Andorra – low tax, high altitude

Straddling the Pyrenean border between France and Spain’s Catalonia region, much of Andorra’s mountainous 180 square miles becomes a snowy playground in the winter months.

Besides its quality skiing and mountain lifestyle, the ancient principality’s other appeal is its low taxation. Families often choose it over Europe’s more famous tax-haven, Monaco, thanks to Andorra’s more outdoorsy lifestyle, cheaper property and child-friendly way of life. Residency permits are available to qualifying foreigners and their families, which typically require investment in property or financial entities.

Two ski areas make up the bulk of Andorra’s 303 kilometres of pistes, namely Grandvalira (210 kilometres) and smaller Vallnord-Pal Arinsal (63 kilometres). Grandvalira is split into seven different stations: Canillo, Soldeu, Pas de la Casa, Encamp, El Tarter, Peretol and Grau Roig.

Many buyers in Andorra opt not to be in the centre of a ski resort, preferring to be located outside for better all-round access within the principality.

Les Escaldes is a popular area with foreign owners and is in close proximity to Andorra la Vella

“The areas most in demand include Canillo and La Massana for their proximity to the ski slopes and good connections to the town centre [Andorra la Vella] and to the French border,” stated Engel & Völkers Andorra recently. According to the agent’s recent report, three-bed apartments of around 100 square metres in the centre of Andorra are available for €500,000, while approximately €1,000,000 will buy a house on the outskirts that might need some refurbishment. Or for a modern designer house, such as that pictured, budget circa €2-2.5 million. To be next to the slopes, Engel & Völkers has a traditional style three-bed in apartment in El Tartar available for €490,000.

“The areas most in demand include Canillo and La Massana for their proximity to the ski slopes and good connections to the town centre and French border”

La Massana is less than 10 minutes from Andorra la Vella, but an even closer area equally popular with foreign owners is Les Escaldes, situated on the edge of the main town. There’s new-build activity there, both apartments and villas, a trend seen in other hot spots in the principality. Notable developments include the Isard Home in Canillo, popular for its location and proximity to the ski slopes, the White Angel in Andorra la Vella, a hotel-style development of luxury apartments with concierge and home service facilities, and the Lloserfor development located in the picturesque village of Ordino.

“Buyers regard Andorra as a safe and healthy location, the Principality’s fiscal status continues to be a big draw for investors and high rental yields for property, particularly in peak season, are also attractive factors,” says Thomas Kampfraat, Managing Director, Engel & Völkers Andorra. “Despite everything that has happened this year, our sales to date have increased over 2019 indicating that the demand for Andorra is still strong and we expect this trend to continue through winter.”

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – year-round German charm!

German ski resorts can’t match heavyweight Alpine destinations for sheer kilometres of quality skiing, but their authentic charm, year-round appeal, attractive location and value for money are perfect for certain types of homeowners. The tinkle of cowbells and traditional farming festivals are nothing unusual there!

The bulk of the country’s ski resorts are in Bavaria, dotted along its mountainous southern border with Austria – hence, some German resorts are linked with Austrian ones. The largest and most prominent ski destination is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a sizeable year-round town an hour-and-a-half from Munich. It sits underneath Germany’s highest peak Zugspitze, home to a glacier with a small ski area. The resort’s principal ski station is Garmisch Classic, located on north-facing slopes on the southern edge of town and a regular host of Alpine World Cup events. Both ski stations are connected to the main town by train, cable cars and funicular. There is also an entire mountain dedicated to winter walking, snowshoeing and tobogganing.

The largest and most prominent ski destination in Germany is Garmisch-Partenkirchen

But Garmisch Partenkirchen, with its traditional Bavarian architecture, is much more than a winter sports hub. Classed as a premium-class health resort, it’s equally popular as a wellness destination and is home to several Spa facilities. Meanwhile, the summer months draw hikers, mountaineers, cyclists, golfers and watersport enthusiasts. It’s also a cultural hub, with its own Congress Centre and luxury venue at Schloss Elmau used for musical and arts events throughout the year. Leisure, shopping and eating out amenities surpass most towns of a similar size – it is said to have 100 restaurants and 30 bars.

“Garmisch Partenkirchen is equally as popular as a wellness destination”

Buyers whose ideal mountain property has an authentic edge and delivers not just skiing but year-round activities, Spa treatments and cultural events in equal measure should feel right at home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And being an easy transfer from Munich airport should make weekends trips there nice and easy.

Alternative: Oberstdorf in Bavaria’s Allgäu Alps is an equally appealing year-round destination, with oodles of authentic charm. The resort, the most southerly community in Germany, is especially popular for cross-country skiing, thanks to its 100 kilometres of trails, as well as jumping – it boasts one of the biggest jumps in Germany and hosts the famous Four Hills Ski Jumping World Cup event. And with three covered rinks, it is also a world-class centre for ice-skating.

