If you thought the recession had put an end to luxury ski holidays, you'd be wrong.

Shemshak Lodge, Courchevel 1850. If you need to ask the price, then you can't afford it.

Back in August 2009, the collapse of luxury chalet operator Descent International seemed to signal the end of an era for a certain kind of ski holiday. Descent catered to royalty, Russians and all kinds of celebrity, and its chalets routinely topped out at £40-50,000 a week in high season. Its failure, in the teeth of the recession, suggested that maybe even the super-rich were losing their appetite for the very highest levels of pampering - and expenditure.

They weren't. Several smaller companies rose from the ashes of Descent, and one of them - Consensio Holidays - has just announced that it's adding a new chalet to its portfolio. It's called Shemshak Lodge, and it's set in the sleek French resort of Courchevel 1850. For one week over New Year, it will cost you £79,500.

What do you get for your £80k? Five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, interior design by London-based Todhunter Earle, a pool, and an entire floor “dedicated to relaxation and well being” with panoramic views of the mountains. There's room for eight adults and five children, and a team of professionally-trained staff to attend to their needs. This includes a proper chef, and chauffeur who'll be on hand at almost any hour of the day to shuttle you about from chalet to pistes to bars and back again.

Admittedly, the chalet can be had for 'just' £17,500 in the quietest week of the season (w/c December 12), but that's not when the super rich come out to play, is it? Consensio is confident they'll fill it for the peak weeks, too. "We were blown away by the demand for our chalets last winter and couldn't quite believe that a start-up could be so successful in its first season, particularly in a difficult economic climate," said Consensio's co-founder and MD, Ceri Tinley. "We have already received a significant number of bookings and enquiries for next season."

Consensio isn't the only company charging big money for ski holidays this season. Sir Richard Branson's ski pad, "The Lodge" in Verbier, sleeps 18, and will cost a staggering £98,900 over New Year. Meanwhile, in Davos, Tivoli Lodge (sleeps 18) will set you back £86,720 for the same week.

By the way, none of these prices include flights or transfers...