Family Friendly Ski

This ski half term week we really are lucky to have some really wonderful guests, Grandma, Granddad, Mum and Dad, and their six children. When you have such wonderful family guests it really does make you wake up with a smile, and in many respects give even more just because they deserve it.

To be honest we certainly always seem to blessed with wonderful guests and I guess that may well reflect the luxury catered chalet market we are in, or the fact that we are lucky as we do hear some contrary stories? Who knows I guess. But with our family ski reviews (all guests come to think of it - family or otherwise) waxing lyrical about our service, and being half term ski week, we thought in our Chamonix Exclusive Blog that we would give away our secrets. So click here on 'Family Friendly Ski' to read our ten most important and fingers crossed, in years to come we all may be able to enjoy family friendly skiing holidays!!

Family Ski Chamonix

Skiing this weekend in Chamonix it is undoubtably a great weekend to be out with the family and ski with our children. We have had a great deal of snow fall over the last 24 hours and as a result on piste it is the perfect soft snow and off piste deep powder. As a family we can't help get excited at the prospect of getting out to ski powder and although Josh and Victoria are only 5 and 7 respectively, they are a lot easier to get to ski club when it is a powder ski day. Well that is after Mark has dug out his car from the bank that he managed to get stuck in this morning despite it being 4 wheel drive! No need to go on about it too much as his penance was missing first ski tracks whilst being towed out!

Getting back to the children, here in Les Houches, Chamonix, we can't speak highly enough of the ESF Les Houches ski school who really are a family friendly ski school. Their patience is immense and professionalism unquestionable. And they are also kind enough to drop the children back at our accommodation which neighbours ski in ski out Chalet Prarion.

Its not just ESF Ski School Les Houches that is great, the ski area of Les Houches, Chamonix is also very good for ski family holidays as it has a great beginner area and some great blue and red pistes that won't frighten Mum, well not too much anyway!

Finally in terms of family ski chalets to stop out, ours aside, their is other great family ski chalets such as Chalet Annabelle run by Mike and Jude at Breathe and Believe who really do care and are great with families and young children. But if ski in ski out is the families ski holiday choice, the number one ski chalet has to be Chalet Prarion.

Ski Half Term Holidays - A Light Hearted View From a Mum

With just over 10 days to go before the half term ski holidays, here's a light hearted view of the preparation and stereo typical roles that develop both prior to and on the first day of the family ski holiday for the ski half term skiing break:

So, its nearly time to go, the family ski half term holiday break is in sight, the excitement is building, the best family ski chalet has been booked months in advance, Mum has already booked the ski lessons and lift passes, and its just a case of the whole family packing the cases, all hands on deck and it will be done in a day.

Well probably not! The children will be firstly playing on the Nintendo, and then there's Dad, who will of course be surveying the net; researching the best off-piste runs in the resort, particularly important for skiing the afternoon with the 3 year old who is just learning to ski, then there's the piste that Hans Klammer won the World Cup on in 2002, and not forgetting the useful information on the number of pistes you can ski, how many black runs need to be ticked off, and the all famous 'Wall' that you need to ski by 10 o'clock on day one!

So from the above, I think it's safe to assume that it will be poor Mum who will probably be packing most items, checking what fits and doesn't, replacing old with new, and totally oblivious to the rest of the family, making sure no one's forgotten, everybody gets to the airport, passports are at hand, and all clothing is packed!

So the family have finally arrived t the chalet, and the first evening Mum will have unpacked the clothing, and laid it out ready for a controlled start, all of course unbeknown to Dad who's telling the whole party about last year's steep and deep over a glass or three of the local wine!

Then there's the morning, after a year's wait, the half term ski holiday really is about to start, Dad will have that look that only too much wine the night before can give you, although having been warned by Mum about his potential excess the night before, Dad will be of course try and disguise this by trying to look sprightly! Despite the sore head, he will however have managed to have checked his ski's about twenty times that morning, the edges tested and admired by the tip of his calibrated thumb, and the other father's will have seen him lift his perfectly waxed trophy, sorry skis, in front of them half a dozen times (yes darling they do look smooth and shiny), all in between discussing continuously today's ski itinerary over breakfast!

And after breakfast, as the children exit smoothly from the chalet, Dad will now be asking Mother what all the fuss was about prior to departure and arrival in the resort! Arriving at the ski school, Dad will without doubt need to take control, now claiming total responsibility for their on time arrival, Dad's last cup of coffee, the final surveying of the piste map (whilst Mum got the children ready) obviously making the difference!

But looking on the bright side Mother's, after all the Father's planning of the routes and pistes you are going to ski on day one, at least you can ski with the confidence that you won't get lost until the second run, and it will be only 5 out of 6 days that you find yourself the wrong side of the mountain with just five minutes to collect the children from ski school!!

Happy half term ski holidays!