Prices have held up too and even increased in premium resorts, underpinned by short supply of new-build and top-end homes combined with equally strong demand from domestic and international markets. It’s an interesting time to be house-hunting in the Alps – here are three observations of what’s happening on the ground!

Not just for holidays!

Properties bought in the Alps before the pandemic were purchased typically as second homes – somewhere for enjoying winter and summer holidays rather than any substantial lengths of time. Rewind a year and agents began to see a change in this approach, triggered by the pandemic and the limitations of lockdown. Today increasing numbers of owners are choosing to treat their ski home as a more permanent residence, somewhere they can spend long periods working from home and enjoying the healthy mountain lifestyle. Knight Frank calls this “the blurring of the lines between primary and secondary residences” in its 2021 Ski Property Report.

More and more people are buying ski homes as somewhere where they can spend long periods working from home and enjoying the healthy mountain lifestyle

A leading agent in the Alps points out that one of the biggest attractions of the Alps is the mixture of nationalities in the resorts: “This year we have been selling properties to buyers from dozens of different countries. Interestingly, it is this cosmopolitan nature that attracts domestic buyers too. Clients have said that if they are going to work from home then they would like to have scenic views and be able to mingle with a range of nationalities, in the shops, bars and restaurants. They are seeking something different from their main residence, which is usually in a city.”

“Increasing numbers of owners are choosing to treat their ski home as a more permanent residence”

Mod cons and space

The shift towards more day-to-day occupancy means today’s premium ski properties need to be more than just luxurious – they need to cater for a cutting edge 21st-Century lifestyle. “Whether a home office, outdoor space, faster broadband, a cinema room or smart technology – these homes now need to have as high a specification as the owner’s primary residence,” noted Knight Frank’s report. Another legacy of the pandemic could be automation, and voice and facial recognition technology becoming more prevalent.

In terms of living area, “a desire for space is paramount, born in part from anxiety linked to the health crisis,” highlighted French developer Cimalpes in its latest Panorama report. “With large living spaces, open fireplaces and a minimum of three bedrooms now a prerequisite”.

Large living spaces, open fireplaces and a minimum of three bedrooms are now a prerequisite

Likewise, apartments with larger balconies and outside space are becoming preferable. Erna Low Property has seen demand for small off-plan apartments to be re-designed into bigger four-bedroom apartments. According to the ski property specialist, buyers are choosing to have a bigger residence where they can host their family and friends, and still have space to work.

Design-wise, the market now favours a more timeless style, observed Cimalpes, inspired by traditional mountain chalets built using stone, wood and other natural materials accented with steel, leather and other modern touches.

Be ready for long-term renters

In tandem with more owners ‘relocating’ to their ski home, operators and managing agencies note growing demand for long-term rentals. A direct result of Covid-19, this trend could be good news for buyers who want a hands-off investment and could be here to stay, thanks to fast broadband and opportunities to ‘work from home’ becoming the norm.

This tallies with a recent survey by ski retailer Snow+Rock which found that 60 per cent of skiers and snowboarders from London considered relocating to the Alps for the 2020-21 ski season. The nationwide average for this was 35 per cent of skiers/ snowboarders.

In tandem with more owners ‘relocating’ to their ski home, operators and managing agencies note growing demand for long-term rentals

Natasha Robertson, co-founder of Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne, is one of  number of luxury chalet operators to report an increase in demand for long-term rentals this year. Her firm has had “clients looking to escape city living, hunker down in remote surroundings and test the waters of relocating to the Alps”, she said in a Daily Telegraph article.
“Rents are competitive with major urban centres, such as London, New York or Geneva and you can hit the slopes in your lunch break,” highlights the Knight Frank report about long-term rentals in the Alps.

Savoie – French Alps

Oenophiles who are seasoned visitors to the French Alps will almost certainly be familiar with wines from the established Jura region, nestled between Burgundy and Switzerland. You may have tried them in a ski resort or occasionally in an upscale restaurant back home.

In recent years though, vintages from neighbouring Savoie have crept on to the wine lists of the more fashionable bars and restaurants in the Alps and beyond. The region’s wines have always been an affordable staple in most resorts (only five per cent is exported), but today’s producers are upping their game.

Dotted around the Alpine foothills, Savoie’s 2,000-plus hectares of vineyards are split into 23 sub-regions, concentrated between Geneva and Chambéry. Most of its wines are fresh, light whites and rosés, often with a floral aroma.

“Savoie wines are fresh, light whites and rosés, often with a floral aroma”

Of course, skiing in Savoie is world famous, thanks to its 3,000-plus kilometres of pistes spread between some of the largest ski areas in the world. Its internationally acclaimed resorts include Tignes and Val d’Isère, La Plagne, Les Arcs, not forgetting those of Les Trois Vallées, including Courchevel and Méribel.

