Chalet No.14 Verbier

Rob and I had the pleasure of staying at Ski Chalet No.14 as it prepared to welcome its first guests of the season just before Christmas. After undergoing a complete refurbishment and now offering 13 luxurious bedrooms, not to mention the outdoor hot tub, indoor swimming pool and spa area, cinema room and 24 hour driver service, this chalet is the perfect choice for a luxury ski holiday. The staff looked after us superbly, each day culminating in delicious five course dinners prepared by the head chef.

The Superb Chalet Solmai

Despite it being absolutely freezing, we managed to get onto the mountain for a couple of hours and ski in some fantastic conditions before we headed to Chalet Septième Ciel, which was to be our base for the next three nights,  We also had chance to have a look around a few other luxury chalets. Chalet La Norjeanne is a wonderful, homely property which has also undergone a recent makeover. Chalet Solmai is simply beautiful and refreshingly nothing like the other luxury properties in Verbier. There are no flashy gimmicks or hot tubs on the terrace, just a well furnished, spacious and welcoming home full of charm and character. All of the antique furniture, the art and the hundreds of books that make the chalet what it is belong to the Canadian owner. This property is my personal favourite in Verbier.

Verbier Luxury Chalets

Septième Ciel is a high quality chalet in its own right, but far more traditional in style than No.14. Situated on the hillside above the Savoleyres lift station, the views are just incredible. Unfortunately we couldn’t see anything at breakfast the next day as we were enveloped by cloud, but that made it a perfect day for viewing chalets, knowing that there would be fresh snow ready and waiting for us the following morning.  The chalets vary considerably in style and size, but all benefit from a fantastic level of service and simply delicious food and wine. Chalet Chineur and Chalet Thomas at the top of Verbier have a classic, cosy feel to them, especially as they are individually furnished by their antique-dealer owner. Chalet Treize Etoiles I and Treize Etoiles II, located just down the road from Place Centrale also have a warm and homely feel to them. Berbou, Cybou and Sorojasa are much more modern and Sorojasa has its own private swimming pool too! Chalet Astorina, Chalet Astoria and Les Skieurs, which are all perfect for small groups, couldn’t be in a better location between the Medran lift and Place Centrale. Hotel Mont Gele is ideal for larger groups, offering bed and breakfast accommodation.

After a packed day viewing chalets, we returned to Septième Ciel for a dip in the outdoor hot tub with a glass of champagne, a quick sauna and another fabulous meal prepared by our chef Alex. He has free rein to create menus specifically for each group of guests and we enjoyed some of the best food we have ever had in the Alps! Of course, we couldn’t leave Verbier without taking full advantage of the driver service and sampling the nightlife, beginning at Pub Mont Fort and ending in Casbah.

Skiing Verbier

Waking up to clear blue skies , stunning views from the chalet and a hearty breakfast on our final day was the best way imaginable to clear the fuzzy heads that were the result of a few too many drinks the night before. With fresh snow beneath our skis, the sun shining brightly and best of all, no one on the pistes, we were in our element! Our hosts had kindly organised a couple of instructors to help us fine-tune our technique and guide us around Verbier’s fantastic ski area, which made the day’s skiing even better. Sadly we didn’t have time to discover the whole of the Four Valleys (all 420km of it!) …that will have to wait until our next trip.

A huge thank you to the teams at No.14 and Septième Ciel for making us so welcome during our visit to Verbier. If you’d like more information on any of the chalets detailed here or on other chalets in Verbier or further afield, please call our knowledagble sales team.

A phone call from a client earlier today got me thinking. As I reeled off chalet options in all of the above destinations for a possible Last Minute Ski Deal, the chap at the other end of the line simply wasn’t getting into it: “The thing is, David,” he said, “I want to go somewhere that few others have visited. I want to be able to talk with authority to any ski bore I meet about somewhere they almost certainly can’t claim to have ‘been there, done that’.” I racked my brains and searched our system. It didn’t take very long to come up with a list of destinations which offer all of the benefits of the big boys and also the chance to go somewhere that the majority of people taking package ski holidays won’t ever have heard of.

Saas Fee – Hidden Swiss Gem

Saas Fee in Switzerland - A truly beautiful destination

Not many Brits visit Saas Fee and that’s down to the lack of catered chalets in the resort. In fact we only feature 2 chalets and 2 chalet hotels here. Most of the accommodation in the resort is hotel-based but that’s no reason not to visit this wonderful Swiss destination. The resort is traffic free, the only way to get around is on foot or by electric taxis, which swish around the resort in emission-free silence. It’s also subject to stringent Swiss planning laws which over the years have ensured that no buildings are built above a certain height and the entire village retains a charm and aesthetic quality that you simply don’t get in the biggest resorts. Add to this the ski area, which is big enough to keep even the keenest skiers entertained for a week and the altitude of both the resort (1800m) and the highest ski lift (3600m) and you’re on to a winner. The nightlife is as quiet or boisterous as you want it to be and by Swiss standards (comparing with Verbier, Zermatt etc) it’s not too pricey.

Les Gets – Charming French village

OK, so the Portes du Soleil (PdS) might not be right off the beaten track, with Morzine and Avoriaz looking more and more like mainstream resorts these days, but Les Gets is still relatively unknown despite being in the biggest ski area in Europe. Nestled on the western edge of the PdS, Les Gets is a charming French village which is the antithesis of the purpose built behemoths like Val d’Isere and Courchevel. It is a fully functioning settlement which doesn’t shut in the off-season and is all the more authentic for it. Not the most lively nightlife I’ve ever experienced, but there are a handful of good bars and a couple of places which stay open into the wee small hours. The resort is very linear, with two main roads running parallel through the centre and most of the accommodation and main lifts are on or near these thoroughfares. There’s the usual choice of ski shops, fondue focused restaurants and also a genuine weekly street market with local produce. If you want a genuine French village experience, plus a huge international ski area then Les Gets should be on your list.

