Unbelievable French Alps Chalet: Sauna, Pool & Breathtaking Views!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into an UNBELIEVABLE French Alps Chalet: Sauna, Pool & Breathtaking Views! – and trust me, I've wrestled with more hotel reviews than you've had hot dinners. This ain't your cookie-cutter, polished PR spiel. This is real-life, unfiltered, "did I actually need that second croissant?" kind of review.
First Impressions & The "WOW" Factor (aka Breathtaking Views!):
Seriously, the "breathtaking views" part? Understated. I'm talking jaw-dropping, "did I just get transported to a postcard?" levels of amazing. We're talking the kind of scenery that makes you want to just breathe. The chalet itself? Gorgeous. Think cozy, rustic charm meets modern luxury. Stone walls, wooden beams, fireplaces… it's the quintessential Alpine dream. But, the views… they steal the show. You could forget everything else, honestly, and just live on the balcony, sipping coffee and watching the world go by. (More on that coffee later…)
Getting There & Settling In (Accessibility, and the Dreaded Luggage):
Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Accessibility: I'm not physically disabled, but I always pay attention to this. From what I saw, navigating the chalet itself might be a little tricky. There's an elevator, which is great, but there are also levels/stairs. Definitely double-check with the chalet about specific needs.
Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: Check-in was smooth as silk. Private? Yes. Express? Okay, maybe not blazing express, but definitely efficient and friendly. They made the whole process feel less like a transaction and more like being welcomed into their home. Which is probably the point, right?
Now, the mountain air is invigorating BUT there is the issue of luggage! The first time I saw this, I thought, "OMG, I should have packed lighter". There are a few steps from the car park. A tip: Pack light! Your future self will thank you, a lot!
The Rooms: My Sanctuary (or, Where All the Sleep Happens)
My room? Pure bliss. Air conditioning (always a winner, even in the Alps!), air conditioning in public area (thank godness), Blackout curtains (essential for sleeping in after a long day playing the mountains), Free Wi-Fi everywhere (thank goodness!), Free bottled water (essential), Coffee/tea maker (morning bliss), bathrobes, slippers, safe box (for all those valuables, haha!) and a window that opens (fresh air, baby!). Oh, and the bed… it was like sleeping on a cloud. Seriously, I think I slept 10 hours the first night. Non-smoking rooms too (yay!). They really do have thought of everything.
But here's a slightly messy truth: I hate the pressure to sanitize. I found the whole Room sanitization opt-out available thing a little bit anxiety-inducing, to be honest. I'm not a germaphobe, but the sheer volume of Anti-viral cleaning products, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Daily disinfection in common areas, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items and having to worry about Individually-wrapped food options all the time… It’s exhausting. I understand the need to be safe, but sometimes it felt a bit…clinical? Just a minor, slightly jaded, observation.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Sauna, Pool, AND… More View!
Okay, let's talk about the good stuff. The pool with view? Unforgettable. I spent hours just floating there, staring at the mountains. It’s the kind of experience that makes you feel like you've completely escaped the real world. Pure. Bliss. Then the sauna? Glorious. After a long day of skiing, it's an absolute must. Spa/sauna? Yes, yes, and YES. And the steamroom? Perfection. (Side note: I’m now officially obsessed with steam rooms.)
I didn't experience the Body scrub or Body wrap. (You know, just not my jam!), but the options were there. Massage. I did get one! Amazing. Seriously, the therapist worked miracles.
There’s a Fitness center, a Gym/fitness, and Foot bath at your disposal. Personally? I prefer the pool and the sauna… and the occasional wander around the local villages.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: Food Glorious Food (and Wine, of Course!)
Alright, let’s talk about the most important part: the food. Good news, it's excellent!
- Restaurants: Multiple options, from fine dining to casual. A la carte in restaurant? Duh. Buffet in restaurant? Sure. Asian and Western cuisine in restaurant? You bet! I didn’t try those options because I wasn’t there for long. The food was excellent.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service: The breakfast buffet was seriously impressive. Fresh pastries, fruit, eggs cooked to order… a lot. I may have slightly overindulged. The option for Breakfast in room is perfect for those lazy mornings.
- Bar: The bar is a great place to relax after a day of skiing. The cocktails were creative, and the service was friendly. Poolside bar: you can have a drink here while you're in the pool.
- Happy hour: the perfect place to relax!!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: You can enjoy your coffee in the morning at the coffee shop.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: They're delicious.
A few more ramblings:
- Cashless payment service: This is convenient!
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfect for late-night cravings.
- Bottle of water: Always welcome.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Good news if you're vegetarian.
