Chalet Les Anges in Zermatt, Switzerland, has been named the World’s Best Ski Chalet for 2017. The seven-bedroom luxury property, represented by rental company Exceptional Villas, also took the title of Switzerland’s Best Ski Chalet. Both honors came at the 5th annual World Ski Awards, and the news was announced in London on December 4, 2017.
The ceremony took place in November at the five-star A-ROSA Kitzbühel in Austria. The awards celebrate excellence in ski tourism. Over three days, leaders of the ski industry from around the world meet there to share local knowledge, new ideas and best practice.
Les Anges beat strong competition from chalets in Zermatt, Verbier and many other resorts. Linda Browne, marketing manager at Exceptional Villas, called it the best chalet in the Alps. She noted that it sits in Petit Village, a very exclusive part of Zermatt.
Inside the chalet
The light and scenery of Zermatt clearly shaped the design. Huge panoramic windows open wide, so guests get the full view of the Matterhorn. The village center is only a short walk away.
Zermatt itself looks like a postcard and is one of only two Swiss resorts that are completely car-free. The skiing and shopping draw plenty of visitors, though the luxury chalets and mountain restaurants are the real highlight.
In winter the chalet comes fully staffed, while in summer it offers bed-and-breakfast rates. A chalet manager, housekeepers and a personal chef look after guests, and the chef cooks gourmet meals throughout the stay.
The wellness area is a standout. It is built with natural stone around a central water feature and includes a massage room, a hammam steam room, a sauna and a shower. From there, guests step straight onto a terrace with Matterhorn views and a 3-square-meter power-jet plunge pool. There is also a ski room with heated boot racks.
Another big winner that night was Val Thorens in France. As the highest resort in Europe, it was named the World’s Best Ski Resort at the event, which brought the elite of ski hospitality to Austria.
Exceptional Villas rents luxury villas and chalets that its staff have hand-picked and inspected in person. The company has been in travel for more than 25 years and serves clients worldwide. It matches each client with a villa and adds a free concierge service, which covers VIP airport arrival, ground transport, restaurant bookings, tours, water sports and pre-arrival stocking. Unlike some competitors, it charges no membership fee. Its villa experts visit every property, so they know each home and destination in detail.