Meet Helen Beaumont who bought her 1 bedroom apartment in the Alps after falling in love with both winter and summer climates…
“The locals were friendly, and we were very taken by the village, with its thermal spa, and old-worlde feeling. We felt very comfortable there, and knew that our guests would be too. We visited in summer 2004, and fell in love with the place in summer too. Great weather, and loads of things to do.”
1) Tell us a little about your holiday let
We have owned Chalet Chamoissiere, our chalet apartment in Serre Chevalier, France since December 2005. Chamoissiere is a new-build of 27 apartments divided amongst 5 chalets. It has communal spa facilities (pool, sauna and hammam), heated by the local hot springs. Our apartment faces south, and has beautiful views of the pistes in winter, and mountains and glaciers in the summer. It is just 200m from the 250km of ski slopes, and a 5 minute walk from the village of Le Monetier-les-Bains, with plenty of shops and good restaurants.
2) What made you buy the holiday let – was it financial, emotional, a connection with the area, or something else?
Following a two week summer holiday in France in 2003, we started to consider buying somewhere to spend holidays with our sons. We were, and still are, keen skiers, and were increasingly spending most of them in Serre Chevalier, a resort in the Haute-Alpes region. The locals were friendly, and we were very taken by the village, with its thermal spa, and old-worlde feeling. We felt very comfortable there, and knew that our guests would be too. We visited in summer 2004, and fell in love with the place in summer too. Great weather, and loads of things to do. We bought off-plan after viewing a lot of unsuitable apartments, but once we saw this one, with its pool and sauna, we were determined that this would be ours.
3) What’s the best thing about the region your holiday let is located in? Is it the scenery, the pace of life, the locals, the activities, etc?
The Haute-Alpes is also part of Provence, and has a slower and more relaxed way of life to the mega-resorts of the Tarentaise. People have more time to talk, and give you advice about the area. There are so many things that we love apart from the great skiing just yards from the door. There is beautiful scenery which I never tire of looking at, magical walks to isolated lakes in summer, and a wonderful friendly atmosphere.
4) What are the 3 special touches you add to enhance the guest experience?
1. All guests are provided with an all-inclusive price. There are no extras, cleaning, linen and towels are included in the price.
2. We leave a supply of basic items in the apartment for those who will be self-catering. I find it so frustrating to have to buy salt, pepper and herbs. We also leave shampoo, shower gel, and a complimentary bottle of local wine.
3. All guests are greeted on arrival by our apartment manager Melanie. She can assist them in making their stay as relaxed as possible, and contacts them all before arrival to confirm arrival times. She can also book restaurants, arrange ski instruction, lift passes and even a pre-prepared dinner for arrival night.
5) If a guest had just one day in your holiday let what would you recommend they do for the perfect experience?
In winter, I would suggest just clipping into those bindings, and walking across the footbridge to the Bachas chairlift, just 200m from the door. Then ski down to the three chairlifts and choose the one most suitable for your ability. I would head first up Cibouit (on the far right) where there is usually great snow conditions. You can head off-piste from here, or take the Cibouit Rouge piste back down to the chairlifts. Then take Yret, and ski towards the Cucumelle, a beautiful long sweeping red which links Monetier to the remaining area. Again, there are some great off-piste routes alongside the pistes. Stop at Pi-Mai in Frejus for a warming hot chocolate or refreshing beer, then take the new vallons chairlift to rejoin the skiing in Monetier. This time, follow the blue Eychauda pistes, and stay to the right to follow the pistes back to Monetier. Look for the signs for the ‘Chalets de Peyra Juana’, and call in for a well-deserved lunch. A ‘plat de jour’ of wild boar stew, beouf bourginon or lamb provencal may be on the menu. If you’re lucky, a complimentary Genepi (the local liqueur). will round off the meal. Follow the piste back to the bottom of the mountain, and once again head up the Bachas chairlift, and go towards the three chairlifts. For a blast from top to bottom, take the Cibout, chair, then the Cibout Rouge, Pas de l’Ane and Eychauda pistes, and take the red Aya or blue Rochamout back to the bottom. A more adventurous run would use the mogulled Cibout Noir, and the Tabuc piste, both blacks. Finish the day with a trip to Chamoissiere’s spa, or the local thermal baths, and enjoy dinner in the Aquisana restaurant in the village.
To rent the apartment in the Alps from Helen, please complete the contact form which can be found through the above link.
on October 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm
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on January 13, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Sounds and looks idyllic, Helen. I have never been tempted by a holiday in the snow, but this has made me rethink. Thanks.