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!

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!!

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!

Getting Ready For The Ski Season With The Family

Here in Chamonix we are once again eagerly awaiting the ski season and with our first ski planned for next week on the Grands Montets opening day, the four of us are already like children waiting for Christmas. With Josh now 5 and Victoria 7, they have now skied for 2 years and 3 years respectfully and clearly they are already hooked as the mere mention of the phrase 'we are going skiing next week guys' gets a beaming smile and them both into an excited frenzy.

I guess living in the apartment that is short walk from our luxury catered chalet and also on the piste, they are quite lucky. But that is probably not the whole story, here in the ski region of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley we have probably one of the best family orientated ski schools and the ESF team, who are also just below the ski run that passes the chalet, is second to none in our experience. Their support and family friendly approach with all childrens ensures most importantly the children have a great time and have always wanted to attend ski school and learn. The other important factor is probably the fact that Les Houches is probably one of the best family ski resorts in the region. With few steep drop offs the ski area has some great confidence building runs and the 'off-piste' is not too steep and the small jumps and bumps ensure skiing is great fun, especially for Josh who craves something extra (a real boys boy as my husband would say).

Right, bedtime for them both so will sign-off at this point but will try and keep this updated, especially after our first ski of the season!