The Lava Bot

As far back as 1770 the 1st hotel opened in Chamonix Haute Savoie France. Prior to this Chamonix France was a savage and rugged farming place where people captured their animals and grew their wheat.

Farmhouses at this time were used to breed dairy cows during the summer months. The cows milk was kept by making it into different types of cheese and stored in the village for eating during the hard winter times. Throughout the winter the chalets were locked, and any valuables were secured in a liitle hut.

Quite who devised catered chalet holidays is unknown, however it was in all likelihood a few passionate people who realised a pattern that was novel. With Erna Low it commenced whilst she was a nostalgic alumna and couldn’t visit her siblings back home as often as she liked. Therefore in 1932 she took a risk and put a ad in the papers to ask guests on a winter holiday. The cost was £15 and they traveled to and from resort, enjoyed meals and board in the sole chalet, and paid for skiing hire and lessons. Skiing was laborious , there were no ski lifts, no quick release bindings, merely leather boots, but it was such a hit that Erna kept on taking friends on trips, making sure she sourced grand hotels and skiing guides.

The chalet holidays in the formative years were very different from the luxuries we have nowadays. In the early days hot water was in short supply, washrooms would be shared out with all of the punters, and there wasn’t a chef; the guests needed to help out with the chores. No one knew who may share the accommodation for a trip, one may be pleased to meet brand new friends, or not gel with the group.

Chalet holidays were later advertised on their additional pluses. A chef, who served you continental breakfast and dinner and cooked you afternoon tea, and {more warm water for bathing.