Right then, we have some big news for you. We have decided to take this winter off from running the chalet. Don’t worry, we are not going anywhere. To tell the truth, we are buzzing with excitement. Both are really looking forward to telling you what we’ve learned in the last few months and are going to learn in the months to come. But… first things first:
Our mission is to provide you with the best holiday experience ever, while ensuring everybody’s safety in our care. We simply didn’t find a way that wouldn’t compromise either. I would like to take a moment to explain the most important reasons behind our decision:
- Our service.
As part of due diligence we must take extra precautions like PPE, room fogging and UV sanitisation or sterilising duvets, which we are perfectly happy with. However, a ‘no hugs’ policy, ‘no guests allowed in the kitchen’ policy, having to remove all the soft furnishings, ‘unnecessary’ decorations, plants, toys and books (while perfectly understandable and necessary) wasn’t something we wanted to do. These are all important aspects of the holiday ambiance and what makes Mountain Utopia a home from home. We cannot fully comply with the regulations and provide our customers the experience our guests know and love at the same time. We don’t want to operate at a distance and in segregated manner. Mountain Utopia is and always will be personal. We want to be able to enjoy your company, not hiding in our kitchen behind screens!
- Health.
We all need to keep away from each other to stay safe at the moment. The personal relationship and close contact with our guests is essential to what we created at Mountain Utopia and a risk we cannot take. At the same time, I simply couldn’t tell a 6 year old boy, who’s been visiting us every year (even before he was born, in his mummy’s belly) that he cannot come and give me a hug.
- Travel insurance.
Insurance companies are not offering travelers adequate cancellation cover related to Covid19 for their holidays. They are shirking their responsibilities leaving us to underwrite the holidays ourselves. This could leave both us and our clients out of pocket, if any closures or travel restrictions were imposed making it impossible for the guests to attend their holiday.
Fear not, we are not done! By not operating this winter, we can mitigate those risks and ensure we can welcome you all at Mountain Utopia in the years to come. We just need to wait for a vaccine.
We are sad that we won’t be able to host you this ski season. We were really looking forward to seeing all your happy faces, filling your bellies with home cooked delights and your hearts with joy.
It is not a gap year for us, far from it! Although, we might enjoy a few more lay-ins. We are going back to school. Working on improving our cooking skills, growing organic food, foraging, making preserves, raising chickens, exercising our French language skills. We are just about to start an 8 week online pastry course. I am also developing new, eco-friendly cleaning and hygiene products. (I have just made myself a beautiful moisturising face wash. It is gentle, biodegradable plus it feels and smells divine. I am very proud of this one.)
The planet has shown some signs of recovery during the mass lock down and nature here in the mountains is thriving. It gave us inspiration and the time to reassess all our processes and supply chains. We aim to minimise the negative environmental impact and offer you highest quality, fair-trade and organic products. We will keep you posted on all of those, obviously.
We are not trying to diminish the suffering and struggle this pandemic has inflicted all over the world. We feel incredibly lucky to have avoided this illness ourselves so far and those members of our family, who have had it, have recovered. We are counting our blessings every day and while we wait for the vaccine we will do whatever is in our power to make the world a little kinder, safer and healthier place one day at a time.
Can you please let us know what changes you would like to see in the future of skiing holiday? Tell us what would make you feel more comfortable when staying with us and travelling in general. Don’t be shy, give us a call or drop us a line. We need all your good ideas plus we would love to hear from you!
We would like to send you our kindest wishes and hope you have a peaceful day. Massive virtual hugs to you all.
Tamara and Toby,
From Mountain Utopia with love.