Size doesn't really matter when it comes to luxury - | | | | bar on the mountain for some night skiing! |
| a high end boutique luxury chalet can be just a few | | | | Ambience Away From Home |
| hundred square metres in size. One may | | | | Much of these luxury chalets's success is in providing |
| accommodate up to ten people, another 20 or even | | | | a traditional old-fashioned escape ambience - gluhwein |
| 30. Ski accommodation varies in size. Eight hundred | | | | and log fires, mountain air and snowcapped dawns. |
| square metres is very large by European standards, | | | | But the 21st Century demands a contemporary high |
| but if it's size you are looking for, the luxury chalets | | | | tech 'anything is possible' edge too. If you don't quite |
| of the American and Canadian ski resorts simply have | | | | want to get away from it all, if you are looking for a |
| much more space on the mountainside than those in | | | | full working office or business centre away from |
| Europe! Some have over 15,000 square foot of | | | | home for example, so that work never quite stops, |
| interior space, and 5,000 square feet of outside patio | | | | then you can find the most superbly equipped offices |
| and decking (including of course an outdoor fireplace, | | | | imaginable in a good luxury chalet. But keeping in |
| firepit, open air spa and summer kitchen!). | | | | touch with the working world occasionally isn't so bad |
| Resort-wise, even the smaller resorts can now offer | | | | when you can have a hot bath drawn for you and a |
| real high end luxury. The most top-notch prestigious | | | | glass of Laurent Perrier Rose poured for you at the |
| resorts in the Alps such as Courchevel, Verbier, | | | | end of a full days skiing. |
| Zermatt and St Moritz can cater for the most | | | | Anything is Possible |
| discerning of tastes. One of the most expensive | | | | The 'anything is possible' tag really can apply to luxury |
| chalets in the world in fact - the Tivoli Lodge in | | | | ski chalets, and in fact things you might think only |
| Klosters - costs well over £60,000 a week to | | | | existed in James Bond films really can happen on a |
| rent over the New Year period. | | | | mountain somewhere in the world! |
| There are companies that can make this kind of | | | | Whether it's a baronial mansion just outside St Moritz, |
| luxury a little more affordable though, and realistic. | | | | with original frescoes, panelled walls and flagstone |
| Companies like Scott Dunn, for example, can tailor | | | | floors, or a modernist masterpiece in Zermatt |
| the luxury quotient to what you and your guests | | | | accessed by an underground cable car and private |
| really need. They spend much of their time and | | | | tunnel, luxury chic can easily go a little bit over the |
| money making sure that nothing is too much trouble | | | | top. Are you looking for a fully stocked wine cellar |
| and that no tiny detail is overlooked. And high levels | | | | and walk in humidor carved in to the mountain? Or a |
| of service and decorative flair can provide real luxury | | | | private nightclub and sushi bar? How about an exotic |
| without breaking the bank. This kind of luxury is all | | | | wood panelled library filled with first edition classics, or |
| about your individual requirements and dreams for | | | | a 15 metre indoor onyx lined pool and hammam? |
| the perfect winter break, and perhaps the little things | | | | Believe it or not, you can rent a chalet that has all |
| you haven't thought about too - in chalet ski and | | | | things. |
| boot fitting, ski passes waiting for you on arrival, and | | | | Tailor-Made Luxury |
| then things like rainforest showers, or retro red | | | | Much of what makes luxury 'real' is about guests |
| velvet cinema chairs.... | | | | being able to make the rules. If you want a grand |
| Design & Decor | | | | piano in your living room, it can be delivered to your |
| Design is a big deal in luxury chalets. Interior design is | | | | exact specifications. If you want to sleep until noon, |
| often inspired by the finest Italian furniture, or the | | | | then breakfast should be ready for you when you |
| most beautiful French art deco style - look out for | | | | wake up. If you want to carve the first tracks in |
| expensive silk curtains and cushions, fine polished and | | | | virgin snow as the sun comes up, or take a sleigh |
| buffed teak floors. But a good quality chalet design | | | | ride at dusk, then your boots should always be |
| will never overlook the warmth of old and well-loved | | | | ready, warmed and waiting. Whichever way you look |
| Swiss wooden beams either. All make for an | | | | at it, these kinds of ski holidays are ones you will |
| atmosphere of complete beauty for family and | | | | cherish the memories of forever. The height of |
| friends - more luxury yacht than damp school trip of | | | | luxury on top of the world - it doesn't get much |
| old! | | | | better than that. |
| Staff & Service | | | | |