The luxury chalet: high-end rental for a comfortable holiday in the mountains
When it comes to spending their holidays in the mountains, some opt for renting an apartment, a campsite, a gite or a hotel room, while others cannot do without the comfort and charm of a luxury chalet. When you can afford it, why deny yourself the opportunity to spend a dream holiday in the mountains in an authentic stone and wooden house offering all the comfort of modern facilities? For wealthy and demanding mountain lovers looking for luxury rental properties, here is a box of ideas to help you find the rare gem and spend a ski holiday in peace, luxury and indulgence in France’s two main mountain ranges: the Alps and the Pyrenees:
If you are looking for a high-end rental for skiing or summer holidays, Discover Les Chalets du Fornet, A luxury chalet in Val d’Isère that can accommodate up to 10 people.
In which ski resorts are there the most luxury chalets for rent?
The offer of luxury chalet rentals is still intended for a relatively small group of privileged individuals; it is available only in a limited number of ski resorts in France. Here is the list of the most important ones according to their location in the Alps or the French Pyrenees: Courchevel, Val d’Isère, Megève, Serre-Chevalier, Chamonix, Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz, Les Saisies, Font-Romeu, Manigod, Alpe d’Huez, Annecy, Avoriaz, La Plagne, Les Angles, Les Arcs, Méribel, Saint-Lary-Soulan, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville.
Rent a luxury chalet in a ski resort in the French Alps
The Alps is the largest and highest mountain range in France. It is therefore logical that the demand for luxury chalets for rent is predominantly directed towards the main Alpine ski resorts such as Courchevel, Avoriaz, Méribel, Megève, Val d’Isère, Serre-Chevalier, Chamonix, Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz, Les Saisies, Manigod, Alpe d’Huez, Annecy, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. Discover more in detail the range of high-end chalets for rent in these resorts:
Courchevel 51 luxury chalets and apartments are for rent through the local real estate agency Sotheby’s International Realty, a company specializing in luxury and prestigious real estate. Rental rates range from €3,600 per week to €120,000 for chalets or apartments, so the capacity varies between 2 and 18 people, although the most common capacity is 10 people.
Val d’Isère This mountain village transforms into a real city in winter, welcoming holidaymakers from all over the world who come to enjoy the many activities (alpine skiing and other snow sports, dog sledding, ice climbing, snowmobiling, ice diving, helicopter tours, hiking on skis, electric mountain bikes on snow, starred gourmet restaurants, paragliding, etc.) offered at the resort. As for the offer of luxury chalet rentals, it is substantial: 80 listings of prestigious apartments and chalets for rent in Val d’Isère are featured on the website of the local real estate agency.
Megève This station in the French Alps is a world-renowned reference for its very high standards. Every winter it welcomes very wealthy tourists, especially Russians who don’t skimp on spending during their stay and make the luxury boutiques, nightclubs and gastronomic megastores happy. As for the offer of luxury chalet rentals, it is very well stocked with 71 listings posted on the website of the world’s leading luxury real estate company.
Serre-Chevalier This winter sports resort in the Hautes-Alpes in the south of France is very popular for its luxury chalets and modern equipment and services nearby, as it is the only example in France of a ski resort located next to a town with more than 10,000 inhabitants (Briançon). The rental offer is substantial, with 16 luxury chalets in Serre-Chevalier listed on the leading site Chalet Owners.
Chamonix Famous for being the ski resort at the highest peak in France and Western Europe, Mont-Blanc, Chamonix is a true institution for mountaineering enthusiasts. But the commune also attracts snowboarders thanks to its 182 kilometers of ski slopes. As for the rental offer in the luxury chalet sector, it is on par with Mont-Blanc, since 76 chalets are listed on a reference website.
Le Grand-Bornand This commune in Haute-Savoie has one of the most renowned ski resorts in the Alps, combining charm and authenticity. But beware: if you’re looking for a high-end chalet to rent for the winter season, you might be disappointed because very few luxury chalets are available for rent there (only 3 on the dedicated Figaro website).
La Clusaz The benchmark resort of the Alps, La Clusaz applies its three-in-one rule to the delight of holidaymakers: oxygenation through its forests, pastures, peaks, rivers and lakes; rejuvenation and well-being through sporting activities and contemplative rest; encounters and sharing through the inhabitants of La Clusaz and their warm welcome; family activities; and beautiful outdoor evenings in the mountains. As for their rental offer in luxury real estate, it is limited to 6 prestigious chalets listed on the official website of the station.
Les Saisies This small ski resort in Savoie, which includes 3 villages (Les Saisies, Bisanne 1500 and Hauteluce village), is very popular for its tranquility. However, the small size of the resort limits its offer of luxury chalet rentals, which are limited to the fingers of one hand…
Manigod A small family ski resort located in Haute-Savoie in the Aravis massif, Manigod is connected to the famous resort of La Clusaz and gives you access to its 85 slopes (8 black slopes, 30 red slopes, 31 blue slopes and 16 green slopes). As for renting a high-end chalet in Manigod, the offer is relatively limited due to the small size of the resort.
Alpe d'Huez Often called «L’Alpe d’Huez», this alpine ski resort was founded on the former pastures of the village of Huez near Grenoble. Globally known for being a classic stage of the Tour de France, this station perched at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters is also known for its ski slopes and the quality of its snow. If you want to rent a prestigious chalet in L’Alpe d’Huez, you won’t be disappointed by the offer, since 14 luxury chalets are available for rent from a local real estate agent specializing in the area.
