Family Ski Holidays

October is the time when many families attention will be turned towards the family ski holidays as the colder Autumn days set in. Half term ski holidays are already proving popular and many resorts are reporting limited availability. Christmas ski holidays still have limited availability and are a good alternative to the popular half term ski week.

Easter Ski Holidays

It may seem someway away, but if you are looking for a great value getaway during the school holidays then the Easter ski holidays is well worth considering. Typically the snow and weather has been great for the Easter skiing and therefore perfect for family ski holidays. This year it has to be said was the exception and as a precaution you may want to ensure you select a great family ski resort that has good high altitude skiing and Easter Ski being families themselves are one of the companies we would recommend as specialists and family skiers themselves. They have a great deal of experience and are very helpful and can give advice and support based on their own family ski experiences.

Christmas Ski Holidays

It is now just 7 months until the season kicks off in style with the Christmas ski holidays. Whilst many ski resorts open long before the Christmas ski holidays, the high altitude ski resorts in particular, its the Christmas week that really kicks the ski session off. From a family ski perspective however it may surprise many that the Christmas ski holidays are not so popular as many think. I guess this reflects the family commitments that often sit outside the immediate family, grand parents in particular! But this year why not take them with you. Many chalets cater well for older guests and if you pick carefully the right ski resort, there is a great deal for all to do. Imagine a white christmas, the log fire, the warm wood cabin, and there you have it - a great ski Christmas!

Family Ski Chalets

If you are looking for a family ski chalet then you might want to check out in March the new family ski site called Ski Family which is working with independent ski operators to bring you the very best family friendly ski chalets where you know you and your family really will get that special treatment.

Congratulation To Chalet Ski

Our congratulations to Chalet Ski who launched at the Metro Snow last week and certainly caught our eye with their video presentation of the chalets that they offer, and apparently claim was just the tip of the ice berg. I also should commend them on the site, and although there was when I tested it a one or two minor teething problems, generally it worked well and certainly has a great look and feel. A good start to a difficult journey I'm sure for them in what is an already highly competitive market place with many established players.

Family Chalets

October sees the launch of a new site dedicated to family friendly ski resorts and genuine family friendly ski chalets. The latter means that only chalets offering truly family focused offerings, services, and amenities will be listed which will be great news for family skiers who are often sold the family ski concept at the time of buying, only to find later on that there is little 'family focus' in the delivery.

We'll let you know once we hear when the site will actually launch later this Autumn.

Family Chalet

Why is it that the best places are always sold out when you have finally made up your mind! This week, and I know it's a little late to book, we sat down with our children to pick our holiday. At 6 and 7 the idea of a site seeing tour isn't getting their vote and including them now in the selection means it more likely to involve exotic swimming pools that curve for miles, slides, and a tennis court (yes they already enjoy their tennis - children really are growing up fast). So having looked for what seemed a lifetime, great debates, and coming to a consensus (well sort of), we call to book.  But yes you've probably guessed it, their sold out, what about our second choice, no, our third, fourth? I guess you've got the picture, even if as yet we haven't got our holiday!

So having learnt our own lesson, you may wish not to follow our last minute disappointment and start looking for that special family chalet. Otherwise you may just find that you favourite chalet has gone, and if our summer hotel list is anything to go by, there are only so many family chalets someone can take!

Ski Half Term - Why Mum Makes The Booking!

Already Dad will have probably been scouring the websites and the ski magazines to whittle down to the top three selections for the ski half term 2011 holiday. So, mum and the small children will now be faced with the choice of a a week's heli-skiing in Russia, ski touring the Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt, or skiing in Alaska!!!

At which point mum will of course take control, finding out about the best family ski resorts, the creche and ski school facilities, how far the chalet is from the slopes, the children's lessons, the facilities the chalet provides, children's menus, children's entertainment, ski school drop-off and collection, and of course just for dad, how many black runs and couloirs there are, even though she's fully aware that he won't ski anything more than the gentle red!

Yes Mother's, as the car industry has discovered sometime ago, you are certainly the main target audience for family focused ski holidays, and more in more as skiing becomes less male dominated, a significant decision maker overall in the ski industry full stop, probably because you choose the resorts that the boys really want to go, rather than the heli-skiing trip they tell their mates they wanted to go on!!

Ski In Ski Out

Well its been far too long since i last blogged due to various reasons but nevertheless here I am again. This 'weeks' blog focuses on ski in ski out and what makes a great family ski holiday as a consequence. Firstly however let me deal with the definition, as some chalets who use the ski in ski out label are found miles from the piste and this in my opinion is just wrong! Ski in ski out to me should mean that it is right next to the piste and that you can ski to a main lift station, ad therefore back again at the end of the day.

