Chalet Ski

The new ski company hit all the headiness at the London Olympia and NEC ski shows was Chalet Ski, accompany that not only has a great URL, but by all accounts a significant investment behind them. Their stand certainly stood out as one of the more interesting stands with for a new company, a great deal of choice in respect of chalets, resorts and countries (Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland and the USA).

Chamonix Ski In Ski Out

In Chamonix there are very few ski in ski out catered chalets but this shouldn't deter you as Chamonix Exclusive offer not only a great slope side location, they have in luxury chalet in the form of Chalet Prarion, one of the best luxury chalets in the Chamonix Valley.

Easter Skiing

Those in the know, often book this one early to get the best ski chalets in the Alps. With snow falling it seems later and later, and even bigger dumps year on year, people who have been on one Easter ski holiday rarely don't return for the next. But being late on in the year here are a couple of tips, firstly go high, resorts such as Chamonix, Three Valleys, Espace Killy in France, and Verbier and Zermatt in Switzerland are good choices with skiing well above 3,000m, just in case. Also, make sure your chalet is close to the town or has a good driver service as apres-ski is very much part of the Easter ski fun with sunny long days. And third and finally, a nice south facing sun terrace to ensure you come back with the first sun tan, panda eyes obligatory of course, in the office!

End of Season Blues

Well I have to confess to being a little slow on the blogging front so here is a holding blog rather than anything of note. With the season concluding a couple of weeks ago its been a great opportunity to take some time out and with the last few days seeing temperatures rise, a chance for some walking and a spot of tennis. In the next week I'll try a little harder however to blog a little more diligently!!

Gay Ski

With the recent news of a bigoted bed and breakfast operator refusing a gay couple entry into their establishment, the gay ski community may be pleased to hear that a new company called Pink Ski have been formed, just to specialise on gay skiing, from chalets through to the best bars and ski resorts, but with a gay perspective.

End of a Great Ski Season

As many operators close down their chalets at the end of a great season, here at Catered Chalet Blog we won't be putting our blog into storage with our skis. We will therefore continue to blog and bring you the latest news and information ready for the start of the new season in November, weather and snow permitting,

Ski In Ski Out

As the season slowly draws to a close, its already time to start to make that booking for next year's ski holiday, especially if you want to avoid second best. Ski in ski out properties are always very popular and typically first to go due to their exceptional location and ski convenience. One of the best family chalets in the Alps is Chalet Prarion and already this stunning six bedroom chalet is filling fast. "We have always benefitted from our ski in ski out location" Managing Director Frances Leyshon informed us "but this year demand seems higher than ever. Yeas we are extremely competitive in terms of price and offering, but it seems that anyone who may have missed out this year due to the economic situation, isn't going to do so again".

Certainly looking at the availability page on the Chamonix Exclusive site this bares true, so get in early if you don't want to miss out.

Chalets Verbier

If you are looking or some outstanding chalets in Verbier that will deliver great ski chalet accommodation, a service that only five star hotels provide (but with a genuine smile), but priced at a level that will come as a nice surprise, Discover Verbier are well worth a look.

A company that has year on year grown its portfolio, whilst maintaining a caring charm!

Easter Ski

Well we are nearly at the end of the Easter ski holidays and another very successful Easter skiing break too. Last week we saw a big snowfall followed at the weekend by further falls bringing up to 50cm of fresh snow and fantastic snow depths across Europe and by all accounts the USA too.

Family Chalet

After last weeks review of the Three Valleys, this week we are looking at probably one of the best family chalets in the Alps, and certainly the finest ski in ski out family chalet in the Chamonix Valley.

Set in its own private grounds, right next to the piste, this luxury family chalet sleeps twelve people in six en-suite bedrooms. A Games Room (which includes a pool table for dad and uncles), high definition cinema, Wii, luxury hot tub, Bose stereo, iPod Bose docking station, are all just some of the great luxury facilities that compliment the professional chef, host, and driver that ensures a great family chalet service.

