Renting a luxury mountain chalet: from first enquiry to collecting the keys

Renting a luxury chalet in the mountains is nothing like booking a hotel. The house belongs to someone and is usually let by the week; above all, its rules vary from one chalet to the next. In one, the cleaners come midway through your stay; next door, the dog stays outside. None of it is complicated, as long as you know where to look. Here is how a rental with AEC Collection works, from the first enquiry to the handover of the keys, and what is worth checking before you commit.

Let by the week, Saturday to Saturday

In winter, the mountains run on a weekly rhythm. Chalets are generally let from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday, and the minimum stay is usually 7 nights in high season. The calendar on each listing shows the possible arrival days: click on one and the price shown is for the whole week.

In mid and low season, some owners accept shorter stays. It depends on the chalet and the time of year, so simply ask your agent, giving your dates.

AEC tip. School-holiday weeks and the festive weeks are the most sought after. If your dates are fixed, send them early: an option can sometimes hold the chalet while you get everyone on board.

The booking request: free and with no commitment

On a chalet’s listing, the “Book this stay” button charges nothing. It opens a request: your dates, the number of guests and, if you like, a message. Along the way you create your client account, where you can then follow your requests and stays.

There is no instant booking, and that is deliberate. Your agent checks real availability with the chalet’s owner or manager, then confirms the exact price for your dates. Our agents reply six days a week, by email or on WhatsApp. Torn between two houses? An option can sometimes be placed, for a length of time agreed with your agent.

Deposit and balance: when you pay

Your booking becomes firm once you pay the deposit, which is requested as soon as availability has been confirmed. The balance is then paid before arrival, on the dates set out in the payment schedule in your contract. If your stay is close, the full amount is requested on confirmation.

Each instalment is paid from your client account, and an email reminds you three days before it falls due. Bank transfer and SEPA direct debit are free of charge. Card payments are accepted, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, with a 2% processing fee added to the amount charged and shown before you confirm. If you are travelling on a Russian passport, cards issued in Russia are not accepted: our page on visa and payment arrangements for Russian travellers explains how to pay.

What the price includes, and what comes on top

The price shown covers the rental of the chalet for the period you choose. Before you compare two houses, look at what comes with it.

Tourist tax is set by the commune or group of communes, within a national scale. In most cases it is charged per night for each adult, with under-18s exempt, and paid in advance or on site depending on the chalet. You are told the amount on confirmation.

Cleaning at the end of your stay is often included, sometimes offered as an extra, and some chalets also include a clean during your stay. Household linen works the same way. Each property’s listing shows what is included; if in doubt, your agent will confirm it before you pay the deposit.

Some houses come with their own services, a private chef or transfers, for example. Included services appear on the listing, and others can be arranged on request.

The security deposit

The chalet’s manager may ask for a security deposit, what most people simply call a damage deposit. The amount depends on the house and appears in your rental contract; how it is paid and returned is arranged directly with the manager. It covers anything missing when you leave, any damage, or anything you have used that the price does not cover.

It is returned to you after the check-out inventory, minus the cost of any damage. If a pet is accepted, an additional deposit may be asked for.

AEC tip. When you arrive, take ten minutes to walk round the house with the person who welcomes you, and point out anything amiss straight away. A precise inventory on arrival protects your security deposit when you leave.

Cancelling, changing dates, getting insured

Cancellation terms depend on the chalet, its owner and the time of year. They are set out before confirmation and repeated in the contract: the charges vary according to when your cancellation request arrives, relative to the start of your stay. Changing your dates after confirmation follows the same rules, unless the owner agrees otherwise.

One point many people are unaware of: renting accommodation for specific dates does not give you a fourteen-day cooling-off period. Article L221-28 of the French Consumer Code (Code de la consommation) excludes it for accommodation provided on a set date. Hence the value of cancellation and curtailment insurance. We offer two policies with our partner, Cabinet Albinet: cancellation insurance must be taken out within ten days of booking or paying the deposit, so it is best to think about it as soon as your booking is confirmed.

Pets and events: ask first

Some chalets welcome pets, always with the owner’s prior agreement; the owner may set conditions on the size or number of animals, or even ask for an additional deposit. Mention your pet in your very first request. Our selection of dog-friendly chalets is based on the listings, and your agent checks again before every booking: an owner may change their conditions from one season to the next.

The same goes for a birthday or a wedding: the event must be approved in advance. Describe your plans in your first message and your agent will steer you towards a house that suits.

Arriving at the chalet

On arrival day, a local partner meets you at the house, goes through the inventory with you and gives you the practical information about the property. Some chalets also allow self check-in, on request. Arriving late? Just let us know in advance and the welcome will fit around your arrival time.

Throughout your stay, you have a dedicated contact. A problem with the heating, a question about the spa: a single message is all it takes to reach us.

Finding the chalet that suits you

Now for the most enjoyable part: choosing the house. You can start from a resort, Courchevel, Méribel, Val d’Isère or Megève, or from what you have in mind: a chalet with a swimming pool, a chalet with a hot tub, a house at the foot of the pistes or a chalet for 20 people. Part of our collection is not published online: our agents can suggest it to you depending on your dates. To plan the journey, our guides on getting to Courchevel, to Megève, to Chamonix and to Val d’Isère cover trains, flights and roads in detail.

The simplest thing is to write to us. Send us your dates and the number of guests: our agents will come back to you with a selection of available chalets.

The rest happens up there, on the first evening, when the lights come on in the house and the week begins.

Frequently asked questions