Catered chalets - feedback please!

We've always stayed in s/c apartments or cabins when skiing. However for our 1st 12/13 trip (probably over New Year) we are seriously considering catered chalets. Should I be looking for any specific things? I've already have a couple in our sights and the trip advisor feedback is excellent. One of them is British run (they have about 6 chalets in 3 resorts). I've spoken to them over the phone and had a really good and informative chat. All looks good.

Any feedback on do's and don't, pros and cons much appreciated before the credit card gets a pounding in the next few days.

I've used catered chalets and chalet hotels a lot in recent years and always look for them as first option. However it depends very much on who you book with as to what to expect.

I won't use Crystal again, their catering is disgusting.
We have used Esprit/Total, Inghams, Skiworld, Ski France. All have been fine regards the food.

You should expect to have hot choice for breakfast, afternoon tea and cake, and at least a 3 course evening meal with free wine.

Personally I like to find one thats very close to the piste or a lift, ski in ski out is of course a major advantage. I also avoid travelling when its kids holidays as the last thing I want is to find myself couped up with Just William :wink:

A choice of wines is a bonus over dinner.

Look for one with a jacuzzi, sauna etc as thats a real bonus to have in your own property. I've stopped in one for 8 people and chalet hotels for up to 100 people, the dining experience is obviously more interesting with smaller numbers if you're sharing with strangers.

Most chalets have their own boot and ski room, heated boot storage is always welcome.

Some will also offer ski hosting, but I've never used that as yet.

Resorts where chalets are prominent: Verbier, St Anton, Alpe d'Huez, Val d'Isere, Meribel.

I've done the first 3, and also done a chalet in Serre Chevalier.

Best experience was probably Total Ski for the catering, Skiworld for value for money, Ski France for chalet facilities. I couldn't go back to self catering, especially with euro rates as they are and the cost of eating out particularly in France.

I usually expect to pay between £500 and £600pp max for a week catered inc flights and transfers. You only need lunch and beer money then. Great way to have a ski holiday IMO.

Thanks for the feedback Tony....much appreciated.

The one I'm looking at in VaI d'Isere ticks lots of boxes. 5 bedrooms, sauna, heated boot room, good food with free wine, 100m from the pistes, off the main roads but close to the centre, ski hosting and they also allow access/baggage storage to allow for 8 days skiing.

More like £1,200 pp though for the week incl travel!! Might be going for it in the next 24 hours...

bedrock barney wrote:Thanks for the feedback Tony....much appreciated.

The one I'm looking at in VaI d'Isere ticks lots of boxes. 5 bedrooms, sauna, heated boot room, good food with free wine, 100m from the pistes, off the main roads but close to the centre, ski hosting and they also allow access/baggage storage to allow for 8 days skiing.

More like £1,200 pp though for the week incl travel!! Might be going for it in the next 24 hours...

What dates are you looking at?

Love catered chalets or chalet hotels, last 8 trips have done them. Agree with the Crystal warning to a degree, they just use kids to cook so it could be hit or miss.

The down side of smaller chalets (5-8 rooms) is if you don't take full occupancy you could end up with a clash of personalities and there is NO escape, you live & breathe them for a week...although actually I've been lucky each time so far. Always make sure it is en-suite.

For the last three trips I have been in larger 40+ room types and they of course have a more general mix...some do a 'shared' tables for dinner so you can meet new people.

And here's a good saying to keep in mind..."There's a 'weirdo' in every chalet ...if you ever stayed in one and not noticed them...then it was YOU " )

I would like to do the chalet option, but not sure if u am sociable enough. This meeting new people malarkey sounds hard work after a day skiing. Can't walk around in just a pair of shorts in a chalet.

Might return to hotels, fed up with expensive sc.

Iceman wrote:I would like to do the chalet option, but not sure if u am sociable enough. This meeting new people malarkey sounds hard work after a day skiing. Can't walk around in just a pair of shorts in a chalet.

Might return to hotels, fed up with expensive sc.

They possibly would struggle to understand you :D

Is that the sensible Northern Monkey element in my personality :roll: