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Every winter, hundreds of young people head to Europe’s top ski resorts to work in luxury chalets catering to wealthy tourists.
Known colloquially as “chalet girls,” these seasonal workers take on roles as chefs, cleaners, nannies, drivers, and concierges in hotspots like Chamonix, Courchevel, and Les Arcs.
To the outside world, especially the growing number of Americans discovering Europe’s comparatively affordable ski holidays, chalet girls may appear to live the dream, but the reality for most is less glamorous.
On paper, you may live in the Alps, ski for free, rub shoulders with celebrities and get paid and get paid doing it, but these hosts often work 14- to 16-hour days, with duties starting before dawn and ending late into the night.
The term “chalet girl” began in the 1960s and 70s from the rise in European vacations and the fading fortunes of British aristocrats who could no longer maintain large ski homes. Boarding school graduates began filling these seasonal roles, lured by the promise of alpine adventure, cheap drinks, and nonstop socialising. Unfortunately, the stereotype stuck – privileged young women tearing up the slopes by day and the bars by night.
The 2011 film Chalet Girl cemented how many perceive the profession. Tamsin Eggerton portrays Georgie as the archetypal chalet girl: posh, airheaded, flirtatious with guests and mainly interested in drinking into the wee hours.
“That film bears absolutely no relationship whatsoever to the industry today,” VIP Ski’s Andy Sturt told CNN.
But today’s chalet workers, both male and female, are a different breed. The profession has evolved, with many companies now hiring based on experience, work ethic, and personality, rather than background. The job is no longer dominated by posh British girls on gap years, though the name “chalet girl” endures.
Andy Sturt of VIP Ski says the role has become far more professional over the past two decades, saying, “The old image has been gently eroded.”
Applicants now face intense competition, and Luxury ski operator Consensio Chalets receives on average about fifteen applications for every open position, which makes it more selective than getting into Oxford University.
“We’ve got for this forthcoming winter about 240 positions overseas. And last year, we had 2,000 applications,” Sturt says.
Brexit has also added further challenges, limiting British workers’ access to EU jobs and forcing companies to prioritise dual-nationality candidates.
So what does being “chalet girl” actually involve?
Working in luxury ski chalets means serving ultra-wealthy clients who expect nothing less than perfection. These homes come equipped with hot tubs, wine cellars, private cinemas, and even raclette rooms for melted cheese feasts. And staff are responsible for keeping everything spotless and guests pampered.
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A morning “commute” might be a snowy 30-minute hike uphill. One former chef recalled sleeping under a noisy bar in Les Gets, relying on earplugs to get any rest. And slipping up or sneaking use of the chalet’s amenities can get you fired and evicted.
“You are in the luxury sector, but you are not the guest,” one current host says. Days start before sunrise and often stretch past midnight, with staff cooking meals, prepping ski gear, cleaning, and attending to every whim of the guests, who may be paying over $3,000 a week per person. And then there is the babysitting…
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Despite the pressure, the job has its upsides. Free ski passes, included accommodation, tips that sometimes exceed monthly wages, and the chance to live and work in stunning alpine surroundings are major draws.
Monthly pay, however, hovers around £1,000 (R24,000), often below minimum wage once long hours are considered. And yet, many say the experience is unforgettable.
India Hogg, who worked in Courchevel, remembers spotting Gordon Ramsay across the street from David Beckham’s chalet. “It was a mental, different world,” she says. But the glamour was balanced by exhaustion. “I definitely had highs and very low lows,” she adds. “But I had to remind myself, I’m in the mountains.”
Ultimately, personality is key. Chalet hosts are expected not just to perform chores, but to act as charming dinner party hosts each night. As Sturt puts it, “They need to have depth of character… and be able to do all the details. But really, it’s all about personality.”
