CHALET CROIX BLANCHE GUEST MANUAL

Introduction

This document is available for download before you visit Chalet Croix Blanche so that you can be prepared for the holiday – and also as a hardcopy in the chalet.

The Chalet was newly constructed in 2012 for ourselves, the Fisher family, with all the things we would expect to have at home. We hope that it provides you with an outstanding holiday in this beautiful part of the world.

During your stay at the chalet, Agence Valet de Chalet will be your main point of contact and can help manage any on the ground issues for you. Olivier can be contacted on [email protected] or +41 (0) 791 046 416. In case of any problems please contact Oliver or Alpenchalets.

Rob and Julie

www.chaletcroixblanche.com [email protected]

Contents

Activities ...... 2

Arrival and Pre Arrival ...... 3

Baby Facilities ...... 3

Baby Sitting ...... 3

Barbeque ...... 3

Beds ...... 4

Breakages and Damages ...... 4

Curtains and Shutters ...... 4

Dining Table ...... 4

End of the week ...... 5

Fire Extinguisher ...... 5

Food ...... 5

Games ...... 5

Garage ...... 5

1

Hairdryers ...... 6

Heating ...... 6

Hospital ...... 6

Internet and WiFi ...... 6

Kitchen Facilities ...... 7

Laundry facilities ...... 8

Lift Passes ...... 8 https://www.alpenchalets.com/GB/GBSkipass.html...... 9

Location ...... 9

Massage/Spa ...... 9

Outdoor Seating ...... 9

Problems ...... 9

Restaurants ...... 10

Rubbish ...... 10

Shoes ...... 10

Skiing/Snow Boarding ...... 11

Skis, Snowboards and Boots ...... 11

Smoking ...... 12

Snow clearing ...... 12

Swimming pool ...... 12

Tennis courts ...... 13

Towels and Sheets ...... 13

TVs and Home Cinema System ...... 13

Woodburner ...... 14

Activities

There is an extensive range of things to do in the area. The Chalet Croix Blance website (www.chaletcroixblanche.com) has a number of links to such websites.

2

Arrival and Pre Arrival

Please contact Olivier at Agence Valet de Chalet at least a week before your arrival on [email protected] or +41 (0) 791 046 416. Olivier needs to know what time they should expect you to arrive. Check in hours are from 4pm to 6pm on your first day and Olivier or a member of his staff will usually meet you to brief you on the chalet and ensure that your arrival is smooth. There is a “key safe” box to the right of the front door to the chalet and Oliver will provide you with the access code. They also need to know if you wish to take up the option of towels.

Baby Facilities

We have provided a high chair and also a travel cot. The High Chair should be found in the ski boot room and the travel cot should be in the wardrobe in the master bedroom (with a duvet and a pillow). Instructions on how to assemble the travel cot are included in the cot. Please read them carefully and don’t force the travel cot: it can break!

Baby Sitting

There is a day care center in 2000 for children from 18 months old. Website: http://www.thyon.ch/home-2/families/nursery?lang=en. Opening hours Winter Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and they can provide lunch. Tel: +41 (0) 27 281 37 37 (Dec to April) and +41 (1) 27 282 57 61 (out of season).

Barbeque

We have provided a Koenig gas fired barbeque for those long summer evenings. The barbeque has a motorised rotissery function and the arm and motor unit can be found with the barbeque in the garage. If the cylinder runs out of gas, you can switch it for a full one from the Tamoil fuel station at the bottom of the road Route d’Herens before you get to Sion.

3

Beds

There are five bedrooms: four with twin beds and the master bedroom with a king sized bed. It is possible to push the single beds together but please be careful as the beds are metal and will scratch the floor if they are dragged. Also, if you move the furniture please be careful not to break the bedside lamps. Any damages will be charged at cost. We have invested in the mattresses as we believe that at the end of a hard days skiing or hiking people deserve a decent bed. They are memory foam from a company called ErgoFlex (check them out www.ergoflex.co.uk/). There are two pillows on each bed – one ergoflex memory foam and one luxury hollow fibre pillow. The duvets are finest luxury hollow fibre 13.5 tog. Be warned: the beds are very comfortable and you might not get to the slopes on time! If you take up the sheet option, the matching bedding is luxury white Egyptian cotton.

Breakages and Damages

Accidents always happen, but need to be paid for on your departure to Agence Valet de Chalet. If the breakages are not a regular item we will let you know what the cost is as soon as possible.

Curtains and Shutters

There are curtains and shutters in most rooms in the chalet. All the bedrooms have shutters and the downstrairs bedrooms and the master bedroom also have voile curtains for your privacy. All the en suite bathrooms also have fixed voiles. The shutters for the lounge and dining windows are electric shutters and are operated by a remote. There is also an electrically operated awning over the kitchen window.

