Chalet La Moraine, Val d'Isere, France

In hamlet of Le Joseray, opposite YSE chalet Les Gnellets, three minutes’ walk from lifts, pistes and bus, six from centre.

Due to the proximity to neighbouring chalets, La Moraine is not suitable for loud groups.

La Moraine is one of the oldest chalets in Val d’Isère, with the traditional extended wall and pillar, which support the whole tree trunks, which support the slabs of granite, which support the twenty feet of snow, which support one of the longest seasons in the Alps.

The chalet has, of course, been entirely rebuilt inside. It has a charming sitting-dining room under the rafters, with a wide balcony facing Solaise. This room always seems to generate a very friendly atmosphere, perhaps because of the good food that comes from its state-of-the-art kitchen, perhaps because it isn’t huge and doesn’t have a TV, forcing people to re-invent the ancient art of conversation (though it does have WiFi). Maybe it’s just the unlimited wine.

La Moraine has six pleasant bedrooms: two twins which have views towards Solaise, a double room with its own en-suite washbasin, and three single bedrooms, a rarity in Val d'Isère. Two of these single rooms actually have a large double bed, while the third has a single bed plus a second bed up a ladder. When one party fills the whole chalet, the guests in any or all three of the single rooms can bring an extra person at half price. Please note that flight seats may be limited on certain dates, especially at peak season.

La Moraine is in the little hamlet of Le Joseray, opposite our chalet Les Gnellets. The lifts, the pistes and the main bus stops are all at most three minutes’ walk away, and you can ski back to within about 100m. Yet the only sound at night is an occasional moo from the neighbours.

• WiFi.
• Wide, sunny balcony with view straight up Solaise.
• Three single bedrooms so lots of flexibility as to who sleeps where.
• Boot warmers.
• Ground floor flat below the chalet, occasionally used by owners.
• Due to the proximity to neighbouring chalets, La Moraine is not suitable for loud groups.
• A chef and an assistant, who live out.

Breakfast consists of fruit juice, porridge, cereals, bacon, eggs, baguettes straight from the famous local bakery, a croissant or pain au chocolat if you like, yogurt, Twinings tea and fresh coffee from Italian espresso pots.

You return from the slopes to find bread and jam, a freshly-baked cake, hot chocolate etc. left out for you.

Then canapés followed by a three-course, fixed-menu, dinner-party-style meal. The cuisine is largely French, though with a fusion of other influences – what Londoners call Modern British.

With dinner, we serve free unlimited quantities of a selection of very drinkable French AOC wines and vins de pays. This is, unfortunately, only with dinner, not breakfast, and we stop serving the wine when the coffee appears.

6 bedrooms for 9-12 guests

Bedroom 1

Twin (12' x 11') on first floor with balcony.

Bedroom 2

Twin (11'6" x 9'9") next to Bedroom 1 with balcony.

Bedroom 3

Double (11' x 10'4") with unusually large bed, and basin, on the second floor towards the rear of the chalet.

Bedroom 4

Single (9'6" x 8'6") on second floor, with an extra bed on a mezzanine (8'10" x 8'6").

Bedroom 5

Single (9'5" x 8'6"). Sweet little room on first floor, containing a double bed that can be used for two people when one party books the whole chalet.

Bedroom 6

Single (approx 9'6" x 10') on first floor containing a double bed that can be used for two people when one party books the whole chalet.

Bathrooms

Two bathrooms, one on each floor, plus two separate wcs. Additional shower with wc on second floor.

Sitting-Dining Room

(18'6" x 11'6") On second floor with comfy new sofas at one end, kitchen at the other (not included in measurements) and dining table in the middle. Wide balcony. WiFi in places.

Extra Beds

Rooms 4, 5 and 6 have space for additional people. On certain dates we may not be able to provide a flight for an extra bed.