Enjoy great skiing, walking and biking from this family-friendly French Alps chalet
- Chalet
- Slopes 1.2 km, Village 1.1 km
- Ski bus 100 m
- Large flat garden with hot tub
- Hot tub, table tennis, table football
- Stunning piste views
Property tour
Chalet Tolar...
The spacious, family-friendly Chalet Tolar, in Chinaillon, Le Grand Bornand, is a great choice for large groups planning a mountain holiday with young children.
Formerly known as Chalet Etoile, this popular property is just a 10-minute walk from the centre of the village, where you will find a good choice of shops and restaurants, as well as the ski lifts. If you'd rather not walk, the ski bus stops regularly just 100 m from the door.
One of the more unusual features of Chalet Tolar is its large flat garden - a real treat in the mountains! It comes with the added bonus of a hot tub and stunning views. However, families with young children should be aware there is a steep bank between the garden and the river.
IMPORTANT : although the property is pet friendly, you will have to pay an extra fee of 100 euros on arrival for cleaning purpose if you bring your pet.
About the property...
Chalet Tolar, formerly Chalet Etoile, has plenty of space for 14 guests, with the main accommodation over two floors.
The main open plan living area is on the ground floor. Here you'll find three comfy sofas where you and your group can spend pleasant evenings around the fireplace.
There's a large dining table so that you can eat together, and a well-equipped kitchen with a breakfast bar. There's also a useful office area.
There's a large bedroom on the ground floor, with a sofa and television, as well as an en suite bathroom with a bath and shower over, and a separate toilet. You'll also find a kit room on this floor with a boot warmer and plenty of room for stora
There are four more bedrooms on the first floor: two double bedrooms with ensuite bathroom and access to the balcony, and two large family rooms with access to their respective bathroom on the landing.
The basement at Chalet Tolar gives access to a useful laundry and a space with a table tennis table, which guests are welcome to use.
Chalet Tolar has earned our Cool 4 Kids Extra status, so you can be assured that all the equipment you need for babies and young children is available, as well as a selection of toys, books and games. Le Grand Bornand also has the Famille Plus mark, which means there is a great programme of activities and entertainment for young visitors.
About the area...
Chalet Tolar is about 1,2km from the ski lift at Chinaillon, but if you’d rather save your energy for the slopes, the ski bus stops outside the chalet every 15 minutes, and it's just two stops to the pistes.
With your Aravis ski pass, you’ve got all the Lake Annecy ski resorts (Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz and Manigod) at your disposal - more than 200km of perfect pistes. Even closer is a great sledge run and the start of the cross-country ski piste. Beginners in this sport will love the nearby Evo Nordic Park, which has a circuit featuring a variety of terrains, while boarders will appreciate the Snowpark.
Non-skiers can go ice-skating in Le Grand Bornand or La Clusaz. If guests prefer swimming try the heated indoor and outdoor pools in La Clusaz which are open all year round, or try snowshoeing, sledging, dog-sledding and sleigh rides.
At the end of a busy day, head back to your cosy chalet where there's nothing more magical than unwinding in the hot tub, while the snow falls around you.
In the summer, a network of walking and biking trails cover the mountains around Chalet Tolar, and you can pick up a route map for either at the tourist office in Chinaillon. For those who want to test their cycling stamina, the nearby Col de la Colombiere regularly features in the Tour de France.The stunning swimming pool complex at Le Grand Bornand has a lovely grassy area where you can enjoy a picnic, or a cafe on site.
If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, there’s a climbing school, via ferrata routes, a tree-top adventure park, canyoning, white-water rafting and paragliding all nearby.
The medieval town of Annecy is a must for a day out, whatever the season. It offers a unique mix of shops, restaurants, galleries and museums, and Lake Annecy, said to be the cleanest lake in Europe, is a great place for watersports, swimming, cycling or just relaxing on the beach.
August sees the International Children’s Festival in Le Grand Bornand - a week of puppet shows, circus acts and workshops, with a grand firework finale. You’re in the heart of Reblochon country, so on your travels don’t forget to pick up some of this delicious cheese from a local farm or market!
What next?
If you'd like to book Chalet Tolar for your next mountain holiday, check your dates against our availability calendar. If you need a little time to check things with the rest of your group, we can hold the date for 24 hours, But don't leave it too long - you risk missing out on this great Alpine property!
