Chilly Powder

Spread across three chalets within walking distance of one another, the hub of the Chilly Powder complex is the Au Coin de Feu building, a modern wooden chalet that looks like an ideal place to get warm after a day on the slopes. The interiors are cozy and inviting, with hardwood ceilings and floors, leather armchairs, throw rugs, and all manner of Alpine decor ranging from kitschy to quaint throughout the library/billiard room, lounge, restaurant, and bar. There is an outdoor terrace as well for warmer months, and a decent amount of greenery and lawns surrounding the property in the summer. Guests should keep in mind that this hotel draws families and noise levels can reflect that throughout the property, so while couples are welcome here, too, they shouldn’t necessarily expect a romantic, quiet retreat.

In the Les Prodains area just outside of Morzine, this hotel has an almost secluded feeling in the middle of the Portes du Soleil ski area in the French Alps. The bars, microbreweries, shops, and restaurants in lively little Morzine town are a five-minute drive from the hotel, though the free bus included with lift tickets runs the same route, and the stop is directly across the street from the hotel. Portes du Soleil comprises 13 ski areas that span the Swiss-French border, and the cable car to the Avoriaz slopes (which end directly behind Au Coin de Feu) is a five-minute walk from the hotel. There are a few restaurants within walking distance of the chalets along the road into Morzine for guests who don’t want to make the trek into town. Geneva International Airport is an hour and 20 minutes away by car, while Chamonix and Mont Blanc are an hour and 10 minutes in the opposite direction.

With an array of room sizes and themes available across the Chilly Powder complex, groups and families of all sizes will find a charming space to call their own amid the towering French Alps. All rooms have cozy, chalet-style accents, like built-in oak cabinets, closets, and headboards, which match the country-craft furniture. Tan carpeted floors add a soft touch to the mostly neutral spaces that are accented by needlepoint pillows, rustic paintings, and even a bit of kitsch, like the captain’s wheel and jacket that adorn the walls in the Life Preserver Room. 

All rooms have flat-screen TVs, MP3 sound systems, desks, and safes, as well as either outdoor patios or balconies, many with views of the surrounding mountains. Each room also has a clean en-suite bathroom with tan tiles and either walk-in showers or bathtub/shower combos with rustic finishes like wood-bordered mirrors and antique-style fixtures, while some bathrooms include luxury Molton Brown bath products. Rooms like The Pine have multiple levels and sleeping spaces, making them perfect for families, while freestanding multi-room chalets are also available for larger families and groups. Guests should keep in mind that rooms must be booked for a minimum of four nights, unless it is a last minute booking.

This hotel has a lot to love for being such a small-scale operation. The main draw at Chilly Powder is its family-friendly bent, including the on-site daycare facility staffed by professional nannies, though there are fees attached to these services and they must be booked in advance. Additionally, the hotel offers its own Chilly Powder Ski School, and older children have access to the hotel’s supervised kids’ club, which has video game consoles, ping-pong, and all manner of games and activities (again, bookings must be made in advance for the ski school). 

The on-site restaurant serves excellent breakfasts and dinners from locally sourced produce and the chef will also make special menus available for vegetarian guests. Children’s meals are served earlier in the day than the adult dinner, and the hotel also offers afternoon tea and snack service. Guests should keep in mind that dinner is not served every night of the week and they should check with the hotel as to which night is its “off” night. Additionally, childcare must be arranged separately on Saturdays as the daycare center is not staffed then. The hotel’s other adult-friendly features include a bar, an outdoor hot tub, and an on-site sauna and a spa room that offers a wide array of massage and spa treatment services. Airport transfers from Geneva International are available and though the hotel does not have a ski shop on-site it can arrange equipment rentals for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and laundry services are also available.