Luxury Ski Chalets

This week we have been reviewing the new Chalet Ski website that has been attracting a great deal of interest in the ski industry, mainly due to its domain name that sets it apart from many of the other start up websites that seem to spring up every day. Those in the industry have been somewhat surprised that in the saturated domain world, a new entrant has managed to obtain such an important web address. The company behind Chalet Ski aren't letting on how they obtained such a 'unique' dot Co dot UK address or what it cost, but our guess is that it wasn't a low cost acquisition, either that or they are very lucky!

From a luxury catered chalet perspective, we were surprised at the quality of luxury chalets within their portfolio, probably 50% of which 10% are of an exceptional standard. I guess this reflects the power of good branding!  

Luxury Ski Resorts

If you are looking for great luxury chalets in a fabulous luxury ski resort, Ski In Ski Out Chalets have some fabulous luxury chalets to offer in the resort of Val d'Isere, right next to the piste. Rarely are there such great properties with such great locations, but being Val d'Isere, anything is possible.

Luxury Chalet Chamonix

Chamonix in recent years has without doubt risen the bar in terms of some of the best luxury chalets as a result of its competitive chalet market. Once a great historic town that had drifted into decay, partly due to the inverted snobbery that Chamonix was a mountain town and certainly not a place for glitz. Today however it has thankfully found the perfect balance; high up its a place to show off your well homed mountaineering and skiing repertoire, whilst in the town centre it is the place to be seen. Great sports shops, restaurants and bars, entwined with designer boutiques from the well known designer brands. Chamonix's move up market has culminated with a real influx of new chalet operators, drawn by its endless sporting activities, and its chic, cool to be seen allure. As a result, a number of high end chalets have found sprung up, increasing the competition that is sadly lacking in other resorts.

Ski New Year

If you are looking for great New year ski deals then you may struggle, however a new site called New Year Ski will at least help identify what is available n this ever increasingly popular week. Its always been a sell out but each year the "No Availability" signs seems to be posted and last year by the end of September it seemed even a stable might have been a hard place to find in the Alps. Apparently New Ski should help with this problem and will place up to date availability on what is still available and where when it launches later this summer. Sounds great, it'll just however be interesting to see what is available!

Easter Skiing

If you are looking at one of the peak weeks for a luxury catered family chalet holiday, you might want to consider next year the Easter ski break where you often get some of the best snow depths and best sunshine too.

Family Chalets

Many chalets claim they are 'family friendly ski chalets' but how many are really any different to any other chalet a family might book? In many cases its all in a name, or more to the point, just a name, with no substance behind the family friendly ski chalet claim.

Whilst this is true of many of the chalets, one family chalet that stands out from the crowd is Chalet Prarion run by Chamonix Exclusive and what makes this a true family friendly chalet, isn't just its ski in and ski out location, but all the other amenities and services for all the family that includes; the children's entertainer, the ski school drop off and collection service, the children's entertainment that allow parents to relax after skiing or enjoy some apres-ski, the Games Room with its full sized pool table, a Wii console and games, and its own home cinema, the luxury hot tub for the parents, the cinema projection for all the family for that 'night at the movies', and then there's the on call driver.

One of the few true family friendly ski chalets, and the one other factor that stands out as family friendly, the price!

Easter Ski

So when is the Easter ski 2011 break? Interesting question as the actual answer for families seems to depend on what region, and whether your children go to a public school or private. Some schools start the break the week commencing 2nd April, with others starting the week after, meaning the Easter school holidays are spanning three weeks. For the rest of us, the weekend 23rd April 2011.

Ski Verbier

If you are looking to ski Verbier in the 2011 season and are looking for a great value luxury catered chalet, you won't get much better than Discover Verbier. Don't be fooled by the price either, the service really is luxury, despite what appears to be a too good to be true offer. Its just the Managing Director, Sarah Critchley really is passionate about great service, and people coming to Verbier and having a great time. All sounds very altruistic, that's what I told her when I had the pleasure of staying at Flora Alp! But I guess when you have over 12 years of success behind you, why listen to idiots like me!

Best Chalet

One of the best chalets in the Chamonix Valley is undoubtably Chalet Prarion, a true ski in ski out luxury catered chalet that has six en-suit bedrooms and sleeps 12 people, and benefits from:

• Open Log Fireplace
• Luxury Hydro Therapy Outdoor Hot tub
• High Definition Projection Cinema
• Games Room including a full sized pool table, Wii, and home cinema
• On Call Resort Driving Service 08:00am to 10:00am and 2:30pm and 7:30pm
• Bathrobes, Slippers and Towels
• Luxury Bath & Beauty Products
• Ski Room
• Books, Games, Toys, Sledges
• Large library of the best DVD's and Music
• Blue Ray DVD Player
• Bose Music System (Compatible With iPod)
• South Facing Sun Terrace
• South Facing Balcony
• Professional Chef, Chalet Host, and Chauffeur

A truly luxury catered chalet that few other chalets come anywhere near competing in terms of its location, luxury interior, and services.

