“The chalet was amazing, with views to die for!” E.D. Jan 2015
Contemporary luxury and elegance in family-friendly resort
Low season: from €13,000 whole chalet inc airport transfers; Mid: from €15,000; Peak: €21,000
Châtel, Portes du Soleil
Sleeps: 8
This lovely, elegant, eco-conscious ski chalet sits up high in the charming Portes du Soleil resort of Châtel, with 650km of skiing on its doorstep and breath-taking views. It comes with lots of extras, including airport transfers, stunning indoor heated pool, and a lovely fondue meal up the mountain on chef’s night off.
The chalet was newly built in 2012 and combines traditional Savoyard style with tasteful modern twists. From the outside the dark burnt wood and beautiful stone make it blend into the hillside, but inside it is stunningly modern, light, and spacious with an expanse of glass to take in the far-reaching views across to Mont du Grange and beyond. The owners have combined quality fabrics and chic designer pieces with stylish antiques to create an elegant and comfortable luxury ski chalet. Eco credentials are taken seriously at Chaletneuf du Tenne too, with features such as a geo-thermal heating system and the use of natural, local materials throughout the chalet.
There are four genuinely large bedroom suites in this ski chalet, sleeping up to 8 adults and 4 children in total. Each room features super-king sized doubles or twin beds, seating areas, and en-suite bathrooms with either deluxe showers or deliciously deep baths plus plentiful Molton Brown toiletries, hair driers and even straighteners. The family suites have been thoughtfully designed to include children’s sleeping dens, hand-built using local aged wood, and complete with cosy beds, DVD players and curtains to block out the parents.
The food at this fully catered ski chalet is excellent and imaginative. Instead of laying on a five-course feast every night, they mix the catering up a little. On four nights they offer a four-course ‘elegant home cooking’ menu (when I stayed I ate a superb duck dish combining pan fried duck breast with a mini confit de canard Shepherd’s pie, followed by a meltingly light chocolate tart with roasted almonds and pistachios). On another night they do a ‘comfort food night’, which might consist of a giant lasagne or lamb tagine or curry served in a big bowl in the middle of the table for guests to help themselves to.
Wines are handpicked, largely from the Languedoc region, with the option to upgrade to a Chablis or Sancerre or even a Pol Roger champagne if guests wish. Soft drinks and spirits are all included too.
The views which are genuinely breath-taking, and the fact that the chalet has been designed to perfectly suit family groups. Oh, and the pool.
The chalet has a stunning heated indoor pool with contra flow swim system, ideal for soaking aching limbs after a hard day on the slopes or for keeping the children occupied while you enjoy a pre-dinner glass of fizz.
Chaletneuf du Tenne is a properly family-friendly ski chalet. Two of the bedrooms have kids’ dens attached to them, equipped with their own DVD players so children can hide out watching films from a vast array of kids’ DVDs. There is also the separate TV room where they can play and watch TV, while the chalet can do early teas, supply all manner of baby paraphernalia (from off-road buggies to nappies and wipes and high-chairs — Paddy and Jo, the owners, are parents of two young children themselves) and also offers baby sitting at an extra cost. It even uses instructors who specialise in teaching children, and there is a local crèche in town which welcomes visitors’ children.
The chalet doesn’t have a hot tub, but it’s not really needed given the lovely swimming pool with views.
LOCATION
This Châtel chalet is situated above the rustic alpine village of Châtel in the massive Portes du Soleil ski domain. It is one of the highest chalets in the resort, and from this commanding south-facing position the views are breath-taking. The nearest ski lift is a two-minute chauffeured drive away, and you can ski back to the door from the Super-Châtel area.
GETTING THERE
Private transfers from Geneva airport are included. It is just a 90-minute run.
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 4
- Available Summer and Winter
- Location: One of the highest chalets in Chatel with breathtaking views of the whole valley. 2 minutes chauffeured drive to nearest ski lift, possible to ski back to the door
- Flat screen TV
- Wifi
- Bootwarmers
- Log Fire
- Ski-in
- Parking
Indoor heated pool, iPod docking station with surround sound, Sky TV, Apple TV, WiFi throughout, lots of equipment for babies and children of all ages. On chef’s night off you can also go on a magical half-hour snow-shoe walk up the mountain with head torches to a charming mountain hut which serves delicious fondues with charcuterie and a huge choice of puds
Ask Paddy to take you on the fabulous day-long ski circuit which embraces seven different resorts including a pop over into Switzerland and ends with a ski down to the chalet. The views of the Dents du Midi en route take your breath away.
“Great service….nothing was too much trouble. Very friendly, warm staff.” J.R. Dec 2014
“Fabulous chalet, spacious, really clean and great facilities. Like the nicest home you could ask for!” F.G. Feb 2015
“Service was first class. Jo & Paddy [the owners] couldn’t do enough for us — they were always there with a friendly smile.” R.F. Feb 2015
If you would like to make an enquiry or a booking of this luxury ski chalet, please telephone – +44 (0)7772 853996 or click here to send me a message.
Remember, I have visited all the chalets we feature so can give you totally unbiased, independent advice on all of them. The prices I quote are also the list prices quoted by the chalets themselves, so there is no advantage in going to the chalets direct.