Annecy Nicknamed the «pearl of the Alps» or the «Venice of the Alps», Annecy is primarily famous for its lake and the canals that run through the old town. Although the Haute-Savoie prefecture, located between 396 meters and 1,153 meters above sea level, remains attractive in winter for skiing enthusiasts thanks to its proximity to numerous ski resorts, including those of Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Aillons Margeriaz, Flumet and Crest Voland, which are less than an hour's drive away, Annecy is not very appealing for holidaymakers looking for a luxury chalet rental in the mountains. In the field of high-end seasonal rental, however, direct your search to villas.
Avoriaz This alpine commune has a rather original advantage: it is 100% pedestrian. Its winter sports resort, named Avoriaz 1800, is ideally located in the heart of the immense ski area of the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest in the world in this field, as it connects a dozen ski resorts between France and Switzerland. If you want to enjoy the quality of life in Avoriaz while renting a luxury chalet in the resort, know that 4 five-star chalets are available for rent on the Avoriaz official website.
La Plagne This large Savoyard resort has the special feature of being located in the territory of 4 communes: Aime-la-Plagne, La Plagne-Tarentaise, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Bozel. Another characteristic is that La Plagne is made up of 7 village stations:
- Plagne Centre
- Plagne-Aime-2000
- Plagne-Villages
- Plagne Bellecôte
- Belle Plagne
- Plagne 1800
- Plagne Soleil
Given its size, the resort is well equipped with luxury chalets available for seasonal rental.
Les Arcs Located in Savoie in the territory of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Landry, Peisey-Nancroix and Villaroger, the winter sports station Les Arcs consists of 6 villages: Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950, Arc 2000, Plan Peisey and Vallandry. Since the ski area of Les Arcs is connected to that of Grande Plagne, it forms one of the largest ski areas in France (Paradiski) with more than 425 kilometers of ski slopes. In terms of luxury chalets for seasonal rental, there are many listings published online.
Méribel A renowned high-end ski resort, Méribel will jointly host the Alpine Ski World Championships with Courchevel this year. Very popular in winter, Méribel-les-Allues (the exact name of the commune) has up to 30,000 inhabitants during this period, instead of 2,000 during the off-season. Indeed, Méribel’s location in the heart of the famous 3 Vallées domain is largely responsible for its success. As for renting a prestigious chalet in Méribel, you won’t be disappointed, as the resort has many luxury chalets available for rent.
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville A charming village located in the heart of the French Alps and newly named Les Belleville since its merger in 2016 with the commune of Villarlurin, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is located between three ski resorts (Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens), all of which are connected to the Trois Vallées domain. Fans of high-end chalets should find their perfect accommodation thanks to the numerous luxury chalets available for seasonal rental.
Rental of a luxury chalet in the Pyrénées
Although the Pyrénées massif is much less well-equipped than the Alps in terms of seasonal rental of luxury chalets, some Pyrenean ski resorts (Font-Romeu, Les Angles, Saint-Lary-Soulan) are still very popular in this area. Discover our overview of the most sought-after winter sports resorts in the Pyrénées region by holidaymakers who love luxury chalets:
Font-Romeu The famous Pyrenean ski resort is very popular with holidaymakers who enjoy luxury chalets. Unfortunately, the supply does not keep up with demand, as only 3 high-end chalets are available for rent. on the official site of Font-Romeu.
Les Angles This commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales, located on a high plateau and part of the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Natural Park, boasts exceptional natural heritage. In fact, Les Angles has a Natura 2000-listed site, a protected natural area, as well as 9 natural zones called «of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest». As for the high-end rental property park, it is relatively well-stocked for a commune of this size (about 550 inhabitants), with nearly a dozen luxury chalets available for rent during the season.
Saint-Lary-Soulan This commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées has, like most Pyrenean ski resorts, a remarkable natural heritage that makes it a highly sought-after destination by enthusiasts of high-end chalets seeking seasonal rentals in the Pyrenees. Unfortunately, some may be left hungry since, as in most Pyrenean resorts, the offer of luxury chalet rentals there is limited to a handful of listings.
The features of the equipment of the high-end chalet
You shouldn’t skimp on the luxurious features of any equipment when building a luxury chalet, but some are more important than others because they make a difference compared to conventional chalets. Here are the main features and their revealing characteristics. of high standing from a chalet :
The bathroom This is an important selection criterion for wealthy tourists seeking a mountain chalet rental that meets their requirements. Indeed, the bathroom in a luxury chalet must match the standard of the house, as it is a place of privacy where comfort and indulgence are required.
The jacuzzi Another essential criterion for high-end luxury chalet enthusiasts is the presence of a jacuzzi or whirlpool bath so that they can relax optimally in the evening after a day spent skiing.
The swimming pool Whether indoor or outdoor, the pool is very popular with holidaymakers looking for luxury rental properties in France. After all, what could be more comfortable than being able to swim in a private pool with a view of the mountains…
Please note that Les Chalets du Fornet offers the comfort of a luxury chalet rental at the foot of the ski slopes of Val d’Isère, in the heart of the Alps, with exceptional views of the Mont Blanc massif.