Chalet Colinn

If the crowds and raucous ambience of Val d’Isère is not your thing, but you love its skiing and you are partial to communal dining, then head 5km out of town to find the tiny hamlet of Franchet, home of Chalet Colinn. You might arrive to the sounds of cattle and the smell of hay and wood-smoke but in no time find yourself relaxing in the outdoor hot tub or by the log fire. With an exceptional setting overlooking the Tignes dam, this classy mountain retreat is owned and run by Elizabeth, an expert mountain guide and ski instructor and Mylène, an excellent cook, Savoie style, with a background in hotels. Whether it is their amazing library of flora and fauna covering a whole wall or conversations about local produce and recipes, or perhaps discussing snow conditions with other local professionals who call in, one gets an inside track on life in Savoie.