With up to three metres of snow falling in the Alps during the last two weeks of 2011 Christmas and New Year were an amazing time to celebrate in the mountains. Some parts of the Alps even cheat a little and have another go at celebrating Christmas on 7 January in line with the Orthodox Church.

Since the start of 2012 I've  been looking around at the growing trend for swimming pools in smaller chalets - historically they have been for hotels and monster chalets in Courchevel 1850 - I remember skiing in La Plagne in the 90s and wishing I was staying in the hotel by the ski lifts with its steaming outdoor pool!

While many of these pools have now moved indoors (and become part of spa culture), there are still a number of wonderful outdoor heated pools, in resorts such as Val d'Isere and Megeve, where you can wind down after a busy day's skiing and get that wonderful juxtaposition of the warmth of the water against the freezing snow and outside temperature!

It is amazing some of the features that ski chalets boast these days, so if an outside (or inside) pool is your idea of heaven do get in touch.