La Folie Douce - Chamonix
I’ve always loved skiing from a young age. There’s just nothing quite like the adrenaline you get from bombing it down the most breathtaking mountain range, blue skies in sight and inhaling the freshest of air on your decline…Bliss.
Now for the avid skiers, I’m sure you will be well aware of La Folie Douce and its infamous apres-ski parties on the slopes, so when we heard they were opening the first ever Folie Douce Hotel, I jumped at the chance to go out and experience it.
Located in a prime spot in the centre of Chamonix Mont Blanc, the hotel has ski-in , ski-out access to the Brevet Ski Resort, so it’s perfect for mixing apres and skiing.
Our trip was organised by Ski Solutions, one of the UK’s leading luxury ski tour operators. From organising our stay, to our restaurants and ski passes, they really did an amazing job. I invited my two friends to join me on my trip, as Jordan was busy doing her 10 day silent retreat in Thailand.
As we approached the hotel, nestled between the snowy mountains, smoke transpiring out the top, it oozed a sense of grandeur reminiscent of that of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Walking in, the interior was equally as stunning, each room with its own distinct personality and the carpets full of character and intricacy. The one closest to the entrance was a beautiful beige, detailed map of the world.
The rooms, of which there are 250 in the whole hotel, each have a stunning view of the mountain ranges outside and are so cosy. We had a deluxe room, perfect for the 3 of us and one of the evenings, instead of getting involved in the Apres ski, our room was just too tempting, so we all just snuggled up and watched a film, watching the snow fall on to the mountains outside. Cosier than that? Impossible.
Now, if you’re not a big skier, nor a big drinker (party-goer) then do not fret! These guys also have wellness, fitness and relaxation down to a T. The feel good club sports and spa hosts an 18-metre heated outdoor swimming pool, saunas and a steam room, relaxation room and a sun terrace overlooking the majestic mountains of Chamonix. They also have eight massage cabins and offer a whole range of different treatments and massages. Unfortunately we didn’t get to experience this, we were too busy skiing….and partying but a massage would have gone down an absolute treat.
One of my favourite parts of the hotel was the food. (No surprise there) The hotel has three different restaurants. Le Petit Cuisine, Le Mayen, La Fruitiere . The first night we had dinner at La Petit Cuisine, which is also where we had breakfast each morning. It’s a gourmet self-service restaurant relying on quality, local produce, plus a great atmosphere. In the mornings there’s just the most amazing spread of freshly made croissants, pastries, pancakes, waffles, fresh fruits, condiments, jams, cheese, hams, eggs, savoury delights… You name it, they have it. The best way to fuel up before a long day on the slopes!
On our second evening, we really went all out with traditional comfort Alpine food. Yes, we’re talking cheese fondue, raclette, potatoes, hams, breads, pickles and all the sides. Le Mayen, is the restaurant to hit the spot, perfect for a post-ski workout. Mouth-wateringly delicious and guaranteed to have you rolling out of there feeling satisfyingly cheesed-out.
So the infamous Apres- ski takes place between 4pm and 10pm. The main area is in the lower part of the hotel, where you will be greeted by singers, big-screen projections, breath taking light shows, dancers, DJs blaring out the tunes and quite possibly an array of keen skiers dancing on the tables, necking the booze and getting down to the dirty Dj beats. It sure is an amazing experience.
Our last night had to be one of the best. We went down to Apres around 8pm after our cheese-induced comas and ended up getting very involved in the dancing, the partying, the booze and ended our night in a traditional bar in town full of avid ski-goers ready to party their socks off. A night to remember no doubt!
The skiing itself was equally as fun. The ski lift is right outside the hotel making it super easy to access the slopes. The mountain range, The Alps, are breathtaking and the first day was probably one of the most beautiful conditions I have ever skiied in. Bright blue skies, above the clouds and the beaming sunshine on our faces.
I am so impressed that the hotel had opened a matter of days before we arrived, as everything went so smoothly. Ski solutions really did pull out all the stops to make sure our stay and ski experience was a fantastic and memorable one. If you’re looking to go Skiing, Chamonix is the perfect place to go and no better place to experience the whole shebang that at the Folie Douce!
Loanne x x