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.