Catered Chalets.

Right, this may sound real thick but would someone mind explaining to me exactly what chalets and catered chalets are.

I am assuming they are just one large type of house but as some sleep around 16 people am i right in saying that if 4 people booked then you would be sharing with strangers?
I know you will have your own bedroom but do you share bathrooms?
How about the lounge area? Is that shared along with other areas like kitchens and hot tubs?

I also assume that catered chalets are the same type of thing but someone cooks for you.

I have looked at these places before but were unsure exactly how it worked. We are a sociable family but we also like our own space to retreat back to of an evening if we so wish. Would thises kind of places be a no go for the shy type?


Thanks

Jon

Hmmmm, interesting. I thought everyone understood the concept of catered chalets.
OK, so its a house basically, maybe purpose built on or near the slopes or just a lived in property in a village. Sizes vary, you can get some for as small as 6 in a group, and some right up to 25-30 (more like a clubhotel really).
The idea is that you have a communal property, usually with twin and double bedrooms. Some are all ensuite, others you may have to share bathrooms. I prefer my own facilities, thanks.
Bedrooms are the only private space you will get, the living room and dining room will be shared with whoever is in your chalet. The bigger your group, the better as you will invariably take it over to a degree, but half the fun of chalets is meeting new people and sharing ski experiences with them.
2 weeks ago in ADH there were 8 of us, and we shared with a father and son who we skied with for 2 days, and a couple who wanted to have a quiet relaxing break - they didnt get it! Mind you, we were in bed by 12 latest every night.
You will have a chalet host or 2 who will cook for you. Breakfast is usually cereal, bread, cooked items, croissants, porridge, yogurt, fruit juice, tea and coffee, and you can have as much as you like.
They will make a cake and leave it for your return, afternoon tea if you like. This usually got eaten on our return with a beer before we went for a hot tub and sauna.
Dinner is around 8pm and will be 3 or 4 courses depending on who you go with, and usually involves free wine as well.
Therefore, it is generally very good value.

You can spend £1000 plus per person if you want and have an exclusive place to yourselves, or you can do it for £400 and end up in an old traditional chalet with 1 shared bathroom, depends what you want.
We paid £500 for a 4 star chalet in Alpe d'Huez, right on the piste so ski in ski out, hot tub and sauna built in.
Our only other expense was lunch and whatever other drinks we wanted, so we bought crates of beer from the supermarket at 13 euros for 26 bottles and had our own cheap apres ski. Better compared to 5 or 6 euros for a beer in a bar in town.

Having been 3 times now, I would go catered chalets every time now if I could, although not all resorts offer them. Its a good way to limit your spending, and also if you get a really good one in a good spot, it can really make your holiday that little bit special.

Give it a try.

Thanks again Tony for a detailed and helpful reply.
This is pretty much what i imagined it to be. I am not sure if it is really for me though as i like to lay around in my pants if i want to!!! lol.

Snapzzz wrote:Thanks again Tony for a detailed and helpful reply.
This is pretty much what i imagined it to be. I am not sure if it is really for me though as i like to lay around in my pants if i want to!!! lol.

Don't let that stop you!!!

Tony_H wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:Thanks again Tony for a detailed and helpful reply.
This is pretty much what i imagined it to be. I am not sure if it is really for me though as i like to lay around in my pants if i want to!!! lol.

Don't let that stop you!!!

But try not to do it in the communal lounge or dining room :shock:

brandyaitch wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:Thanks again Tony for a detailed and helpful reply.
This is pretty much what i imagined it to be. I am not sure if it is really for me though as i like to lay around in my pants if i want to!!! lol.

Don't let that stop you!!!

But try not to do it in the communal lounge or dining room :shock:

Why not? It would make for a good crack.
Crack.

Get it?

I am not saying i am a slob, i just like to live comfortably without worry of offending someone else. Sharing a house with strangers, even though they may well become good friends, doesn't seem right to me.
I think that if my party of four were stuck with a party of 12 in a 16 berth chalet it could quite possibly end up ruining our holiday if we felt 'outsiders' to 'their' place.

Just my anxious thoughts.

I understand, although to me its part of the experience. Mind you, I have been lucky as the people I have met on my previous chalet holidays have been cool, and in fact some have become good friends. I met a family in Verbier in 2008 with 2 young kids, my personal nightmare on a ski holiday, but they were great. I skied with the Dad every day whilst we met up later on over dinner and the kids went to bed whilst we had drinks and chatted. We have since been to stop with them, and I have a place in my heart for their daughter who is an absolute sweetheart.
This year we met a guy and his Dad, and I met the son for a coffee in London last week, he is a really decent bloke and has already asked about possibly joining up next time we go on a group chalet holiday.
Its all good.
Just buy some cheap joggers to go over your pants :wink: