Fractional Anyone? It's rather like owning the VIP lounge at Annabel's versus buying the entire club...
How the Smart Set Are Securing Prime Alpine Properties Without the Eye-Watering Price Tags
Fractional ownership is transforming access to the Three Valley’s most coveted chalets – and it’s not just about the money
The pristine slopes of Méribel, where the Princess of Wales has been spotted carving elegant turns with her young family, have long represented the pinnacle of Alpine sophistication. Yet for many affluent British families, the eye-watering prices of premium chalets in such blue-chip resorts have remained tantalizingly out of reach.
Enter fractional ownership (check our sister site or our main partner with ski properties in France, USA and Canada) – a concept that’s quietly revolutionising how discerning families access the world’s most exclusive ski destinations. Rather than stretching finances to secure a 4M€ chalet they’ll use perhaps three weeks annually, savvy buyers are discovering they can own one-eighth of an 8M€ property for 1M€, securing six weeks a year while accessing amenities that would otherwise require oligarch-level wealth. Or pay around 500,000€ for that 4M€ chalet share!
The Mathematics of Alpine Indulgence
“Most of our traditional buyers use their properties for perhaps four weeks annually,” explains Jonathan Hargreaves, whose family has been facilitating high-end Alpine acquisitions for three decades. “They’re paying millions for infrastructure they barely use. Fractional ownership solves this fundamental inefficiency while dramatically elevating the quality of the Alpine experience. Not to mention, life activity in these ski resorts is potentially multiplied by eight throughout the year. “
The arithmetic is compelling. A British family investing £1 million in a premium Meribel chalet penthouse through fractional ownership secures 1.5 months of annual access, 50% more than typical whole-ownership usage patterns (average 2-3 weeks/year in Europe). More importantly, that £1 million buys access to properties featuring amenities that would cost £5-8 million to secure individually: private spas and pool, wine caves, sometimes restaurants, and positions that are genuinely ski-in, ski-out to Méribel’s legendary Saulire cable car.
“It’s rather like owning the VIP section at Annabel’s versus buying the entire club,” observes Hargreaves, whose clients include several prominent City figures who’ve embraced the fractional model. “You get the full experience, the social cachet, and the convenience, without the enormous capital commitment or year-round maintenance headaches.”
Location, Location, Elevation
The fractional model will surely prove particularly attractive for top resorts like Chamonix or the Three Valleys, where the Duchess of Cambridge’s regular appearances have cemented the resort’s status as the Alps’ most socially desirable destination. Like most fractional schemes that focus on top premium locations, the most successful Alpine programs target the very properties that whole owners covet most intensely.
Consider that premium establishment in the heart of Courchevel, it combines comfort, chic, sport and pleasure with access to the ski slopes at 150 metres, a swimming pool, a wellness area, a ski room.. These properties are sold completely furnished and ready to use (property management on-site). The residence has a reception, a ski shop, and a spa with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and two treatment rooms. Each residence comes with one or more parking spaces and caves for the owners.
With panoramic valley views, a full spa complex, and quick piste access, similar properties have sold for upwards of £4 million. Through fractional ownership, discerning families access this level of luxury for 540,000€ per share, with each share providing 1.5 months of annual usage. This is for a spectacular 3-bedroom residence of extensive 140 m2 living surface with its own private spa and sauna near the lifts.
“The key insight is that these aren’t compromised properties,” notes Hargreaves. “These are the chalets that whole buyers fight over – we’re simply making them accessible to a broader population of affluent families who appreciate quality but also value financial efficiency.” Contact us for more info.
The Social Dimension
Perhaps surprisingly, many fractional owners report that the shared aspect enhances rather than diminishes their Alpine experience. The rigorous vetting process ensures compatibility among owners, while the higher calibre of properties tends to attract families with similar values and lifestyle aspirations.
The arrangements also provide practical benefits that whole ownership cannot match. Professional management companies handle everything from grocery stocking to equipment rental, while the economies of scale allow for amenities – heated pools, full-time chefs, ski guides – that would be prohibitively expensive for individual families.
