Anyone who has ever planned and booked a family ski holiday will tell you it’s not an easy game. Booking the annual boys’ trip is easy… even the corporate ski weekend seems painless to arrange. But there’s something about taking the children to the mountains which requires further care, thought and consideration.

For many families with young children the requirements are as long as your arm! Families with young children need to find chalets or hotels close to the slopes because 4 year olds can’t carry skis for long. They need to be within 2 hours or so of the arrival airport to minimise transfer time. They need to have good beginner slopes, decent tree coverage for shelter, the resort must have off-the-slopes activities, the list goes on….! These days more than ever, the Alps have a very wide range of family-friendly chalets and hotels, and decent childcare can now be found throughout the French Alps, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and other countries besides.

We’ve put ourselves in the shoes of every parent trying to plan the family ski getaway, and these tips and considerations may be handy for this coming season, for you to plan the perfect trip…

Parents with infants.

• Short transfer. Resorts like Les Gets and Morzine are within 1.5 hours of Geneva airport. Chambery is a smaller airport nearer to the mountains, and it’s close to a wide range of resorts. Meribel, for example, is within 2 hours’ drive.
• On-site nursery/crèche. There’s no peace of mind like the security of knowing your baby is being safely cared for. Having an on-site nursery is a big step forward in achieving this, and will lead to a relaxed, stress-free holiday.
• All-day care. Although leaving baby with a nanny for the first time is one of the hardest things for a mother to do, families who are used to the idea of leaving baby in all-day care can benefit from a full day on the slopes, safe in the knowledge that their infant is being amused and cared for throughout the day.
• Trained and experienced nannies. In these days of red tape, rules and regs, under-qualified or ill-experienced nannies find it harder and harder to work in the Alps. This is to families’ advantage and any childcare outfit worth its salt can demonstrate clearly the steps it takes to ensure it employs qualified child carers.
• No steps to chalet. Finding the perfect chalet is not easy. Harder still is choosing the “perfect” chalet only to find there are 6 icy steps leading to the front door. Care must be taken to ensure ease of chalet access with a pram. Other considerations like being close to paths for town access and staying close to the town centre for easy strolling are also important.
• Bottle sterilisation facilties. There is now a very wide range of properties in the Alps where this service is the norm, but it’s an important consideration when taking a baby out of the home environment.

Parents with children.

• Good beginners’ slopes. Although pretty much every resort can lay claim to having beginners’ slopes to some degree, taking your 4 year old straight to Solden, Chamonix or Verbier to learn is a bad idea. Many resorts are great for kids, and Courchevel, Morzine, La Rosiere, Les Gets, Val d’Isere and La Plagne are just a few examples of resorts with very child-friendly slopes.
• Close to slopes (or a chalet with driver service.) It’s never ideal to finish a hard day on the hill with a tired 5 year old only to then have to walk 600 metres to the chalet in ski boots, carrying skis. Many chalets get around this with friendly and helpful driver services and Morzine is a great example of this. It’s always worth being open to the idea of a chalet that has a private driver service – it’s far better being picked up and whizzed home in 2 minutes than having to walk 3 or 4 minutes with a tired child in tow.
• Sheltered pistes. Bad weather can turn even the hardiest little ski champion off the snow. It’s worth considering resorts that you know to have sheltered, tree-lined areas for bad weather days. La Tania, Meribel, Les Gets, Morzine, Courchevel, La Plagne and Les Arcs are all good examples.
• Good tuition is vital. Meribel, Val d’Isere and Courchevel boast some of the very finest ski schools in the Alps but they’re far from the only options. Ski schools such as Magic in Motion, Parallel Lines, New Generation and Oxygene are market leaders.
• Off-the-slopes activities. There’s nothing like a good toboggan hill to make sure your 6 year old is ready to pass out by 8 o’clock, leaving you free to enjoy good wine and good conversation. Morzine has the best one I’ve ever seen, and Courchevel 1650 has a proper luge run!
• Tougher slopes for progression. It’s important to keep the kids feeling tested, in order to make progress on skis. Val d’Isere is a great resort for kids to learn to ski, and with Tignes offering steeper pistes just over the ridge, the Espace Killy is a great example. Learning in Merbel’s Altiport area then tackling Courchevel 1850 is another good option.
• Due care and attention regarding transferral of pastoral care. When you take the kids to school, you expect due care to be taken in the transferral of care. Ski schools and kids’ clubs are no different and it’s important to feel comfortable that the administrative boxes are ticked before you ski off.
• Not close to main road. Many resorts are pedestrianised, with no cars whatsoever in the town centre. Avoriaz and St Anton centre are two fine examples of this. This means kids can explore safely, without the risk of traffic spoiling the fun.
• A play area for snowmen is also a bonus, as is a DVD area or games room for relaxation.

