Here’s why Americans are ditching US resorts and ski resorts in Europe: cheaper tickets, tougher terrain and stunning properties like Chalet Couttet
When it comes to serious skiing, no resort has more cachet than Chamonix, the bustling chocolate-box town at the foot of Mont Blanc.
Home to mountaineering and with some of the most challenging terrain in the Alps, it has long captured the attention of French, Swiss and British skiers.
But more and more thrill-seeking Americans are also coming to the city – and it’s not hard to see why.
The crowds are smaller, the lift tickets cheaper, the restaurants more charming, and the private properties on offer are a cut above the eye-wateringly expensive options you’ll find on Airbnb and VRBO in the United States.
See Chalet Couttet, the five-bedroom snow palace located at the foot of Mont Blanc and offering an ultra-luxury stay in Chamonix
This chalet is so cozy and cool that it melts the Bond villains it seems to have been built for
An ultra-sleek interior and impressive amenities put Chalet Couttet among the top of Aspen and Deer Valley’s best – at a significantly more palatable price
Just an hour’s drive from Geneva, on the outskirts of the city, you will find super luxurious houses such as Chalet Coutteta five-bedroom snow palace that would melt the Bond villains it seems built for.
There is an on-site wellness centre, complete with sauna and steam room, stainless steel spiral staircases, outdoor swimming pool (heated in the winter months), hot tub and cinema.
The sleek equipment room is furnished with a row of boot warmers to toast your toes before heading out for the day.
Fresh croissants and bread are delivered every morning by a charming member of the team, who also checks the pool and hot tub, but apart from their silent drop-ins, Chalet Couttet offers ultimate seclusion – all the comforts of a 5-star hotel. All the privacy of your own home.
Outside there is a private heated pool, hot tub, champagne telecabin and more
The five luxurious bedrooms all have their own bathroom and are located in cozy wood-paneled corners of the house
The house is a 35 minute walk into town (a welcome escape after an evening of fondue and Bordeaux) and a short drive to the slopes.
And while pricey — between $13,000 and $27,000 for a week — staying at a comparable property in Deer Valley or Aspen with fewer amenities would set a family back at least $35,000.
When you add in the cost of skiing — up to $200 a day at most U.S. resorts — a couple going on a group trip would have to pay $10,000 in lodging and lift tickets for the week alone.
Even the TikTokers agree: the relative affordability of a European ski trip shouldn’t be overlooked.
Influencer Camille Larmoyeux has caused a stir among ski enthusiasts with her price comparison videos of Colorado resorts versus their European counterparts.
While not all of her examples are correct, the cost of flying from New York City to Salt Lake or Denver is often comparable to flying directly to Geneva. Where airfare is more expensive, skiers can save on lift tickets.
Unlike the busy resorts in America, Chamonix has plenty of trails and lifts to spread out the skiers
In town, the restaurants are more charming – and the local champagne cheaper! – than anything you’ll find in the US
And in terms of ski quality and experience on the slopes, Europe wins hands down.
The resorts are larger and have more varied, rewarding trails that will keep even the most experienced skiers busy for days.
An unlimited seven-day Mont Blanc pass costs $480 – less than $100 per day – compared to $1,400 for the same ticket in Aspen.
If snow sports aren’t your thing, towns like Chamonix also offer charming tourist alternatives, such as the Montenvers Train, which gently ascends the Mer de Glace and offers some of the best views of the valley.
There, tourists can enjoy charcuterie and wine in the Refuge de Montenvers, a walking hotel that has been around since 1880.
There are plenty of spa options in the city for those staying in hotels. Chalet Couttet has its own wellness suite with sauna, steam bath and room for massages.
Eating out, although pricey on the hill, is considerably cheaper, as is the locally produced champagne.
And for groups or families who would like to use the luxury kitchens of their chalet, groceries are a bargain.
Neither an American nor a European ski holiday can be considered cheap, and the French may not be grateful that they have flocked to their beloved slopes in search of new frontiers.
But with domestic prices rising and crowds increasing, consider a pilgrimage to the home of the sport when planning your next winter vacation.
For more information about Chalet Couttet, visit the property’s website here. Visit the resort site for more information about Chamonix here.
