Description Chalet Chéri: Les Allues

Tucked into the quiet La Gittaz corner of Méribel, this chalet is built from stone and aged timber – the kind of place that looks as if it belongs to the mountain rather than sitting on it. Inside, a cathedral living room with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling views of the snow-capped peaks gives you somewhere worth coming back to after a day on the slopes. A private shuttle handles the journey there and back. Below the main living level, an indoor pool and jacuzzi mean the apres-ski ritual runs well into the evening, and a cinema room takes care of the rest.

Home truths:
* Skiing back to the chalet is possible when snow conditions are good – but it's not guaranteed, so don't count on it as your daily route home from the mountain.
* If you're travelling with little ones, your host has a high chair available.
* As is common in france, the toilets are separate from the bathroom
* The free shuttle runs throughout the valley, with services every fifteen-minutes at the start and end of the day.