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'.

Great Things For The Non Skiing Family Members To Do - Part 1

Have you ever wondered what else there is to do in a ski resort? Well look no further as there are various activities that will appeal to the young and old. Thiss week I wanted to suggest to non skiers and snowboarders, and for those that might like to try something different,snowshoeing.

If you like to be active and you love the outdoors then snow shoeing may well be for you. Many resorts have groomed pisted walkways which are great for beginners. Follow the signs to enjoy a marked circuit or perhaps take some time out to plan an itinerary. Not sure where to go or what to do then you can always hire a private guide or take instruction from a ski school. In the ski resort of Les Houches there is a groomed track which takes you on a scenic adventure and starts from the top of the Prarion Lift station. The path starts from the Hotel Prarion and from here you will find the sign posted circuit is easy to follow as it meanders through the trees and along the piste. If you don’t fancy walking the whole way you can cheat and cross the un-groomed snow to miss parts out.

The ESF ski school offers snow shoeing for as little as 32€ (snowshoes rental included). Lift passes for walkers can be purchased at a special rate. Interested, let me know and I cqn provide further information and contaacts.

Starting Them Young - Ski at Three

I am often asked whether a guest’s child is 'old enough' to ski and the ages vary in relation to this question. In terms of my view, it will depend of course on the child, but typically the age of three seems to be the ideal starting point. At three they are generally strong enough to ski, or at least find their feet on the nursery slope or garden (let them become Hans Klammer another year). Some parents do seem to want more, but we would suggest at it is important at this age just to let them get their balance, confidence, and practice snow plough stop and turns and most importantly have a smile on their face.

Some parents we know worry about starting them so young, but our experience is that it makes a huge difference as the time they spend on the skis at this age seems to give them a natural balance that is hard to gain at a later age.

The most important point here would be to make sure they are dressed well and I hve given some tips on a previous blog below. So assuming they are properly dressed and prepared, at the start you may still want to be prepared for a few tears in respect of separation anxiety, but this is normal. Having seen all techniques in cases where the child is initially upset, the one that we believe seems to work best, is the ‘drop and go’. It may sound slightly callous, and we are not saying some support and assurance is good, but this said, we would advise on avoiding too much fussing and move away relatively quickly. Certainly where the parents, or the operator ‘fusses’ it seems to disturb the child for longer periods, as well as make it difficult for the instructors trying to settle all the children. We often go back on the first day to check children (without them seeing of course) and in the cases we do we have always found that even the most hysterical child, within 10 minutes of the parents or operators staff leaving them, has settled in with the other children and is joining in the ski training. Contrast this to the fussing parents or overzealous operators where children often just won’t settle for a long time, if at all!

Luxury Catered Chalets Chamonix - Not Necessarily Expenseve

With last years exchange rate fluctuation you would be forgiven for thinking that this might not be the time to book a luxury catered chalet and look for the lower cost alternative. This however may well turn out to be a false economy however, many chalets such as our own have held prices either the same as the last season, or with only a small inflationery increase. Also, and more importantly, we for one price our chalet in UK Sterling, as we did last year, so despite the fall in the exchange rate, the price you will pay is still the same, as we have taken the 'hit' on the currency when we exchange.

But it is just not the price that makes a compulsive reason to book quality, not only will a luxury chalet choice, assumng you have chosen well, ensure you actually enjoy your ski vacation, when you start to add up what is and isn't included with the lower cost options, you start to realise that the price differnce is small indeed.

If you book with our luxury chalet we include airport transfers, high quality wine (yes you can drink and enjoy ours) that doesn't leave you gasping for the expensive bars, and simarly the food is fantastic and you will find that after our breakfast, the hearty cake, and a four course dinner, the most you will probably want for lunch is something simple and light! And with the HD Cinema, fantastic luxury hot tub, you'll find that you just won't want to go out from the chalet as it is amazing how many people complain they still have much of the money they exchanged for the holiday!

Luxury catered chalets really can be great value.