text: My introduction to Ferme de Montagne did not take place at this boutique hotel’s enviable ski-in, ski-out location in the French resort of Les Gets – it happened at The Bar at The Dorchester in London. Ferme de Montagne proprietors Suzanne Dixon-Hudson and her architect husband Henry suggested we meet there for cocktails as they were in the capital, pre-winter season, ‘on business’. I was impressed to discover that what Suzanne and Henry were really in town for was to check up on their 15 hotel staff – who spend a mandatory week working and gaining experience at the Mayfair hotel before the start of each new season. A waiter mixes things up at the cocktail bar at Ferme de Montagne in France . Suzanne explained: ‘It exposes them to a five-star environment where exacting standards of service and composure are required at front of house while also learning to cope with the rigours of a slick and intensive behind-the-scenes regime.’ Suzanne, whose CV glitters with top posts in luxury hotels and catering, added: ‘At the same time as training my staff to a high level, I insist they all ski or snowboard in their free time.’ And, of course, a fit and happy team that spends a generous amount of time on the mountain will only benefit the clients of her boutique, chalet-style hotel where interaction with guests is integral to the Ferme de Montagne experience. I finally got to meet the team on site after an easy, 75-minute transfer by car to Les Gets from Geneva airport. And they did indeed make a polished unit – enthusiastic, energetic, genuinely cheerful, pleasingly informal and disarmingly friendly. Les Gets is well placed in the giant Portes du Soleil area, which has 400 miles of groomed pistes, linked by 14 ski stations across the French/Swiss border. Ferme de Montagne proprietors ensure their staff spend a mandatory week working and gaining experience at The Dorchester in Mayfair (pictured) before the start of each new season . It takes a long time to get to know your way around vast ski areas like this so I was delighted to join Ferme de Montagne’s ski host, Rory, who has no need of a piste map. Due to a long-running relationship with the local Ecole de Ski Francais, Ferme de Montagne guests always have high-quality, English-speaking ski instructors for their lessons. Hosts such as Rory are also trusted to ski with guests, make sure they don’t get lost, point out the rich variety of peaks – such as the magnificent Dents du Midi cluster from the top of Fornet above Avoriaz – and crucially, as far as this epicurean skier is concerned, recommend great on-mountain restaurants. Suzanne enjoys skiing with guests when time permits. On one occasion Rory treated us all to a great morning’s sport at the Avoriaz sector before lunch at Lindarets – known as ‘the goatvillage’ after the population that takes over in summer. After the guests’ day on the ski slopes, they usually convene at the Ferme de Montagne bar to swap ski stories and to try the cocktail of the day or complimentary flute of champagne. The hotel offers the best of all ski holidays. All of the bedrooms are spacious, luxurious and en suite. Suzanne’s choice of Frette bedding, sumptuous mattresses, heavy, warming fabrics for the drapes and bespoke furniture and design choices throughout makes this the type of exclusive property one normally has to hire whole, and very expensively, for a week. But here guests can book one room for three or four nights. Breakfast, tea and dinner are included in the price for each night booked. Food is central to a ski holiday at Ferme de Montagne as Andrew, a repeat guest, summed up at dinner. It came to ordering dessert and he said: ‘Well I like the sound of the apple crumble but I have to have the chocolate fondant with chocolate sauce and port ice cream again… it’s become one of my five a day!’ British Airways flies to Geneva from Gatwick and London City, with return fares from £84. Three nights at Ferme de Montagne, located in Les Gets, costs £995 per person, excluding flights, based on two sharing. Four nights costs from £1,295 per person.
target: Ferme de Montagne is a boutique, chalet-style hotel in France .
  Guests are wowed by a rich variety of peaks including the Dents du Midi .
  Ski resort, Les Gets, boasts 400 miles of groomed pistes .