Family Ski Checklist

With just two weeks to go before the family packs their suitcases for the annual ski half term holiday, I thought it might be useful to put together a family ski checklist. For the younger ones, the first thing to make sure is the:

•  Child car seats

Sounds obvious this one and yes at Chamonix Exclusive we supply them for all ages, but it surprising how many operators don't provide them, so you might want to check before you arrive and if necessary bring your own. Personally speaking hear, if the operator doesn't provide them, you may also want to question how child friendly they really are!

Ski Half Term - Arriving At The Airport

• Warm Coat
• Fleece
• Snow boots
• Warm Hat
• Sunglasses

With half term skiing being a February arrival it will probably mean temperatures down to, or below freezing, exposed flesh can quickly lead to discomfort, distressed children or worse! Left handy at all times therefore should be a warm coat, a fleece, hat and some gloves - especially as on arrival at the resort they are likely to dive straight into the snow! The ski half term week always also seems to bring the snow, so the shiny party shoes are far from ideal! Sounds obvious, but you might be surprised by what we sometimes see at airports. The snow boots on the checklist don't have to be expensive ones either, something warm with a good sole, or instead of snow boots a pair of walking boots are generally ideal (except after a big snowfall - unless waterproof).

Getting Out On The Slopes - The real Start To The Half Term Ski Holiday

So, we have successfully managed the arrival, the good operators will have prior to your departure sorted your ski passes, ski lessons and anything else that you need, otherwise this needs to be done as soon as you arrive (or by yourself before you depart using the web) as being half term, ski lessons may not be easy to book on the day! So assuming this has all been done, the morning has arrived, where do you start, firstly 30 minutes before you think you need to! Whatever time you think you need to get up for breakfast, we find another 30 minutes are typically needed if ski school is involved!

And now for the children's ski checklist, half term is a layering week, as February generally brings cold mornings and warm afternoons, so make sure you pack:

• Thermal base layers (Long John's and vest)
• Thin Mid Layers
• Ski Socks
• Fleeces
• Snood / Turtle Neck
• Waterproof salopettes
• Waterproof jacket
• Good quality mittens or glove
• Goggles
• Ski helmet (or make sure you can hire in resort)
• Sun protection (high factor)
• Lip protection (high factor)

And just before you set off to ski school:

• Snack bar(s)
• Lift pass
• Ski school ticket
• Identification
• Skis or Snowboard
• Boots
• Poles

Complete? Now of course nyou can send them off comfortable to have a great ski day - the best way to spend the half term ski holiday!

Family Skiing - Cooking Great Food For Children

The benefits of being a mother I guess, is that it allows us to develop a menu with the luxury ski chalet's chef that really is suitable for children in family ski holiday groups.

There are three main rules that we always deploy:

1. Ingredients must be fresh
2. As appealing to our younger guests as the luxury chalet cuisine served to our older guests
3. Provide our younger guests with a health balanced diet

The menu planning therefore typically reflects great 'homely' dishes that your Great Aunt would have produced, presented to the high standard that you expect from one of your favourite family ski chalets! Fish cakes made from choice pieces of fish, home made shepherds pie made with fresh minced steak, carrots, and a delicious sauce, and then topped with a light and creamy potato puree, and home made beef burgers, made fresh with lean chunks of steak, and garnished with salad.

Desserts also reflect the healthy mix whenever possible, sometimes a little indulgent, but on other days full of fruit made the way children like it, ensuring they get their much needed vitamins.

Ski Clothing - Advise For Adults As Well As Family Ski Groups

Regular visitors to my Family Ski blog may have read the article on children's ski clothing. We have now adapted this blog entry on our Chamonix Exclusive Blog for adults as we have found a number of clients have asked for such information, and not just family ski holiday groups.

If any other bloggers or sites would like to use my advice, or the advice given on the Chamonix Exclusive luxury ski chalet blog, they may do so provided the relevant site is credited and linked accordingly. If you require the correct link address, please email me accordingly.

Enjoy a great ski holiday with friends and family ski members, and stay warm!!

Never Anytime For Blogging During The School Holidays!

Well a Happy New Year to you all and I hope you have had a great Christmas!

I know it has been a while since I last posted so my apology for this. On Monday, here in France, the children finally went back to school so this really has been the first chance to try and type something. Running a chalet and balancing two demanding children at the same time, does mean that this can take a back seat, and something that other ski mums might understand?

I guess my circumstance is not that different to the family ski groups that regularly visit our chalet. In today's day and age, few of us just have the children to look after, which is a full time job in itself, and most have a 'second' role! I guess this is why we try so hard to make things easier for family ski groups, starting with the initial contact and pre-ski vacation contact. When you book with us, we like to take some of the effort out, and this means helping you plan, and us dealing with family ski rental, family ski lessons, and any nanny or creche facilities. Having been operating for some time, what might be difficult for you, is now easily accessible through our network of partners.

On arrival we take a similar approach, ensuring we are on hand to assist with transport to ski school and similar needs, buckling bolts and any other things we can help out with.

Getting late, I better draw this to a close, but most importantly, and what makes us a great family ski company (our guestbook confirms this), is that we care and as parents ourselves, understand you need some 'time-off'.