Nowhere is perfect, but Chalet Cannelle comes close. This is a stunning 200-year-old farmhouse with original timbers running wild. It stands on the edge of the tiny hamlet of Suvay in the Abondance Valley, a picture of rural simplicity that gives way to lovely contemporary interiors. The vast lounge has a high ceiling, an open fire and comfy sofas scattered about, but the star of the show is the enormous window that frames huge views of Les Dents du Midi. The 6 chic bedrooms come in cool chalet style. Some have private balconies overlooking the valley and all have smart bathrooms.
During the peak ski season (late Dec-April) you have the option to book the whole place, ideal for a house party with family and friends, with owners Andy and Lorraine doing all the hard work. After a lovely breakfast, you’re whisked off to the lifts at Châtel (1km up the road), then disappear into the mountains of the Portes du Soleil, some of the best skiing in Europe. At the end of the day, you return for afternoon tea, a soak in the hot tub, then discover the big surprise - Andy’s outstanding food. If you're after a romantic trip for two, you can book B&B and venture out in the evenings. Whatever you do, just come: it’s gorgeous, it’s great value, and you couldn’t hope to fall into better hands.
Highs
- The house is so beautiful you may spurn the mountains for a day at home. Andy and Lorraine look after you brilliantly and make your stay very special
- Perfect for couples but also very family-friendly - extra beds and cots, a family room, a playroom, tailored meals
- Andy’s cooking is so much tastier than most of the food you eat in restaurants; whole-chalet rates during the peak ski season include breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and all your drinks - wine, beer, vin chaud
- The Portes du Soleil - 650km of skiing on one very well-priced pass. There’s plenty to do in summer, too: hiking, mountain biking, zip wires, wild swimming
- You don’t need a car in winter and airport transfers are easily arranged
Lows
- Dinners are only served if the whole house is booked
- Some of the bedrooms aren’t huge and a couple don’t have much of a view
- This isn’t a ‘ski in, ski out’ chalet, but you’re shuttled to and from the lifts every day
- No TVs in the bedrooms, but there’s one in the lounge (that’s never used!) and the kids' den
Best time to go
If you book the whole chalet during the ski season, Andy and Lorraine do everything - cook, clean, polish and shine - and you’ll find yourself in a deliciously small house party (you can throw in a few children, too). If this is what you’re looking for, believe us, you’ve found it here.
But this is a house for all seasons and there’s masses to do in spring, summer and autumn, when you take an individual room. The lifts are handy for walking and mountain biking, although they close from late April to June. However, there are plenty of mountains that remain accessible on foot or by car.
But this is a house for all seasons and there’s masses to do in spring, summer and autumn, when you take an individual room. The lifts are handy for walking and mountain biking, although they close from late April to June. However, there are plenty of mountains that remain accessible on foot or by car.
Our top tips
Chalet Cannelle is pretty much on the Swiss border and if you are arriving in a French hire car, you can’t drive on Swiss motorways unless you have bought the vignette (annual permit). You must tell your car-hire company if you are going to do this.
Equally, if you hire a Swiss car you must tell them that you are going to drive into France so that they can make sure you have a non-Swiss registered car (in this case the vignette comes included).
For hiring a car during winter, you must hire from the Swiss side as French cars are not equipped for mountain driving.
Equally, if you hire a Swiss car you must tell them that you are going to drive into France so that they can make sure you have a non-Swiss registered car (in this case the vignette comes included).
For hiring a car during winter, you must hire from the Swiss side as French cars are not equipped for mountain driving.
Location
Chalet Cannelle is located in the hamlet of Suvay, 1km north of Châtel in the Abondance Valley, France. It’s 5km west of the Swiss border and 35km south of Lake Geneva (also known as Lac Léman).
By Air:
Geneva is not only the nearest airport (75km), but it has a huge range of international flights - click on the links below for a list of airlines. It has exits on the Swiss and French sides of the border. There’s also a small airport near Annecy (110km away), served by internal flights from Paris.
From the Airport
Transfers can be arranged (see Rates), and you don’t need your own car in winter, when travel to and from the ski lifts is included in the price. If you’re coming in summer, we recommend hiring a car to explore - see below.
By Train:
There’s a station at Thonon-Les-Bains (40 minutes from the chalet), served by local trains from Lyon (where you can connect with the high-speed TGV from Paris). There’s also a station at Aigle in Switzerland (about 40km away), with trains to and from Geneva airport; it's connected to Châtel by bus in winter. Andy and Lorraine can arrange transfers from either station.
By Car:
When the snow has vanished a car makes sense, as there’s lots to do in the wider area. See our car rental recommendations. Note that you’ll need a vignette (annual permit) to drive on Swiss motorways.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to France and getting around
Airports:
- Geneva 75.0 km GVA
- Annecy Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc 110.0 km NCY
Other:
- Beach 40.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 2.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Chalet Cannelle was an excellent base for exploring the French Alps for a week in the summer with our children. Lorraine and Andy were fantastic hosts and we really valued their recommendations as to what we could do each day, ranging from walks, activities and places to eat. Great breakfasts too!
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape