Reviewed by Kerry Potter
Chalet Amazon Creek, Les Bossons, Chamonix, France
The first thing I noticed about Amazon Creek was how toasty and tactile everything is: snuggly faux-fur rugs, throws and cushions everywhere, the lounge's open fire, underfloor heating to swiftly warm frozen toes, and a boot-warmer that does the same for your ski boots each morning.
The terrace hot-tub (complete with disco lights for the full Hot Tub Time Machine experience) is deliciously cosy too, plus there's an indoor Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna to ease aching muscles after a day on the piste.
The service at the 5-bedroom luxury wooden chalet is equally warm. Nothing is too much trouble for owner Tim Davis and his team, which makes for a wonderfully cosseting experience.
They sort your lift passes, kit hire and lessons, ferry you to the lifts and back, carry your skis and make you endless cups of coffee.
Those holidays when skiing can be an exhausting faff? This isn't one of them.
In fact I felt like a spoilt toddler, albeit one mainlining Pouilly-Fumé, as my every whim was swiftly taken care of.
Try to nab the master bedroom: it has a balcony with dreamy mountain and pine tree views, a bed bigger than most London flats and a pleasingly deep bath.
The décor is both luxurious and rustic, with trad-chalet wood panelling and flooring, plus a dash of pizzazz from zebra print armchairs and quirky French marché aux puces finds, such as the lounge's huge retro wooden sledge-cum-coffee table.
Newsflash for those whose skiing skills are rusty – or who get annoyed with showy-off men on ski trips: check out the inaugural Amazon Creek's Women's Ski Break.
Taking place 9-13 March, it's a four-day female-only intensive course, with the brilliant, friendly instructor Rachel Kerr, below (who deftly brushed up my shaky turns). You can go alone, or with friends – there's no pressure to fill up the entire house – and 24 guests will stay across the company's three Chamonix chalets.
What's hot? The great attention to detail: the lovely L'Occitane products including a lavender pillow spray, the chocolate bars in the boot room so you can stuff your pockets before heading out to ski, the hot tub and sauna being fully revved up when you arrive home each day.
Also, the staff organized a morning of snow-shoeing (from £130 for 1-2 people, ask for Emma as your guide).
It takes a lot to persuade me to miss a skiing opp, but I was a total convert.
You hike up a mountain, far away from the madding crowds on the pistes, with grippy plastic trays attached to your walking boots. It's great exercise, head-clearing, extraordinarily peaceful and the views are exquisite. Our group came back fizzing with energy and giddy with endorphins.
What's not? The snow? *gets coat* Seriously, it's hard to pick fault with Amazon Creek.
If you prefer a ski-in ski-out holiday, then Chamonix isn't for you, as you need to travel to the lifts. But when you've got a chauffeur, that's really not a problem.
Equally, in the evening, there's no stumbling home after your après adventures, as the chalet is a 45 minute walk up a hill from the town centre.
Again though, your driver will come collect you - as long as it's before midnight.
Number of rooms: 5
Check-in/ check-out times: Flexible
Eating and drinking: The food is faultless, spanning fiddly gourmet treats and hearty dishes.
We "foraged" for smoked quails egg canapés to accompany our champagne on arrival (well, we ferreted around in a smoking serving box to find them).
Just as tasty was the simple roast pork with mash, ideal after a day's hard mountain graft.
There is loads of choice at breakfast, with both the pain au chocolat and poached eggs on toast pitch-perfect.
Half a bottle of French wine each night per guest is included in the price – and every one we tried was excellent.
Note though that if you drink more, it's added to your bill. You have been warned!
Near to: For skiing, there's loads of choice, whatever your level, within a short car journey.
You can easily ski in three different countries within a week: France (obviously), Switzerland and Italy; the latter both less than an hour away.
Chamonix is a proper French town, rather than a purpose-built, winter-only resort, which means its night-life doesn't feel unbearably touristy.
For refuelling, grab a bière or two at the lively Bar du Moulin, and then if you fancy dancing and a cocktail, head to Les Caves.
My favourite restaurant is the upscale, hidden-away Moustache Et Ses Filles, which serves Savoyard and classic bistro dishes (I loved the French onion soup with the cheesiest of croutons).
The whimsical décor makes for good dinner chat, with vintage wooden skis lining the walls.
Chalet Amazon Creek, Les Bossons, Chamonix, France, 01865 865 456.
From £14,320 per week, full board. The chalet sleeps 10 and the price includes all meals, Geneva airport transfers and an in-resort chauffeur.
Getting there: There are more than 60 weekly flights to Geneva from the UK and Ireland with Swiss International Air Lines. Fares start from £34 one-way (swiss.com)
