Until now I had stayed in hostels, bed & breakfasts, beach huts, caravans, boutique accommodations and luxury hotels, but I never stayed in a mountain chalet…this changed a few weeks ago when I was invited to review one of the most beautiful and luxurious chalets in the Alps: Eagle’s Nest.

Eagle’s Nest, Val d’Isère

I was in Val d’Isère for just two days on a press trip with luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, to review their Flagship Service and chalets. During two days I got a glimpse of how it feels to stay in a fully serviced chalet and to ski on the stunning slopes of Val d’Isère. Scott Dunn Travel is renowned for its superb ski portfolio which includes some of the Alps’ finest chalets.

Chalet Eagle’s Nest, opened in 2002, is an iconic chalet with the first ever indoor swimming-pool inside a private chalet. This season, the chalet unveiled a new look following a €750,000 facelift, with highlights such as an open-plan living area, a new deck with hot tub, a bar with spectacular views, and a games room. The chalet is stunning and it definitely rivals a five-star luxury hotels with regards to amenities, dining and service.

The 3 metres high bronze eagle sculpted by Livio Benedetti

Eagle’s Nest is the ultimate accommodation for a luxury ski holiday with your family and friends.  The chalet’s position, atop a rock with incredible views over Val d’Isère, and in the private estate, cannot be rivalled.

The chalet is constructed from antique timbers and every piece of furniture and every painting has been carefully selected for its alpine heritage, true to the roots of the quiet farming village of Val d’Isère.

Inside it’s a traditional alpine chalet with high tech features such as: Sonos integrated music system, flat screens and Playstation 3s, steam room, sauna, jetstream, and an outdoor hot tub.

Chalet Eagle’s Nest is spread over four floors (linked by stairs and lift). At the top, the spacious living room is ideal for large groups and has vaulted ceilings, ample sofa space, a log fireplace and large sunny balconies.

Chalet Eagle’s Nest features two double bedrooms, four twin bedrooms and a single bedroom. The bedrooms have all been redecorated with antique wood finish, velvet and fur-textured curtains and upholstery, and Italian tiles.

I was lucky to stay in the master bedroom with unrestricted views of the valley.

My bathroom featured a shower and a hot tub, with a selection of Cowshed bath products, which I loved.

The chalet offers everything you need to be entertained and relax in the evenings after a day spent on the slopes. In the mezzanine lounge, guests will find a 55 inch 3D Smart TV, Apple TV, Blu Ray HD DVD, Xbox 360, iPad and iPod dock. Music can be played throughout the chalet by the Sonos integral system.

The best part of the chalet for me was the Wellness centre: 7x5m indoor swimming pool with jet stream, sauna and steam room.

There is an outdoor hot tub which is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of Champagne with gorgeous views of Val d’Isere.

When you stay at Eagle’s Nest you can take advantage of Scott Dunn’s Flagship Service, meaning the on-site team will anticipate your every need.

The chalet hosts will manage every aspect of your holiday, from restaurant bookings to ensuring a 4×4 vehicle is ready to take you to the slopes in the mornings. 

The chalet’s Private Chef will cook gourmet dinners for the guests with menus tailored to your tastes. À la carte breakfast is served daily. If that wasn’t enough, wine, Champagne and spirits are included in the price of the chalet.

This season, Scott Dunn has started a culinary partnership with 2014 MasterChef Champion, Ping Coombes. The Malaysian chef created a special pan-Asian menu, especially crafted for an eager new British audience, which will be served in all Scott Dunn mountain chalets andMediterranean villas. The winter chalet menu is quite rich and perfect to eat after a long day of skiing.

Five-spiced pork spring roll

Laksa-inspired soup with a crispy duck egg, glass noodles and mushrooms

Asian-style braised short rib with orange peel, five-spice, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, soy sauce and red wine

Chocolate lava cake with peanut candy and black sesame ice-cream

While I was in Val d’Isère to review Eagle’s Nest, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to ski on the famous slopes of this resort. After a filling breakfast of scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast, I was ready to hit the slopes.

Val d’Isere ski resort is right in the centre of the town, about ten minutes walk from the chalet. The Scott Dunn drivers are available all day to take you there and back.

On the day we arrived, we had our ski and boots fitting done at the chalet, so the next morning we were all set to start skiing straight away.

As a beginner skier, I was cautious at first. With the help of my instructor from Oxygene Ski, I quickly beat my fears and enjoyed a few hours of skiing on the beautiful mountains.

I stayed on the easier blue pistes, without venturing on the reds. I didn’t mind too much, as it meant I could relax a bit and focus on the spectacular views.

With 300 kms of ski runs and a lively après-ski scene with dozens of bars (the most popular, La Folie Douce), Val d’Isère is a fantastic destination for ski lovers. Beginners like myself can enjoy easy runs, while more advanced skiers will love the red and black runs (including ‘La Face’ – famed as the 1992 Olympic ski run). The off piste potential is limitless and the snow record enviable from December to March.

After an intense and exhilarating morning of skiing we all gathered at Le Yule Hotel for an aperitif with Laurent-Perrier. Drinking Champagne on the sunny terrace of a 5-star hotel, a few meters from the ski lifts…life can hardly get better than this!

Scott Dunn offers 7 nights at Chalet Eagle’s Nest from £1,575pp based on full chalet occupancy including return British Airways flights from the UK, private airport transfers, private Scott Dunn chef, host and in-resort driver service. Book with Scott Dunn (020 8682 5050).

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Scott Dunn. All opinions are my own.