However, this family chalet may be luxury, but the prices might be pleasantry surprising, starting at 7,000 GBP and rising to 14,500 GBP for the ski New Year week.

Catered Chalets Three Valleys

Ski In Ski Out have some great catered chalets to offer in the Three Valleys that are ideal for the budget conscious family ski group or groups skiing with friends with a variety of budgets.

In Les Menuires their catered chalets are part of one complex and can be selected as either separate chalets sleeping up to 14 or 16 guests, or grouped together for parties up to 70 people.

Chalet Balkiss or Chalet Titania are great value catered chalets in La Tania. Chalet Balkiss sleeps 14 and then there is Chalet Titania which sleeps

Half Term Ski Holiday

Next year the ski half term week will fall once again over two weeks rather than the one (12th February and 19th February 2011), as was the case this year. Normally the public schools week is different to the private schools half term break, but those that took their annual family ski week during the half term in France or parts of Switzerland, will have experienced unprecedented demand which reflected both private and public schools electing for the same half term window! Further compounding the problem was that it corresponded with the largest canton in France taking the same week, as well as regions in and around Geneva!

Fair play to most resorts and ski schools for coping very will with the half term ski demand and making this week a great success. Nevertheless, avoiding a repeat next year is of course a very welcome redress!

Luxury Catered Chalets Verbier

If you are looking to ski Verbier, there are some fabulous luxury catered chalets in Verbier, and neighbouring villages. One worth a special mention would be Chalet Auriane in Tzoumaz. Part of the Verbier 4 Vallees network, Tzoumaz is the quieter alternative to the hustle and bustle of Verbier.

Chalet Auriane is an exceptional ski in ski out property and offers fantastic value for money for clients looking to ski the Verbier network

Ski New Year

With the start of spring, a ski New Year blog might seem strange, but it is in fact far from it. Many catered chalets have already been snapped up for the New Year ski week and few will remain by the time the summer season has caught up with us.

The New ski week is extremely popular, probably more popular than the ski half term week, and surprisingly for many, more popular than the ski Christmas chalet holiday the week before. It isn't therefore one to leave to the last minute. Luxury catered chalets always seem first to go and catered chalet owners who have availability in the last quarter know that for the New Year ski week that demand will be high and some even raise their prices at the end, rather than lowering them, with such scarce availability, and demand far out stripping supply.

So if you are looking for a catered, or a luxury catered chalet for the New Year ski, you might want to use that spring in your step in the direction of booking your ski New Year chalet!

Ski Half Term

You may be surprised to see a blog right after the school holidays on the half term ski break, but having talked to many operators, repeat bookings and guests who missed out this year, not wanting to miss out on the next years ski half term holiday, has meant already catered chalets are being booked up fast, particularly in the big resorts such as Chamonix, Courchevel, Meribel, St Anton, Val d'Isere, Verbier, and Zermatt.

If you are looking at a catered chalet or luxury chalet for half term, our advise is book early, but as its a family ski break, search out for the chalet operators that have a family ski friendly record (this in our opinion should not necessarily mean the branded 'family ski company's' as many of the private catered chalets provide better family friendly, high quality chalets and service in comparison), and one's that are close to the slopes and ski school, preferably ski in ski out if possible to really make life easy!

Ski Christmas

Well if you really don't want to have to endure the Queens Speech on Christmas Day, skiing might just be the ideal alternative. Whilst it is a popular week, the Christmas ski week isn't as expensive as you might think and it is a chance for someone else to peel the brussels sprouts and stuff the turkey! And if you aren't convinced yet, just think 'White Christmas', the Christmas tree in the corner, the decorations in the room, and no step ladder needed, its all done for you!

And if you are worried about the snow, its generally never a problem, but just in case you can always ski Chamonix, Courchevel, Meribel, Val d'Isere, Verbier or other high altitude resorts that are as snow safe as it gets!