Serre Chevalier – The Highest City in Europe

Most UK skiers will have heard of Serre Chevalier but precious few will have actually skied it because the majority of UK tour operators don’t have large programmes here, but if you know where to look, you can have a great time in this superb resort. Serre Chevalier itself consists of several smaller resorts, each of which has its own unique character:

• Monetier – A very traditional French alpine settlement with buildings dating back centuries. Don’t expect much nightlife.
• Villeneuve – The main hub of the resort and where the majority of the accommodation is based. There is a small “old town” hidden in the centre of the resort. Full of quaint little bars and restaurants. Two of the main ski lifts stem from Villeneuve too.
• Chantemerle – Most of the UK based skiers end up staying or at least drinking here thanks to a strong nightlife scene and good access to skiing. It’s no oil painting but it does offer affordable accommodation and great ski access.
• Briançon – The highest city in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  There are ski lifts from Briançon and it has its own ski area but what Briancon offers is a whole world of extra activities aside from skiing. The old fort at the top of the town is a must-do.

Now, onto the skiing. Serre Che has something for everyone and every ability. The area is larger than most UK skiers realise and has more than enough for a week’s skiing. Highlights include the incredible larch lined tree skiing and the famous Montagnole off piste run. If you are partial to a few on-mountain après drinks then check out the Cafe du Soleil which offers some of the best value drinking in the Alps.

Les Gets by Night

Nendaz – Convenience and Value

The beauty of Nendaz does not lie in its size, as it is thought to contain as many, if not slightly more beds than its near neighbour Verbier. Nor does it lie in its beauty, as it’s not a particularly pretty town. Nendaz is a winner for convenience and most of all for giving instant access to the huge Four Valleys ski area. Nendaz might not have the fantastic nightlife of its more illustrious neighbour but it is large and lively and it offers a great place to base yourself if Verbier’s prices leave you weak at the knees. Another key to Nendaz is Sion. You can fly directly into Sion and the transfer to resort is simply 20 minutes (that’s right, twenty!). On a clear day, you can see the runway of Sion airport from the pistes above Nendaz and when you compare that to Val d’Isere’s 4 hour trek from Geneva, a 20 minute transfer feels like a little miracle!

Sainte Foy – Off Piste Heaven

Anyone who’s ever been to Val d’Isere or Tignes will by default have passed through Sainte Foy on their way up the mountain. Very few tour operators bother with Ste Foy though as it only has a handful of lifts and less than 40km of pistes. Based on those stats, most people wouldn’t give it a second thought, preferring to continue up to the Espace Killy with its far more impressive looking piste map. Those who ignore Ste Foy are missing out though. Yes, the pisted runs are limited and the village is small but for lift-served off piste there aren’t many better destinations in the Tarentaise Valley. With so many people ignoring Ste Foy, you can find fresh powder for days after a heavy snowfall, whilst in neigbouring Les Arcs, for example, everything is tracked out by lunchtime the day after a big dump. Even if this isn’t enough for you, it’s just 15 minutes by road to Tignes, Val d’Isere, La Rosiere or Les Arcs, so you can stay in Ste Foy and take your pick of which area to ski on any given day.

St Martin de Belleville – The Three Valleys’ Best Kept Secret

This resort is part of the biggest linked ski area in Europe, but it makes it into this list regardless. The main reason is that lots of people never make it down to this little gem of a village during their week’s holiday in the Three Valleys. Are they put off by the altitude (it is one of the lowest points on a Three Valleys piste map)? Is it too far from the traditional routes through the Three Valleys? Do people simply not know about it? Whatever the reason for it, you should make a point of getting to St Martin the next time you head to any Three Valleys resort. The run into St Martin has been voted the best in the whole ski area over and over again and anyone who has skied it will testify that shooting down over the wide open rollers of Jersualem on the way to a lunch appointment in the village is one the best ways to spend your time in the Three Valleys. Staying here is another matter, as just like Ste Foy it’s a resort that so many mainstream tour operators bus clients through on their way up the valley to the purpose built, bums-in-beds chalet apartments of Val Thorens. Everyone seems to forget that a week in a traditional French village, being entertained to the highest standards in an old farmhouse, for example, is an absolute treat and this destination should be on the to-do list for any serious skier.

Geilo in Norway

Probably as far from the beaten track as any resort we feature, Geilo is hidden far into the hills of central Norway and you won’t find many people who’ve done anything as different as this. Ski resorts in Norway are invariably small but Geilo is one of the biggest with nearly 40km of pistes, a huge variety of cross-country options and a fully functioning town in the middle. Skiing is a way of life in Norway (the sport is named after the area in Norway from which it is claimed to originate) and there is no such thing as a ski resort in this country.  Anyone visiting Geilo might not be blown away by an enormous ski area or acres of off-piste, but it’s a brilliant destination for families or beginners as it offers gentle rolling pistes, an efficient and usually queue-free lift system and guaranteed snow.

Obviously there are loads more resorts that didn’t make the cut but that merit a mention when discussing the best lesser-know ski destinations. Vemdalen in Sweden was visited recently by a couple of our staff and rated highly. The same goes for Ischgl in Austria, Champery in Switzerland (another PdS beauty), Grimentz, Kappl and several others. There really are so many excellent resorts sitting on the periphery of most people’s ski radar that are well worth paying a visit. Perhaps next time you look into booking your dream ski trip, give some thought to these not only for the quality of the destinations themselves, but also to expand your own horizons and give you bragging rights at the dinner table.

If you’ve been inspired by any of the destinations above or if you’d like more information on any of our resorts, please give our knowledgable sales team a call in our London office or drop us an email.

I was recently offered the opportunity to head out to Morzine (due mostly to a last minute ski deal which I was lucky enough to find), to sample the resort and the fantastic chalet Amis. I naturally jumped at the chance. Any altitude snobs amongst you will no doubt scoff at the idea of visiting Morzine on the 12^th of December due to it being only 1100 metres high. Morzine has a real trump card though, and that’s Avoriaz. Even though the Morzine/Les Gets ski area wasn’t open for the duration of my stay, Avoriaz is a simple gondola ride away and provides more than enough skiing for a short break.

We caught the early flight out Sunday morning and we met our private transfer at Geneva airport. On the way up to resort, we were enveloped by thick, freezing fog and naturally, we were a little worried that the day’s skiing would be wiped out. On the final turn before entering Morzine, we rose above the clouds and glorious blue skies and sunshine beckoned. As Morzine is a relatively short 1 hour transfer from the airport, we were ready to strap on the boards at 11am. Our hosts whisked us up to the Prodain gondola and we were snowboarding before you could say “Val Thorens can kiss my a***”.

Skiing Les Portes du Soleil

The open plan living and dining area in Chalet Amis

Morzine is a fantastic resort for any level of skier and part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area.  Not only can you ski Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz but Champery, Chatel, Morgins and numerous other smaller resorts are all just a few lifts away. Because the ski area is SO vast, there really is something for everyone, from the high alpine style terrain of Avoriaz to the picturesque tree runs down to Chatel and Les Gets. For those of you that enjoy a good terrain park, you are spoilt for choice here. The famous “Stash” terrain park, a all natural terrain park built in conjunction with Jake Burton of Burton Snowboards, and many of the other resorts in the ski area have some incredible parks to offer the most discerning freestyle enthusiast.

Morzine has some great nightlife and après spots to enjoy. Perhaps the most famous of which is Bar Robinson, or “Bar Robbo’s” to the locals. I have to say, in all the bars in all the resorts I have been to, Bar Robbo’s is probably the oddest. The French would call this sort of bar a “Zinc”, a real old school spit and sawdust alpine bar but it’s the atmosphere which puts Robbo’s ahead of the crowd. This is probably down to the copious amount of Mutzig  lager consumed in the establishment. For those of you that haven’t tried this alpine staple, by all means do, but take it one pint at a time. I’m sure the locals have lost count of the amount of holiday makers that Mutzig has left it its wake. Bar Robbo’s is not the only night spot, you can also try Dixie bar, Coyote, Le Crepu and the Tibetan bar to name but a few.  

Ski Chalet Amis in Morzine

Morzine at its best!

 We were lucky enough to stay in the gorgeous chalet Amis, a contemporary chalet of very high quality. It is a 10 minute stroll into town and the Super-Morzine gondola is no more than 7 minutes walk away, so the ski access is very easy. The Chalet does provide a comprehensive driver service in the mornings and afternoons in case the 5 minute walk to the lifts in full ski gear is a little too much for you. The Amis boasts all the mod-cons you would expect from a chalet of this quality, boot-warmers, outdoor hot tub, roaring fire and fully en-suite bedrooms. There’s also a games room, with table-football and a Wii! This extra room could be a God-send for those of you with kids in tow, keeping them occupied whilst you enjoy your after dinner cheese and port!

 The service itself was exemplary, Gus and Kat looked after us in the chalet, their food was of an incredibly high standard and they steer well clear of chalet clichés such as the ubiquitous Boeuf Bourguinon. Their roast duck with chilli and ginger drizzle was a delight! What really sets the service apart from that of other luxury chalets was the delivery. One can often feel molly-coddled in other chalets of this quality, whereas the team here focus on delivering a much more low-key and genuinely friendly service.

Matt stayed in chalet Amis courtesy of TG Ski. for more information on the chalet, Morzine or any of the other destinations mentioned in Matt’s post, please give our London sales office a call or visit www.interactiveresorts.co.uk.

Flora and I had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful chalet Phoebe in Meribel in early December. The chalet was absolutely fantastic and we had to be dragged (literally in some cases!) out of the front door when it was time to leave. After starting off getting on the wrong plane and blagging my way to Val Thorens, I was eventually met by our rep Haigham, who showed us around two brilliant ski in/ ski out chalets – the Catherine and the Olivier. The lovely terraces overlook the piste, and the warm welcome of coffee and cake was much appreciated after the journey. The chalets are a short walk into the town centre of Val Thorens and its nightlife. They offer a short ski down to the Plein Sud lift, giving us a head start on the fresh powder. Comfortable bedrooms and a sauna will give you a good rest after a day on the slopes.

Chalet Phoebe's Stunning Hot Tub

Next stop was Meribel, where we were met by our hosts Jill and Kit, who were absolutely fantastic. We were greeted by a roaring log fire, a glass of Kir and some more coffee and cake. The rooms were spacious and clean, and the lounge area, with its comfy sofas in front of the open fire makes a fantastic location to swap tales of the day’s skiing. Before dinner, a scheduled trip to the outdoor hot tub was organised. We sat back and enjoyed the views over Meribel, before being summoned for a tasty and much needed dinner.

Day two began with a look around the Chalet Hotel Alba in Meribel. This child friendly chalet hotel is almost ski in/ski out, being 20 metres away from the Doron piste and 25 metres from the famous apres ski venue, the Rond Point. From here, you can take the Adret chairlift, or ski down to the resort centre, and take your pick from one of the largest ski areas in the world. The Chalet Hotel Alba boasts lovely, comfortable rooms with a great lounge bar to relax and take in a few drinks before a lovely dinner in the dining room, from which there are great views over the pistes and valleys.

Ski-in Ski-out Chalet Courchevel 1850

The Ski-in Ski-out Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850

Ski Chalets in Alpe d’Huez

Day 3 began with a slightly fuzzy head, and we were off to check out some of the brand new chalets in Alpe D’Huez. A few detours in Grenoble, up the famous Tour De France route into Alpe D’Huez and straight to the brand new Chalet La Breche. This chalet is something special. A ski in ski out chalet in Alpe D’Huez, with a hot tub and state of the art infra-red sauna. The rooms look over the slopes, and the spacious lounge with wood burning fire looked a fantastic base. Next were the Chalets Christian and Phillipe. These two properties are a short walk from the lifts, and were very well received by the group. Our final visit was to the the Chalet Hotel Mariandre, a great child friendly chalet with a huge lounge. The family suites are enormous, and the penthouse suite on the top floor is a definite recommendation! This was followed by a sortie on to the slopes of Alpe D’Huez, and with the fast lifts, wide pistes, and great snow we were really spoilt.

Back to Meribel, and the worst part of the trip was packing our suitcases before heading to dinner one last time. After one last visit to the local watering holes and the (in)famous Dicks Tea Bar, we walked in to a breakfast spread before we left for the transfer to the airport.

A massive thank you to Haigham, who, despite nursing man flu, made our trip memorable. Also a massive thank you to Jill and Kit who were absolutely fantastic all week. Having never been to Meribel before, my view on the resort was mixed, but I left with a growing desire to go back sooner rather than later!

A week at Chalet Phoebe starts at £814pp for the remaining  availability this season and is available from £559pp next season. If you’d like more information on any of the chalets or resorts mentioned above then please give us a ring at our London sales office or visit www.interactiveresorts.co.uk.

It wasn’t your typical ski break, as we only actually spent two nights in our sumptuous surroundings. Sadly, trips out to view chalets are fun but all too often short-lived. We won’t dwell on that though, instead I’d like to focus on the superb surroundings and brilliant organisation which meant that we came back feeling as though we’d been away for a whole week

The superb Bellevarde Lodges in Val d'Isere

Let’s start with our base, Chalet Chablis. It’s difficult to conceive of a better location in Val d’Isere; the Bellevarde Lodges are just above the main lift station with a piste running right behind all 5 chalets. It’s simply a case of about 5 steps up from the heated boot room to the Santons piste and a 2 minute glide down to whichever one of the main lifts you wish to get on. The Solaise, Bellevarde and Olympique lifts are all handy, giving quick access to the entire ski area. It takes perhaps 10 minutes to stroll into the town centre but this is an easy walk and no bad thing, as chalets in central Val d’Isere do occasionally suffer from noisy revellers spilling out of town centre bars late at night. Chablis is furnished to a very high standard, with en-suite facilities in every bedroom and a lovely double height lounge with open fire and fantastically comfortable sofas. The hot-tub on the balcony from the lounge adds that little bit of extra luxury to a superbly finished property.

Day one began for me with a quick blast up the mountain on my own having arrived on Sunday morning on the sleeper train from Paris. The rest of the party arrived at around 2 pm and we all got together for a quick resort orientation before a couple of beers in the Petit Danois followed by Champagne, canapés and supper back at the chalet.

The Gourgeous Petit Choucas’ Living Room

Day two was an early start and straight up the Solaise for a full morning on the slopes. Temperatures in the shade were dipping below minus 10 with wind-chill making it feel more like minus 20. The pistes were in superb condition though and being so early in the season they were almost deserted. We found our way to Le Fornet, before tackling the notorious Face de Bellevarde right before lunch. I was actually rather glad to have an excuse to stay off the mountain during the afternoon. Any break from the cold was fine by me, so chalet viewings were a welcome respite. We went up to Le Cret, just outside the town to look at a cluster of fourlovely chalets; Chalet Davos, Chalet Klosters, Chalet Arosa and Chalet Madrisah. All four are recently built to a really high standard. There’s so little to choose between them but if I had to, it would be the master suite in the Davos with its four-poster bed, fireplace and free-standing bath tub! All four benefit from a driver service as they are a little way out of the main town centre.

The third and final day went down a lot like the first, an early start and some brutally cold skiing around Tignes followed by the excruciatingly touristy event that was our lunch. Nine adults seated around a restaurant table, nine Tartiflettes ordered and all nine subsequently demolished in record time. We popped in to a few more chalets after that, this time the highlights were the Farmhouse which is a striking converted 200 year-old farm building in the heart of the old part of the village and the Chalets Grand and Petit Choucas. The contrast between the two couldn’t be more marked. The Chalet Farmhouse manages to combine modern comfort with true charm and character, something that so many chalets try their hardest to achieve whilst falling well short of this benchmark. The Choucas’ apartments were the antithesis of the Farmhouse but they were just as well received by the whole group. They are spacious, sleek, modern and despite being just metres from the main road they are peacefully set back from the hustle and bustle. My favourite chalets of the entire weekend were these two little beauties.

Our final visit was to the Aspen Lodges. This complex is right on the main street and benefits from the sort of service you’d find in a 5 star hotel (concierge desk, communal lounge area with pool table and a small coffee bar) whilst being split into individual chalet apartments sleeping between 6 (the Oak Suite for example) and 10 (the Penthouse Suite). All are modern, really well fitted out and have south-facing balconies off the comfortable lounges.

Almost as soon as it began, we had to pack up and leave. Just time to thank our guide, James who looked after us every step of the way, taking care of everything that we could throw his way and quite a bit more besides. Don’t forget our chalet hosts Jack and Tim, who were equally attentive and made us feel right at home even though a bunch of rowdy travel agents was the last thing they probably needed as they prepared themselves for their first lot of paying guests. Val d’Isere will always be one of the best early and late season destinations and any one of the chalets we visited would provide an ideal home for the week.

Thanks very much to James at VIP for the organisation and hospitality. If you’re interested in any of the chalets featured above or if you’d like some more information on Val d’Isere then please give our sales team a call or visit our Val d’Isere Chalets website. All of the chalets above are also featured on our Luxury Ski Chalets website. For more photos of your trip please take a look at Nick’s photo album on facebook.

St Anton – not the highest resort in the Alps and thus not the natural choice for a pre-season ski weekend away, right? Wrong. I had the pleasure of visiting St Anton on 26^th November this winter for a 3 day weekend and was greeted with fresh powder and an opening weekend of skiing to rival the highest French resorts like Tignes and Val Thorens! Although the legendary Krazy Kangaruh and Mooserwirt bars weren’t in full flow yet, there were plenty of opening weekend parties going on in town to keep us well stocked up on Gluhwein for the weekend!

