'Les Fauvettes' is a chalet-style house containing 11 apartments. It is situated about 600 metres from the town centre, just beyond the main Medran gondola lifts. The apartment is approached by a heated driveway, with it's own garage space and private parking area. The ski season extends from late November to end-April, and you can expect to ski nearly to the door from Xmas to Easter. In summer the lifts are run to a timetable, giving easy access to many walks at various altitudes, and tremendous views from the top of Mt Fort glacier at 11,000ft taking in the Matterhorn round to Mt. Blanc. And you can have a summer snowball fight!

Les Fauvettes enjoys a quiet situation, despite being very convenient for the lifts, and there are several bars and restaurants close by - also a baker's shop open every day at 8am! There are many other shops, supermarkets, night clubs, etc., further down in the town, and there is a fine sports centre with indoor and outdoor well-heated pools adjacent to a lovely parkland sunbathing area, tennis, squash, skating, curling, etc. Summer sports include 18-hole championship & par-3 golf courses, horse-riding, mountain biking, and parapente & hang-gliding courses run all year.

Walkers & picnickers are well catered for - Verbier was always a summer resort before skiing really got going, & they still take care to have the village beautifully presented, with various fêtes, a music festival, and sports competitions taking place. Whilst winter in town is fairly frenetic, summer is relatively low-key, calm, uncrowded, and relaxing - it just depends how much effort you put into picnics, walking and touring in the warm fresh mountain air - the Forclaz Pass to Chamonix, and the St Bernard Pass or tunnel to Aosta are easy, very scenic day tours. It is only in the last 20 minutes or so as you climb up to Verbier that you leave the vineyards behind, giving an idea of the summer climate.

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Our apartment is on the lower ground floor, with french windows opening to a covered terrace and lawn, with a nice view to the west - perfect for sun downers from mid-ski season onwards and for sunbathing, lunch and evening barbecues in summer.

click either picture to view enlarged images of the inside of our apartment
       

The hall has a tiled floor with benches, a large wardrobe, a boot rack and coat hanging - all in pine.

The living-room has a tiled floor and part pine panelling, with a rug in the lounge area, where there is a large sofa-bed (which converts in one easy action to a high quality queen-sized double bed, with well supported mattress - it does not sag!), 2 easy chairs and a coffee table. There is a TV connected to the local cable network, giving many English channels, including all the usual BBC & ITV ones, together with a DVD player. There is unlimited secure internet access for Wi-Fi equipped laptops. A curtain divides the sofa-bed area from the dining/kitchen end at night. This has a full-size 4-ring electric cooker, a microwave, and a fridge built in to an adequate range of cupboards and sink, and there is plenty of equipment for 8 people to self-cater, with an oval pine table, 4 fixed chairs plus 4 folding chairs for eating.

The bedroom has a fitted carpet, 2 large built-in wardrobes, a double bed and a pair of full single-bed-sized bunks, all in pine, with very good sprung mattresses. A curtain divides this room into 2 compartments also, when required. All the duvets are goose down, with a choice of 'hollofill' or feather pillows, and there are mirrors, bed lamps, a Cd/cassette/radio player which can get BBC World Service on SW, a hairdryer and several shelves for bits and pieces.

The bathroom is fully tiled, with a loo, washbasin, and bath with a shower and curtain. (Hot water runs short after a couple of baths, but goes much further using the shower.)

Other items include a metered telephone (it’s not locked, pay for your calls after your holiday according to the meter), fondue set, blender/grinder & coffee filter, steam iron & table, garden table with benches, sun lounger, garden chair, barbecue, picnic cool-box, set of 'boules,' backgammon, Scrabble, etc. There is a ski-room by the front door, and a laundry-room adjacent to the apartment with coin-operated washing and tumble-drying machines. Heating is electric night-store in the living-room, and direct panel radiators in the bathroom and bedroom. Hot water is from a night-store tank - hence the need for economy showering; but it gets a boost during the day also.

Generally, the accommodation is very good for up to 4 occupants, manageable for 5 or 6.

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Local Information

local map
Useful Websites:
www.verbier.ch - Tourist Office general site with web cams - town & at 9,000ft (2,800m), weather forecast
www.televerbier.ch - Lift company site with web cams, weather (actual & 5-day forecast -
observe ‘Suisse Romande’ line for the Verbier area).
www.verbierfestival.com - Summer music festival - programme & online booking.
www.meteosuisse.ch - Local weather forecast - select 'par localite' and type 'Verbier' for 9-day forecast 
www.verbiergolf.com- Local Golf Course

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Our Bus

Our 9-seater Toyota Hiace left-hand drive minibus is registered in Switzerland; it is light & easy to drive, and is comprehensively insured for any driver who has held a full licence for 10 years minimum, with a permanent green card for international travel. It is equipped with snow tyres & easy-fit chains, and well appointed: cloth seats all with safety belts, carpets, separate heating to the rear, ABS brakes, power steering, central locking, radio cassette, etc. - in general, car-like comfort. It can be driven on a British private vehicle licence, and I require sight of the licences of all intending drivers, which must be free of endorsements for the preceding 3 years. Whilst we keep it well serviced, availability of the bus can not be absolutely guaranteed, and this will not be grounds for return of apartment rental costs - the alternatives using public transport are very adequate. (Over many years & 3 buses, we've had no major problems.) The bus is parked on a permanently contracted site about a mile from Geneva Airport, and saves a few hours in travelling time, and about £45 per head in return fares.

People renting our apartment may borrow the minibus; a contribution of £195 for one week, £145 for subsequent weeks is invited. (In summer, negotiable if the group is less than four.)

We have a service & maintenance account at a garage in Verbier - should a problem develop, we may ask you to make the bus available there to be sorted. You would not be liable for any costs beyond your control, but, in the event of an accident, you would be liable for costs up to £300, unless a 3rd party can be successfully blamed and made to pay. You can expect the bus to be available for you by midday at Geneva - likewise, you must return it by midday, if required.

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AVAILABILITY

For the up-to-date booking situation, please click on:
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/availability.asp?property_id=9281&unit_id=1
Please note we only rent to groups of couples or families - no all-male groups, and the principal renter must be over 25.

RATES 2011 - 2012

The apartment is available all year for rental - our rates include the Verbier visitors' tax; electricity for heating, cooking, etc.; laundry (bed linen, bath & kitchen towels etc.) changed weekly; and our cleaning lady between changeovers. Bookings are normally Saturday 2pm - Saturday 10am, but pre-Xmas and outside the ski season we are completely flexible.

WINTER.

The basic weekly rental is for up to 4 occupants in the ski season.

A 5th occupant is £60 pw; a 6th - £50 pw.

*10% reduction for a 2-week booking.

SUMMER

Per week prices:

additional occupants as above, but deduct £80 for 3 occupants; £150 for 2 occupants.

We will put a 'hold' on specific dates for a few days, if you wish - to confirm a booking we require a £100 deposit per week of rental i.e. £200 for 2 weeks. The balance, plus a £100 refundable key/breakage deposit, is then due 6 weeks before departure, after receipt of which we send a package of instructions, directions & keys in good time. The deposit, less any charges for phone calls, extra laundry used etc., will be refunded after you return your set of keys.

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in association with the charity Dreamflight

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