“Rob and Lucy should be so proud of what they have achieved. The chalet is superb, the food five star, and Nicolas and the team were the most friendly and hospitable you could wish to meet.”
Spacious luxury in gorgeously refurbished old farmhouse
Low season: £785pp; Mid: £895; Peak: £1,195 catered (+ separate catered mazot)
Summer: £65 per person per night B&B, reduced to £55 for three nights and more
Morzine, Portes du Soleil
Sleeps: 24 + 6 in mazot
La Ferme du Lac Vert is a fabulously refurbished old Savoyard farmhouse in the charming hamlet of Montriond on the edge of Morzine in the Portes du Soleil. The interiors are gorgeous – think cow skin rugs, dark antique furniture, squishy sofas, Moroccan lamps – and the food and wine is excellent. One of my favourites.
The chalet is big and sleeps 24 in total, including five in a separate self-contained apartment on the ground floor, but it still manages to feel cosy and the communal living space is huge enough for you to have your privacy. Dining is very much communal though, around a big old wooden table.
There is also a separate mazot, which has its own private chef and is equally gorgeously appointed.
The styling at this luxury ski chalet is traditional mountain chic with a contemporary twist. Lucy the owner bought up numerous old Swiss army blankets from an army surplus store and has cleverly used them to reupholster antique chairs and the headboards of beautiful antique beds. There are furry cushions everywhere, candles, giant metal and glass chandeliers and lots of cowskin rugs. In fact, the chalet plays on its heritage as an old cow farm, with cow paintings adorning the walls as well as gorgeous Cowshed toiletries in all the rooms.
The rooms at La Ferme du Lac Vert are chocolate-box cosy and traditional. Dark wood panelling combines with dreamily comfortable antique beds dressed with lime green or bright scarlet fur cushions, plus old pieces such as carved wardrobes and burnished chests of drawers. The bathrooms are all gleaming and contemporary, some with baths, some just with walk-in power showers. The honeymoon suite has a lovely roll-top bath.
Ferme du Lac Vert is a fully catered ski chalet and stages delicious, highly social meals along a great, big oak table. The chef is clearly passionate and innovative, surprising guests with elaborate canapés such as miniature steak tartares and molecular-style exploding Bloody Marys. Main courses range from melting braised shoulder of lamb to local trout and delicious pan fried duck breast with roast butternut squash and cherry sauce. Breakfasts are a treat too, combining porridge or hot muesli with a full English, pancakes with maple syrup and bacon or an alternative option such as grilled tortilla with feta cheese, peppers and braised fava beans. Yum.
This luxury ski chalet has an outdoor hot tub on the terrace with fabulous views of the mountains.
La Ferme du Lac Vert offers a 20% discount for children under the age of 13, and the chalet is really child-friendly. It has a separate TV lounge where kids can sit and watch childrens’ movies or play in private, away from the adults. Separate meals can also be arranged, with either a simplified menu or special kids’ meals, while childcare can be laid on if required with local crèches and nannies.
The gorgeous interiors, welcoming atmosphere and delicious food. Oh, and the chalet’s resident ski guide, Nicolas.
It would be THE perfect chalet if it had a sauna or steam room, but that is just quibbling.
LOCATION
This Morzine ski chalet is located in the lovely hamlet of Montriond, just outside Morzine in amongst ramshackle old farm buildings and just along a winding road from the aquamarine Lake Montriond (hence the chalet name). It is just seven minutes by the chalet’s private transport to the Ardent bubble which is fully linked in to the massive Portes du Soleil ski area, or just five minutes to Morzine itself.
GETTING THERE
Geneva is just 1hr 15minutes away, so La Ferme du Lac Vert is ideal for short breaks or long weekends. The chalet can arrange airport transfers, at an extra cost.
- Bedrooms: 11
- Bathrooms: 12
- Available Summer and Winter
- Location: five minutes from Ardent, Super Morzine & Pleney lifts, five minutes from centre of Morzine, located in the centre of Montriond
- Jacuzzi hot-tub
- Wifi
- Huge log fire
- Parking
- Sunday changeover usually but sometimes Saturday for Christmas and New Year, depending when critical dates fall
La Ferme du Lac Vert’s big selling point is that it has Nicolas, a wonderful, full-time, dedicated, resident ski guide who has immense patience and will look after everything, from showing guests round the slopes to carrying skis and organising lunch stops. The chalet also has an ice bar made of snow out on the balcony – a great spot for pre-dinner drinks surrounded by twinkling candles – as well as wifi throughout and in-resort transport that is on duty all day and will take you into town at night (they will arrange a taxi pick-up if you want to stay late).
Don’t miss lunch at La Vaffieu at the top of Pleney in Morzine. A charming restaurant with a bookable private dining room where you can eat by candle-light. Feast on everything from the best tartiflettes in the Portes du Soleil to fancy duck and foie gras dishes, as well as sublime desserts.
“If Carlsberg did ski chalets….”
“Already planning the next trip, so that says it all really. The most beautiful place in the Alps – can’t wait to come back. Best hosts ever.”
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.