The Story of the Very First Luxury Chalet Vacations to Chamonix Haute Savoie France
1770 was when the 1st lodge was completed in Chamonix ski resort. Prior to this Chamonix Haute Savoie embodied a wild and tough agricultural hamlet where locals hunted their animals and grew their wheat.
Farms at that time were used to stock cows during the summer. The milk was kept by making it into cheese and butter and stored in the farm for consumption during the hard wintertimes. During the snow season the chalets were fastened, and all valued possessions were secured in a mazot.
Quite who came up with the chalet holiday is unknown, however it was in all probability a few passionate people who realized a idea that was new and exciting. With Erna Low it began whilst she was a unhappy postgraduate who couldn’t afford to visit her family back home in Austria as frequently as she wished. Therefore in 1931 she took a risk and placed a advertisement in the broadsheets to ask clients on a winter trip. For £15 they traveled to and from resort, enjoyed breakfast and dinner and board in the sole chalet, and took skiing gear and tuition. The trip was difficult work, there were no lifts, no safety fixings, simply strong leather boots, it was so successful that Erna Low carried on taking skiers on vacation, guaranteeing she found grand hotels and guides.
Ski chalet breaks in the beginning were a long way from the standards we get today. In the early days hot water was in short supply, bathrooms had to be used by all of the punters, and there was no a chef; the clients needed to help out. No one knew who may share the accommodation for the week, you may be pleased to encounter brand new allies, or not gel with the group.
Catered chalet holidays were later on publicized on its extra pluses. Your own chef, who would serve you breakfast and a plentiful evening meal and cooked you afternoon tea.