So definition out of the way, what makes a ski in ski out properties such great family chalets, if at all? Well I think this question is a simple one, and its total convenience. Yes it is nice to see skiers skiing by your chalet, but the real benefit is taking away the trauma of loading up the gear in to a bus, or walking down difficult paths, only to find as you put your equipment on, Jonny has forgotten a glove or two!

Season Comes To An End

This weekend the ski season finally came to an end even in the high altitude resorts and on reflection another great season with resorts such as Chamonix still reporting good snow depths despite the weekend closure. We'll nevertheless keep blogging ready for next season.

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!

Family Chalet

If you are looking for a great family chalet, Chalet Prarion is a great ski in ski out chalet in the Chamonix Valley that has a fantastic reputation as one of the best family ski chalets in Europe. Situated right next to the piste, it has six en-suite bedrooms, a Games Room, centre piece log fire, a superb fitted kitchen where the professional chef prepares traditional French cuisine, a cosy living room with oak and leather furniture, and a grand old oak dining table to sit all the family ski holiday group around.

Outside, this family chalet has a large garden that joins the piste, yet remains private through the subtle landscaping of the terrain and plantation. Being south facing on a plateau, it is prone to beautiful sunny days south the large sun terrace comes in particularly useful, as does the sunken hydro therapy hot tub that allows the parents in the family ski group to relax those aching muscles, whilst the children play pool, Wii, or watch their favourite movies in the Games Room.

Easter Ski

With the ski season in the twilight weeks, many family ski groups will now be turning their attentions to the Easter ski weeks next week and the first week of April. Easter ski weeks are often the best family ski weeks to ski as they combine skiing with relaxation. The end of March generally sees great snow, but warm sunny ski days. Therefore the Easter ski week allows family skiing to be the perfect combination, out on the slopes first thing in the morning, and as the slopes soften in the afternoon, a chance for the parents to grab a well earned beer, or glass of wine whilst the younger family ski members play in the snow. Alternatively, after a mornings Easter skiing, in the pretty resorts, a chance for some sight seeing or relaxing in the garden of your luxury catered chalet.

Ski Half Term

Well it seems the February half term ski holiday was a real success. The snow was great and the sunshine shone more than it has for the rest of the season! Here in Chamonix we had a beautiful family staying with us and its weeks like this that make running a family ski chalet worth the effort. A big thank you therefore to the Cassidy family, young and old, for making the ski half term week a special one.

Also over the half term ski week was our friends Andrew and Becky with their four children, along with Becky's sister and their family. It seems a long time since Andrew came to stay as a guest, before spending a ski season here with work and later being joined in the spring by all the family. This is one of the great things about running a luxury catered chalet for families, you really do meet special people and make some great friendships.

My husband Mark actually managed to get out a couple of days as well and the three Dad's of Mark, Andrew, and Gregg were able to give their eldest children (Henry - 11, James - 10, and Victoria - 7) a family ski lesson in the off piste and moguls. Well apparently that was the intent,  but the children were asking how they were meant to be receiving tuition when the parents were always so far behind!

Luxury Catered Chalets Chamonix

Despite the economic downturn, more and more family ski groups seem to be opting for a luxury chalet for their family ski holiday, and why not. Family life in our view is special, but nevertheless hardwork and therefore if you a going away on holiday, why shouldn't you put your feet up for a week (skiing aside that is) and be pampered for a week?

I guess being parents ourselves, and having been ourselves to luxury family ski chalets, we probably understand your requirement a little more than many of the other operators who have not experienced the family skiing vacation. That isn't to say all family ski holidays should or are the same, that we have a stronger foundation to build and ensure your family ski holiday, really is a luxury ski holiday. So whilst our luxury catered chalet Chamonix has the added avantage of being ski in ski out, has six luxury en-suite bedrooms, a Games Room with DVD's games, Wii, home cinema, and a full sized pool table, and we have a luxury hydro therapy hot tub, high definition cinema projection, etc, etc, we recognise that for family ski groups luxury catered chalet holidays need to be a little more, like helping the children get ready in the morning, buckling boots, making sure they arrive at ski school, etc.

I guess in a nutshell, what our customer love about our luxury catered chalet here in Chamonix, is not just the ski in ski out location, but the personal, caring touch!

Ski Christmas

Is the ski half term ski break really enough when it comes to ski holidays? If the answer is no, then what about a ski Christmas chalet holiday? The great thing about a ski Christmas holiday, contrary to what many first think, is that if you choose a great luxury catered chalet, is the whole family can come, even Grandma! You might question whether Grandma, and Grandpa of course, really can come on a holiday, but our experience is that they love coming away with the family, the chance to spend a week with the grandchildren, and just watch them ski.

Again, if you choose a luxury ski chalet, you need not worry about missing the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations, or the traditional Christmas dinner and Christmas pudding, it'll just be there waiting for you, when you want, and without the washing up afterwards!!