- Alternative meal arrangement: You can request for special dietary needs.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe & Sound
They are doing their best to keep things safe. CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Safety/security features, Safety deposit boxes, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, and Smoke detector are all available.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Great!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Amazing!!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good!
- Hand sanitizer: Always a good thing to have.
- Invoice provided: Convenient.
Services and Conveniences: Above and Beyond
- Concierge: Helpful and knowledgeable.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Luggage storage: Awesome!
- Elevator: Great for getting places!
- On-site event hosting, Indoor/Outdoor venue for special events they have everything!
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site] so convenient!!!
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Fantastic!
- Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop: Always a plus!
For the Kids: A Family Paradise (or, "Mom, I'm Bored!")
I'm child-free, so I can't personally vouch for the Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, or Kids facilities, Kids meal, but the chalet clearly caters to families. I saw other guests with children, and they seemed happy.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy
- Airport transfer: Always a plus.
- Taxi service: Readily available.
- Car park [free of charge]: Helpful.
Internet & Tech Stuff:
Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN, Wi-Fi [free], Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and Wi-Fi in public areas: The internet was reliable, which is crucial for staying connected. You can even use Laptop workspace and Audio-visual equipment for special events, Projector/LED display for business.
Final Verdict: Should You Book This Chalet?
Absolutely. YES.
This chalet is an absolute gem. It's luxurious, comfortable, and the views are simply breathtaking. The service is impeccable, the food is delicious, and the amenities are top-notch. It's the perfect place to escape the everyday and indulge in some well-deserved relaxation.
Now, the pitch:
Unbelievable French Alps Chalet: Sauna, Pool & Breathtaking Views! – Your Ultimate Alpine Escape!
Tired of the same old vacation routine? Craving an escape that tickles your senses and soothes your soul? Then look no further than the Unbelievable French Alps Chalet: Sauna, Pool & Breathtaking Views! – a haven of
Veluwe Escape: Luxurious Chalet w/ Dishwasher in Ede, Netherlands!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we’re heading to Les Deux Alpes. And not just any trip; we’re talking a week-long assault on the senses from a chalet that sounds like a freaking castle with a sauna and…wait for it…an outdoor pool. Seriously? Outdoor pool in the Alps? Let's see if that makes us feel like royalty or just frozen chumps. Here we go, the itinerary, with a healthy dose of chaos:
Day 1: The Arrival and the Holy Grail of Chalets
- Morning: Uh, okay, so the flight. Let's just say budget airlines and my stomach are not the best of friends. Needed three airsick bags, but hey, we made it! Landing was… a bit bumpy. Reminds me of that time I tried to make pancakes. Let's say, the results weren't as fluffy as advertised.
- Afternoon: Car rental. This is always where the fun begins. Me, a mountain of luggage, and a rental car that looks exactly like the one in that movie about the serial killer. Crossing fingers it doesn't break down. The drive up the hairpin turns was a white-knuckle adventure, dodging rogue cyclists and praying the brakes don't fail.
- Late Afternoon: Finally, the chalet. And… holy mother of mountain-sized hot chocolates. It’s… it's obscene. HUGE. Massive. And that pool? Still can't believe it exists. It's like someone took a James Bond movie and stuck it in the middle of a ski resort. Did a quick wander around, lost my way three times. Found the sauna. Found the sauna. Oh, and the view? Gobsmacked. Took way too many photos, all of them probably blurry.
- Evening: Dinner. We hit the grocery store. Found some weird cheese. Trying to decipher the French labels is like trying to solve the Da Vinci Code. Managed to grab some local wine— hopefully it won't taste like vinegar. Cooked a truly terrible pasta dish. Wine helped. Passed out in front of the fireplace by 10 pm. Jet lag, or my general inability to adult? You decide.
Day 2: Beginner's Luck (and a near-death experience with a ski lift)
- Morning: Skiing! I call myself a "beginner" because that's less embarrassing than admitting I'm basically Bambi on ice. The initial runs were a comedy routine. I swear, I spent more time horizontal than vertical. A couple of very kind instructors offered to show me the ropes, which I mostly ignored because falling down is just too hilarious to avoid.
- Afternoon: The ski lift. Let me tell you about the ski lift. First up, the lift broke down. For half an hour, we were stuck in the air feeling like the characters in the movie "Frozen". Almost lost feeling in my limbs. When it worked, the ride up was a symphony of nervous giggles and white-knuckled gripping of the safety bar. (Me, not those experienced skiers beside me.)
- Late Afternoon: Hot cocoa. So many hot cocoas. Needed them. That was the fuel. After a shaky run, I took a picture of a cute dog with a ski mask. The dog looked much more confident than me.
