The stars align as VIP SKI builds four sensational new chalets with mind blowing views in Avoriaz
VIP SKI is excited to announce it has built four incredible new chalets in Avoriaz, ready for the 2018/19 season. The new chalets, opening in December 2018, will reinforce VIP SKI’s impressive collection of accommodation in the French Alps. Ossetra, Kakisa, Kobuk, Beluga.
Since the creation of Avoriaz in the 1960s, the uniquely-designed winter-sports resort, perched on a dramatic cliff-top location in the Portes du Soleil ski area in the French Alps, is seeing a new trend of more upmarket offerings in this futuristic destination. Previously, it was known mostly as a self-catering resort and now Avoriaz is about to go up a notch in terms of the luxury chalets on offer.
It’s a vast and endlessly-varied playground, boasting 197 ski lifts, 650km of pistes, 10 terrain parks and oodles of off piste in between with a trans-frontier alliance and access to a dozen ski villages in France and Switzerland. To boot, Avoriaz is notorious for its snow record with approximately 8 metres a season. Simply one of the best.
The position of the four new properties is sensational: 1850m altitude, on the piste, a lift ride from the centre of the resort and Aquariaz water park, and a stone’s throw from the piste-side bars and ski school meeting point. In London terms, this isn’t just Mayfair, its Buckingham Palace. The location deserved the very best and so VIP SKI pulled together its favourite interior designers and local tradesmen to do something rather special.
Andy Sturt, Owner and Managing Director of VIP SKI said, “Without wishing to appear too evangelical about it, every now and again the stars seem to align, and extraordinary opportunities drop into your lap.”
Through a chance lunch and a random overheard comment, VIP SKI became owners of two incredible building plots in the very centre of Avoriaz. Away from the noise and bustle of the core, and perfectly placed on the circumference for a breath-taking panorama of the surrounding peaks.
Andy Sturt added, “When the pistes empty at 5pm you feel privileged to soak up the sublime and slightly eerie wilderness of snow-capped mountains all to yourself. When the lifts start to turn in the morning and your landscape fills with skiers, you almost begrudge them your calm. Hyperbole is so commonplace in real estate and travel, but this really is the most exciting opportunity I have enjoyed in a 25-year career.”
VIP SKI already has one chalet and three penthouse apartments in the centre of the resort, sleeping as few as four guests in No 2 Penthouse, to 14 guests in Chalet Poudreuse, as well as a collection in Morzine and Les Gets, further down the valley. Providing such a vast offering of accommodation to suit couples, families and friends, has given the luxury tour operator real insight into how popular the Portes du Soleil ski area really is.
Echoing VIP SKI’s sentiments, the high-octane luxury brand La Folie Douce – Ibiza-on-Ice – is opening for the first time in Avoriaz this December.
Chalet Kobuk offers an ideal space for 8-10 guests, spread over three floors with a cosy mezzanine above. The huge windows and balconies draw the mountain panoramas into every room. Built into the side of the mountain, the open-plan living / dining area provides the ultimate place to relax at sunset and ponder the snow cats doing their work on the pistes below. The four en-suite bedrooms occupy the lower floors, one with additional bunk beds.
Chalet Kakiska sleeps 8-10 guests in four en-suite bedrooms lazily spread over four floors. At the end of the day, skiers can warm their toes in front of the open fire or curl up on the squashy sofas on the mezzanine above to watch a film. Each of the bedrooms enjoy stunning views across the Alps.
Chalet Ossetra is the smaller neighbour of Chalet Beluga next door, and offers a more intimate space for smaller parties, accommodating 6-7 guests, spread over three floors. The three en-suite bedrooms can be presented as a twin or double and one room has additional bunk beds (charged at half the adult price). The open-plan living / dining area offers spectacular mountain panoramas and modern-day comfort, with flat-screen TV and smart contemporary fire.
At Chalet Beluga, a lift will whisk guests from the piste level to each of the six floors boasting five en-suite bedrooms, two of which have additional bunk beds, making this a fantastic space for a group of 10-14. The spacious open plan living / dining area sits on top with splendid mountain panoramas, an extremely decadent space in which to relax after a day on the slopes. The chalet comes complete with flat-screen TVs in every bedroom, open fire, music system, boot warmers and balconies from where guests can ponder the latest skiing fashions as they slide past on the piste outside. To highlight Chalet Beluga as the new Top Dog chalet in the resort, VIP SKI included an underground swimming pool and hammam. Make no mistake, this is the new No. 1 address in town.
Chalet Ossetra and Chalet Beluga could not be more convenient for the lifts, in fact they surrounded by piste. But, fear not, VIP SKI will transfer guests’ bags to and from the chalet by snowcat. An adjacent public lift also transports skiers to the upper resort level and the sensational Aquariaz water park, an absolute must for the kids.
Beginners will be well-placed to access the nursery slopes opposite the chalets, intermediates and expert skiers will love the long, exhilarating runs from Avoriaz as well as the world-class off piste. Skiers can also enjoy some of the most extensive skiing in the Alps with a vast network of cable cars and lifts.
A seven-night stay at Chalet Beluga arriving 16 December 2018 is priced from £1,199 pp based on two sharing. Price includes chalet-board accommodation (cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, three-course evening meal on six nights and canapé reception on the first and last night), flights from London Gatwick, coach transfers, and VIP SKI’s dedicated chalet service.
Skiers can save £100 pp on VIP SKI’s saver weeks when they book by 31 October 2018. The special offer can be applied to 6, 13, 20, 27 January and 17 March departures.
For more information about VIP SKI please visit vip-chalets.com or call 0208 875 1957