Bugey – French Alps

Lesser known Bugey is a small wine region that’s often overlooked in favour of its neighbours – Savoie on its eastern border and Jura to its north. Nonetheless, its 470 hectares of rugged vineyards, many of which are high altitude and have views of Mont Blanc, produce some exciting and affordable Alpine-style wines, predominantly from family-run wine-growers. Bugey produces reds and light whites, but its speciality is sparkling rosé – a refreshing tipple after a hard day on the nearby Savoie slopes.

Relax by the fire after a long day of skiing with a glass or two of locally sourced wine

Valais – Swiss Alps

Arguably one of the world’s most under-appreciated vine-growing nations, the Swiss produce and consume wine with as much gusto as any other country in Europe. The difference is they keep most of it for themselves – and who can blame them, as like everything they do, it’s a quality product.

Championing Swiss wines is Valais, a mountainous canton south-east of Lake Geneva that accounts for more than a third of the country’s wine production. Its 5,000 hectares of vineyards, many of which are terraced and covered in snow each winter, follow the Rhône River valley for around 100 kilometres, with some ranking among the highest in Europe. Boasting a huge range of grape varieties, including rare indigenous ones, the character of Valais wine is rich and diverse. Red is the dominant colour, accounting for circa 60 per cent of vintages.

Experienced skiers will know Valais well as its home to the mighty Matterhorn and world famous resorts of Verbier, Zermatt, Saas Fee and Crans-Montana. Unsurprisingly, the finest Valais wines flow freely in each of these, and a popular way to spend a day away from the slopes includes a tour and lunch amongst the nearby vineyards.

Vaud – Swiss Alps

Switzerland’s second largest wine region (there are six in total), Vaud fans out from the northern shores of Lake Geneva and meets Valais in its south-eastern corner. Producing a quarter of all of Switzerland’s wine, its famous for its steep vineyard terraces overlooking the lake between Epesses and St Saphorin. Its strength lies in fresh and fruity whites made from the Chasselas grape.

A standout resort in Vaud is Villars-sur-Ollon, which is part of the Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets ski area, situated in a scenic spot between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. One of the closest resorts to Geneva, its slopes look down on 200 hectares of vines, with wine cellars waiting for you to visit in the nearby villages of Ollon and Bex!

Alto Adige – Italian Alps

Occupying the most northern corner of Italy, mountainous Alto Adige shares an Alpine border with neighbouring Austria. Also known as South Tyrol (or Südtirol), despite being a region in its own right it’s often grouped with the Italian region to its south, Trentino. Its historic connections with Austria are still evident in the grapes grown there, the names of its wine estates and German being widely spoken still.

Alto’s 5,400 hectares of vineyards are peppered across the foothills of the Dolomites, which forms a section of the Italian Alps, many up there with Europe’s highest. The region is most famous for its award-winning reds, although it produces an equal amount of refreshing whites, including bottles of Gewützraminer and Pinot Grigio.

The Dolomites in Alto Adige are home to one of Europe’s largest skiing areas. The Dolomites Superski links 1,200 kilometres of slopes and 12 resorts, including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia and Val Gardena.

Switzerland – Zermatt & Saas Fee

Ranked as one of the best all-round resorts, Zermatt is famous as a mountain activity centre with access to many of the Alps’ highest peaks. The lively but pretty resort sits at around 1,600m in the shadow of the iconic Matterhorn and has access to Europe’s highest ski station – the 3,883m Matterhorn Paradise, which includes year-round glacier skiing and ties in with the 160 kilometres of slopes in Cervinia, Italy. Even Zermatt’s own ski stations, offering 200 kilometres of pistes, are between 3,000m and 3,500m. For Zermatt, fly to Geneva (2hrs 30mins), Sion (1hr 30mins), or Zürich (3hrs 30mins).

Saas Fee combines a traditional village setting and charming architecture with excellent high-altitude skiing. The resort’s 100-kilometre ski area is predominantly above 2,500m and it includes the Allalin glacier, which offers 20 kilometres of year-round skiing often used for summer training by national ski teams. Dubbed The Pearl of the Alps, Saas Fee also boasts fine dining, including the Michelin-star Waldhotel Fletschhorn restaurant. For Saas Fee, fly to Geneva (2hrs 30mins), Sion (1hr 30mins), or Basel (3hrs).

Get the most out of your ski property by choosing a resort with a long season

France – Tignes & Val Thorens

Sister resort to equally acclaimed Val d’Isère, which together form the two hubs of the world-class Espace Killy ski area, Tignes has the longest season in the French Alps. This is thanks to its glacier, the Grande Mottte, where the 3,456m station re-opens for summer skiing on its 20 kilometres of slopes. Around 60 per cent of the Espace Killy’s 300 kilometres of slopes are above 2,500m (including a second glacier, the Pissaillas in Val d’Isère), making it one of the finest high altitude ski destinations in the world. Tignes itself is a collection of villages, but the three main purpose-built ones are at 2,100m – perfect for top to bottom skiing. For Tignes, fly to Chambéry (2hrs) or Geneva (2hrs 30mins).