Skiing with Teenagers

• Big ski area. Many teens can ski faster than Mum! This, coupled with their seemingly unending desire to explore, means you need a lot of slopes to cater for them. Ski areas like the Three Valleys (Meribel etc), the Espace Killy (Val and Tignes) and Paradiski (Les Arcs and La Plagne) are examples of ski areas which should do the trick.
• Good altitude. Teens can be opinionated at the best of times, and trying to take them to a resort of 800 metres in altitude may not work! Avoriaz, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Arcs and Zermatt are resorts which ought to give them a nice dose of altitude sickness. (Not really…!)
• Close to nightlife is always a bonus, if they’re older and allowed to party a little. It’s never a good idea to promote boozing in the Alps, and nasty stories seem to surface annually about this, but having a bar or two close by for a nightcap isn’t such a bad thing.
• Off-the-slopes activities like bowling, climbing and ice-skating are great family activities, and many resorts are well equipped on that score. Some, like Morzine and Chamonix, even have professional level ice hockey teams you can go and see play.

In conclusion, there is no cut and dried “best resort for families.” It simply doesn’t exist. There is, however, a massive range of resorts right across the European Alps and beyond, which attract families with children year on year for their facilities, slopes, activities and great locations.

Ski Season 2011

New snow arrived in time to save half term from disaster, but from late February onwards everywhere has been struggling. It’s been unseasonably warm in a lot of places and we’ve seen early closing of a lot of lifts and even a couple of the lower resorts have brought forward the closing dates for their entire lift systems. Normally most resorts and tour operators would plough on regardless of snow conditions, relying on cannons to keep the main runs pisted and the demand of the school holidays to ensure the beds are filled despite the soaring temperatures. This year though, a lot of operators have been caught out by the lateness of the school holidays. The first weekend in April normally signals the busiest week of the late season, but in 2011 most schools were breaking up either this week (9th April) or will not go until next week (16th), much later than normal. As a result of this a lot of operators have decided to cut their losses, start closing down their chalets and begin sending their staff home earlier than planned.

Spring Skiing in Val d’Isere

Chalet Cherrier in Val d'Isere - An Old Favourite!

However, as usual there are some resorts that just keep on going and Val d’Isere is one of them. Last year we all piled off to Val Thorens for our end of season trip which marked a break with tradition as we had always previously gone to Val d’Isere. We had a blast at the Bonhomme de Neige but the decision was made to return to our usual stomping ground this season. This year we’ll be spread over two weeks, with the first being based in Chalet Lores and the crew heading out for the second week staying in the slightly more upmarket Chalet Cherrier. We’ve been to the Cherrier before and everyone rated it highly, so no doubt a few will be glad to be back!

There will be all the usual banter, including the themed ski day for which various fancy dress items have been arriving at the office for a few days now. Given the current weather conditions it looks likely that a lot of the afternoons will be spent soaking up the sun at the infamous Folie Douce, although according to the latest 6-day forecast, we might be in for a late drop in the freezing level and some fresh snow! It’s still actually possible to pick up a bargain for a last-minute ski deal leaving this Saturday so if you are still thinking about going away, give our sales team a buzz and we’ll see if we can get you out to Val d’Isere with us!