“Great chalet, well located”
— Alain M.
“Perfect chalet with great service”
— Yann D.
“We enjoyed it very much”
— Paul R.
Other properties you might like...
Features
- Hot tub spa
- Cool for kids
- Fireplace
- Terrace
- Wine cellar
- Apple TV
- More
Inclusions
- Free WiFi
- Linen and towels provided
- Firewood provided
- Animals welcome
- Non-smoking rental
- Car recommended
- More
- Check-in: after 16h00
- Check-out: before 10h00
Full list of features, inclusions, activities, nearby points of interest and special conditions:
Deposit
Book 8 weeks or more before your arrival date and pay only 25% to secure your booking.
The full amount of your rental is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date
Cancellation
Standard option
- 100% refund up to 8 weeks before arrival
- No refund within 8 weeks of arrival
Koala Flex option
- 100% refund up to 8 weeks before arrival
- 90% refund between 8 weeks and 2 days before arrival
Please Note
Please note: There is a short steep section of road just before you reach / just as you leave the chalet. To clear this section and to be able to move around the resort safely you need winter tyres and /or snow chains (and know how to use them).
If you are flying in and picking up a hired car, please check that chains or winter tyres are included before you set off.
IMPORTANT : although the property is pet friendly, you will have to pay an extra fee of 100 euros on arrival for cleaning purpose if you bring your pet.
Very young children should not be left unsupervised in the garden.
Every stay includes
WiFi
Local tips & concierge
Linen & towels
Sparkling cleaning
Location
Le Grand Bornand
Le Grand Bornand is an idyllic Alpine village which happens to be surrounded by some great skiing and in summer, a superb mountain playground.
There are none of the huge hotel complexes you'll find in other ski resorts – just a friendly welcome all year round.
Families are particularly welcome, with a great programme of activities to keep kids of all ages busy and happy.
Getting around
- Ski slopes
- 1.2 km
- Ski school
- 1.2 km
- Ski bus stop
- 100 m
- Town centre
- 1.1 km
- Supermarket
- 1.1 km
- Public bus stop
- 100 m
The OVO Network Review
Chalet Tolar is a short walk away from Chinaillon, and it's just two stops on the ski bus to the pistes. The chalet is surrounded by stunning views (especially from the hot tub), and has some cool family rooms too!
This 200m2 chalet has five bedrooms, and three bathrooms to accommodate 14 guests over two floors. (The third floor hasn't been developed yet, at the moment it houses the laundry room and a table tennis table, table football and a dart board which guests are welcome to use.)
Chalet Tolar is ideal for those who want to spread out and relax with families and friends. It's close enough to the pistes and village of Chinaillon for non-skiing guests to enjoy either a 10-minute walk or a short bus ride into the village, or, to link up with the green run up onto the ski fields while the skiers are out enjoying the fun on the hillside. Everyone could even meet up for lunch!
The 40m2 lounge area on the main communal floor is comfortable, spacious and wrapped around the fireplace. It's also open plan so the chef need never feel left out.
Food prep or an apero around the breakfast bar can get every evening off to a good start!
We especially love that two of the five bedrooms have extra beds so families of four, friends or cousins can share. Two of the bedrooms are en suite, and there are a couple of extra independent WCs too.
Another bedroom has a comfy sofa with a second TV and room for kids to play with toys. Chalet Tolar has gained our Cool 4 Kids Extra status.
The outdoor space is equally as important as the indoors at Chalet Tolar, with a gorgeous hot tub set into the bank, a flat garden, a sun trap terrace with dining table, and stunning views in every direction.
The chalet could be a great spot for cyclists, and climbers too - the Via Ferrata at Chinaillon boasts fantastic views across the Aravis and beyond. The Col de la Colombiere is legendary in cycling circles.
Plus there is plenty of space to store kit securely at the chalet.
Chalet Tolar won't suit guests who demand en suite facilities just yet; the owners do plan to develop the third floor eventually.
There's also a steep bank off the edge of the flat garden, which parents of youngsters would need to keep an eye on.
Don't just take our word for it, check out the photos and imagine your family and friends at this great location.
What is the OVO Network Review?
We visit the property and write an unbiased review. What’s good? What’s not so good? We’ll help you find the right chalet for you.