Dining Table

The dining table comfortably seats 10 people and if you need more than that there are a couple of folding chairs in the garage.

4

End of the week

Please check out with Agence Valet de Chalet when you leave the chalet and settle your final bills (check out is 9am). Please let them know about any breakages when you check out. Agence Valet de Chalet will undertake an inventory check after your departure.

Fire Extinguisher

There is a fire extinguisher in the ski boot room and also one in the Garage.

Food

There is a groceries shop in , and a small supermarket in Les Collons (a 5-10 min drive up the mountain). For day to day provisions, you can buy pretty much everything you really need in these supermarkets, but as they are up the mountain they are more expensive.

For the larger weekly shop, there are Swiss hypermarkets just down the mountain in Sion or in Conthey - just outside Sion (just two junctions back down the motorway from Sion towards Geneva/Lausanne). You can find Aldi on the right hand side of the road if you turn left at the roundabout immediately on the road Route d’Herens at the bottom of the mountain. The main supermarkets are generally open 8:30am-6:30pm Mon–Thur, 8:30am-9:00pm Fri and 8:00am- 5:00pm Sat (and closed on Sundays). There is also a Migros (the biggest Swiss supermarket chain) on Route d’Herens approaching Sion and is open from 8:30am-6:30pm Mon-Thur, 8:00am-8:00pm Fri and 8:00am-5:00pm Sat (it is closed on Sundays).

Games

There are many board games in the lounge cupboards. Please feel free to enjoy them, but put them back when you have finished so they can be enjoyed by the next guests.

Garage

There is a lockable garage. The key to the main house also opens the garage (as well as the ski shed outside the main door). To open the garage door turn

5

the key which will allow you to turn the handle clockwise to the horizontal position, then simply pull the door up and over by the handle. To lock it just turn the handle anti clockwise to the vertical (you don’t need the key in to do this). The garage door is very heavy so please make sure that you are not in its way when shutting the garage. There is a fridge and a freezer in the garage which will allow you to stock up for the week from the supermarkets in the valley.

Hairdryers

There are hairdryers in the bedside drawer in each bedroom.

Heating

We have underfloor heating and an environmentally friendly heating system. The settings are adjusted weekly and there should be no need to change them. Any problems please contact Olivier.

Hospital

We hope that you do not need access to the hospital in Sion, but if you do please remember to take your E111 European Health Insurance card. It is called L’Hopital du and is the main hospital for the whole of the Valais region. For emergences, please call the hospital on 144. Their Web address is: https://www.hopitalduvalais.ch/en/valais-hospital/sites/sion.html.

Their contact number is +41 (0) 27 603 40 00

Internet and WiFi

The chalet is WiFi enabled and there are some spare RJ45 (Ethernet) sockets around the chalet which are all connected up (other than the blanked one behind the Granite Work Surface in the lounge bar area). The WiFi is broadcasting on SSID: CCBWiFi (which should come up just by searching for Wireless Networks). It is security enabled and the password is available either by email from [email protected] or looking in the Chalet Croix Blanche Hardcopy Manual left in the Chalet. The chalet connects to the internet

6

via a Swisscom broadband connection which should be freely accessible from the WiFi or ethernet connections.

Kitchen Facilities

Our kitchen is a Poggenpohl designed kitchen and is equipped with top of the range Siemens appliances.

Fridge/Freezer

There is an integrated fridge/freezer which has a small freezer compartment. The freezer contains a rapid cool function which can be used to cool drinks quickly if needed – please don’t forget if you use this as glass bottles can shatter if they are left to freeze. There are two bar fridges in the lounge for your drinks. There is a fridge and a freezer in the garage so you should be able to provision for the whole week on one supermarket shop.

Microwave

There is an eye level microwave. To open it you need to press the open button (which looks like an open book) and to use it there is an on/off button which you need to press before the display lights up. The knob sets the time and the start/stop button turns it on. Once it has finished you will need to turn it off via the on/off button or it will continue to beep at you! There is a manual in the box file in the cupboard in the lounge area.

Ovens

There are two ovens. To use these press the round part at the centre of the control panel: a knob will pop out to allow you to change the settings. There is a manaul in the box file.

Hob

To operate the hob just press the power symbol at the centre of the control panel and then the slider relating to the ring you wish to control. The hob is an induction hob and will not produce any heat until one of the pans is placed upon it. (Only specific pans will work so if the hob doesn’t produce heat use one of the pans that are provided). The rings cool down quickly once you remove the pans or turn the heat down to zero. There are safety mechanisms that shut off the hob in certain events (for instance when there is a spillage or sometimes when a pan boils dry) so don’t be surprised if the hob turns off. You can turn it

7

back on again once the safety event has been rectified. There is a manual in the box file.

Coffee Machine

There is a Nespresso coffee machine in the kitchen. If you forget to bring your favourite capsules, you can buy capules that fit the machine from the Coop in Conthey.

Other

You will find the usual range of other klitchen items such as an electric blender/whisk, scales, kettle and toaster. There are plenty of serving dishes and storage containers as well as crockery and cutlery.

Laundry facilities

The washing machine and tumble drier are located in the ski boot room. There are manuals in the box file if the symbols aren’t obvious (they weren’t to us!). The tumble dryer is a condensing dryer and the tank (top left of the dryer) may need emptying: if so, simply pull it out and empty it in a sink. An iron can be found in the cupboard in the ski boot room and an ironing board is next to the washing machine. There is a laundry basket on top of the tumble dryer and an airer next to the washing machine.

Lift Passes

There are several different types of ski passes in the region:

PRINTZE - includes all of Les Collons and Thyon 2000, Nendaz, Siviez and , (a huge ski area)

GENERAL 4-Vallées – includes all resorts and the MONT-FORT glacier (an enormous area)

The Valais card provides access to over 30 ski resorts and thermal baths in the Valais region

Beginners will not need more than a PRINTZE pass, but it can be extended on a day by day basis if the skier wants to go outside the area. All ski lifts are free of charge for children up to 6 years old.

8

The nearest lift is the Les Masses lift and you can buy passes at ALM – both are located on the top floor of the Les Masses multistorey carpark, which is a short uphill walk from Chalet Croix Blanche.

Discounts are available for ski passes if they are booked online at least 10 days in advance. Clients of Alpenchalets can benefit from discounted ski passes that are booked in advance. For more information see: https://www.alpenchalets.com/GB/GBSkipass.html.

Location

If you want to put the chalet location into your GPS, it is on the Chemin du Tennis, Hérémence. There are also driving details on the website (www.chaletcroixblanche.com) which also contains a downloadable document with more detailed directions from Geneva.

Massage/Spa

Masseurs are available at the foot of the slopes at Thyon 2000. http://www.thyon.ch/fr/fppoi-massage-36912.html.

Outdoor Seating

We have provided some outdoor seating on the main balcony and also on the master bedroom balcony. The views are stunning – to the west, the Grand Dixence dam and to the south, the mountain (at 4,356m one of the highest in the Alps).

Problems

If you have any problems (need new lightbulbs, something not working or anything else), please call Olivier or Alpenchalets. Olivier can be contacted on during normal hours and Alpenchalets will provide you with an emergency phone number with your arrival information.

9

Restaurants

For lunch there are many excellent restaurants around the mountain serving various types of food including sandwiches, pasta, fondue, rosti, pizza or even a three course meal at a reasonable price; they don't charge over the top like many resorts, Chalet Maya is very good. Check out the following three restaurants also:

Les Chottes (http://www.leschottes.ch/)

La Cambuse (https://www.lacambuse.ch/index.php/en/)

Les Bois Sauvage (https://leboissauvage.ch/en/welcome/) was refurbished a few years ago – used to be called the Restaurant Les Masses and is just above the chalet … go straight across the road at the top of Chemin du Tennis, up the hill and it is on the right near Les Masses.

Down in the valley there are many restaurants. We can recommend Da Vinci in Sion and Le Terminus (https://www.hotel-terminus.ch/en/) has a good reputation and has two Michelin stars (it was Swiss restaurant of the year in 2008).

Rubbish

There are bins throughout the chalet in the kitchen and bathrooms. When you need to dispose of rubbish then there are recycling bins at the déchetterie just before the muti storey car park. In 2017, thre Swiss introduced a new tax on disposal of general trash and any general trash that is disposed of in the main bins at the dechetterie need to use special bin bags (which is how the Swiss collect this particular tax). These are available at the supermarkets and Olivier will ensure that you are briefed and may have some for you to purchase.

Shoes

Around the chalet please take off your outside shoes (and of course your ski boots).

10

Skiing/Snow Boarding

Chalet Croix Blanche is connected to the 4-Vallees ski area which is the largest connected ski area in Switzerland and competes favourably with all the major ski areas in the Alps for diversity and challenge.

Thyon-Printze is a section of the 4-Vallees and is a large ski area itself, with 48 lifts that offers skiers a total of 1777 metres of vertical descent. It has 220 km of pistes and 15 km of cross country ski trails. For snowboarders, there is a terrain park. The combined area’s lift system can carry over 72,500 persons per hour, and has 5 cable cars, 14 gondolas, 33 chair lifts and 49 drag lifts. In all there are 30 blue runs, 40 red runs and 12 black runs providing 103kms of black runs, 168km of red runs and 120km of blue runs. The Haute-Route (Ski Tour) and other High Mountain Tours offer some of the most challenging runs in the Alps. Heli-skiing is also very popular here.

