An unforgettable Christmas. We spent two weeks in this lovely studio apartment in Les Avants. Kristyna was a delightful and attentive host. She even put up Christmas decorations for us so we wouldn’t feel so homesick. Her Czech Christmas cookies were an unexpected surprise--both beautiful and delicious.

The apartment is a self-contained unit attached to her home so there is both privacy and access to Kristyna when you need her. Her English is good and she wants her guests to have a good experience.

The steep road from the Les Avants train station was a good workout each day and was only a challenge when we were carrying all our luggage for arrival. It takes 10 minutes walking up and about 5 minutes walking down. We enjoyed the spectacular mountain scenery on the way to and from the apartment—including the farm animals with bells at the neighboring chalet. The train ride to Montreux each day where we were doing research was breathtaking. For our final return, Kristyna drove us to the train station.

In the frosty air of December, the apartment stayed cozy and warm. Especially important was that the bed was comfortable. There is a lovely balcony off the kitchen which, on warm days, would be a great place to relax.

The bathroom is quite small and the shower/tub is tiny. Once we figured out how to use it, we did just fine. Storage area for clothing is minimal, so we lived out of our suitcases. If you’re only staying a few days you’ll do well.

We cooked most of our meals in the apartment which worked out fine with a microwave, hot plate, and tea pot. The refrigerator is tiny, so be careful to limit food purchases that require refrigeration.
Wireless internet (important to us), was flawless the entire time. Good strong signal. The kitchen table is well suited to setting up laptops and getting to work if you need that.

Don’t miss the funicular ride to Sonloup (you can watch it go by from the kitchen). There is a great hike through the forest at the top with fabulous views.

We highly recommend Kristyna and her mountain chalet in Les Avants. Simple living. Simply beautiful.