Not to mention general upkeep or upgrades every 10 years, much easier when you have eight owners that chip in…

Timing and Access
The sophisticated scheduling systems employed by premium fractional operators ensure that each family receives optimal weeks. Most apps guarantee each owner specific peak weeks – Christmas, New Year, February half-term – while providing flexibility for additional weeks during less contested periods. Typically, with 1/8th, you could have one week at New Year or Feb half term, two more weeks during ski season, and three weeks in summer or off-season.
In some cases, you can even rent your property to generate passive income that could pay the shared co-ownership charges.
“The six-week allocation typically breaks down as two peak weeks, two high-season weeks, and two shoulder-season weeks,” explains Hargreaves. “For the mountain lifestyle, this provides perfect coverage of the Alpine calendar and the spring/summer period, from pre-Christmas powder to early autumn.”
The quality of non-peak weeks has improved dramatically as Alpine resorts extend their seasons and enhance year-round amenities. March skiing in Méribel now rivals February conditions, while December increasingly offers excellent early-season powder – meaning families aren’t restricted to the traditional crush periods. The summer and even the off-season with hybrid working is also increasing dramatically.
Investment Considerations
While lifestyle remains the primary motivation for most fractional buyers, the investment dynamics merit consideration. Premium Alpine properties have demonstrated remarkable resilience, with 3-Valley prices appreciating consistently over the past two decades despite various economic disruptions.
Fractional shares have proven to hold their value remarkably well, partly because the entry requirements create a naturally limited market of qualified buyers. Unlike timeshares, which are dreadful to exit (you own nothing, only “time”), fractional ownership of the deed often have waiting lists of prospective purchasers and even co-owners of that same residence wish to buy an extra share or have friends/relatives that do.
“We’ve seen fractional shares in prime 3-Valley properties appreciate alongside the underlying property values,” notes Hargreaves. “When whole properties in a development increase by 20%, fractional shares typically follow that trajectory, providing both lifestyle enjoyment and capital preservation.”
The tax efficiency can also prove attractive. Fractional owners benefit from the same favourable French property tax treatment as whole owners, while the lower absolute investment reduces exposure to potential changes in cross-border tax arrangements. Transferring the share to your children is also incredibly low in cost, with costs expected to be under 1,000€ to switch names.
The Practical Reality
Of course, fractional ownership requires a philosophical adjustment from the complete autonomy that comes with whole ownership. Families must coordinate usage, maintain properties to agreed standards, and participate in collective decision-making about improvements and management. Which, incidentally, you still have to do when you own 100% of a property.
Yet for many, these modest constraints pale beside the benefits of accessing truly exceptional properties. The difference between a standard rental chalet and a fractional share in a premium property is often transformational – the difference between a skiing holiday and a genuinely memorable family experience.
“Last Christmas, our children were sledging in our private garden while we enjoyed champagne in our own hot tub, watching the piste-bashers prepare tomorrow’s slopes,” recalls Mrs. Fortescue. “The rental we’d used previously couldn’t remotely compare. We’ve essentially upgraded our entire Alpine experience while spending less than we would on whole ownership.”
Pioneering a Revolution
The fractional ownership concept may be relatively new to European ski property markets, but early adopters are already seeing remarkable results. Domosno, which began facilitating fractional arrangements as early as 2022, has witnessed firsthand how the model transforms both accessibility and investment outcomes.
“We were among the first to recognise that fractional ownership could democratise access to premium Alpine properties,” reflects a senior partner at Domosno. “Our initial offering – a beautifully appointed three-bedroom apartment in La Plagne at just €89,000 per eighth-share – demonstrated the model’s potential perfectly.”
That La Plagne property, now in its third year of fractional ownership, serves as a compelling case study. The original co-owners, eight families who each invested €89,000 for six weeks of annual access, have not only enjoyed excellent skiing and mountain lifestyle benefits but have seen their shares appreciate by over 10%, outperforming many traditional investment vehicles during the same period.