Val d'Isere

As far as luxury ski resorts, and luxury catered chalets go, Val d'Isere probably doesn't get any better.  A fantastic ski resort for its fabulous architecture, chic nightlife, and dare we add, its better class of skier!

Extensive skiing, high altitude too ensures a great snow record, as well as on of the world's favourite ski areas, the Espace Killy, ensure that if you choose a Val d'Isere ski holiday, you won't be disappointed. And what's more, the luxury catered chalets in Val d'Isere are some of the best in the world.

Easter Skiing

Luxury catered chalets across Europe are welcoming both family skiing groups, friends and couples for the annual Easter ski pilgrimage. With family ski groups the ski Easter holiday week is very popular with schools being somewhat pedantic about taking children out, and the Easter ski holiday weekend being extremely popular with friends and couples squeezing in that last ski of the season and making the most of the bank holiday Easter Friday and Monday.

East skiing is often some of the best and this weekend we have seen a big fall in snow and next week more is forecast. The ski Easter weekend should therefore give ski holiday makers the best of skiing, warm sunny days, great spring snow, and that extra sunlight to spend an extra hour or two sat outside your favourite bar enjoying a well earned beer or glass of wine.

Ski New Year

If you are looking for a great new year skiing destination, the spring is a good time to start checking out your chosen ski resort and securing the best luxury catered chalet you can get for the popular ski New Year week. This week is the most popular of the season so you won't find any last minute deals for the ski New Years Eve party in any of the resorts, least of all one of the top locations across Europe.

Other popular times include the Christmas ski holiday and the half term ski week, but even these come second place to the ski New Year week.

Ski Chamonix Christmas

If you are looking for a great luxury catered chalet at Christmas in Chamonix, ski in ski out Chalet Prarion still have availability and at 10,500 GBP for 12 people, its surprisingly great value for a break with friends or the family ski holiday at Christmas. All six bedrooms are en-suite and with a luxury hydro therapy hot tub, south facing decking, a state of the art high definition cinema projection, and a Games Room that includes a full size pool table, this is one Christmas holiday were no one will be bored!

So enquire early to secure this fantastic ski in ski out luxury catered chalet for Christmas.

Ski Half Term

It may seem a little early, baring in mind we have only just had the last half term ski holiday, but there is no time like the present if you are intent on securing for the family one of the best luxury catered chalets for the ski half term week. You might say don't be so ridiculous, but if you check the best luxury catered chalets in your preferred, they are probably already booked, and therefore for this special family ski event you might want to start looking, and more importantly booking, soon, rather than later.

And if you don't mind me saying, this isn't a week to ask for a discount, not if it is a true luxury catered chalet, as they really aren't going to give on when the cue to book reflects the start of the Harrods January sales! So if you don't what to have sad faces the ski half term week, and whilst the children might forgive, the other parent won't, now's the time.

Ski In Ski Out

If you really are looking for a "luxury catered chalet", then I guess one of the main criteria must be that it is a true ski in ski out chalet! You may disagree with me on this one, but if you are going to have walk in ski boots down treacherous paths and roads at the end of the ski day, or jump into a 4x4, mini bus, or coach, it will need to probably be somewhere very special to claim the luxury ski holiday tag is our view.

So ski in ski out. In my view this means it is of course a chalet that you can just ski out and the ski in to at the start and end of the day. In doing so that it can be easily accessed, next or a stones throw from the piste, and certainly not a chalet that you need to ski through gardens, or across roads, through woods, or all three!

So for that truly luxurious chalet holiday, try and pick a ski in ski out chalet when you book!

Ski Val d'Isere - Luxury Chalets

It might not be a surprise to hear that some of the best luxury catered chalets happen to be in one of the world's best ski resorts, Val d'Isere. Part of the Espace Killy ski region, the skiing is second to none and quotes as one of the top 5 ski regions in Europe. If it is in the top 5 ski regions, it must be at least one of the Top 3 resorts for luxury chalets. In Val d'Isere you really are spoilt for choice and you have a choice between great ski chalets close to the town and some outstanding ski in ski out luxury chalets around Val d'Isere as well.

Over the coming weeks we will take a look at some of the best in detail.

Ski Chamonix - Luxury Chalet Prarion

Welcome to the first luxury catered chalet blog which focuses initially on Chalet Prarion. Many will know this chalet as the ski chalet visitied by the rich and famous in the exclusive, family friendly ski resort of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley.

Situated right next to the blue piste that runs down to the ESF ski school, Chalet Prarion is a six bedroom delight, and undoubtably the finest ski in ski out chalet that the Chamonix Valley has to offer. As we have already mentioned, its clients include A list celebrities, corporate ski guests, and just groups of friends who just seem to love this chalet for its size, amenities, and ski in ski out location. But what it really sets itself apart from the rest is its family friend ski service, called by one visitor as the 'wrap around service', never intrusive, but always there when you need them.

Next year this luxury catered chalet will include a Games Room that will feature a pool table, home cinema, Wii and a selection of games and DVD's to go with the luxury hot tub and HD Projection Cinema. All the bedrooms are well sized and furnished to a high standard with en-suite showers or bath.