Independent Mountain

High End Catered Chalet, Ski Holiday in the French Alps (only one hour from Geneva) for half the normal price!

Whether you have ever stayed in a catered chalet before or not there is nothing like waking up in the morning to the choice of a delicious cooked or continental breakfast then spending the day skiing around one of the most beautiful mountain areas in the world and returning to afternoon tea & cakes in cosy mountain chalet, followed by delicious 3 course evening meal to the same standards that you would expect of a top London restaurant.

“But how on earth can you afford a catered ski holiday when the economic climate is apparently the bleakest it has ever been since the dawn of time?”

Try looking at a different resort.
Les Carroz and the Grande Massif Region is one of the few remaining hidden gems in French Alps. Boasting 265km of wide open (and usually amazingly empty) interlinked Pistes connected to the Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt ski areas and situated only 1 hour by car or minibus transfer from Geneva airport plus the car parking is completely free throughout the town and at the base of the lifts. Les Carroz really is the new place to go. To add to this the average price of a fully catered chalet is almost half the price of an equivalent holiday in Val d’Isere, so we started asking why on earth aren’t more Brits flocking there? The answer is simple - the tourist office in Les Carroz has once again decided not to do any advertising or promotion to the UK market. Are they trying to keep this treasure to themselves? - Quite possibly…. but not if we have anything to do with it.

Out of the handful of quality catered chalets in Les Carroz we have personally picked out Chalet Du Bois & Chalet Deux Freres as our favourites. The average price of a fully catered week is only £499 per person (compared to £945 per person in Val D’Isere). They are owned and run by a young, very friendly and enthusiastic pair brothers, Dom & Luke. Both chalets offer everything that you could desire from a luxurious week or long weekend on the slopes. Chalet De Bois is the more luxurious inside with a sauna, Jacuzzi shower and its modern but romantic log cabin atmosphere. Where as chalet Deux Freres offers the attraction of being almost on the piste, it takes about 2 minutes to walk to the lifts and you can practically ski to the front door.

The hosts are more than happy to go riding with you to show you all the best runs, and of course all the excellent mountain restaurants plus they can even arrange a night in a refuge or dinner in a tepee if you are after something a bit different. They welcome families, birthday groups, corporate bookings and parties of any description.

To add to this they uniquely work with the UK’s best catering and hospitality schools to provide outstandingly trained chefs and hosts. On our night with them our evening meal consisted of an amazing tartiflette starter, then honey and cinnamon glazed duck with a port and orange sauce. Served with rice, cabbage with chilly and bacon and steamed mange tout. Then for dessert a chocolate orange fondants and it was all accompanied with endless quantities of wine and finished with coffee or tea.

BEST PRICE:
A week’s catered holiday in Chalet Du Bois or Chalet Deux Freres starts from £499 p/p Sunday to Sunday (so flights normally cheaper), peak weeks start from as little as £599 and a long weekend can either be from Thursday to Sunday or Thursday to Monday and they start from £299 p/p. To find out about availability or to make a booking for the coming season contact: dominic@independentmountain.com

Or their pages on our website by clicking here: Chalet Du Bois or: Chalet Deux Freres

Chalet Du Bois & Chalet Deux Freres (Les Carroz) Review: March 2009. Article written by Dominic Barnbrook for www.IndependentMountain.com