An Account of the Very First Luxury Chalet Breaks to Chamonix Haute Savoie
1770 was when the inaugural guest house was opened in Chamonix France. Prior to this Chamonix was a uncivilized and tough farming town where locals caught animals and farmed their own wheat.
Farms at that time were used to stock dairy cows over the summer. The cows milk was kept by turning it into cheeses and preserved in the farm for use over the hard winter times. Throughout the winter the barns were locked up, and all valued possessions were locked in a small mazot.
Who came up with catered chalet holidays is obscured by time, however it was in all probability some spirited people who recognised a formula which people liked. With Erna Low it began when she was a unhappy student who could not afford to visit her parents in Austria as often as she would like to. Thus in 1932 she took a risk and took out a small advertisement in the Times to ask guests on a winter vacation. For only £15 they journeyed to and from the ski resort, had meals and accommodation in the solitary chalet, and took skiing gear and lessons. The holiday was difficult , there were no chair lifts, no safety bindings, just heavy leather boots, it was so popular that Erna Low continued to take friends on trips, guaranteeing she found exceptional lodges and skiing guides.
These ski vacations in the early years were a long way to the luxury we can get nowadays. In the early days hot water was in short supply, bathrooms were used with all of the punters, and there was no a cook; all the guests had to help out with the chores. It was a complete lottery as to who may share the chalet for a trip, you may be agreeably surprised by meeting fresh skiers, or not gel with the group.
skiing holidays were later advertised on its additional bonuses. Your own cook, who would serve you breakfast and dinner and even made you a cake, numerous bathrooms hot water. For more information check out one of the Chamonix official websites.