- Evening: Sauna. The sauna was pure bliss. Sweating out all the stress, all the awkwardness, all the near-death lift experiences. Followed with a plunge in the freezing cold outdoor pool! (It was actually refreshing after the sweating). Then we had another terrible dinner. It was pasta night, but this time it was worse.
Day 3: Avalanche of Emotions (and Possibly Snow)
- Morning: Waking up and not being able to stretch. The ski muscles are screaming. Realized that I pulled a groin muscle. Also, the morning was spent in the lift again. My fear of heights came in full force today.
- Afternoon: Decided to try a different slope. Thought "I'm feeling confident". This was a terrible idea. Fell down again.
- Late Afternoon: Feeling more depressed. Found that I was not quite a pro skier. Spent some time getting comfortable with being bad at this.
- Evening: The wine helped.
Day 4: Food, glorious (and sometimes concerning) food
- Morning: Okay, so it's not all skiing. Today we venture into the culinary landscape of Les Deux Alpes. Breakfast: croissants and coffee, the French way. The croissants were flaky, buttery, and a crime I would willingly commit again.
- Afternoon: Lunch at a restaurant. The steak was good. The wine was good. The views were spectacular. I was feeling slightly tipsy and also slightly happy and also slightly guilty because I knew I would still be in the red after all that.
- Evening: Back at the chalet, attempted another dinner. Decided to go for cheese fondue! Disaster. Melted the cheese, burnt the bread, and nearly set off the smoke alarm. The whole thing turned into a gloopy, unappetizing mess. And yet, we ate it all. Because cheese, even melted and mutated, is still cheese. Wine. Lots of it. Passed out on the sofa watching a terrible French cooking show.
Day 5: Doubling Down on the Sauna and the Existential Pool
- Morning: Still haven't skied. Skiing is stressful. Spent the morning in the sauna. Then in the pool. Then back in the sauna. It's a vicious cycle of sweating and freezing and questioning the meaning of life, all while surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
- Afternoon: Seriously, I think I could live in this sauna. Meditated. Contemplated all the mistakes I've made in life. Also, just stared at the mountains.
- Evening: Decided to face skiing again. This time I didn't try hard to do it; I just let myself go a little and went with the flow. The wind in my hair was amazing. It didn't matter if I fell; I just kept moving.
- Late Evening: Back to the sauna. The heat was wonderful. Followed by a cold plunge in the pool. It was freezing. Felt amazing.
Day 6: Cultural Immersion (or, Attempting to Blend In)
- Morning: Decided to attempt to speak French while at the stores. Utterly failed. Managed to sound like a confused robot in a flower shop. The shopkeeper looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head.
- Afternoon: Wandered around the town, trying to look effortlessly chic. Failed miserably. Took some pictures.
- Evening: Dinner at a local spot. It was very good. The food was amazing and the wine was even better.
Day 7: Farewell (and a Vow to Return, Eventually)
- Morning: One last look at the view. One last sauna session. One final, terrifying encounter with the rental car and those infernal hairpin turns.
- Afternoon: Dropping off the rental car.
- Late Afternoon: Goodbye, Les Deux Alpes. Goodbye, magnificent chalet. Goodbye, sanity (maybe).
- Evening: Flight. Arriving home, exhausted, broke, and utterly, gloriously happy. Already plotting my return. Maybe next year I'll actually master skiing, or at least learn how to open a bottle of wine without breaking the cork. Until then, the memories of that outdoor pool, those mountains, and that ridiculously awesome chalet, will have to be enough. À bientôt, Les Deux Alpes. And thanks for the memories. And the bruises. And the wine.
Unbelievable French Alps Chalet: Sauna, Pool & Breathtaking Views! - You Have Questions, I (Maybe) Have Answers!
Okay, seriously, is the view *actually* breathtaking? 'Cause, you know, marketing...
Breathtaking? Oh, honey, let me tell you a story. The first morning, after a truly appalling night's sleep (more on that later, involving a rogue cricket and my inability to understand French instructions for the blackout blinds), I stumbled out onto the balcony. Still half-asleep, hair a mess, wearing my ugliest, most-stained PJs. And then… WHAM. It hit me. The mountains. The light. It was… well, yeah, breathtaking. I actually *gasped*. Like, a proper, cartoon-style gasp. It makes you question your life choices, in a good way. Forget marketing; it’s reality amplified. I almost cried, which, coming from me, is saying something. (I'm not a crier.)
The sauna. TELL ME ABOUT THE SAUNA! Is it a sweaty, relaxing paradise or a cramped, headache-inducing hellscape?
