What to send before arrival
Write one short message listing each guest with a dietary need, the exact condition and its severity. "Nut allergy, anaphylactic, carries adrenaline" is far more useful than "no nuts please". Separate allergies from preferences: a vegetarian guest and a coeliac guest need very different care in the kitchen.
Send it at booking and again about two weeks before you travel, as menus and shopping are planned in advance.
- When to tell the host: at booking, then a written reminder two weeks before arrival
- Emergency number in France: 15 for medical emergencies, 112 from any phone
- Pharmacies: in Samoëns village, with a rota for out-of-hours service
- Name of the guest and the condition.
- Severity: preference, intolerance or allergy, and whether traces matter.
- Medication carried and where it is kept.
- Foods that are safe and enjoyed, to help the cook plan.
Questions to ask the host
Ask how the kitchen avoids cross-contamination, whether separate dishes can be cooked at the same time as the main menu, and how breakfast and afternoon tea are handled. Check whether packed lunches or snacks are provided and labelled. A good host will answer clearly; a vague answer is a reason to ask more.
Ask also who cooks on the host’s night off, when guests usually eat out in the village.
If several guests have different needs, a simple table helps the cook: one line per person, one column per meal, and a note on snacks and packed lunches. Children’s tea is often served earlier and separately, so mention their needs explicitly for that meal too.
During the week
On the first evening, take five minutes with the cook to confirm the list in person. Keep medication in an agreed place known to the group. When eating out, show a written card in French describing the allergy; restaurant staff appreciate a clear note.
Note the nearest pharmacy and the out-of-hours rota on day one. In case of a severe reaction, call 15 or 112 without waiting.
Good to know: ask the host for the ingredient list of any ready-made product used, such as stock, sauces or desserts: hidden allergens often come from there.
Quick answers
Can catered chalets cope with coeliac disease? Many can, if told early and in detail; ask how they avoid cross-contamination.
When should dietary needs be shared? At booking and again around two weeks before arrival.
What is the emergency number in France? 15 for medical emergencies, or 112 from any phone.
Sources and useful information
Checked on 23 October 2026. Updated on 23 October 2026.
Opening times and services can change with the season. Check the official pages before visiting.
