As a travel writer, I rarely have the luxury of time to
relax in an hotel or destination - there's generally just enough
time to get the essence of the place but not enough to
actually chill out (fair enough, it is work).
As a result, I have to make the most of the precious time I have in
each spot and that is certainly what I have done over the past 30
hours.
Together with five other journalists, I flew out of the London
City Jet Centre onboard a snazzy Lear jet yesterday morning,
arriving in Innsbruck after a spectacularly scenic flight shortly
before noon. Three dapper butlers whisked our bags from us, bundled
us into Range Rovers and drove us to Oberlech, an exclusive enclave
above the charming resort of Lech in
the Arlberg ski area, and delivered us to Chalet N . Owned by a 35
year-old self-made Austrian millionare, this remarkable property
opened on Christmas Eve and set a new benchmark for the
increasingly opulent and extravagant Alpine chalet industry - the
ski-in/ski-out, five-storey timber and stone building encompasses a
whopping 5,000 square metres of sheer, unadulterated luxury.
There are ten suites (including a 180 square metre master suite),
two dining rooms, a large sitting room with full-size bar, the most
impressive spa and wellness area of any chalet (and virtually any
hotel) I've set foot in, a home cinema, stupendous wine cellar,
outdoor ice bar... (I could go on)
Yes, there are elements of bling (a shower encased by a curtain
of Swarovski crystals, titanium cutlery, enough fur throws to keep
an entire Eskimo village warm) but the overall effect is
understated and uncommonly homely. As the chalet's Big Cheese,
consummate hotelier Stefan Huemer, told me over melt-in-the-mouth
wagyu beef during our eight-course dinner: "We don't want our
guests to feel they're downgrading from their own home but
neither should they feel they're in an hotel." (I chose not to
point out that the master suite's sitting room is larger than
my entire London flat, making this anything but a downgrade for
me.) Thus, in addition to a "maxibar" in each suite (there is
nothing mini about this place) and full-size his & hers Hermes
toiletries, each guest at Chalet N receives a monogrammed pillow
case (pictured here with my small bovine travelling companion),
which is packed away when you leave to await your next
visit. Nice touch eh?
Read more on Gabriella's Blog
For more information on Chalet N contact the chalet team on
+44 1993 899 420 or make an
enquiry.
Gabriella Le Breton is a leading travel writer who regaulry
features in The Telegraph, The Financial Times, Tatler and
Condenast Traveller.
