Hannah Millington looks at new Covid-safe solutions on the slopes in Meribel

There’s good news for Brits itching to take to the slopes – resorts in France will be accessible again this 2021/22 season. But, as with everything else we’re experiencing, it'll be a bit different.

My taster of what the new-normal of traditional chalet holidays will be like begins when I arrive at Geneva Airport, where I’m picked up by a driver from MV Transport.

He whisks us across the border to the beautifully crisp and mesmerising Meribel, in the heart of the 3 Valleys in the French Alps – the world’s largest ski area. Those wanting to stay in their own protective bubble can arrange independent car hire or arrive via ferry.

So, what's changed? Apart from the fact I’m travelling in summer – with a lack of snow-capped views replaced by greener terrain – to get a preview, it seems like quite a lot.

I’m among the first to experience how Ski France (the UK branch of French hotel group, Madame Vacances) has been preparing for the winter season, with fully-vaccinated Brits permitted to travel to its resorts quarantine free.

It's been busy flipping what we know about ski holidays upside down to accommodate travellers in the current climate.

At Chalet Etienne we're met not by chalet staff, but by a fully-stocked fridge, cool beer, chilled wine, beds neatly made and rooms perfectly organised. Say goodbye to chalet hosts and chefs and hello to Contactless Catered Chalets.

While the idea sounds perfectly designed for a pandemic, it was actually conceived long before Covid-19.

The difficulties of employing English staff in France post Brexit – coupled with the higher cost of employing French staff – meant it was challenging to keep an attractive price-point for the usual chalet experience, Joanna Laforge, co-owner of Ski France and Sales & Marketing Director, explains. Of course, when Covid-19 emerged, meaning people favour ‘contact-free’, they fully rolled with the concept.

Ski France has more than 50 chalets, divided into Classic and Premium, across various French Alps resorts, with a week’s stay at our Premium chalet costing from £8,929 for up to 14 people sharing on a Contactless Catered basis.

Despite differences in prestige, accommodation and food offerings, both Classic and Premium provide local produce and ingredients for breakfast, afternoon tea/snack, a three-course dinner and drinks each day, with flexibility in each category.

Menus, recipes and easy-to-follow instructions are laid out, with fresh ingredients pre-delivered and pre-stocked in the kitchen.

Our first night suggested meal is goat’s cheese and lardon salad with balsamic dressing, salmon en croute with white wine and dill sauce (plus roast new potatoes and broccoli), summer fruit crumble with crème anglaise and after dinner chocolates. As the only vegetarian in the group – not the easiest thing to be in France – I tuck into veggie cannelloni.

A local delicatessen currently provides the food, but Ski France plans on having its own central kitchen to better cater for veggie, vegan and gluten free guests, for which there'll be different set menu options.

Skis or snowboards will also be reserved at the local hire shop and lift passes will be booked, to avoid queuing and crowded areas.

The ‘backstage’ chalet crew will only sweep in halfway through the week to clean, replenish and re-stock the accommodation. They’ll be at the end of the phone, but ‘contactless’, unless requested otherwise.

Our first proper day starts with breakfast in the chalet, then some bike action in the Alps. Cycling – along with many other activities – is available both summer and winter for those who want to break up ski days.

We meet our guide Alexandre from MCF bike school for adventures on e-mountain fatbikes. After a firm but fair taster lesson, we head off into the dreamy Meribel Valley.

Back at the chalet I enjoy some downtime in the wooden sauna, before a dip in the Jacuzzi. I also enjoy taking in the views from the balcony of my large, en suite room, filled with the triangular chalet rooftops, tall trees and mountain-peaks – all of which I visualise to be entirely shrouded in snow come December 4 when Meribel officially reopens.

My dip into e-transport isn’t over quite yet – we head for e-skateboarding at Lac de Tueda, a beautiful circular lake surrounded by pine trees. I slowly but surely make my way around the breath-taking scenes, clutching a controller that allows me to add power to my skate.

On our last day, we enjoy Aquamotion, in Courchevel. The aquatic centre is filled with indoor and outdoor pools with mountain views, steam rooms, ice buckets, cold and hot Jacuzzis, a salt pool with neon lights, a surf experience, and most importantly…slides.

Feeling truly Zen, I snooze as we head in our mini-van down the valley to Chambery, waking up to Ski France’s very own 14th century Chateau de Candie.

We sample some of the Viognier produced from its very own vineyard, of which it makes 2-3000 bottles of Candie 1891 dry white wine a year. After a satisfying three-course meal at the chateau’s La Cantine, I reach the conclusion that French ski resorts are fairly well-prepared for the season ahead.

How to plan your trip

A week’s stay at Chalet Etienne, with Ski France, costs from £638 per person (£8,929 total) for 14 people sharing the Premium chalet on a Contactless Catered basis. Visit skifrance-premium.co.uk or call 0203 475 4756.