I fell in love with skiing aged 14, when I took my first holiday on the slopes with school. This was followed by several trips with the university ski club — pre-Eurotunnel and the advent of budget airlines, this meant spending the best part of 24 hours on a coach and then a week with eight crammed into a simple apartment. It was great fun, but far from luxurious.
Fast forward a few years, I’m living in France (a move helped along by the fact I’d be able to ski more), working as a travel journalist and have just published my first book, The Chalet, inspired by my time in the mountains — including more than a few work trips to high-end ski resort hotels.
I’m an avid reader of thrillers but had never come across one set in the mountains. It struck me that a ski resort is an ideal setting for a murder mystery — the mountains are beautiful, but they are also dangerous.
The majority of people in resorts are transient too: most are there on holiday, only for a week or so, but even the workers tend to move on after a season or two. It would easy to pretend to be someone you are not, and people who leave are quickly forgotten.
The Chalet is set in several time periods, principally 1998 and 2020. In 1998, two brothers go skiing and only one comes back. The 2020 sections see a group of characters staying in an ultra-luxe chalet — and it’s for the reader to work out what their various connections are (or aren’t) to what happened in the past.
And while my story didn’t require a luxurious setting, I loved writing the descriptions — and so far, it seems that people have enjoyed reading them.
For me, true luxury and a really high-end property shows itself in the little details. For example, one hotel placed a cleaning cloth complete with logo under my reading glasses at turn down, while another offered thoughtful gifts such as hotel-branded ski socks and phone chargers instead of the usual chocolates.
But the real difference is to be found in the level of service. Nothing you request is too much trouble — though it will certainly come at a cost. Staying somewhere where staff will bend over backwards to make your time as enjoyable as possible makes for a truly memorable trip.
This year, the biggest luxury has to be privacy, with a stay that you needn’t share with crowds of others. And along with incredible interiors, delicious food and wonderful service, that’s what you can expect from these five luxurious chalets too.
Octola, Finland
Set in a private wilderness retreat 20 minutes from Rovaniemi airport in Finnish Lapland, you can head out for cross-country skiing excursions, indulge in cold bath therapy and visit reindeer during your stay at Octola.
New this year is a secluded villa for four people where you can enjoy meals prepared from local produce by the chef, as well as an on-hand butler and a wilderness guide. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls look out onto the frozen landscape and there are two large terraces, perfect for watching the Northern Lights.
Price tag: At £66,500 full board this is a real treat, but includes nature walks and a sauna and ice swimming experience
Refuge de Le Traye, Méribel, France
Ultra-luxe group Airelles is adding Refuge de Le Traye just outside Méribel to its collection this winter. With a full complement of staff look after 15 guests, there’s a wellness area and cinema room along with the fully serviced ski room, lounge with open fireplace and dining room with terrace.
For families, there’s also a well-stocked playroom while staff can happily arrange activities from spa treatments and regional wine-tasting to electric bobsleighing and zip lining.
Price tag: From around £3,900 per person per week all-inclusive, with all food and drink, ski hire and passes, snowmobile transfer to the slope, a shuttle to Méribel and the option to have lunch in several top slope-side restaurants.
Ultima Courchevel, France
Combining the privacy of a chalet with the attentive five-star service of a hotel, Ultima Courchevel is made up of 13 chalets, each with four or five double bedrooms and a private lift.
There’s a 350-metre square spa, two swimming pools and an on-site restaurant, or if you prefer you can opt for a private chef to cater for you in your own chalet as well as the option for a fully kosher kitchen. Expect floor-to-ceiling windows, bronze mantelpieces, chesterfield leather headboards and white-veined black marble bathrooms.
Price tag: From around £29,500 per week B&B plus afternoon tea.
Zems Lodge, Morzine, France
One for party animals or families with lively teens — Zems Lodge in Morzine has a bar area on the top floor with a pool table and a range of musical instruments, including electric and acoustic guitars.
There’s also a cinema room and TV snug with bean bags, plus a plunge pool on the huge south-facing terrace and a glass-fronted sauna. It’s set over five floors and sleeps up to eight adults and four children in six bedrooms.
Price tag: From around £21,000 per week half-board including drinks, plus afternoon tea and early children’s dinner if required.
The Residence at Severin*s Alpine Retreat, Lech, Austria
With its own entrance and lift, the Residence sleeps up to eight people and comes with its own kitchen, lounge with open fire, grand piano and al fresco hot tub, plus all the added bonus of the services of a five-star hotel right next door.
New for this winter is a package which includes a private jet transfer to Innsbruck followed by a private transfer in a Mercedes with flat screen and fridge including Champagne and snacks. The package includes breakfast and dinner in the hotel — or a private chef can also be provided at additional cost.
Price tag: Seven nights at The Severin*s Residence with private jet and transfer, half board from around £6,600 per person with Oxford Ski
All five properties are happy to meet dietary requirements if notified in advance. Prices do not include transport unless specified.
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