Catered Chalet Holidays
in St Gervais Mont Blanc Guestbook
The Wylie family - Chalet Etoile - 11th April 2010
We stayed with Jamie/Ski Bliss in April 2010. This was our 5th snow holiday and we had previously opted for package deals with the big companies. Following a recommendation for Ski Bliss we decided to try an "independant operator" and we were not disappointed. Jamie met us at Geneva airport for a 45 min private transfer. The accommodation was excellent; comfortable and spacious with the added bonus of wifi and Sky TV. The bedrooms were large with comfortable beds and plenty of storage space and the shower was fantastic!
The food was exceptional; delicious and varied. Jamie was not only a great host and chef but was also our chauffeur and ski guide. We were absolutely delighted with our Ski Bliss experience - so much so we have booked to return in 2011. We admit to having initial doubts about going "independant" and not having the back up of the big companies if something went wrong but we need not have worried as Jamie came up trumps when we really needed help (Volcanic ash!!) We could not recommend Ski Bliss highly enough and look forward to returning in April.
Rosemary Stephenson - Chalet Aravis - 2nd April 2010
Thank you, Jamie, for looking after us all so well. It was a wonderful skiing holiday - comfortable chalet with spectacular views, great service and delicious food. You even managed to lay on good weather and snow!
Kay Bishop - Chalet Aravis - 3rd Jan 2010
I just wanted to say thank you so much for such a wonderful holiday - we all came back feeling like we had had a proper holiday - no small feat when you have 2 children under 3! We had such a great time, it worked so well for us all including the children. Your attention to detail was brilliant - travel cot, highchair and having the childrens meals cooked at a separate time to us meant that we could enjoy our 4 course evening meals without worry, which I have to say were delicious - we had such fun discussing how you had cooked them or the ingredients you had used.
The chalet was lovely and comfortable with terrific views - much more than we expected and again worked well in terms of the different age groups within the family. We loved the area and I know you can't take credit for the excellent snow and skiing conditions, I still have to say that was the icing on top of the cake. Cake....knew I had forgot to mention something........delicious everyday especially the white chocolate & raspberry one - when is the recipe book coming out?? We are already talking about coming back again next year - let me know when you start taking bookings!
Ellen Conquest - Chalet Etoile - 3rd Jan 2010
Thanks again for everything, we will be in touch soon...
Danielle Nay - Chalet Etoile - 11th March 2010
Thank you for a wonderful stay in St Gervais - we loved it and I'm sure most if not all of us will be back!
James Meir - Chalet Etoile - 21st March 2010
I wanted to drop you a line to let you know how pleased we were with the apartment and everything you did for us over the course of our stay. The chalet was great, had everything we wanted and more, the honesty bar, the stocked fridge, the complimentary cake and bottle of wine, the wii for the kids, your ski lessons, your local knowledge...you quietly and confidently went that rare and ellusive extra mile...fabulous.
Thank you very much and see you next year
It's during a thick, pelting blizzard, when Jamie takes off his decent goggles and hands them to me, that I realise he must be the sweetest, most devoted chalet boy ever to stomp through the Alps in ski boots. Mine have fogged up and I've been struggling to snowboard without them, while Jamie skates ahead on his skis, tugging me along the run so stacked with powder my board won't budge. Now he is volunteering to ski blind so I can enjoy the run down to Megève with my eyes open.
A chef from Devon, 26-year-old Jamie Forrest opened the small, simple but stylish Ski Bliss in this charming and ultra-traditional French resort in December. Still full of puppyish enthusiasm, he offers the sort of round-the-clock, personal service that you typically pay thousands for in a luxury chalet. That means he gets up early each morning to collect bread from the patisserie, digs the van out and drives you to the resort (the St Gervais lifts are 5 minutes away), takes you skiing, finds the best off-piste, flatters your skiing skills, brings his friends along for lunch (if you like), finds a fun après ski bar, plays darts and pool with you, drives you home or to the thermal baths at St Gervais to relax while he cooks an amazing dinner (whatever time you like, whatever you want to eat - his rosemary and thyme lamb and slow-roast pork were superb), then challenges you to a game on the Wii console, or sticks on a DVD.
If all that sounds a bit suffocating, he is just as happy to leave you be, or you can rent the chalets on a self-catering basis. But I was by myself, so I didn't mind being well looked after.
Jamie's desire to give this level of attention grew out of frustration at the big ski companies he worked for, and their strict rules about budget and menus.
"If people fancy champagne on their first night, I want to be able to buy it for them; I hate cooking the same thing every week, and I like hanging out with guests. The big operators don't encourage that, and don't reward it, so you don't bother, but I want to work hard to give a service I can be proud of." Mission accomplished, Jamie.
Ralph Riley and Wendy Newman - 8th February 2009
Thanks Jamie for a great week, really good food, delightful accommodation. We really enjoyed being cared for with so much consideration...We will be back I'm sure.
Rob McKenna and Emma Harborne - 1st March 2009
Thanks Jamie for a brill week, and for putting up with my screaming whilst teaching me to ski. We shall have to come back again without all the screaming, and hopefully nail that red stupid run! The food was amazing as always, snow was amazing and as the name suggests: Ski Bliss.
Alisa Halmshaw - 8th March 2009
The food was amazing, skiing was awesome, look forward to coming back soon!
Rod and Sue Hogg - 22nd March 2009
Thank you! Please keep us posted on future developments, we had a wonderful week!
Coulson family – 12th April 2009
Absolutely brilliant. Wonderful food and everything made very easy for us with very attentive service... Looking forwards to seeing you in a season to come.