The nearest lift is the Les Masses lift which leads to blues and reds, and connects to the Etherolla and Trebanta lifts. Etherolla takes skiers up to the top of Etherolla from which skiers can ski the long black run back down or go on towards Siviez.

Swiss ski school takes kids from three and a half years. Kids Village, group and individual lessons are available. The wide open sunny slopes above Les Collons are ideal for beginners and lapsed experienced skiers that want an easy re- introduction to skiing. There are also plenty of ski shacks to provide food or a glass of Vin Chaud.

For the expert skier, there are many challenging runs - both on piste and off piste down from Mont Rouge and Grepon Blanc. The infamous Tortin run, which is on the main route back from , has been labelled as one of “the world’s scariest ski runs” by The Telegraph. For the less adventurous, the gondola provides an easier route back... Verbier and back is a full day event, but it is worth the effort. The world class Piste d L’Ours is part of the World Cup circuit.

Skis, Snowboards and Boots

There is a lockable ski shed located to the left of the main entrance to the chalet. Your key will open it (as well as the front door and the garage). Please leave your skis in here and do not bring them into the chalet. You will minimise risks of any damages this way and you also minimise the quantity of snow

11

brought into the chalet. There is also a locker facility for you to leave your skis at the Les Masses ski lift.

There is a heated boot rack in the ski boot room. There is also a WC opposite the ski boot room for any last minute urges - so there really is no need to walk about the house in your ski boots.

Theytaz sports based in Les Collons offers a full rental service (www.theytazsports.ch on +41 (0) 27 281 13 56. Clients of Alpen Chalets can receive a discount by booking in advance. For more information see http://alpenchaletsbookings.com. Mention that you are staying at Chalet Croix Blanche.

Ski School and Private Lessons are available at Thyon 2000 and Les Collons (www.ess-thyon.ch, tel: +41 (0) 27 281 27 38 and email: [email protected]). In addition, there are physiotherapists and masseurs available throughout the winter season at Thyon.

Please do not walk around the chalet in your ski boots. There is no need to do this as the ski boot room is the first room you come across and there is also a WC for those last minute urges before you leave for the slopes.

Smoking

The chalet is non-smoking but we have provided ashtrays if you would like to smoke outside which we would prefer you to use rather than finding cigarette butts in the rear garden when we get there in summer...!

Snow clearing

Snow is regularly cleared off the main access roads. We have also subscribed to a snow clearing service for the Chalet Croix Blanche driveway so do not be surprised to see a large vehicle clearning the snow early in the morning!

Swimming pool

In Thyon there is a swimming poo (http://www.thyon.ch/en/fppoi-piscine- 35656.html). Its opening hours in summer and winter are from 1pm to 7pm, Sunday through Friday (it is closed on Saturday).

12

Tennis courts

There are two tennis courts in Les Masses – literally across the road from Chalet Croix Blanche (https://www.heremence.ch/commune/court-tennis-180.html); they can be booked at ALM who are located at the top of the multi storey car park. There are other tennis courts fairly nearby in Les Collons.

Towels and Sheets

Bed sheets are provided and towels and can be provided as an optional extra. Please inform Olivier when you contact them at least a week before your arrival if you need towels.

TVs and Home Cinema System

We have provided a terrific home entertainment system – including a main TV with a home cinema system and TVs in each bedroom. There are instructions in the Technical Manual on how to use the system in the main lounge. Sound is played via the free standing speakers rather than the TV speakers so the amplifier needs to be powered on. A Logitech Harmony universal remote control has been configured to set the system up at the touch of a button (press the “Home button on the top right of the touch screen for the options). The bedroom TVs only play sound through the TV speakers so are less complicated!

There are Apple TVs attached to every TV which provide access to our own media library, including over 1,000 movies and 2,000 TV shows and around 40,000 music tracks. You can access all of these either via Plex on the Smart Hub App on the Samsung TVs or via the “Computer” menu on the Apple TVs. The Apple TV remotes (the thin aluminium ones) are small so please don’t lose them!. PLEASE DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO CHANGE THE SETTINGS ON THE APPLE TVS. It is not possible to lock the system down and I cannot set them up remotely so any subsequent guests will not be able to access the media library.

You can stream your own media to any of the Apple TVs using Airplay from a compatible iOS device.

The TVs are Samsung SMART TVs, connected to free Satellite channels on several satellites. They are also wired into the Chalet Croix Blanche LAN. Samsung have various Smart TV features and services which are accessible from the TV menu via the Internet.

13

There is a separate Technology manual to help you use the the systems. If you require further information please contact us on [email protected].

Woodburner

There is a corner woodburner in the lounge. Instructions on how to use it can be found in the box file. You can purchase wood at the supermarkets. However, whilst the fire looks nice, we have found that the chalet becomes extremely hot with the woodburner on and we prefer to just use the built in underfloor heating.

14