It was an early start, flying first thing from London Gatwick to Zurich. However, with such a short transfer time (2½ hours from Zurich, 1½ from Innsbruck), we were at our base for the weekend in time for lunch. In hindsight, it may have been an idea to take the Arlberg Tunnel rather than the Arlberg Pass (that passes through Stüben, and skirts around Lech and Zurs) – the snow was coming down thick and fast, visibility was minimal, we were driving on the right (wrong) side of the road and the 2 door Renault Clio we had hired was slightly out of its comfort zone!

St Anton Luxury Chalets

The spectacular lounge area in Chalet Maria Schnee

Laura and I made it and had the pleasure of staying 2 nights in the stunning Chalet Maria Schnee. This chalet, sleeping 8-15, is a free-standing luxury chalet in the Nasserein area of St Anton.  Under 5 minutes from the Nasserein gondola, the location is just one of the selling points of this chalet. Combine this with the professional chef and host, personal driver service, outdoor hot tub, indoor sauna, cinema room, spacious bedrooms, sleek bathrooms and sumptuous sofas, the chalet really is unbeatable! It is set up perfectly for families, with a lovely girls’ room sleeping 3, as well as a boys’ room which sleeps 4, along with the 4 other double/twin rooms.

A couple of minutes down the road is Chalet Austria, split into three smaller chalet apartments: Chalet Alexandra (6), Chalet Soline (11 + 2) and the penthouse Chalet Antoinette (10). These are perfectly located for ski access; straight out of the heated ski and boot room, to the end of the path in front of the chalet which joins the Nasserein nursery slopes! All three chalets benefit from 6* service with chef, host, driver service and a lovely wellness area and gym downstairs. The complex is brand new this season, though it still has a rustic Tyrolean charm. Chalet Antoinette in particular has impressive, high ceilings and a spacious living area for 10 adults. The three apartments can be combined to make one big chalet for a group of up to 27.

Next on our tour was Chalet Illimani, a stunning 12 person chalet set outside St Anton, in the charming satellite village of Pettneu. There is a dedicated driver service with this chalet, so getting into town is perfectly do-able. This enormous chalet is charming, with a really homely feel to the living and dining area whilst retaining its luxurious grandeur. The bedrooms are spacious, most have balcony access and there is a lovely children’s room too with games and toys galore! The sauna, wellness area, study and ping pong table really finished off this exceptional chalet; the perfect spot for a luxury family trip away.

Skiing in St Anton

In between touring these 6* luxury chalets, we were also able to slot in a couple of days’ November skiing! Riding up the high-speed Galzigbahn on Saturday morning, we were greeted with blue skies and powder at the top. Being the first day of the season, not everything was open of course. There were still plenty of well-groomed pistes to choose from though, some fresh tracks were formed and a number of high speed chairs were running. The skiing in St Anton is reputably not for the faint-hearted, however all the group were able to find the perfect piste to suit their ability, proving that the resort really does cater for all. We found some empty pistes over towards the quaint neighbouring resort of Stüben, and some more testing mogul runs back near the Nasserein region – by day 2 the ski legs had been rediscovered as we reluctantly left the mountain!

The superb Chalet Getrud Gabl in St Anton

We spent our final evening (when we could drag ourselves away from the après ski bars and Pizza Pomodoro which we discovered whilst down in the town centre…) in Chalet Getrud Gabl, a modern 5* chalet at the other end of town, in Oberdorf.  We were greeted by the wonderful chalet staff who, like at Maria Schnee, will go out of their way to make you feel at home, even when they were still preparing the chalet for the coming season! The living area was vast, with enough DVDs to keep even the keenest film buff entertained for weeks, and the outdoor hot tub overlooking the valley was virtually impossible to leave.

Managing to cram in 2 days’ skiing before Advent has even kicked in is no mean feat, but with the early snow conditions as good as they are this season, and a vast array of welcoming chalets, a memorable weekend was had by all.

If Isabel and Laura’s early season St Anton trip has got you excited, then give our London sales team a call or visit www.stantonchalets.co.uk or check out our new hotels website www.stantonhotels.co.uk for more information about the resort and accommodation.

• Wednesday 14th April: Volcano erupts in Iceland.
• Flight departure time to Val Thorens: 05:50 Saturday 17th April.
• Actual Coach departure: 12:45 Saturday 17th April.
• Arrival time in Resort 10:00 Sunday 18th April.

Carrying on from Mr. David Froom’s superb depiction of the week that was….. 

Approximately 1179 miles of land and sea separate London from Iceland, so who would have ever thought that one volcano could cause so much disruption? Whilst Interactive Resorts were sitting pretty in London town there wasn’t a worry in anyone’s mind about the possibility of not going on our end of season trip. Then Friday rolls around and all flights to and from the UK are still grounded with the papers reporting that the country may be at a standstill for a further week. I started to have a small cardiac arrest realising that cancellation was a very strong possibility.

But lo and behold, the brilliant Skiworld pulled through for us and organised a coach to deliver us to Val Thorens safely.

The Journey Begins

To coach or not to coach….

A 12:45 departure from Gatwick Coach station saw us on our way to Dover to catch our ferry. A small delay in Calais from a backlog of “coached” clients trying to get from A to B was not an issue as far as I was concerned….I was just so stoked to be able to go on the trip. I had a small pang of guilt for those thousands of travellers world wide that were unable to go where they intended, especially as that included some of our own crew from the north who we had to leave behind. You were sadly missed.

The Interactive Resorts team outside chalet Bonhomme de Neige

A very eventful and sleepless 20 hours later, we arrived in VT. Job done. Out of all of the ways to get to the Alps I can’t say going by coach would be my first choice. As I say, I personally can’t really complain but for those of you considering to either coach, drive, fly or train I would suggest choosing one of the other options before resorting to the coach. To go on holiday for only 7 days and to spend 20 hours x 2 on a coach really does reduce your slope time. And come on now…..that is what we are all there for, right?

Bonhomme De Neige

Our home for the next week was the huge 28 person Chalet Bonhomme de Neige. Located on the outskirts of the Place du Peclet, it holds a brilliant location overlooking the whole of the resort and the Val Thorens Valley, with the most outstanding views. It’s a chalet that does its job well. For a large group such as ourselves, spending a lot of our time in the communal dining and living areas, I think it’s perfect. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, all offering your own en-suite bathrooms and balconies. 

