In 1770 the 1st guest house was opened in Chamonix Mont Blanc. Prior to this Chamonix France constituted a savage and tough agrarian place where locals hunted their own animals and grew their own wheat.

Chalets at this time were used to breed herds over the summer months. Their milk was kept by changing it into cheeses and stocked down in the valley for consumption over the cruel winter times. During the winter the chalets were bolted, and all valuables were locked in a liitle shed.

The person who invented the chalet holiday is unknown, however it was likely a few zealous people who realized a formula that was new and exciting. With Erna Low it commenced whilst she was a homesick graduate and could not visit her parents back home in Austria as often as she liked. And so in 1930 she took a punt and took out a advertisement in the Times to tempt guests on a ski holiday. For only £15 they travelled to and from resort, enjoyed food and lodging in the solitary pub lodging, and paid for skiing gear and lessons. The vacation was hard work, there were no ski lifts, no safety bindings, only hard leather shoes, however it was such a hit that Erna Low kept on taking groups on vacations, ensuring she utilized superb accommodations and ski guides.

Ski vacations in the beginning were a far cry to the luxury we have today. Hot water was in short supply, the bathrooms would be shared with all of the punters, and there wasn’t a chef; all the clients had to help out. No one knew who might share the chalet for a holiday, one could be enjoyably surprised to encounter new allies, or grimaced by the thought of spending another day with unpleasant guests.

Ski holidays were later on marketed on their additional pluses. Your own chef, who served you continental breakfast and a four course dinner and prepared you cakes, ensuites hot water.