“Tignes has the longest season in the French Alps”

At 2,300m high, Val Thorens is officially the highest ski resort in Europe, so little surprise its slopes offer reliable November-May skiing. Being part of the massive Trois Vallées ski area, which includes upscale Courchevel and Méribel, means it has access to a staggering 600 kilometres of pistes, but if you prefer to stay local the resort has its own 140-kilometre ski area. The latest phase of its £170million regeneration project sees the completion of France’s highest hotel, Refuge de Solaise! For Val Thorens, fly to Chambéry (1hr 45 mins) or Geneva (2hrs 30mins).

Austria – Obergurgl-Hochgurgl & Sölden

Picturesque Obergurgl, a Tyrolean village set around an ancient church, links with neighbouring resort Hochgurgl across the mountain to form Europe’s most snow-sure non-glacial ski area. At 2,150m, Hochgurgl is officially the highest ski resort in Austria and second highest in the Alps, while Obergurgl isn’t far below at 1,950m. Their combined ski area offers 110 kilometres of slopes, practically all over 2,000m with some reaching 3,080m.

Well-known for its après-ski, other strings to Sölden’s bow include fine dining at the IceQ restaurant and one of the best spas in the Alps.

Hochgurgl is totally ski-in, ski-out with modern high-end hotels, compared to more traditional Obergurgl. For Obergurgl, fly to Innsbruck (1hr 30mins) or Salzburg (2hrs 45mins).

Sölden is a larger, livelier alternative for high altitude action in Austria. Although the resort sits at a comparatively low 1,380m, it offers skiing up to a dazzling 3,250m. This is thanks to its 144-kilometre ski area incorporating two glaciers, which as used by the International Ski Federation (FIS) for opening the ski race season each October. Well-known for its après-ski, other strings to Sölden’s bow include fine dining at the IceQ restaurant and one of the best spas in the Alps. For Sölden, fly to Innsbruck (1hr 10mins) or Memmingen (2hrs 45mins).

Italy – Cervinia & Livigno

Italy’s most snow-sure resort sits below the southern face of the Matterhorn, which enables its link with Zermatt round the other side of the mountain in Switzerland. While Cervinia, which sits at 2,050m, has its own 160-kilometre ski area, it is part of the vast Matterhorn Paradise ski area, which rises to 3,883m and offers glacier skiing and a further 200 kilometres of pistes. For Cervinia, fly to Turin (1hr 45mins) or Milan Malpensa (2hrs 15mins).

Still in Italy, Livigno is an unspoilt gem tucked away on the edge of the Swiss border and often dubbed ‘Little Tibet’ due to its height and remoteness. Skiing its 115 kilometres of high altitude slopes, which reach 2,900m, consistently lasts into May. Located at 1,800m, other highlights include its laid-back feel, traditional wooden architecture and duty-free shopping, including après-ski drinks! For Livigno, fly to Innsbruck (2hrs 45mins) or Milan (Bergamo, Linate or Malpensa).

Klosters, Switzerland

Luxury 4 Bedroom Penthouse in Klosters, Switzerland

Arguably the world’s most royal-friendly resort, Klosters has been the preferred ski destination of the British Royal family for decades, with Prince Charles being its most loyal fan. He enjoyed family trips there when William and Harry were boys, and even now he continues to hit the slopes, despite Camilla reportedly not being a fan of winter sports. There are even cable cars there named after Prince Charlie.
A favourite base camp for the numerous HRHs over the years has been the majestic Chalet Eugenia. Owned by Swiss entrepreneur Rolf Theiler and deemed one of the most luxurious properties in the Alps, it sits in private grounds and has its own children’s ski lift! Otherwise, the Windsors have been known to pitch up at the lavish Walserhof Hotel. Other blue-blooded regulars to Klosters include the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the King and Queen of Sweden.

Courchevel, France

6 Bed And 6 Bathroom Villa In Courchevel, France

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Courchevel for their first ever family ski holiday with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in 2016. Before then the so-called Saint-Tropez of the French Alps – one of the Alps’ glitziest resorts, was already firmly on the radar of the international jet set, including Russian billionaires, and A-listers. It’s also a favourite of Saudi royalty and the King of Morocco.
A collection of four satellite villages, top of the pile for both altitude and exclusivity is Courchevel 1850, with its designer boutiques and gourmet restaurants. In fact, Courchevel is a hot spot for fine dining in its own right, with no less than 11 Michelin stars shared between six restaurants. Star of the show is the 3-star Le 1947 at the Cheval Blanc hotel. Of course, the skiing is equally world-class, thanks to Courchevel being part of Les Trois Vallées, one of the world’s greatest ski areas with 600 kilometres of slopes.

Verbier, Switzerland

5 Bedroom And 4 Bathroom House in Verbier, Switzerland

Gateway to the Four Valleys ski area – the largest in Switzerland, Verbier offers some of the most diverse and challenging skiing anywhere in the world. Combine that with its famously colourful après-ski scene and generous spread of huge luxury chalets and it’s easy to see why it appeals to the world’s rich and famous.
The Duke and Duchess of York are big fans of the resort and have owned a chalet there since 2014, although they are reportedly trying to sell. The Duchess even once did a season as a chalet girl. Daughters Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have grown up to be equally fond of the resort, the former meeting her future husband Jack Brooksbank there in 2010.

Other regal regulars include members of the Belgian, Swedish and Danish royal families, and Prince William has been sighted throwing shapes in one of its lively nightspots.

A standout property there is The Lodge, a lavish five-storey retreat belonging to entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Lech, Austria

2 bedroom and 2 bathroom boutique apartment in
Pure Lech Resort, Austria

Chic and serene with an excellent snow record, the cosiness of Lech seduced Princess Diana, who was a regular visitor – she took the young Prince William and Prince Harry there for their first ever ski holiday. Lech’s more refined après-ski and easy access to the 340-kilometre Arlberg ski area also gets it the regal seal of approval from the Dutch royal family, who have visited Lech every year since the 1940s. Meanwhile, the Royal Family of Monaco, headed by billionaire Prince Albert, own a chalet in neighbouring Zürs, which is no less exclusive. The King and Queen of Jordan have also been known to hit the slopes there.

Villars-sur-Ollon & St Moritz

5 Bedroom and 9 Bathroom House in Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland

Preferring less conspicuous resorts, the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall and rugby star hubby Mike have been spotted enjoying the slopes in Villars-sur-Ollon, a quieter but equally chic option to Switzerland’s better known royal resorts. Members of the Danish royal family are also regulars on the pistes there.
Last year Zara and Mike were carving up the slopes in Bormio in the Italian Alps – who knows where they’ll turn up next?
Meanwhile, glitzy St Moritz is another perennial favourite with royals, in particular the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who often visit with their family. They’re rarely the only blue-blooded skiers there – northern European royals are fond of the famously exclusive Swiss resort too.

For help finding your ideal ski home, sign up for the first-ever virtual Luxury Ski Show. You’ll be able to chat with leading ski property specialists in real-time. For ticket and date information, click here.

Andermatt, SWISS ALPS

The €1.6billion transformation of Andermatt from sleepy mountain village into upscale ski resort is one of the biggest and most exciting projects anywhere in the Alps right now. On course to becoming a trendy mountain playground, Andermatt Swiss Alps sits in the pretty Ursern Valley and is part of the 180-kilometre SkiArena domain. Since its inception in 2007, ten of the 42 apartment residences planned for the resort have been launched, including Enzian Alpine Apartments. Modern in design and with either a sun terrace or private garden, prices for the larger units range between CHF1,180,00 and CHF1,675,000. To date, the resort’s new amenities include a golf course, two luxury hotels (Chedi and Radisson Blu), two restaurants, a concert hall with much more still to come! As an added bonus for the international market, property in Andermatt is exempt from Switzerland’s Lex Koller rule, which means foreigners can buy and sell without restrictions.

Méribel, FRENCH ALPS

Founded by a Briton, chocolate-box Méribel remains a perennial favourite of British skiers, thanks to its old-world charm, five-star leisure amenities and exceptional skiing. It’s bang in the middle of the 600-plus kilometre Three Valleys ski area – the largest in the world, making it linked with equally exclusive Courchevel and Val Thorens, amongst others. Lavish chalets are aplenty there, but a novel alternative is the new development Falcon Lodge. Made up of 44 apartments/ penthouses and two chalets, Falcon Lodge is designed as a small hamlet within the resort’s traditional Morel area. Communal facilities include a swimming pool, wellness area, ski room, underground parking, and reception with concierge and private shuttle to the centre of Méribel and ski lifts – although the nearest is only 150 metres away! Prices are from €880,000.

Courchevel, FRENCH ALPS

Glitzy Courchevel, with its fashion boutiques and Michelin star restaurants, should be top of the list of anyone in the market for a luxury ski home with serious international cachet. Like Méribel, it’s also within the giant Three Valleys ski area, so skiing is exceptional. Split into four main villages, Courchevel 1850 is deemed the pinnacle of the resort – for altitude and super luxury. But a new development down the mountain helps make Courchevel 1650, also known as Courchevel Moriond, equally attractive. Les Glaciers is a boutique community of luxury apartment residences and chalets. Its high-end build fuses the best bits of traditional Savoyard architecture with modern-day luxury. Owners also enjoy access to a sauna, spa and fitness area and needless-to-say access to the ski lift and lively village centre is excellent. Three and four-bedroom apartments are available, with prices from €1,290,000.

