Chalet Janluke

You may not have heard of La Tzoumaz, but it is a real discovery. It is just over the ridge from Verbier and is fully linked in, but is a far quieter, less glitzy and less expensive resort – so you get all the fantastic skiing of Verbier without the sky-high prices.

This luxury ski chalet combines ancient with modern — exposed concrete with traditional larch timbers – contemporary furnishings and has knock-out, giant views. A real gem, in a gem of a resort.

The chalet is the creation of an award-winning architect and designer and, as such, the style is very much contemporary chalet chic. The form is quite simple and reminiscent of traditional Swiss barns, using ancient materials such as wood and stone. The living room is a dramatic 8m x 8m open plan double height space.

All the bedrooms in this luxury ski chalet can accommodate full twin beds that can be changed into super kingsize doubles. The children’s bedroom is fitted with two bunk beds, although this can be changed into twin beds or double if requested. All have full en-suite facilities with a wet floor system accommodating 2m walk-in showers. All rooms also have TVs complete with Apple TV systems.

The food offering at Chalet Janluke is totally flexible – menus are not imposed on guests at all and timings are moveable. In general the chalet does mountain food with a modern twist, using lots of local produce, as well as French-based cuisine. They do tartiflettes and tarte tatins, plus home-made soups and can even stage themed foodie nights such as Mexican or Savoyard. The house wines include local whites and decent reds from further afield, while the champagne is Perrier-Jouet or Mumm Cordon-Rouge. An upgrade to finer wines is possible in this catered ski chalet, though the house wines are excellent.

The chalet has a roomy 8-person outdoors Jacuzzi with private terrace with external music, as well as indoor 2m x 2m fully glazed sauna and internal lounging area plus shower.

Chalet Janluke is perfectly set up for children. It can offer an early supper with special menu, plus it has a high chair, a sleeping cot, sledges and a big, secluded rear-garden play area, safe from any roads. The chalet also comes with a selection of children’s movies, audio books and music as part of the Apple TV chalet music (10,000 songs) and movie library (1000 movies) that is accessible in all bedrooms, the living room and spa. A full selection of board games is also available, plus PS3 and Nintendo Wii.

The views out of the living room which feels like it is perched just on the edge of the mountain.

Possibly the fact that the chalet is not in Verbier, but given that you can ski in Verbier just over the ridge, stay in luxury and not pay Verbier prices, then it is not really a ‘low’ at all.