“The co-owners absolutely love the arrangement,” notes the Domosno partner. “They’re getting premium La Plagne access – six weeks in a property they could never have afforded individually – plus capital appreciation and the peace of mind that comes from professional management handling everything.”
This early success has led Domosno to expand significantly, now partnering with the world’s leading fractional ownership company to offer hundreds of listings across premier destinations. From Colorado’s Aspen and Vail to Utah’s Park City, from Canada’s Whistler to additional French Alpine locations, the platform provides sophisticated families with unprecedented choice in premium mountain properties. Check their listings here.
The Discreet Advantage
The expansion into international markets reflects fractional ownership’s growing sophistication, particularly as luxury promoters recognise the model’s benefits for their highest-end properties. Many of the most prestigious properties available through fractional arrangements aren’t actively marketed as such. Premium developers and luxury property promoters, conscious that fractional ownership might not align with their ultra-luxury positioning, often prefer to work through discreet intermediaries (like us!) who can identify suitable participants without public advertising.
“The reality is that the most exceptional properties – those 4-12M€ million chalets in prime Courchevel or central Méribel – can become available through fractional arrangements precisely because the developers wish to maintain their luxury brand image,” explains a senior property specialist who works extensively with high-end Alpine developers. “They’re selling to eight discerning families (minimum two families, as you can purchase up to 50% of the asset) rather than marketing to the broader public.”
This discretion benefits all parties. Developers preserve their luxury credentials while participating families enjoy access to properties that would never appear on conventional fractional ownership websites. The arrangements are typically structured through private holding companies, with usage coordination handled seamlessly by professional management firms that specialise in serving ultra-high-net-worth clients.

The Selection Process
Success with fractional ownership hinges entirely on choosing the right property and operator – particularly one with access to these discrete opportunities. The most reputable specialists maintain relationships with luxury promoters across Courchevel, Méribel, and other premier destinations, often learning of exceptional properties months before they might otherwise reach the market.
“We work directly with the luxury promoters who prefer to remain discrete about fractional opportunities,” notes a senior partner at Domosno, which has facilitated such arrangements since the concept’s European introduction. “We can arrange everything – from the holding company structure to usage management systems – ensuring complete discretion while delivering exceptional alpine experiences.”
The process typically involves comprehensive vetting of potential participants, detailed structuring of ownership entities, and establishment of sophisticated usage coordination systems. The best arrangements feel entirely seamless to participating families, with professional concierge services handling everything from pre-arrival stocking to equipment coordination.
Properties available through these discrete channels often represent the absolute pinnacle of Alpine luxury – those chalets where whole ownership would require £8-15 million commitments, but where fractional participation provides access for sophisticated families at more manageable investment levels.
Looking Forward
As property prices in prime Alpine locations continue their relentless ascent, fractional ownership appears positioned for significant growth among affluent families seeking both financial efficiency and lifestyle enhancement. The model offers a sophisticated solution to the fundamental tension between desire for luxury and prudent financial management.
For families who’ve watched Méribel property prices soar beyond comfortable reach, fractional ownership provides an elegant path to the Alpine lifestyle they’ve always envisioned. Rather than compromising on location or quality, they’re simply embracing a more intelligent approach to luxury property ownership.
“It’s really about recognizing that the value lies in the experience, not necessarily in exclusive possession,” concludes Hargreaves. “Our clients want their children to learn skiing on Méribel’s legendary slopes, to enjoy après-ski at La Folie Douce, to be part of this magical Alpine world. Fractional ownership delivers all of that – often more luxuriously than they could achieve through whole ownership – while maintaining the financial flexibility that characterizes truly sophisticated wealth management.”
For families considering fractional ownership in premium French Alpine resorts, Domosno offers comprehensive guidance on available opportunities and the selection process. Their expertise ensures that fractional arrangements deliver both exceptional lifestyle experiences and sound financial foundations.
Ready to Buy your ski Home?
Get in touch with our French Alps team to secure your ideal ski property.

Domosno — member of the
Association of International Property Professionals
since 2010
