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Chalet High Alps

01.01.2008
Author: Alyssa ZIGMANN
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A traveler who finds himself at least once in France will certainly be convinced that this country, an experienced conqueror of human hearts, easily picks up the keys to anyone who falls into her arms. For some, impressions of the splendor and chic of Paris will be unforgettable, for others – from the aristocracy and prestige of Nice, for others – from the dazzling snow-white peaks of Mont Blanc and the breathtaking freedom of the rapid ski slopes.
As you know, France firmly holds the first place in the world ranking in terms of the number of tourists. Some of her most loyal fans are lovers of winter holidays, who, on their next visit, master the Alpine peaks or ski slopes that have not yet been conquered. Well, the time of apres-ski, literally – "after skiing", they devote to getting acquainted with this diverse country, every corner of which fascinates with history, attracts with romance, infects with the love of life of its inhabitants and, of course, conquers with cuisine.

The palette of recreation and trails
If in summer tourist life boils on the beaches of the Cote d'Azur, then in winter it certainly moves to the Alpine foothills.
Chamonix Mont Blanc is the oldest and most famous ski center in France, an Olympic resort with trails for experienced skiers, located in the narrow valley of the Arve River in the Rhone-Alpes region. The history of Chamonix as a tourist center dates back as far as 1821 – since the creation of the Company of mountaineers-guides on high-altitude routes. And already in 1924, Chamonix, having become the capital of the Winter Olympic Games, went down in history forever – it was at the foot of Mont Blanc (4807 m) that the Olympic flame for winter sports was lit for the first time.
Stretching for 16 km, the Chamonix Valley includes several ski regions, the vast majority of which belong to the highlands, lying above 2000 m above sea level. The black slopes of the Grand Monte (Les Grands Montets, 3300-1235 m) attract professional skiers, the riskiest of whom venture on the legendary 20-kilometer off-piste descent from the 2800-meter height of the Aiguille du Midi peak (3842 m). Lovers of beautiful descents with stops for a cup of coffee on a sunny panoramic veranda choose easier routes. These include the wooded slopes of Les Houches (Les Houches, 1900-950 m), Brevent/Flegere (Le Brevent/La Flegere, 1030-2525 m) and Le Balme (Le Balme, 1453-2270 m) with a wonderful landscape. And the soft long trails of La Vormaine (1480 m) and Le Savoy (1049 m) seem to be specially created for beginners.
The richness of the choice of routes and types of skiing, carefully preserved centuries-old traditions, the fireworks of the holiday, which is created thanks to a variety of festivals and events, explain the continued popularity of Chamonix among both "pro" skiers and fans of "landscape descents".
After driving only 33 km to the west, you can get to the equally famous resort of Megeve (Megeve, 1100-2350 m). Its high status, like that of Chamonix, is reinforced by joining the elite club Best of the Alp, which united 12 of the best Alpine tourist centers under its brand, providing the highest level of service. And if we add that Baron Maurice de Rothschild, who was the first to open a luxury hotel there in 1921, contributed a lot to the development of Mezhev, it becomes clear why lovers of a calm and refined holiday come to this ski resort, who are able to rightfully appreciate the charm of a picturesque French village of the past centuries, with its unhurried rhythm. Mezhev is even called the French twin of the most prestigious Swiss resort of St. Moritz, because it is here that you can most often meet the French beau monde on vacation. As the locals of Mezhev joke, it makes no sense to go to the capital for shopping – more than 200 shops and boutiques, up to jewelry antiques, are located in this "little Paris", the number of inhabitants of which slightly exceeds 4,500 people.
The closest airport to Megeve and Chamonix is Geneva Cointrain (75 and 80 km, respectively). However, the need to obtain an additional Swiss transit visa objectively creates unnecessary hassle in preparing the trip. Therefore, many Russians choose airports in Chambery or Grenoble, from which the distance to the resorts is 85-200 km.

