When nothing but a fairytale escape into the heart of the French Alps will do, chalets like Snow Storm come to the rescue. This luxurious wood-clad affair is everything you need (and more) for a large family or an assembly of nature-loving friends who aren't opposed to the idea of skiing. But there's plenty more to do in Les Gats, which is only an hour away from Geneva Airport — watch the peaceful snowy peaks, hike and take in the fresh mountain air. When you're done with the great outdoors, return to your warm and toasty cottage where you can warm up with a nice cup of hot chocolate in the living room, or take it further and dive into the outdoor jacuzzi. The high-end Scandi furniture helps create a truly inspiring atmosphere where one can't do much else but stare out the window dreamily, especially when it snows. Of course, the designated cook will have a lot of splendid equipment to work with and space to socialise in the open-plan kitchen. When it's all ready, get the tribe together in the dining room and feast with a lovely view of the forest.

Home truths:
* The wood used to build this chalet was kept in a raw condition, so you might find a few splinters here and there
* This chalet is about a ten-minute walk away from the centre of Les Gats
* There's no daily cleaning included with your stay
* All of the beds are comprised of two singles with a zip lock