Alright, the sauna. Okay, so the sauna. It's… mostly good. Honestly, it's a solid B+. Definitely a good B+. Not a sweaty hellscape, thankfully. It's actually quite spacious. I might have, on one occasion, accidentally knocked over a water bottle while trying to gracefully exit (grace and I are not friends). The wood smells divine, like pine needles and… happiness? Okay, maybe not happiness. More like “after a long day of snowboarding,” which is exactly what you want. The only downside? The controls were, you guessed it, in French. I spent a good 10 minutes fumbling, convinced I was going to accidentally set the whole chalet on fire. (Again, the rogue cricket, a recurring theme of my stay, might have also been to blame for my heightened anxiety levels.) Eventually, I figured it out. And then, pure, unadulterated relaxation. Just… fantastic.
The real kicker? The cold plunge pool. Oh, the cold plunge pool. That, my friends, is where the magic *truly* happens. I was terrified at first. Absolutely petrified. But after a few minutes of sauna-induced bliss... plunge! The initial shock is intense, a literal jolt to the system. Then, a glorious clarity. Afterwards, I felt like I could conquer the world. Or, at the very least, make a decent cup of coffee. (Which, considering the state of my sleep, was a major achievement.)
What about the pool? Is it heated? Is it Instagram-worthy? (Be honest!)
The pool… Okay, the pool is… *chef's kiss* Yes, it's heated. And yes, it's absolutely Instagram-worthy. Seriously. I took like, a hundred pictures. (Don’t judge me!) Think infinity edge, overlooking the mountains. Blue water. Perfect lighting. I even bought a flamingo inflatable, which I'm not ashamed to admit I enjoyed immensely. However... you know it's not all easy-breezy perfection, right? The first day, I slipped on the pool deck. Nearly broke my neck. Luckily, I managed to grab the side of the pool. My dignity, however, did not fare so well. I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling like a complete and utter klutz. So, yes, the pool is amazing. But maybe watch your step.
Is the kitchen well-equipped? (I'm already dreaming of cheese and wine… lots of cheese and wine.)
The kitchen? Oh, it’s a cook's dream. Absolutely. Seriously. It has everything: a ridiculously large fridge (perfect for storing copious amounts of cheese and wine – good call!), a double oven, a fancy espresso machine that intimidated me for the first three days (but then I mastered it!), and more gadgets than I could even name. However, I did have a minor… incident involving the fondue pot. Let's just say the cheese ended up on the ceiling. Don't ask. My French cooking skills, as it turns out, are about as refined as my French language skills (non-existent). But hey, at least there was wine! It was a memorable, cheesy, ceiling-y evening, nonetheless. I learned a valuable lesson: Fondue is harder than it looks.
What are the downsides? Be brutally honest.
Alright, brutally honest time. The downsides? Hmm… Firstly, the aforementioned rogue cricket that haunted my sleep. Secondly, the location, while insanely beautiful, is a bit… remote. You *need* a car. And even then, expect some hairpin turns. Thirdly, the wi-fi. It’s… okay. Acceptable for browsing, but don’t plan on streaming HD movies. Unless you're okay with buffering. Fourthly: the language barrier! I was reliant on Google Translate for everything. Seriously. Everything. Ordering coffee, asking for directions, understanding the (very long and detailed) instructions to use the washing machine. It's a beautiful, but not fully-easy access, place for someone who cannot speak French.
But honestly? Those are minor quibbles. I'd go back in a heartbeat, rogue cricket and all.
How kid-friendly is it?
Depends on your kids (and your commitment to constant supervision!). There is a lovely games room but the pool is deep and the balcony is open. There's also a lot of space to play in the gardens but it's not fenced. So, if you have adventurous little ones who are prone to escaping, you'll be on high alert. Older kids, teens? They'd probably love it. The sauna and pool would be a huge bonus for them! Overall, it's beautiful, but not necessarily the EASIEST place with under 5's.
Worth the price tag?
Look, let's be real. It's not cheap. But, considering the location, the amenities, the views... and the fact that you're basically living the high life for a week? Honestly? Yes. Yes, it’s worth it. Especially if you divide the costs with a group of friends. It's an investment in your sanity, your happiness, and your Instagram feed. Just maybe brush up on your French before you go (unlike me!). And prepare to be utterly, completely, and irrevocably charmed. It's the kind of place that stays in your memory, and you'll find yourself daydreaming about the mountains long after you've left.
Any tips for making the most of it?
Pack for all weather. The mountains can be unpredictable! Book that massage you've always dreamed of.Hotel Search Today
