An Account of the Inaugural Skiing Holidays to Chamonix France
1770 was when the very first tourist accommodation was opened up in Chamonix Haute Savoie. Prior to this Chamonix France constituted a savage and sturdy agricultural village where folks caught animals and produced their oats.
Barns at this time were used to stock dairy cows during the spring and summer. Milk was kept by transforming it into cheese and butter and kept in the farm for consumption over the long winter times. Throughout the winter the chalets were secured, and any valuables were locked in a liitle shack.
The person who invented the catered chalet holiday is nameless, however it was probably some zealous chaps who realised a formula which was new and exciting. For Erna Low it commenced whilst she was a unhappy graduate who could not see her family back home as much as she would like to. Therefore in the 1930’s she took a gamble and took out a ad in the broadsheets to tempt punters on a skiing break. The cost was £15 and they traveled to and from the town, had breakfast and dinner and accommodation in the sole inn, and paid for ski gear and lessons. The holiday was difficult , there were no ski lifts, no quick release fixations, only heavy leather boots, it was so popular that Erna Low kept on taking groups on vacation, making sure she used great hotels and ski guides.
These Skiing holidays during the early years were a long way to the luxury we experience nowadays. Back then hot water was in limited supply, the bathrooms had to be used by all of the guests, and there was no a chef; all the punters needed to help out. It was a real gamble who may be in the accommodation for the trip, one could be pleased by meeting new skiers, or grimace at the thought of having to spend any more time with them.
Chalet holidays were later on advertised on their additional benefits. Your own cook, who served you continental breakfast and a four course dinner and even made you afternoon tea, private bathrooms hot water.
