I often have dreams so amazing and lifelike that waking up in the humdrum world of reality is a massive disappointment. Get-togethers with long-gone family or friends, jamming with Dave Davies from The Kinks, and walking naked through the Gobi desert with..
. well, let’s not go there..
. These are among the fantasies to have occupied my nocturnal imagination. But when I awoke in a luxury chalet with stunning views over snow-covered Austrian mountains, a 14m swimming pool, sauna, steam room, private bar, wine racks dotted around the place, chauffeurs and butlers on hand 24/7 and the best cuisine from top chefs, I was delighted to realise this was one dream I was actually living.
We were staying near Oberlech, an alpine village sitting above the town of Lech which is something of a magnet for the rich and famous (Princess Diana herself slid down these very slopes). Home for the duration of our own skiing trip was Chalet Mimi, a high-end pad that is part of pepper-collection’s stable of six chalets and a plush hotel. It sounds strange confessing I was out of my comfort zone in a building with this sort of top-level luxury, but the only chalet I have ever stayed in was one of those on a British seaside holiday camp that is an upgrade on a caravan.
It sleeps up to 14 people, and we had a choice of bedrooms, from the master suite to cosy bunk beds. The living quarters are set over four floors and also contain lounges, a locker room for skis and equipment, and an outdoor hot tub. .
