A Tale of the Early Luxury Chalet Trips to Chamonix Haute Savoie France
As far back as 1770 the very first accommodation Chamonix opened in Chamonix. Prior to this Chamonix France constituted a wild and rugged agrarian place where the locals hunted their own animals and grew their barley.
Farms back then were used to farm animals during the spring and summer. Milk was conserved by turning it into cheese and stored down in the valley for eating during the hard winter times. Throughout the winter season the chalets were bolted, and valuables were locked in a liitle shack.
Quite who came up with the chalet vacation is unknown, however it was probably numerous passionate chaps who acknowledged a pattern which people liked. With Erna Low it all began when she was a unhappy alumna who could not afford to visit her siblings in Austria as frequently as she wished. Thus in 1933 she took a gamble and took out a advertisement in the London Times to tempt punters on a skiing trip. The cost was £15 and they traveled to and from the resort, had dinner and board in the solitary inn, and had skiing equipment and tuition. Holidays were hard work, there weren’t any chair lifts, no quick release fixations, only leather boots, but it was so successful that Erna Low carried on taking people on vacations, making sure she employed fine lodges and skiing instructors.
These Skiing breaks during the formative years were very different to the standards we have today. Hot water was in short supply, washrooms had to be shared out with all of the clients, and there wasn’t a chef; the guests were expected to muck in. No one knew who might share the accommodation for the vacation, one may be pleased to meet new skiers, or have an uncomfortable week amongst strangers.
Catered chalet holidays were later on advertised on its additional pluses. A chef, who served you continental breakfast and a plentiful evening meal and cooked you afternoon tea, and {more warm water for washing.