Val Thorens and Les 3 Vallées

As a ski resort, Val Thorens just about ticks every box. On paper its statistics are second to none. Towering over the rest of Europe, VT nestles itself at a literally breathtaking 2300m. Combined with its sister resorts of Courchevel and Meribel you have a combined mileage of over 600km of piste to play on and ridiculous amounts of off piste to discover and explore. The valley itself spans from St Martin de Belleville (1400m) all the way up to the highest point of the highest lift, the Bouchet charlift (3266m).

Opening its first lifts in December 1971, Val Thorens is there for one main reason, to ski. It is very much a purpose built resort with the majority of accommodation being in 4,5,6+ storey apartment complexes. Although it may not be the most attractive of ski destinations, you can’t argue with the fact that no matter where you stay within the resort your chalet will either be ski in/out or no further than a couple of hundred metres away from the side of a piste, giving you easy access down to one of the main chair lifts or bubbles.

Live for the night

A view from the top

Let me paint a picture….. It’s a scorcher of a day. Not a cloud in the sky. You have been skiing since 10am and it is now 3:30pm and you have just about exhausted all your

energy. You can’t even face one more chairlift let alone another run and then….. there’s this sound… a constant beat. You come over the rise of your last run of the day to be confronted with none other than the living and breathing Folie Douce, Val Thorens style!! There is no other place like this on earth (apart from its original big sister, La Folie Douce in Val d’Isere). It is a haven of madness, table top dancing, drinking, singing and insanely good music that makes you dance even if your muscles refuse you the right to do it with any kind of style. Everyone must, oh you MUST see and experience the Folie! Then when you are made (definitely not by choice) to leave as the music ends, the beers stop flowing and the sun is going down, you have the joy of boarding or skiing home after a few pints which is an experience in itself.

After a quick refresh, then a lovely three course evening meal with wine flowing back at the chalet, we embarked on a little adventure to see what Val Thorens has to offer in terms of nightlife. As we were travelling at the tail end of the season our choice of bars was a little limited. In saying this though, we found one we liked and didn’t particularly branch out much further…..I blame our lack of imagination but also when you travel in a group as large as ours you tend to make your own fun no matter where you are.  Our local hot spot would have to be, without a doubt, the world famous Frog and Roast Beef, which is known for being the highest pub in Europe. This place kept us well and truly entertained with good sounds, cold beer and entertainment such as drum and bass nights and ‘Toss the Boss’ – a dice game where if you roll higher than the barman you get your round for free. Sweet!! Unfortunately my luck was lagging this night but we saw plenty of our crew leave having spent next to nothing.

The now legendary Folie Douce

We had many a good night out at Frog and Roastbeef, Saloon and the nightclub Malaysia. An empty wallet, a sore head and dark rings under my eyes from lack of sleep suggests that VT lived up to and exceeded all expectations in the nightlife department.

A question on everyone’s lips

So for the past few years Interactive Resorts has always had Val d’Isere as its one and only destination of choice for the end of season shenanigans. Adding VT into the mix threw a spanner in the works and was met with a few mixed emotions and opinions. Was it going to live up to the standards to which we were now well and truly accustomed? I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we were nicely surprised and impressed. For a purpose built, aesthetically unattractive resort it has a certain charm that welcomes you. Its ski area is superb for all abilities and offers endless options that will be sure to keep you amused for the week if not longer… I would be more than happy to return to Val Thorens and I am now super excited about sending people on their holidays there as I know their time will be unforgettable!

We stayed at the Bonhomme de Neige in Val Thorens. A week at the Bonhomme starts from £470 during the coming season. If you’d like to chat about Val Thorens or any of the other destinations mentioned here, then please give us a call or drop a line to our sales office!

I decided to base my trip in March in and around Banff. Two hours away from Calgary and on the Alberta / British Columbia border, this small town sits in the heart of the Banff National Park and is surrounded by beautiful views of snow-capped mountains, with dark green fir trees on their lower slopes and clear blue rivers running in between. By not being a resort in itself, Banff has the advantage of offering all the amenities required from a town, yet being just a 15-45 minute drive from the slopes. Although only linked by bus, Mount Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise are all covered by the Tri Area lift pass and this makes Banff a fantastic base for exploring all three. If you are used to the ski in/out convenience of European resorts then you will find it a change to have to go everywhere by bus, but they are well-organised (picking up from all of the main hotels and apartment complexes), run on time, have plenty of space for skis and boards and the drivers are friendly!

The awesome tree-lined runs of Sunshine

Although it was still cold when my friend Issy and I arrived, it had apparently been a bad winter in Banff this year, so we decided to make the most of the fresh snowfall in Sunshine the day before we arrived and start our skiing there. 20 minutes on the bus from Banff and we were at the base of the gondola that takes you onto the mountain to start skiing at 2160m. There are three mountain areas all linked together, providing excellent terrain for all ski abilities – Mount Standish for beginners, Lookout Mountain for intermediates and Goat’s Eye for the more advanced. What I loved was that unlike European resorts, the pistes aren’t marked as such, so it is more a case of skiing in a green, blue or black diamond area, thus giving you much more freedom and you can get the feel of going off-piste whilst staying in controlled areas. There are lots of tree runs which make it perfect in bad weather, but luckily we had sunshine and blue sky overhead with fresh powder underfoot for both of the days we were there. I loved skiing either side of the Continental Divide Express and the Sunshine Coast run which takes you from the top of the Goat’s Eye Express and leads into some lovely runs all the way down to the bottom. At times we were the only ones on the piste giving the feel of having the whole mountain to ourselves. Wonderful!

Two days in Sunshine were enough to cover all the pistes properly without getting bored, and so on our third day we headed for Mount Norquay instead. The smaller of the three ski areas and closest to Banff, this is much more of a beginner-friendly resort.  With the snow falling heavily as we got on the bus, we were glad we chose that day to do Norquay. The majority of the slopes are at a lower altitude and tree-lined making it perfect for a day when visibility is poor. Fresh powder and empty slopes meant we were perfectly happy messing about for a few hours without having to really challenge ourselves with the jet lag still taking its toll!