So if we have wet the appetite, don't forget that this year Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and catered chalets are likely to stagger the departure dates to deal with Christmas Day and New Years Day falling on the transfer day, with some operators swapping to a Sunday and others for mid week for the peak weeks before switching back to the popular Saturday to Saturday changeover.

Whatever the changeover, a ski Christmas break in our opinion is a great way to avoid Her Majesty's Voice!!

Luxury Catered Chalets Val d Isere

This week we are focusing on great chalets that give unrivaled access to ski Val d'Isere. If you haven't skied Val d'Isere, then make sure you clink on one of the links because it is without doubt one of the best resorts in the world to ski.

The resort itself is situated at 1,850m with the high altitude skiing up to 3,450m. On piste there are circa 130 pistes for all abilities and the off-pist rivals some of the best in the world. So you won't get bored skiing Val d Isere and the Espace d'Killy Network!

The Val d'Iser apres-ski nightlife is lively and in many streets are pedestrianised. A sophisticated, high class, chic affair with a good variety of bars, boutiques and restaurants.

In terms of chalets, if you are going to ski Val d'Isere, I guess the chalet needs to be two things, one ski in ski out, so you can get a head start whilst others queue at bus stops or struggle down slippery paths, and two, if you ar going to stop at probably one of the best ski resorts in the world, it really should be one of the best luxury catered chalets Val d Isere has to offer!

Luxury Catered Chalets Chamonix

Did they or didn't they, well according to reports Chalet des Drus run by HIP Chalets and Chalet Prarion which is run by Chamonix Exclusive both had high profile clients over the Ski New Year week. As luxury catered chalets go, both are exceptional ski chalets, for size alone in the case of Chalet des Drus, least of all features that include an indoor swimming pool, and in the case of Chalet Prarion for its on piste location and features that includes cinema projection. Chalet des Drus incidentally boasts seven bedrooms, whilst Chalet Prarion six. Whilst these two chalets are exceptional ski chalets, in many respects they typify many of the catered chalet offerings in the Chamonix Valley. 

Chamonix has long been a tourist destination, long before skiing was invented, with the Western Alps highest peak, Mont Blanc (4,808m) on its door step. Many of these visitors have been British, who were some of the most enthusiastic pioneers for exploration. More recently the British visitors and influence has increased with a number of British setting up catered chalets in the ski resort. Many have been attracted by Chamonix's exceptional and spectacular scenery, all year round mountain sports, and the fact that it is not only widely considered the Alpine Capital of the world, but also the Mecca for skiers who want to ski the most extreme off piste skiing. 

In terms of catered chalet clients, many are attracted by the legendary high altitude skiing, its reputation for great apres ski, and of course the very convenient one hour transfer from Geneva which also makes Chamonix a very popular for weekend ski breaks. 

The influx of British chalet owners has meant that the catered chalet market in Chamonix is competitive, which is great news for the skier looking for great catered chalets, at a great price. As we have mentioned, the two chalets mentioned above are exceptional luxury chalets that without such strong competition in Chamonix, in other world famous resorts would probably sell for at least 50% more than the standard prices they are quoting, and possibly even twice the price in similar resorts! 

Therefore if you are looking for a a great luxury catered chalet, in a world famous high altitude resort, but a resort that will leave you pleasantly surprised by the price (and the quality of choice), you might want to consider a ski holiday in Chamonix!

Catered Chalet

If you are looking for the best catered chalets and luxury catered chalets, this blog intends to bring you great recommendations, up to the minute availability, and general resort information against the catered chalets we intend to feature. 

In our next blog we intend to feature Chamonix and explore the chalets relating to the media gossip regarding who did and who didn't ski in Chamonix at New Year. Chalet Prarion was the main headline, a luxury catered chalet run by Chamonix Exclusive, that if the media rumours are correct was the choice of Elin Nordegen, wife of Tiger Woods for the New Year holidays, and then there was Chalet des Drus run by HIP Chalets luxury catered chalet where Kylie Minogue was reported to have stayed.

The week after we will be taking a look at Verbier and searching out great catered ski chalets that won't leave your bank manager looking too concerned!