Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In the snow

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Dig out your thermals and practice ‘bending ze knees’ as its time to hit the slopes. Ben Mondy solves the problem of where to stay with his insider knowledge of Europe’s hippest ski chalets and hotels

Lyon

Les 3 Hôtels de La Chaudanne, Meribel (www.chaudanne.com)

While its heavy British influence might keep purists away (the ski resort was actually started by the Scot Peter Lindsay back in 1938) the combination of pretty village, strong skiing and rightly legendary partying makes Meribel one of the big French Alp resorts. As such, there is a myriad of accommodation options available, but Les 3 Hôtels de La Chaudanne, might just be the perfect mix of location, comfort, luxury and experience. The Chaudanne is run by the Dallery family who have lived in Méribel since 1955 and have been hoteliers for three generations. Their intimate knowledge of the resort and town is coupled with a superb hotel and chalet that has the obligatory indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wellbeing centre and, most importantly, ski-to-the-door access to the magnificent three valleys. This year they also have two stunning new chalets, les Mazots de la Chaudanne, set in the forest and only accessible by snowscooter. Each chalet has three ensuite bedrooms and prices start from €4500 per week.

Fly to Lyon with Brussels Airlines from just €139 return all-in, or book your full ski holiday with Skiworld including accommodation and flights with Brussles Airlines online at www.skiworld.be

Milan

Hotel Nives, Val Gardena www.hotel-nives.com

Hotel Nives opened in January 2008 and can best be described as somewhere between an ultra hip boutique apartment and a cosy semi traditional South Tyrol family-run hotel. Built from new by owners Luis and Wilma Linder it is headed by their son Alex and his wife Alexia and its state-of-the-art pool, spa and wellbeing centre are all matched by the incredible stone, wood and glass architecture and gourmet restaurant. Of course if you do want to leave the hotel, access to the Sella Ronda and Dolomite SuperSki domains, which offer 12 ski areas and over 1200 km of piste, are a short walk away. The hotel itself is located in the charming village of Selva Val Gardena, directly on the new square with spectacular views to the Sella massif. Prices start from €112 per person per night, half board.

Fly to Milan with Brussels Airlines from just €99 return all-in.

Geneva

Rude Chalets, Morzine www.rudechalets.com

After initially working several winter seasons with some of the bigger operators, husband and wife team Chris and Helen Lavender returned to their IT and PR jobs in the UK thinking there must be a better way. “We really thought we could do the basics much better and at the same price point,” says Helen. “And we wanted to challenge the traditional chalet style of doing things.” The result was Rude Chalets, operating out of the Swiss resort of Morzine (80km from Geneva) since 2003. From then Rude Chalets has carved out a successful niche offering innovative chalet accommodation, with great ride-in ride-out locations, excellent food and service, supplemented by some cool brand and artist collaborations. For example they’ve teamed up with Xbox 360 and each ensuite has its own LCD screen and console, while all guests have unlimited access to the Burton Snowboard Test Centre with state of the art boards available for rent. Prices start from €425 per week per person and include half-board ensuite accommodation and free return airport transfers from Geneva.

Fly to Geneva with Brussels Airlines from just €99 return all-in, or book your full ski holiday with Skiworld including accommodation and flights with Brussles Airlines online at www.skiworld.be

Turin

Chez Bear, Serre Chevalier www.chezbear.com

After a decade or more of chefing and working on luxury yachts around the world, Chez Bear owner Matthew decided to apply his hosting and cooking knowledge to one of the best kept ski secrets in the French Alps, Serre Chevalier. “We wanted to turn the tables and provide a unique experience for some of my former clients, employers and new guests seeking a unique, luxury, chalet experience,” says Matthew. So in 2001 with wife and business partner Helen he purchased an uninhabited 17th-century farmhouse in the stunning old town of Briançon. After two years of hard graft the couple opened Chez Bear. “We aim to operate in the same way you would charter a yacht,” continues Matthew. “In other words, you have the use of the whole building and bring your own guests. Food, drink and any other extras are charged to you at cost price, at the end of your stay.” The result is a stunning traditional chalet with exceptional food and service and excellent access to the relatively uncrowded and great snow of Serre Chevalier. Prices start at €9500 for a week, with the chalet holding 10-12 people.

Fly to Turin with Brussels Airlines from just €119 return all-in.

Munich

Mayrhofen Experience, Haus Luxus www.mayrhofen-experience.com

Lying in the heart of the Austrian Alps, in the village of Haus Luxus, owners of the Mayrhofen Experience Rob Blackwell and Mandii Weaver offer a charming 10-bed chalet. What it lacks in size and grandesse is made up for in good old-fashioned values of excellent service, cleanliness, local knowledge and sheer goodwill. The chalet is a short walk from a bus stop that services the Zillertal 3000 ski area which offers 620km of pisted runs and includes the famous Hintertux glacier. The pretty, traditional Austrian town of Mayrhofen is also close by which over the years has, quite rightly, gained a reputation as one of the biggest party towns in the Alps.