Kirsty enjoying the spectacular Canadian scenery

Day four dawned bright and sunny and so we boarded the bus to Lake Louise. This is certainly the most famous out of the three areas and has the most variety, plus the runs are generally much longer. The Powder Bowls area is fantastic for those who want some off-piste action on a blue-sky powder day. For those who prefer to stick to the patrolled areas then there is more than enough to keep you busy for a few days around the Grizzly Express Gondola, Top of the World chair and over the back in the Larch Area. The only slight issue was that the pistes were very icy first thing in the morning and then began turning to slush just after lunch so our time skiing on nice snow was a little limited, but then we were skiing at the end of March.

As with Sunshine and Norquay, there isn’t really anything in the way of an après-ski scene at Lake Louise so if this is normally a big part of your holiday in Europe, you may find it a bit quiet. If you are looking for a resort with nightlife then Whistler is definitely the place to go to. There are a few bars in Banff which are good for a few pre- or post-dinner drinks and a couple of clubs, all of which are really accessible if you are staying in the town centre. We were in the Tunnel Mountain area, approximately 20 minutes walk uphill so the prospect of doing this after a few drinks and a full day’s skiing was not particularly appealing!

Overall, Banff is a great place to spend a week discovering the delights of Canadian skiing. With three ski areas there is a great variety of terrain, the people are incredibly friendly and there are none of the stresses and strains usually associated with skiing in many of the big French resorts. The town has some fantastic restaurants and although it is relatively quiet, there is generally a very relaxed feel to the place. It made a fantastic change to skiing in Europe and one I would happily experience again!

For more information on any of the resorts discussed above, or if you’d like a general chat about ski holidays then please call our office or drop us an email.

So as suggested above, it wasn’t all plain sailing and the drama started a few days before our scheduled departure on April 17th. The volcanic ash cloud that shrouded northern Europe, shutting down all air traffic for nearly a week, threatened to force the cancellation of the entire trip. You wouldn’t have wanted to speak to any of us during that week had we been forced to swap the Three Valleys for South West London. We all love working here, but who wouldn’t opt for the skiing given the choice? The majority (everyone but me) were booked to travel out by plane but our travel organisers were forced at the last minute to switch air for road and 40 or so of the gang climbed aboard their “luxury” coaches at Gatwick, facing a heavy journey ahead. 22 hours later some weary souls disembarked the coach at Chalet Bonhomme de Neige looking about 10 years older than when I’d last seen them. I dread to think of the horrors on board that vehicle, I think that’s probably best left for a blog by someone who experienced it first-hand.

A sunny afternoon in Courchevel

Finally all safe and sound in Val Thorens, the holiday could begin in earnest. We had some great luck with the weather that week, all but a couple of days brought sunshine and although we were very close to the end of the season, the snow held up relatively well. Obviously there were slushy patches as you went lower in altitude, towards La Tania, Courchevel 1300 or Meribel for example. Overall, about 70% of the ski area was open and the majority of the lifts ran all week. We also got a late season lift pass discount.

Our chalet was the Bonhomme de Neige, a free-standing 28 person chalet that for competent skiers is just about ski in/out. The bedrooms are all fully en suite and the large lounge and dining room has a superb view over the whole of the resort and the Val Thorens ski area. We saw a few other chalets in resort but most of us thought that the Bonhomme was best of them. It wasn’t unanimous, though. Isabel and Holly, after a great deal of consideration, declared their preferences for the chalets Boule de Neige and Flocon de Neige.

Some of the gang making the most of the sunshine at the Folie Douce

Despite the  journey out, most of the team managed to hit the hill soon after arriving, showing excellent stamina and determination. After a gentle first day on the slopes, we headed over to the now legendary après ski venue La Folie Douce. Well known from previous trips to Val d’Isère, the Folie now has a little sister at the top of the Plein Sud chairlift in VT. If you’ve never been before then try and picture the scene; a huge sun-soaked decking area, a large bar at either end and a top DJ and MC making maximum use of an immense sound system. Throw in 500 or so merry holidaymakers, some dancing on the tables, and after a couple of hours the place is a rival to the best nightclubs in any resort.

This became a theme for the entire week and every day saw most, if not all of us heading to the Folie at some point from mid-afternoon onwards. By the time it shuts at 5.30pm the ski back to the chalet can be quite a challenge, especially if you’ve managed to put away 5 or 6 beers whilst bouncing along to the superb entertainment. Tuesday saw our big challenge. After everyone had found their ski legs Andy, Nick and Ross set up the Foxhunt. Dressed as farmers, we skied in teams to the farthest flung corners of the Vallée de Belleville on various tasks, all the time in pursuit of the three of them dressed in brown skin suits and fox masks! We ended up at the Folie before piling back down to town for a huge night out.

Tally Ho!

With a group this big, it’s never a realistic ambition for everyone to ski together so most mornings saw small alliances form over the breakfast tables, with different groups planning different routes through the Three Valleys. Personal highlights for me were managing to get down to Le Praz (Courchevel 1300) for a morning coffee on just about the last day of the season when the Brigues piste down from 1850 was still ski-able (although officially shut!), and one early morning expedition up La Masse. It’s a peak above Les Menuires which few visitors to the Three Valleys seem to know exists and even fewer manage to get up and actually ski. Those who do make the effort are always rewarded with some wide open pistes, acres of easily accessed off piste and a huge vertical drop. If you only ski one run next season, make it La Masse!

 Clichés come easily on ski holidays and Wednesday night, staff night off, was no different. The logistics of getting 40 people ready together and into a restaurant at the same time is too much to bear, so we split into three groups and made our way into town for a meal. What else would you do when in a Savoyard ski resort and hungry? You eat meat and cheese. That’s what you do and that’s what we did. Fondues bubbled, hot stones sizzled and Tartiflettes, well, they were just simply superb.

