1770 was when the 1st hotel opened in Chamonix ski resort, and it was nothing like today’s luxury ski chalets.

Before this Chamonix constituted a wild and tough agrarian place where the locals captured their animals and produced their own oats.

Chalets at this time were used to breed herds during the spring and summer.

The milk was kept by making it into cheese and preserved down in the valley for eating over the harsh wintertimes.

Throughout the snow season the farmhouses were secured, and any valued possessions were locked in a hut.

The person who devised the chalet holiday is nameless, however it was in all probability several zealous chaps who realised a idea which was new and exciting.

With Erna Low it commenced when she was a unhappy student who couldn’t visit her parents in Austrias frequently as she liked.

Thus in 1931 she took a punt and took out a small ad in the Times to invite punters on a winter vacation. The cost was £15 and they travelled to and from resort, were provided with dinner and board in the solitary hotel, and took skiing gear and tuition.

Skiing was difficult, there weren’t any chair lifts, no safety bindings, only strong leather shoes, however it was so popular that Erna continued to take groups on vacation, ensuring she found fine chalets and skiing guides.

Catered chalet breaks in the beginning were a long way from the standards we can get today.

Back then hot water was in limited supply, bathrooms would be shared by all of the customers, and there was no a cook; the guests were expected to help out with the chores.

No one knew who might share the accommodation for the week, one could be pleasantly surprised by meeting fresh acquaintances, or grimaced by the thought of spending another day with unpleasant guests.