Alya Meribel

A Meribel Gem

Chalet Alya is a little jewel on the edge of a forest and yet a toss of a pinecone away from the lights and delights of Méribel. Peaceful and yet well-connected, it has that compelling characteristic: you can ski from the door and back to the door. You are close by a lift station that provides a fast link to the heart of the Tois Vallées and long days on the slopes exploring one of Europe’s finest ski areas. Then, when you slide home at the end of the day, you are greeted by a space that is warm and welcoming. Outside, a chocolate box wooden chalet, inside all fresh and new. The interior is aesthetically calm and elegant but someone clever has achieved an ambiance that can best be described as soft and cuddly. Just what you need after a day with the elements, high in the mountains.

Pretty soon after casting off your kit in the ski-room and ensuring your boots are cossetted on their warmers ready for tomorrow, you will, unless a bit of après ski calls, soon be soaking in the pool. It is ingeniously built into the ground floor wellness area with windows that let you focus on snow while warm water soothes weary limbs.

But it’s your ski holiday, there is fun to be had as the evening turns into night.

Perhaps a restoring cold beer taken on the large south facing terrace, waiting to see what wildlife might peep out from the cover of the trees. The log fire in the stone chimney blazes, there is a good supply of wood provided, and the sofas are inviting. Magic is happening in the open plan kitchen; it can when the kitchen is so fabulously well-equipped. The week’s menus are an adventure in themselves when you can prepare a fondue, put together a raclette, shake up some pancakes or even serve waffles. The sleek dining-table and its graceful chairs are ready to concoct some glamour, whatever the dishes of the day. Unless, of course, lights are drawing you into the village where the choice of restaurants and live music are a dangerous recipe that can make next morning slightly less sparkly than you intended.

However, it’s your ski holiday! You know how just stepping outside the front door, beathing the crisp alpine air and clicking into skis, swiftly dissipates any fuzzy reminders of last night. Especially when the bedrooms of your tranquil chalet are havens where aged timbers and soft colours make rest come easily. Three doubles on the 2nd floor, all en suite, with their balconies over snowy meadows, are comfortable retreats for winding down. The exquisite master bedroom takes up the whole of the top floor. If you have organised the party this is your retreat, with its seating area, dressing room and office space and views that will inspire every morning of your stay.

Chalet Alya opens its arms and welcomes the children, as do the extensive facilities of the resort, with its excellent ski schools and family friendly skiing. But there’s a chance you won’t see that much of them around the chalet. When they’re not in the pool, the games room on the ground floor will be their den, their source of endless amusement and can be their place to sleep as well. Two sets of bunkbeds sleep four children and provide the sort of accommodation that will go down in family history as the best holiday ever. Here they have table-football, their own TV and a selection of board games, along with the enchantment of their own space. They also get their own shower room; they can keep their wet towels to themselves.

The practicalities are all sorted. Parking for four cars, a utility room for freshening up the ski kit, daily housekeeping and end of stay cleaning. All you have to do is get here, enjoy the satisfying welcome of champagne and a basket of goodies, and start planning your ski route across the Trois Vallées for tomorrow.