It was all a bit much for some by the end of the week

The final couple of days whizzed past in a flash, plenty of mileage was covered, the Folie Douce saw quite a bit more of us and by Friday night everyone was pretty well spent. News filtered through that the ash had dispersed and the flight would be leaving more or less on time. By 10pm just about everyone had retired to sleep or pack before the 5am departure. Inevitably it didn’t quite run to time but we had all departed resort by around 7am and were back in London in time for our tea that evening.

A top week in all respects. For late season skiing, it’s hard to contemplate a better destination than Val Thorens. There’s nowhere higher in Europe, so if VT has no snow, nowhere does. The resort stays open until May most seasons and mid/late April is still busy. Unlike other resorts, you don’t get the feeling of being in an end-of-season ghost town. Everything in Val Thorens carries on as normal. The accommodation is good, although I wouldn’t come here looking for luxury it’s a brilliant destination if budget is a factor. I’d never stayed here before, but after such a good week, I’ll be back!

The Interactive Resorts team stayed at chalet Bonhomme de Neige in Val Thorens. A week at the Bonhomme starts from £479pp, including flights from London Gatwick and transfers to resort. For more information on this or any of the other chalets or resorts mentioned above, please give us a call or drop us an email!

Coming from NZ where our Christmas normally consists of shorts and sandals, BBQs and camping, sunshine and beaches, a white Christmas is something of a novelty. You can only imagine my delight at being told in early 2009 that the family Christmas was to be held in Canada! 

BA’s announcement of their strike over the festive period nearly threw a massive spanner in the works. Not only would the strike have disrupted my trip, it fell exactly on the dates of my outbound and inbound flights. Brilliant! But hey ho….five days before take-off, they pulled the plug on the strike and continued operating as per usual. To say I was relieved would be the understatement of the year.

So away I went… From Calgary to Lake Louise, Jasper and the Marmot Basin to Vancouver and the delights of Whistler, my itinerary was jam-packed full of towns, cities and resorts I have only ever dreamed of. I arrived into Calgary airport in one of the biggest snowstorms they had had all season and was told by the air cabin crew that I was lucky to have made it to Calgary, as all arrivals after mine were being diverted. Phew…another bump in the road averted. I spent one very cold -24°C and uneventful night in one of Calgary’s many airport hotels before waking the next morning to gorgeous blue skies and the most luscious powder I have seen in…well, the most luscious powder I have ever seen and I wasn’t even in the mountains yet.

Transfer. Calgary to Lake Louise via Jasper. 4 hours. Job done.

Arrival into Wonderland

As the coach came around the corner and revealed my home for the next four nights, I was flabbergasted. This place is magical. We were lucky enough to stay in the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise which couldn’t be in a more ideal location for some of the most stunning views in Canada and only a 15 minute transfer from the Lake Louise ski area.

The view across Lake Louise

Boxing Day saw Mum and I donning our skis and boards and hitting the slopes. Lake Louise is one of North America’s largest ski areas which consists of Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff Mount Norquay (Covered by the Tri-Area lift pass and linked by a free shuttle). Over 7,500 acres or 200 runs of terrain. More than enough to keep you entertained. Having just had a huge dump of snow before our arrival we scored an absolute pearler of a day. Clear blue skies and barely touched powder runs for all….Correctly named and also known as…’Heaven’.

Next Stop…Jasper and The Marmot Basin

Leaving Lake Louise was something I did not enjoy. I loved it there. But onwards and upwards we went…. Destination: Jasper. About a 3 ½ hour coach transfer from Lake Louise and you are smack bang in the middle of downtown Jasper. Having lasted the first four days with incredible weather it was inevitable that it would cloud over at some point and so it did. Temperatures dropped again into the minus 20s and indoors was the preferred option for all…. But off we trotted again after our ‘hassle-free’ boot and board fitting to hit the slopes of the Marmot Basin in Jasper’s National Park. Not quite to the standard and size of Lake Louise but still a fun, and what we found to be, a very popular little resort with the locals. Marmot Basin is host to over 1,675 acres or 86 marked runs on offer. A few lift technicalities and one extended lunch break distracted us from seeing what Marmot really had to offer, but all in all a very enjoyable day!

For non-skiers, or for those days when you just can’t be bothered to don the ski gear, I highly recommend the ‘Maligne Canyon Ice Walk’. About a 3 hour walk for all abilities through the Maligne Valley River….when it’s frozen!! It is incredible and a once in a life time opportunity.  

Holly on the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk

The one that I had been waiting for….

We arrived in Vancouver after an overnight train from Jasper, which in itself is an amazing experience and a thoroughly enjoyable way to travel across such a massive country. Vancouver is approximately 1 ½ hours (if you know the locals) from Whistler. We were picked up at 7am on New Year’s Eve and after another ‘hassle-free’ board and boot fitting, we were on the slopes by 9:30. The resort of Whistler Blackcomb is, for want of a better expression, freaking outstanding!! 8,200 acres or more than 200 trails to explore, you will be well and truly blown away with what Whistler has to offer. With the welcome addition to the world’s longest unsupported cable car, the Peak 2 Peak connects Whistler to Blackcomb giving you easy access to both resorts in 11 minutes. It travels at about 7.5m per second and reaches heights of 436m, so this ride is not for the faint-hearted!

The resort itself is incredible. A range of restaurants to keep all budgets and ages happy, not to mention the shopping!!! There is not much more to say than ‘YOU HAVE TO GO THERE!’.

 It was an incredible trip that will long be a favourite and one to live up to for a long time. Don’t get me wrong….Europe has and will always be a brilliant place to ski which I also love. A lot. But you must, oh you must…at least once in your life go to Canada. Amazing resorts, powder, the friendliest people, maple syrup, buffalo steaks the size of your head and some of the most breath-taking sites your eyes will ever roam across. What more could you ask for?

If you’ve been inspired by any the destinations that Holly visited on her epic trip to Canada then why not give us a call in our London sales office for more information? If you’re lucky, you can ask Holly herself all about it!