YOU GET A WARM WELCOME IN CHILLY
BEN BLOSSE heads for the hills to enjoy a luxury ski break where everything has been taken care of
THE perfect ski trip can, occasionally, be something of a logistical nightmare. Oh, we all know it is worth it – the adrenaline rush of the slopes, the superlative views, but getting everything sorted before you go – and then worrying about getting yourself sorted while you are there – can be a stress-inducing affair.
Nestled in the Alps, Chilly Powder, an independent family-owned chalet business, will take care of all that – and more. Run by English couple Francesca and Paul, who have been based in the area for years and are only too happy to share their expert knowledge, the resort is not only designed to look after your every need but do it in style.
My partner and I visited towards the end of January last year. With Chilly Powder a 90-minute drive from Geneva airport, transfer was sorted by the team. There are a couple of private lodges but we stayed in Au Coin de Feu – the main chalet which offers a bar, large dining and lounge area for morning and evening meals, and an outdoor hot tub
We walked in to find a fire crackling in the middle of a lounge which looked out onto the snow-covered hills just yards away. It wasn’t hard to already imagine we would be in for a brilliant few days.
That feeling was only accentuated when we saw our surroundings – the location is near unbeatable.
Chilly Powder is in the Morzine area of southern France, just a couple of hundred metres from the fiveminute ski lift that will take you to the resort of Avoriaz.
The blue ski run that leads from Avoriaz back down to the ski lift passes right by the lodge – meaning at the end of a long day, you can ski straight to your front door and have your skiing gear off in minutes.
Avoiding an hour-long commute at the end of the day in the cold is pure bliss in itself and makes a stay at Chilly Powder well worth it - even without all the fantastic other options the lodge offers.
First things first – let’s talk about the skiing (or snowboarding) – the centrepoint of the holiday. You won’t be struggling for options.
Avoriaz, just a short walk and ski lift away, has dozens of spectacular slopes that will suit everyone from kindergarten to expert level, with some taking you across the Swiss border.
And if, after a few days skiing your heart out, you fancy a change of scenery, the bus stop outside Chilly Powder will take you on a 10-minute ride to the town of Morzine and Les Gets, which also have superb slopes.
We didn’t need to worry about where to get our ski gear – the team organised for the nearby Door Step Skis (doorstepskis.com) to come and kit us out as soon as we arrived.
If you have never skied or need lessons to bring you up to speed - the Chilly Powder team have it all in hand. My partner was in the former category, so ahead of our stay, the team organised a lesson for her with Avoriaz Alpine Ski School (avoriazalpineskischool.com).
Chilly Powder also has its own children’s ski-school; meaning any parents who fancy heading off for the day can leave their children in safe, expert hands.
One of the things that really sets Chilly Powder apart, though, is how you are taken care of before and after your day on the slopes. Every morning, we were treated to a sublime breakfast to fuel us for a day of activity, with cooked and continental options to suit every palate.
But it’s the nights which live long in our memory. Every evening bar one – when the incredible staff team get a well deserved night off (yet still organise restaurant bookings elsewhere) – you will be treated to a meal of the highest quality, cooked by its top kitchen team and served in the lounge or dining area.
Each meal seemed better than the last and every day was rounded off in such style that we often looked forward to the evenings as much as the skiing itself.
Truth be told, we were bowled over by Chilly Powder. Francesca and Paul are rightly proud that the majority of their customers return year after year, and it is not hard to see why.
The location, the comfort, the food and the atmosphere make it a true home away from home. The incredible staff are there to serve your every need, so you haven’t a care in the world throughout your stay.
When it’s Chilly, you know you are in for a warm welcome