The Story of the Inaugural Luxury Chalet Vacations to Chamonix Haute Savoie France
As far back as 1770 the 1st tourist accommodation opened in Chamonix ski resort. Prior to this Chamonix Mont Blanc constituted a uncivilized and sturdy agrarian village where the people caught animals and produced their cereals.
Barns at that time were used to breed dairy cows over the spring and summer. Their milk was kept by changing it into different types of cheese and stocked in the village for use during the long winters. During the winter the farmhouses were barred, and all valuables were put safely in a small shed.
Who invented ski chalet holidays is nameless, it was in all likelihood a few passionate folk who recognized a idea which people liked. For entrepreneur Erna Low it commenced whilst she was a nostalgic student who couldn’t afford to visit her siblings in Austria as frequently as she would like to. And so in the 1930’s she gambled and placed a advertisement in the broadsheets to ask guests on a ski vacation. For only £15 they travelled to and from the skiing resort, enjoyed meals and lodging in the sole chalet, and paid for ski hire and tuition. Holidays were hard work, there weren’t any chair lifts, no quick release fixations, merely heavy leather boots, however it was so successful that Erna Low carried on taking skiers on vacation, making sure she utilized first-class hotels and ski guides.
Ski breaks in the early years were a long way from the luxuries we have today. In the early days hot water was in short supply, the bathrooms would be shared out by all of the clients, and there wasn’t a chef; all the guests needed to help out with the chores. It was a complete lottery as to who may be in the accommodation for a vacation, one may be surprised by meeting fresh friends, or not gel with the group.
Catered chalet holidays were later marketed on its new benefits. A chef, who served you breakfast and dinner and cooked you a cake.
