Luxury ski-chalets offer flexibility in Portes Du Soleil

When 27 year old Will Butler and fiancé Bella Lloyd Owen took the plunge to set up their own ski chalet company, they knew they wanted to create something very special. Independent Luxury is the first company of its kind in the Portes Du Soleil area, France, offering complete luxury and flexibility at the highest level to holiday makers in two sumptuous premier chalets.

Chalet Julien, a 200 year old converted barn, is minutes from La Grande Terche in St Jean d’Aulps - beginner and intermediate slopes comprising of 14 lifts over 40 km of piste - which has received a whopping 2.9 million Euro investment in to snow cannons and the extension to Club Piou Piou, the premier crèche and youngsters’ ski school.

Chalet Mathieu is a town-house style chalet set over three floors in the nearby Morzine and is served by the slopes of Portes Du Soleil. Both are furnished to the highest of standards, offering mezzanine television room, library, WiFi, steam room, outdoor hot tub, wine cellar, and your own private chauffeur.

As well as being the first company to offer this level of indulgence in the alpine market town of Morzine with Chalet Mathieu, Independent Luxury is entering in to groundbreaking new territory by offering entirely bespoke packages to guests at either of their chalets. You can opt for complete privacy and self catering, choose specific days to have your private chef cook breakfast, lunch and dinner (or any combination of), plus benefit from a daily maid and shopping service. Alternatively, you can opt for fully catered accommodation for the duration of your stay.

Bella, 26, is positive that this flexibility is the way forward in luxury ski-breaks. “So many of the top companies only offer fully catered holidays, and, having both skied from a very young age and worked with big ski companies, we saw there was a gap and requirement to provide guests with this choice.”

Chalet Mathieu is top of the list for convenience with Portes Du Soleil (206 lifts and 650km of piste) right at its doorstep. After a day on these ever popular and endless slopes you can then return to a meal incorporating your favourite foods specially prepared by your personal chef, or get busy in the kitchen (if you have the energy!)

As a guest in Chalet Julien you have a choice between the quieter slopes of La Grande Terche, where you can leave your children in great care at Club Piou Piou, or let Independent Luxury arrange a nanny for you. And, if you’re feeling more adventurous, get your chauffeur to take you to the enormous Portes Du Soleil (just ten minutes away).

If chalets aren’t your cup of tea, fear not. Having many previous years’ experience in luxury hotel ski breaks with Momentum Ski, Scott Dunn and European Escapes, Independent Luxury offers accommodation in seven hotels: Kilimanjaro, Le Chabichou and Le Seizena in the idyllic Courchevel, Albert 1er in Chamonix, Chalet Philibert in Morzine, and Fermes de Marie and Hotel Mont Blanc in Megeve, all hand picked by Will and Bella. “From my time working for other companies I know the best hotels for a family or group of friends, and am happy for my clients to hand me over their holiday worries and find the right hotel for them,” says Bella.

All hotels featured in the Independent Luxury portfolio are personally recommended by both partners, who have stayed in each of these and are perfectly located in the Alps to make visits and investigations on request.

It is clear that Independent Luxury’s accommodation has been created with much care, affection, and understanding. Refurbished during the summer months of 2006, Chalet Julien (situated up its own private track) sleeps 8 in 4 double ensuite bathrooms, with a classy combination of tradition and contemporary – wooden beams and a 16-seater mahogany table, polished concrete surfaces and cream décor throughout.

Chalet Mathieu has a main living area comprising of an open plan kitchen, dining and living room on the first floor and 2 en-suite bathrooms on the ground floor, while the top floor is the master suite, housing a total of six skiers altogether.

Will and Bella are delighted to be the only ski-chalet company of their kind, and are looking forward to the season ahead. “With premier accommodation to suit all your requirements, plus some of the best quality and well-connected slopes in the world, who wouldn’t want to make a visit?” says Will. We chose to set up here for one reason and one reason only – we adore it and know that others will too.”

That said, it’s a must for winter 2007.

For more information, visit Independent-luxury.com.