High mountains, high status
77 km south of Mezhev begins the ski resort area of Three Valleys (Trois Vallees), which, as if in a roll call with the name, has been awarded the title of Best of Alps three times. This is the largest ski area in the world, the highest mountain resort in Europe is located here, and the total length of the trails is a record 600 km for the Alps.
In addition to the high-altitude Val Thorens (3200-2300 m), which mainly attracts young people, the Three Valleys include the fashionable five–level Courchevel (Courchevel, 2738-1300 m) - a meeting place for VIPs of all countries and continents, Meribel (Meribel, 2925-1450 m) – the ancestral abode of the British, who contributed a lot in the 1950s. the development of this area, and relatively inexpensive, thanks to the apartment accommodation, Les Menuires (Les Menuires -1800–2850 m).
Less well-known are the family resort of La Tania (2738-1350 m), the sports and wellness Brides-Les-Bains (3230-610 m) with thermal springs and the recently opened Orelle (3400-819 m). The cost of living here is usually 30-40% cheaper, and therefore these resorts are often chosen by tourists for a long vacation, staying either in apartments or in rented studio apartments. They are also attractive to property owners, favorably differing from noisy resorts with idyllic peace and quiet, with equal accessibility and equidistance from cities and communication facilities. The compactness of the location of all the described resort areas and proximity to the Swiss and Italian borders allows residents and vacationers to move freely and without problems from one resort to another, testing their strength on new routes or making sightseeing trips to neighboring countries.
According to the annual rating, at the end of the 2006/07 season, Three Valleys entered the top five most expensive ski resorts in the world, losing in the cost of accommodation and related services on French territory only to Chamonix and Megev, who took the third place in the table. The high price status of French resorts is explained both by the well-developed communication infrastructure, which allows you to get from the airport to a ski hotel or rented apartments in an hour or two, and by the convenience of communication and transition between routes of varying complexity and height. A variety of landscapes – from wooded flat slopes that allow cross-country skiing and sledding, to glaciers and rocks accessible only to climbers, as well as parks for snowboarding on the slopes are a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Benefits of expensive acquisitions
Renting a chalet in its entirety is quite an expensive pleasure, measured in thousands of euros per week. For example, at the height of the season in Chamonix, renting a chalet in the immediate (2-4 km) proximity to the ski slopes is 4000-8000 euros per week. An identical chalet in Megeve, due to its status as a more expensive resort, will cost an order of magnitude higher – up to 15,000 euros per week. As a rule, this option is chosen by several couples or a youth company united for a joint holiday.
The most enterprising and far-sighted, for whom a vacation in ski France becomes an integral part of life, eventually look after a cozy chalet in one of the valleys in the traditional Savoyard style for these places, combining the whiteness of stone and the comfort of wood. It is clear that the one-time purchase costs are very significant, but the prospects for its payback, if desired, are also very real.
The cost of exclusive chalets with a total area of 150-200 sq. m. m in perfect condition at these resorts is estimated at about 1-1.5 million euros. Apartments can be purchased for 4000-7000 euros per 1 sq. m. For example, a modern chalet with an area of 186 sq. m. m with a plot of about 1000 sq. m, directly in Chamonix-Mont Blanc, will cost the buyer 1.75 million euros. Another, perfectly restored chalet built in the middle of the XIX century, with an area of 200 sq. m. m costs 1.5 million euros, while having a magnificent panoramic view and a small plot of land.
However, 20 km away, real estate objects, all other things being equal, are at least 40-50% cheaper. For example, in the village of Saint-Gervais, located 25 km from Chamonix, a chalet of a comparable level will cost the buyer 750,000 euros. Prices are no less attractive in the town of Crest Voland, a 166 sq. m. chalet located just 15 km away from Mezhev. m costs 860,000 euros here. It is worth paying attention to the village of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, located 8 km from the ski slopes of Les Menuires (which is in Three Valleys), where a spacious house can be bought for 700,000 euros. For comparison: the cost of identical objects in the nearest Switzerland is at least 25% higher. Apartments are also attractive for investment. For example, the base price of an apartment with an area of 100 sq. m. m in the newly built complex in Courchevel-1850 is 424,000 euros.
When deciding on the acquisition of real estate, you first need to decide whether the purchased house will become just a residence for winter holidays, or the purpose of the purchase is to invest capital. The choice of the location of future housing also depends on this. According to experts, with the right choice of location and accurate calculation of the conditions for the purchase of real estate in these resorts, its owners are guaranteed demand for almost the whole year and, as a result, a good rental income.

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