Easter Ski Deals

The great snow conditions this year certainly put paid to many peoples hopes of getting a later Easter ski deal as the late demand fueled an increase rather than a decrease. This is I guess the risk regarding the Easter ski holidays when trying to get a late deal. Particularly if you are a family ski group, our advice if you are looking for a great ski deal for Easter is book early. Operators like to have 'bookings in the bag' so enquire early when the real Easter ski deals get done.

Family Chalet - Family Ski Resort

One of the best family ski resorts also has one of the Alps best family ski chalets. Luxury catered Chalet Prarion is set over three floors in the the Chamonix Valley and includes a large Games Room, great for Dad's with its full sized pool table, and a Wii and home cinema with a 50" flat screen TV on the basement, cinema projection on the main floor, and outside a very large luxury jacuzzi that is sunken into the south facing terrace (bring you relatives a they could probably move into the jacuzzi). All six bedrooms are en-suite and you get four staff too (professional chef, chalet host, driver, and a children's entertainer).

As for the resort, oneof the best family ski resorts in the Alps. Situated in the ski area of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley, the gentle slopes at the top of the Prarion, the magic carpet, dedicated beginners chair, nd the superb family orientated ski school make this the perfect combination for one of the best family ski holidays you probably ever experience.

Ski In Ski Out

Personally speaking, if you are going on a family ski holiday I want my chalet close to the piste, and ideally ski in ski out. Family skiing should be a pleasure and this doesn't mean struggling with children, their equipment, plus their clothing, as well yourselves with your skis and poles downs icy paths or slippery roads which has obvious inherent dangers.

In which case you need a catered chalet or luxury catered chalet that is close to the ski lifts, the slopes, and the preferred ski school, or ideally a ski in ski out property where you and the family can just put your skis on, and ski from the door. But just a small warning when booking a ski in ski out chalet, before booking, just ask the operator what they mean by ski in ski out as one or two claim such, when they are some way away in reality and are certainly not family friendly ski in ski out if you are skiing between chalet gardens and roads in the case of spurious claimants!

Ski in ski out should mean in my opinion that it is right next to the piste, ideally a blue piste, and for family ski holidays located conveniently to the ski school.

New Year Ski

So Christmas Day is finished, the games have been opened, played with, and discarded, so what's next! You could go and see Aunt Mavis for the last turkey leg, or alternatively jump on a plane on Boxing Day, and get some early skiing in!

This year many ski operators have switched the changeover day from the Saturday, the day Christmas Day and NewYear falls this year to the Sunday. Therefore the Christmas ski week starts on Sunday 19th December 2010 with the New Year week commencing on the 26th December 2010 (and ending on the 2nd January 2011). So for a New Year ski you can make best use of the Christmas holidays have a fabulous ski New Years Eve 2011 celebration, ski on New Years Day, before departing on the Sunday!

Luxury Ski Resorts - Family Ski

I am often asked what my favourite luxury ski resorts are. Well this question is quite easy and in alphabetical order they are:

1. Chamonix
2. St Anton
3. Whistler

So that's the easy one done! But what would be my top luxury ski resorts from a family ski perspective. This of course will change the evaluation criteria as I'm looking for different wants. Firstly, not ski schools where they are yanking children's arms off and screaming hysterically at them as I saw in Les Arcs! So I am going to judge this on family friendly skiing, ski chalets and value for money, altitude and its snow sure record, and the family ski reputation of the resort which includes the ski school (well that will count Les Arcs out then - not that it would get in to the luxury ski resort bracket anyway(!)). So Here we go:

1. Meribel - family friendly unlike its Three Valleys neighbour Courchevel and a lot cheaper, and not so high as Val Thorens which at 2,300m is not being ideal for younger children.
2. Val d'Isere - whilst it might struggle on the VFM, its skiing, stunning village, it has to be on the list. 
3. Verbier - Whilst it nearly lost out to Chamonix on price, Chamonix lost out on links and ease of access. Yes Les Houches is great for families, but in comparison Verbier has the Savoleyres!