We have had a lovely stay.
Charlotte and Lauren have been wonderful chalet hosts, helping to ensure that all three generations of our family were comfortable, relaxed and could enjoy the holiday. They also prepared the food to perfection, for both the adults and the children. And generally they were really good company and always willing and keen to help us.
The location of the chalet lives up to the billing. Being genuinely ski-in, ski-out and being so close to the key ski lifts and bubbles makes a tremendous difference - especially compared to the disappointing location of the chalet we stayed in in Courchevel last year.
Likewise, the inside of the chalet was an improvement on last year, when we were disappointed by the size of the living area (albeit it was a chalet designed for fewer people). The communal area was lovely and big, with space for children to play and adults to talk. The hot tub is fantastic, with brilliant views. And the bedrooms worked well for our family - although the downstairs room was a bit of a squeeze.
The one downside was that, having been coming on holidays with VIP Ski for many years, on this occasion we noticed some subtle but important cutbacks.
For example, the variety of fruit didn't really satisfy our needs - even though we discovered that raspberries, blueberries and others were easily available at the local store, they weren't on offer to us in the chalet. We were given concentrated orange juice and had to ask for freshly squeezed. The butter was not butter. And there were no chocolates after dinner.
Likewise the toiletries did not meet expectations - there was nothing for the children, and not the same range as there was provided previously (eg body lotion and conditioner), which was not clear beforehand because on the website it said "toiletries are provided".
And even the TV had less on it - no access to Amazon Prime or Netflix, which were available last year.
While we understand that it may be financially imperative that some cutbacks are made, the above are important details to us and no doubt others. If it came to it, we would rather have more fresh fruit, more toiletries and so on, than, for example, three courses every night plus daily cakes, which while delicious is often just too much food. We would prioritise quality over quantity.
Overall, however, I would reiterate that we have had a lovely holiday. The chalet is terrific, the hosts have both been really good, and we are already considering making a return next year.