Gaia

The Chalet For Mother Earth

From the outside, Chalet Gaïa is a joyfully quaint free-standing chalet built into a hillside. Then it does that trick of having a lot more on the inside than you might have guessed. There is an abundance of airy space for up to 15 guests and appealing interior design that ensures every member of the party is cossetted and comfortable. 

Indeed, situated in a peaceful part of Megève, Chalet Gaïa seems to have it all. Chocolate box charm, contemporary style and no compromise on those chalet holiday facilities that that could be considered a privileged bonus. The spa, the cinema, not to mention the space – all 280m2 of it. Then, add to the mix a sense for the luxurious and a heart full of fun.

The ground floor is mainly given up to the bright living room where cuddly sofas are cosy round the fireplace. There is a zone for gracious dining leading off a kitchen that is resolutely modern, beautifully sleek and well-equipped. Another zone is for kindling the party spirit. The corner bar resplendent in shiny chrome, the clack-clack of a game of billiards, the flashing lights of the pinball. All opens onto pretty balconies that gaze proudly over the valley where a stylish fire-pit that makes lingering feasible even when the sun has left and the crystal air turns chilly.

Upstairs, four double bedrooms are bathed in gentle shades of soft neutrals that harmonise with warm pine walls and ceilings. The fifth double bedroom is on the lower ground floor along with the large “bunkroom” where up to five children can find sleep in two sets of bunk beds and another single. Both these rooms also have their own bathrooms.

Privileged bonus time – spas and home cinemas are often the territory of fully catered chalet holidays. Here you can have it all. The spa is equipped with both sauna and Hammam. The home cinema is a veritable den encased in nurturing dark wood where sofas and bean bags are soft and low and fluffy. A laundry and the ski room complete the picture.

The centre of town is about 1.3km from the chalet and the main lift station at Mont d’Arbois lift station about 1.6km. And Megève is one of those places that visitors build a relationship with. It is not only the proximity to Geneva that draws that city’s discerning citizens at the weekend. It is a ski resort town to be enjoyed for its own atmosphere with a beautifully preserved medieval village centre full of interesting shops and characterful restaurants. It is a brilliant option for non-skiers as well as for beginners, intermediates and cross-country enthusiasts, although the extensive Domain Evasion Mont Blanc with its 450km of well-maintained slopes offers something for everyone. And the choice of mountain restaurants is epic.