Grimentz, SWISS ALPS

A jewel in Switzerland’s Valais canton, Grimentz has a growing fanbase amongst discerning international skiers and home-owners thanks to its unique combination of authentic, super sweet architecture and thrilling off-piste skiing. It is deemed one of Switzerland’s prettiest villages. To enjoy your own slice of this Swiss gem, consider an apartment at the new Guernerés Lodge. As a ski in ski out residence operated on an all-inclusive basis, owners there get access to the spa, swimming pool, restaurant, ski and boot room and other services associated with the on-site luxury hotel. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are available, with prices from €795,000.

Zell am See, AUSTRIAN ALPS

Few ski resorts can boast such a magical location as Zell am See, with Lake Zell on one side and the slopes of the Zell am See-Kaprun ski area on the other. The waterside town has oodles of Austrian charm and unspoilt architecture too. A new development turning heads there is the Lakeside Residences. Overlooking the lake but also just 100 metres from the slopes, the luxury apartments there are run on an all-inclusive basis, which means owners benefit from a spa, gym, outdoor heated pool and on-site bar and restaurant. Apartments comes furnished and finished by interior designers. The four-bedroom penthouse is priced €1.56million, but the smallest units start at less than €300,000.

For help finding your ideal ski home, sign up for the first-ever virtual Luxury Ski Show. You’ll be able to chat with leading ski property specialists in real-time. For ticket and date information, click here.

Speed, privacy, flexibility, convenience and comfort – it’s easy to see why owners of luxury homes around the world frequently choose to travel by private jet, including those who have a ski home they like to visit frequently.

During more normal ‘non-pandemic’ times, winter in the northern hemisphere is a busy time for air charter companies, also known as business aviation firms. It’s when their private clients, who will include royalty, dignitaries and celebrities, like to head out to the Alps or across the pond to the Rockies, to hit the slopes in resorts such as Klosters, Verbier or Courchevel.

Undoubtedly, the effects of the Coronavirus have helped highlight the benefits of private air travel. The adaptability and speed of being able to choose your own travel times and which airports you use, combined with not having to sit on a busy scheduled flight, queue at check-ins or wait in a crowded airport lounge have been a godsend for many travellers in recent months.

For many buyers in the Alps, private air travel was never a consideration when choosing where to buy their ski home – until the pandemic happened! For complete control over when and how frequently you can head off for a weekend or week’s skiing, arriving by private jet with a short helicopter transfer is the best option. Here’s a quick guide to upscale resorts where you can do just that.

French Alps

Geneva Airport, Switzerland’s second busiest airport, is the main gateway to the northern French Alps, namely the Savoie region. An international hub for scheduled flights, it’s also a busy private jet destination, although there are faster options for most resorts in this corner of the Alps.
Chambéry-Savoie Airport, also known as Chambéry Aix-Les-Baines Airport, is a popular private jet option, located centrally for a large number of Savoie resorts. Although a small airport, it is well equipped for chartered flights, with a dedicated private terminal.
Notable resorts easily reached from Chambéry-Savoie include Courchevel and Méribel, both around a 20-30 minute helicopter transfer (or 60 minutes by car), as well as Val d’Isère (40 minutes in a helicopter, 1 hour 50 mins by road). Chamonix can be reached easily via Chambéry-Savoie too, although Geneva Airport with a 20-minute helicopter transfer is slightly quicker.

Another alternative for Savoie’s premium resorts is flying into Aosta Valley Airport, just over the border in the Italian Alps. From there, helicopter transfers to Chamonix, Val d’Isère and Courchevel are comfortably under 30 minutes.
Courchevel does have its own runway but it is notoriously short and steep, so there are limitations on the jets able to land there. Most air traffic into Courchevel is made up of helicopters.

Another option for the French Alps is Annecy Airport, or Aéroport Annecy Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc, which is especially convenient for the chocolate-box resort of Megève (20 minutes by helicopter or an hour by road).

Swiss Alps

An obvious choice for reaching the Valais Alps in Switzerland’s south-western corner is Geneva Airport but an even better option for reaching a number of exclusive resorts there is Sion Airport. Verbier and Zermatt are both just 10 minutes’ by helicopter (or less than an hour by road) from Sion, or 55 minutes and two hours by road respectively, while Villars is 20 minutes by helicopter or just 45 minutes by car. Another equally fast option for these resorts could be flying into Aosta Valley Airport.
A little further north, the chic resort of Gstaad has its own airport that caters for certain types of jet, otherwise Bern Airport is 30 minutes away in a helicopter (or an hour by car).
Over in Switzerland’s eastern Graubünden canton, Samedan Airport is located on the edge of glamourous St Moritz, making the resort centre an easy 10-minute drive from the landing strip.
Meanwhile, reaching prestigious Klosters is often done by jetting into St Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, followed by a 45-minute helicopter flight, or a 90-minute drive. Or, it’s a similar transfer time from Zürich Airport.