At the chalet you will likely be staying with the long-time return regulars who eschew the big budget operators’ often sterile feel and who have also become addicted to the afternoon tea with homemade cakes that come like clock work seven days a week. Prices start at €400 for seven nights half board, which also includes pre-dinner drinks and a four course evening meal with wine.

Fly to Munich with Brussels Airllines from just €99 return all-in.

FR Dans la neige

Sortez vos petites laines et exercez-vous ‘une, deux…pliez les genoux’ : il est grand temps de vous préparer à affronter les pistes. Mais où séjourner ? Ben Mondy résout la question en nous rapportant ses adresses les plus tendances des chalets et des hôtels des neiges

Destination: Genève

Rude Chalets (www.rudechalets.com) à Morzine s’est construit une niche à succès, en offrant des hébergements dans des chalets innovants. Les points forts : fantastiques localisations très pratiques question aménagement, excellente nourriture, super service, avec une touche extra apportée par quelques marques dynamiques et des collaborations d’artistes. Les propriétaires de chalets ont établi un partenariat avec XBOX 360 et chaque habitation dispose de son propre écran LCD et de sa console.

Destination: Milan

L’Hôtel Nives (www.hotel-nives.com) à Val Gardena est un croisement entre un appartement boutique ultra tendance et un hôtel familial douillet. Lorsque vous ne serez pas en train de vous muscler les cuisses sur les pistes environnantes, allez vous détendre dans la piscine nec plus ultra, dans le centre thermal et de bien–être ou dans le restaurant gourmet de l’hôtel.

Destination: Munich

Situé au cœur des Alpes autrichiennes, dans le village d’Haus Luxus, le Mayrhofen Experience (www.mayrhofen-experience.com) est un lieu de séjour charmant avec un accès à 620km de pistes d’un domaine skiable. Oubliez les tour-opérateurs inabordables à gros budgets. Ce chalet géré de façon indépendante est un endroit où l’on se sent immédiatement chez soi, avec apéritif et dîner à quatre services compris dans le prix.

Destination: Lyon

La combinaison d’un merveilleux village, d’une offre de ski d’exception et des soirées légendaires fait de Méribel la station de ski de référence des Alpes françaises. Mettez Les 3 Hôtels de La Chaudanne (www.chaudanne.com) en tête de votre liste. Cet ensemble qui comprend un hôtel et deux chalets est géré par la famille Dallery, établie à Méribel depuis 1955.

Destination: Turin

Installé dans une bâtisse de ferme du 17e siècle dans la sublime ville de Briançon, Chez Bear (www.chezbear.com) est un très beau chalet reconverti. Il offre une cuisine exceptionnelle, un service impeccable et un accès privilégié aux pistes relativement peu fréquentées de Serre Chevalier.

NL In de sneeuw

Haal je thermisch ondergoed maar boven en oefen ‘door de knieën gaan’ want het is tijd om de pistes op te gaan. Met de inside kennis van Ben Mondy over Europa’s hipste skichalets en hotels, weet je zo waar naar toe.  

Bestemming: Genua

Rude Chalets (www.rudechalets.com) in Morzine heeft een succesvol gebied gecreëerd dat vernieuwde chalets aanbiedt, met geweldige ride-in ride-out locaties, verrukkelijk eten en een piekfijne bediening, als surplus zijn er goede merken en samenwerkingen tussen artiesten. De chaleteigenaars hebben de chalets uitgerust met XBOX 360 en in elke kamer bevindt zich een LCD-scherm en console.  

Bestemming: Milaan

The Hotel Nives (www.hotel-nives.com) in Val Gardena is een mix van ultrahippe appartementen en gezellige hotels door families gerund. Wanneer je niet je bilspieren aan het trainen bent op de naburig gelegen hellingen, relax dan in het hypermoderne zwembad, de spa en het wellness center en het hotelrestaurant op maat van fijnproevers.  

Bestemming: München

In het hart van de Oostenrijkse Alpen, in de stad Haus Luxus, is de Mayrhofen Experience (www.mayrhofen-experience.com) een charmante plaats om te verblijven met toegang tot 620km skipistes. Vergeet weinig creatieve en dure gebieden, dit onafhankelijk uitgebaat chalet is een thuis zoals thuis met aperitief en viergangen menu allemaal in de prijs inbegrepen.  

Bestemming: Lyon

De combinatie van een mooie stad, goed skiën en legendarisch feesten maakt van Meribel één van de beste gebieden van de Franse Alpen. Zet de drie hotels van La Chaudanne (chaudanne. com) bovenaan je lijst van verblijfplaatsen. De combinatie van een hotel en twee chalets wordt uitgebaat door de familie Dallery, die sinds 1955 in Meribel woont.  

Bestemming: Turijn

Chez Bear (www.chezbear.com) is een mooie topchalet in een zeventiende-eeuwse hoeve in de verbazende stad Briançon en pakt uit met uitzonderlijk lekker eten, piekfijne bediening en zeer goede toegang tot de relatief kalme hellingen van Serre Chevalier.

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