Why Stay in a Catered Chalet?

Have you ever been on a skiing holiday and realised how much hard work it is. Arranging transfers from the airport, collecting ski hire and lift passes, places to eat, these are just a few things to mention. Just imagine you have a large family what a headache! Well a catered ski chalet holiday is what you need. Ski chalet accommodation has been around for a long time, but only in the recent years people are starting to see the benefits of a catered ski chalet holiday and understanding the different options available.

Catered Chalet Options

There are 2 types or catered chalet holidays and they are both very different. Many large tour operators run very good catered ski chalets, these are often run by young staff working a season in a ski resort. They are there to cook and clean.  

Then there are owner run catered chalet holidays. These are smaller tour operators often with 1 chalet or a selection of catered chalets usualy based in 1 resort. The chalets are run by the owners often with a small team of staff who are all there to ensure you have a superb holiday. The owners will not only be the people that you booked your holiday with but will often be the person who collects you from the airport, prepares your breakfast and brings you drinks in the jacuzzi.

Your Holiday Experience

All you need to do is book your flights and the rest will be taken care of. 

Arriving at Geneva airport you will be met by your chalet host who will then drive you and your party to Chatel and your chalet. Normal transfers are around 1.5 hours. Once you arrive at your chalet you will be treated to a warm drink or a glass of champagne while your host will place your bags in your rooms. Not a bad start to your holiday.

You will find with most ski chalet holidays that on arrival your ski pass will be ready for you so you can begin the next day skiing with not a worry about waiting in long queues and wasting valuable ski time.

If you have filled in a booking form before your holiday, the chalet may ask you for details if you require ski hire, height, foot size etc. and ski lessons. This is well worth filling in as your ski hire will be ready and waiting for you at the ski shop and lessons will be pre booked, no need to worry about ski schools been booked up. How easy is this, wait it gets better.

In the morning you will awake to a continental breakfast, after breakfast you will be chauffeur driven to the slopes, ready for a days skiing. If you are new to the resort then don’t worry, many catered ski chalets offer a free ski guiding service. This normally consists of 2 - 3 days during your when your guide shows you the best places to ski and great mountain restaurants. After a days skiing you will be met by your host who will then take you for some après ski drinks and then back to the chalet for a soak in the jacuzzi, sauna and even a massage.

A 4 course meal then awaits with unlimited fine wine, children will often eat early to allow the adults to chill out and enjoy their meal.

If you have small children the chalet host will normally arrange a nursery for you so you need not worry. After your weeks holiday you are then taken back to the airport for your flight home.

A catered ski holiday is the way to go, you do not need to worry about a thing, your ski chalet hosts are there to make your holiday as easy as possible. Catered ski accommodation may be a little bit more expensive than staying in a hotel, but look at the advantages, this way you get a lot more skiing in and less of those headaches.