In 1770 the inaugural guest house opened in Chamonix France.

Before this date Chamonix town was a wild and tough agricultural hamlet where folks captured their own animals and produced their own wheat.

Farmhouses then were used to breed animals over the summer months.

The cows milk was conserved by changing it into cheeses and kept in the farm for consumption during the long wintertimes.

Throughout the winter season the barns were locked, and all valuables were locked in a mazot.

The person who invented the chalet holiday is unknown, however it was in all likelihood numerous spirited chaps who realized a pattern which worked.

For entrepreneur Erna Low it all started when she was a homesick student who couldn’t see her parents back home as often as she liked.

And so in the early 1930’s she took a gamble and put a small ad in the papers to tempt clients on a winter vacation. For £15 they travelled to and from resort, were provided with breakfast and dinner and accommodation in the sole chalet, and took ski hire and instruction.

The trip was strenuous, there were no lifts, no quick release bindings, just heavy leather shoes, but it was so successful that Erna kept on taking friends on holidays, seeing to it that she sourced first-class accommodations and skiing instructors.

These Skiing vacations during the formative years were very different from the luxury ski accommodation we can get now.

Back then hot water was in short supply, bathrooms were shared out by all of the clients, and there was no a cook; all the punters had to help out.

No one knew who might share the accommodation for a vacation, you may be surprised to meet fresh allies, or spend a week of hell with people you didn’t get on with.