Austrian Alps

Innsbruck Airport is a popular route for private jets carrying passengers to resorts in Austria’s Arlberg ski area, home to glitzy Lech and neighbouring Zürs, both 40 minutes away by helicopter or 90 minutes by road. Kitzbühel is even closer, being just 25 minutes’ helicopter transfer.

Italian Alps

Private jets whisking passengers to the upmarket Italian resort of Courmayeur tend to land Aosta Valley Airport, just a 30-minute transfer. To reach the equally exclusive Cortina d’Ampezzo and other jewels in the Dolomoites, the preferred route is via the regional airport at Bolzano, otherwise Venice or Treviso.

Location, location, location

For maximum rental income, choose your resort carefully. Key things to consider include access to a large skiing area with good lift infrastructure and lots of diverse runs, ideally linked to other resorts, combined with a long skiing season (early December to May – longer if there is a glacier). Higher resorts with slopes between 2,000m-3,500m and plentiful north-facing runs have the most reliable snow. It doesn’t matter if the resort centre, with its amenities and accommodation, is below 2,000m. Access is equally important, so try not to be longer than a two-and-a-half-hour transfer from an international airport.

To cater for the premium end of the market, choose a resort with its own heliport or a smaller airport for private jets nearby. Resorts with international cachet tend to tick most or all of these boxes. Examples include Courchevel, Megève, Chamonix and Val d’Isère in France, and Gstaad, Verbier, Zermatt and St Moritz in Switzerland.

Dual seasonality

Your annual occupancy will be boosted if you can let your property outside of the winter months too, so choose a resort with established dual seasonality. Chamonix, for example, is a hub for all types of outdoor activities, from climbing to mountain-biking, and has a busy towncentre, hence it now welcomes as many visitors in the summer months as the winter. World-class shopping and gourmet restaurants that are open all-year also give a resort extra cachet. And a quality golf course always adds to year-round appeal.

Favourite features

These days, the finest chalets are geared towards corporate entertaining as much as luxury family holidays or groups of friends looking for luxurious accommodation. Which means facilities must match or surpass those of any five-star hotel. To compete with the best, your chalet should boast all or most of the following: a large panoramic terrace/balcony with hot tub, indoor swimming pool, fitness studio/ gym, steam/ massage rooms, bar/ games room with pool/snooker, cinema room, walk-in wine cave. Even a climbing wall is not unheard of now! Needless to say, the kitchen, living areas and multiple en-suite double bedrooms should be fully kitted out to a high ‘designer’ spec, with lots of character including feature open fires/ burners. In terms of services, your appointed management firm or operator will take care of running the property and the extra services offered to paying guests.

Management matters

For hassle-free ownership and rental income, you’ll need to appoint an established management firm or chalet operator. Most operators will customise their service to suit your precise requirements, in terms of personal use and expected financial targets. Talk to a few before hiring one, even ask them to provide a no-obligation rental simulation that includes typical costs and commission for you.

At the start of the season your operator will ask you to confirm any weeks you wish to reserve for your own use. It is then down to them to fill the chalet for the rest of the season/year, paying you rental income minus any commission or extra costs at the end of the season. Good operators will target guests for your property carefully, drawing on various resources, including premium international travel firms. It is better in the long-term to have ten weeks’ worth of clients paying a premium for your chalet than to rent it for 14 weeks at discounted prices to clients that aren’t entirely suitable.

Note too, rental agreements are not set in stone, with some operators operating a profit share type of agreement, so always discuss options with them.

“Ask chalet operators to provide a no-obligation rental simulation that includes typical costs and commission for you.”

Once on their books, operators become wholly responsible for looking after guests and your property. As such, they will allocate their own staff for the whole winter, as well as oversee all booking administration, property maintenance and changeovers, along with offering pre-arrival, catering and concierge services. Operators don’t offer all properties with the same luxury, fully-catered basis – some are available on as accommodation only, or with bed-and-breakfast. This will affect the rental return they generate for their owners.

Don’t forget about your financial obligations as a landlord. You could be liable for local income tax on your net rental income, after deduction of the allowances applied under the relevant tax regime. You should also declare your foreign rental to the HMRC in the UK (if UK resident). However, double taxation treaties between the two relevant countries usually means you don’t pay the same tax twice.

Mortgage & currency

Today’s historically low interest rates in the Eurozone and also Switzerland make buying a ski chalet with a local mortgage especially attractive. In which, give some thought to the currency in which you will receive rental income – it usually makes sense to receive it in the same currency as your mortgage. If you do need to make transfers to service your repayments, or simply top up your foreign bank account, be sure to use currency specialist Smart Currency Exchange.

