25 cracking breaks
Date of publication: 24 March 2007
Writer: Tim Bryan
There's still time to plough the pistes, especially at Chamonix. Former theatre impresario Philippe Courtines took 20 years to turn an abandoned hamlet and its ancient cabins into a mountain retreat - think Heidi meets Hansel and Gretel (sans gingerbread), although we doubt they had a hamman, an outdoor Jacuzzi, an indoor home cinema or a baroque bedroom suite. Rent the whole hamlet or take an individual cabin - the hamlet sleeps up to 20, plus six kids, with rates from £300pp per week. chaletsphilippe.com.
Live article : http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/mar/24/saturday.familyholidays.shortbreaks?page=5