The kitchen makes the most of its generous space, with everything you could want, inlcuding a few simple things you don't always find in France: coffee machine, toaster, huge American-sized fridge-freezer, in addition to a kitchen table for quick breakfasts and a bar-style divider that makes dishing up and serving your eight-person dinner party a breeze.

Le Centrale is big enough to house much of what you might think would only fit in a chalet. There is a six-person sauna, outdoor hot tub, satellite TV in every bedroom. Four-space parking (two of which are covered). But for all its home comforts, Le Centrale's main and most impressive facility is the front door - there aren't many places where your sauna is two minutes walk from the shops.

Our concierge pack what's this? comes as standard with Le Centrale. It is particularly easy here: Cha Cha Cha, our sommelier, is just on the corner about two minutes walk away, so if you enjoy the wine-tasting you can stock up on what you liked without any effort. Many of our optional extras aren't necessary here, since everything is already so convenient - though we do have some recommendations...

Highly recommended: hiring a guide - the Aiguille du Midi lift, which takes you to 3842m and the start of the world famous Vallée Blanche, is just two minutes' walk from the front door. With that kind of head-start you can ensure you're on an early lift, avoiding the crowds and making the most of the high-mountain environment before everyone else gets there. read more about this

Finding Le Centrale is a magical experience. The street is innocuous: some restaurants, a gift shop. Past a chocolatier and through a normal-looking door in a normal-looking building. You could never guess what is around the corner. You trot down some steps and suddenly everything becomes a little funky. Through the door, and you step into a different world.

The surprise is something you will savour: in seconds you have gone from busy street to perfect apartment, in a style that's far more Ibizan than it is standard French. It is huge, four bedrooms of comfort, a six-person sauna, an incredibly spacious central living area. The only thing that reminds you you're in the middle of town is the view of Mont Blanc, and in Le Centrale it is all the more stunning for not having to share it with the masses on the street.

Don't hesistate if you plan to spend a lot of time in town: in Le Centrale you're already there; if you're bringing the kids: the apartment is very child friendly, and if they're teenagers you can send them out to pick up some fresh baguettes; if you're planning a sociable holiday: the main living space is perfect for receptions and dinner parties.

Think again if you want a rustic mountain retreat: this isn't it but this is!; you fancy a different view of the mountains: you're in town, so your view is the same as everyone else's. it's different here though...

Le Centrale is central. The river Arve is just twenty yards from the door, and the same distance in the other direction is Chamonix's main pedestrian street. Effectively that puts everything Chamonix has to offer no more than five minutes away: shopping, cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs. A lot of places claim to be just a short walk from town - Le Centrale isn't even a short walk, and it is as nice as pretty much any chalet you could stay in.

Both inside and outside, the living area is astonishing for an in-town apartment. The space is huge. In one open-plan room you have an eight person dining table, sofa and chairs for everyone, TV and DVD, and plenty of room to spare. On the terrace you have much the same: outdoor dining is perfectly possible, and the superb garden furniture provides comfort with your sunset view as the winter heat slips away. That or you could watch it from the hot tub.

The bedrooms are everything you could want, far more chalet than apartment. Each has an ensuite bathroom, each has a flatscreen TV and DVD player. Each is subtly, cosily lit, each is finished in warming wood.