And with the arrival of Covid-19, the attraction of spending time in a mountain resort has got even stronger, with more people craving clean air, uncrowded natural space and access to an outdoorsy lifestyle. This was evident over the summer when parts of the Alps enjoyed their busiest summer months ever. Resorts in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps recorded unprecedented occupancy levels of 80 per cent during July and August 2020, compared with more typical summer levels of around 40 per cent.

So why not make 2021 the year you buy yourself a ski home in Europe and start enjoying the many benefits that would come with it. Consider these five points before you get started.

Where in the Alps?

Europe’s premium ski resorts are concentrated in the French and Swiss Alps, with Italy and Austria providing a few alternatives. The most expensive resort by price currently is Gstaad in Switzerland, where typical upscale four-bedroom chalets cost €32,900 per square metre, according to Knight Frank’s 2021 Ski Property Index. Courchevel 1850 in France is second (€26,700/ sq m), followed by Verbier (€21,900/ sq m) in Switzerland.

The remainder of the top 20 includes Zermatt, St Moritz, Villars-sur-Ollon, Klosters, Davos and Crans-Montana in Switzerland, and Val d’Isère, Courchevel (1650 and 1550), Mèribel, Megève and Chamonix in France.

Italy’s upmarket resorts include Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites and Courmayeur in Aosta Valley. Meanwhile, Lech and Kitzbühel are the jewels in the crown of Austria’s ski scene.

Dual seasonality

Skiing and other winter sports are the immediate attraction of an Alpine home, but most resorts have just as much to offer active types outside of the winter months. From outdoorsy pursuits, such as mountain biking, climbing, rafting, canyoning and trekking, to enjoying the world-class leisure amenities available in most high profile resorts, such as golf, tennis, aqua parks, indoor sports facilities and pools, health and fitness centres, there are so many ways to combine having fun with staying fit all-year-round.

Chamonix, which is benefiting from an ongoing multi-million-euro investment plan, is the hub of summer activities in the French Alps and is setting a great example – these days it welcomes as many tourists in the summer months as it does in the winter.
Consider these things when picking your resort. Equally, check the length of a typical winter season – those at higher altitudes will be longer, while access to a glacier could offer summer skiing too.

Consider a mortgage

Much of Europe is currently blessed with very cheap borrowing, thanks to the ECB’s Euribor – to which most banks in the EU peg lending rates – being in negative territory. Tough economic conditions mean this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

In France, where rates are lingering at historic lows, even non-resident buyers can expect to benefit from rates fixed below two per cent for 10 or 20-year terms, requiring a 20-30 per cent deposit. Similarly, interest rates in Switzerland are being held in negative territory (-0.75 per cent).

Europe’s premium ski resorts are concentrated in the French and Swiss Alps, with Italy and Austria providing a few alternatives.

For this reason, opting for a mortgage on a ski home could make financial sense even for prospective cash buyers. And given the strength of the euro and Swiss franc, this option could be especially attractive to international purchasers with funds in a foreign currency, ie Sterling or dollars, who would prefer not to be exposed to today’s exchange rates for the full value of their purchase.

Bear in mind, securing the best deals may become slightly trickier for UK buyers post-Brexit – a good reason to use an experienced mortgage broker.

“Opting for a mortgage on a ski home could make financial sense even for prospective cash buyers.”

Luxury après-ski

Europe’s top resorts don’t just offer world-class skiing but plenty of fun once you’ve hung up your skis for the day. Any resort with serious cachet also offers exclusive après-ski venues, from cosy cocktail and wine bars to pumping terraces with live DJ music. Val d’Isère and Verbier in particular are known for their choice of lively night spots.

A choice of gourmet restaurants is another prerequisite, with Courchevel a trailblazer for fine dining at altitude. The French resort, which is a collection of four villages, boasts a staggering 12 Michelin stars spread across seven restaurants. Across the border, Zermatt is regarded as the gastro centre of the Swiss Alps, with four Michelin star restaurants confirmed in 2020.

For the full package, a luxury resort should offer world-class shopping, with designer galleries and boutiques for leading fashion brands.

Future home?

Traditionally geared towards the holiday home market, Europe’s leading resorts are seeing increasing numbers of foreign owners spending longer stints at their ski home, even becoming resident there. This trend has been accelerated by Covid-19, as more people, including professionals with young families, opt to benefit from the cleaner, healthier lifestyle of the mountains, where they can create their own bubbles.

Most destinations with established international profiles are already set up to cater for year-round living. Complementing their skiing and leisure amenities, they also offer world-class healthcare facilities, international schools, excellent broadband and telecommunications infrastructure.

There could also be financial advantages to becoming resident in your ski home. Switzerland’s tax system has attractive incentives for wealthy investors who become resident there. A popular option for foreigners in Valais, which includes Verbier, is the Lump Sum Taxation scheme, which allows residents to be taxed on their annual living expenditure rather than worldwide income or assets.

Equally, there are attractive schemes for foreigners wishing to set up a company in order to register and work as self-employed.