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| The master suite has its own balcony. |
If you have a family looking to stage a winter get-together or a group of friends looking for a custom alpine adventure, we have a new hotel to recommend. Luxury Travel Advisor recently spent a long weekend at the brand-new Chalet Pelerin from Eleven Experience (elevenexperience.com/destinations/tarentaise). Inspired by the over-the-top philosophy of Spinal Tap, this ski chalet in the French Alps “goes to eleven” with bespoke heli-skiing itineraries, on-site spa facilities and a private chef and sommelier who prepare menus featuring regional wine and cuisine.
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| Val D'Isère had the most shopping destinations of the three ski areas we visited. |
We flew into Geneva International Airport (GVA), a two-hour drive from the hotel in Le Miroir in the Savoie region of the French Alps. For guests who want to skip right to the action, there’s a private helipad just down the street from the chalet, and the nearby Courchevel Airport has facilities for private jets. Eleven can arrange transfers to the hotel.
Once we arrived in Le Miroir, we had the chance to settle into our rooms. We stayed in the bunk room, which is one of the reasons we like this hotel for families—between the four bunk beds in our room and the two extra bunks downstairs in the media room, there’s plenty of space for kids. The full in-house staff and availability of laundry service can also take a great deal of pressure off parents. The hotel has four king suites, including the standout master suite—all of which have spectacular views of Mont Pourri across the valley.
Eleven has laid out the hotel in a way that resonates with these mountain vistas. The main floor is a wide-open living area/dining room affording views on three sides. It even opens onto an outdoor porch for guests brave enough to face the cold during après ski. In the downstairs spa area, the indoor saltwater lap pool and outdoor hot tub both look out over the valley. The chalet also has an on-site steam room and sauna, but if you really want to pamper your client, be sure to book an in-room massage—after a hard day on the slopes, they’ll thank you for it.
What we love: The nightly meals prepared by the chalet’s private chef and sommelier showcase regional food and wine in really creative ways. We also appreciate how flexible the whole experience is in terms of activities and ability level. In our group we had skiers ranging from novices to experts, and the staff was able to put together an itinerary that encompassed heli-skiing for the advanced and private lessons for those needing a little more help. Tip: If you have a client you know is going to need a lesson, ask for Martin Rowe ([email protected]), who also works with the New Generation Ski & Snowboard School. We had our lessons with him, and he is great with beginners. The chalet also offers custom wedding arrangements.
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| The On-Site Saltwater Lap Pool also looks out onto the mountains. |
Your clients can even bring their four-legged friends—the chalet is pet-friendly.
For all questions, reservations, and custom arrangements, including spa treatments, recreational activities and wedding services, travel advisors should reach out to Sales and Marketing Director Jenny Jeffrey ([email protected]; +011-00-970-376-3492).