From the owner
James & Harriet
We built Chalet Tolar (originally called Chalet Etoile) in 2008, when our three children were small. We dreamt of a classic wooden chalet in the snow, a place we could call home, and where we could ski, make friends, spend time with family.
We have made some fantastic friends both local and other chalet owners, and since 2008 have loved returning as often as we can both in winter and summer.We started our chalet hunt in Switzerland, then the Les Portes du Soleil, and finally, on the recommendation of friends, we came to Le Grand Bornand.
From the first moment we drove into the village, we knew we had found a very special place. A few weeks later we got a call about a new chalet that was about to be built.
We flew over, looked at a square of grass and the rest is history. We love spending time in the chalet and exploring the mountains – we never get bored of all it has to offer. In Autumn the walks are magnificent.
In summer the blue skies, alpine pastures full of the sound of cow bells, walks, markets, cycling and lazy days by Lake Annecy.
In winter… wow, the warm and welcoming chalet covered in snow, twinkling lights, and of course the skiing. After a hard days skiing we return to a warm and cosy chalet full of fun and laughter, the perfect environment for relaxing in front of the fire with a drink or two… What more could we/you want?
We had a few basic requirements from any chalet we bought, we looked for a chalet that would:• sleep 10 people (2 families of five) comfortably without feeling on top of each other.• be within walking distance of shops and restaurants and the pistes• be light, airy and spacious, while also being cosy and warm• have a garden, or at least a big terrace• have a BIG view• an open plan ground floor that was the social hub of the chalet (I don’t like to be hidden in a small kitchen when all the fun is going on elsewhere!)When it came to furnishing the chalet, comfort and space were a priority (we had spent too many holidays in rental houses with uncomfortable beds, poorly equipped kitchens, no hi-fi let alone Wi-Fi etc.) we wanted our chalet to be extremely comfortable, with all the facilities we would expect at home.Chalet Tolar ticks all the boxes, and now with the addition in 2019 of a hot tub it is, in our view, perfect.
We struggle with a constant dilemma; we want to tell everyone and shout from the rooftops about how wonderful the Aravis area is. The wonderful skiing in Le Grand Bornand and La Clusaz, the Snowpark, the often empty slopes, the wonderful locals we have met, the fact that you can still buy a burger and chips on the mountain for less than 10 euros, the summers, the biking, Lake Annecy and so much more… But then we stop and think about the peace and tranquillity, the lack of queues, the friendly bars and restaurants, the lack of big tour groups, the wonderful skiing, the friendly locals …… and we say nothing! It is our secret.
Two of our children have been to Whistler to train as ski instructors. Our fear was that they would come back thinking Le Grand Bornand was not quite up to the dizzy heights of one of the worlds premier ski resorts… but we shouldn’t have worried, they love it even more than before.From the first day we arrived at chalet Tolar with my sister and her family, the chalet has been full of fun and laughter, friends, family and wonderful memories.If you would like to try a ski holiday in a traditional village with a heart (and more cows than people) where local traditions and modern life exist in harmony, we would love to welcome you to Chalet Tolar.To avoid any confusion on the internet or anywhere else, our chalet has been known for 10 years as Chalet Etoile. Why Tolar? That is a good question.
We recently changed the name to Chalet Tolar.
The Tolar piste is our favourite! Each morning we head up the Floria lift and a decision must be made, which way to go, the shout is usually “Tolar”, and off we go.… Our children have been known to challenge each other to the “No Turn Tolar” – not to be recommended!
Harriet, James, Izzy, Ted and George.
Who is the owner?
OVO Network is the official booking partner for Chalet Tolar.
Your booking will be made directly with James & Harriet, who will also take and hold your payment until your arrival.
Guest reviews
“Great chalet, well located”
Great chalet, well located, pleasant for a quiet week, near the shuttle that drops off at the foot of the slopes, well-equipped kitchen with a food processor and a large oven (which heats up a bit too much) and a hood a bit low for tall people. Plenty of games for young and old (ping-pong, darts, board games, DVDs in English, etc.). Mike is helpful and available nearby in case of problems. Perfect for a week with friends.
“Perfect chalet with great service”
Great chalet well located, and perfect service with Mike!!
“We enjoyed it very much”
Great location and very well equipped. A perfect venue for families and friends. The manager, Mike, was super friendly and efficient in dealing with any queries.