If you’d like more information on any of the chalets or resorts featured above then please give our knowledgeable sales team a ring at our London office.

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.

Construction has already begun on the project

The project’s green credentials have been open to scrutiny and appear to have gained widespread approval. The cables for the new gondola will be made by recycling old cables from disused chairlifts, and the majority of the pylons will be carved from pine trees which already stand along the proposed route of the lift. Methane collected from grazing cows will provide 12% of the power for the new gondola.

The project is expected to take several years to complete but once finished it will link the three biggest French ski areas and enable skiers to cover 15 resorts in one day’s skiing. The combined total pistes in the area will be nearly 1,500km, with an area pass costing a quite reasonable 300 Euros a week.

The mayor of Courchevel, Jean-Paul Mugnier hailed the new development as the key to ensuring the long-term success of the French ski industry: “We have been awaiting a development like this for years. This will confirm that France, and the Tarentaise in particular is the number one destination in Europe for the serious skier. The benefits to the local economy will be widespread.”

If completed on time, the project is expected to be ready for the 2017-18 winter season and is expected to bring almost 500,000 extra visitors to the area each season.

For more information on the project, or if you’d like to know about the resorts the new lift will serve then please call our London sales office

It’s been a while. According to an old pal who still lives in Chamonix and posted on facebook this morning, it’s been 36 days. Some resorts might even claim a longer drought, but what we do know is that the worst is over and that there is fresh snowfall in most major resorts right now. The whole ski industry has been nervously checking weather forecasts, looking to the sky and I’ve seen a few videos of snow dances being performed in various resorts since the New Year. Happily, I’m glad to be able to say the Guardian’s article yesterday, predicting the possible end to the entire season in mid-February is nothing short of a scaremongering fabrication. Even if it didn’t snow again between now and Easter, all major resorts have excellent infrastructures in place to ensure that the vast majority of their pistes remain open all season long thanks to their numerous snow cannons and creative use of piste bashers.

Of course, having to rely on cannons to keep runs pisted for half of an entire season isn’t ideal and if you’ve gone out to somewhere like Chamonix looking for a week of awesome off piste then you are inevitably going to be disappointed if no fresh snow falls for 4 weeks. However, the majority of our clients and contacts in resort have reported that in spite of the lack of new snow, nearly 90% of pistes have remained open and perfectly ski able. You can’t deny though, that a foot of fresh snow is exactly what you would like to read about in the days leading up to your week in the mountains.

Most of the Tarentaise (The Three Valleys, La Plagne, Les Arcs, La Rosiere, Tignes and Val d’Isere) has seen between 20 and 30 centimetres falling this week, and further south there have been even heavier falls with more predicted for the southern French Alps, Italy and Southern Switzerland this weekend. Zermatt is expected to benefit from fresh snowfall which makes me think I might have found the deal of the season. As this post goes to press, we have one room left sleeping two in chalet Aeschhorn A, leaving on Saturday 19th February from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Belfast at just £499 per person. Considering that we’re talking about the most in demand date of the entire season, a top resort and a good quality chalet right in the middle of the village, this rates as one of the best deals I’ve come across. If you can only go away this week (teacher perhaps?) and can get to Scotland or Northern Ireland for Saturday, then this could be for you. I’d even consider getting the train up from London!

Even if there isn’t any new snow where you’re going then please don’t despair and please, whatever you do, don’t believe what you read from lazy, ill-informed journalists lacking in specialist industry knowledge.

If you’d like more information on the deal featured above then you’ll have to be quick, it’s the only room left! If you’d like more information about any of the resorts mentioned or to chat about anything ski-related, please drop us a line or give us a ring at our London sales office.

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.

Skiing is dated back to pre-historic times. It is a part of the history of Sami and Nordic people in which skiing was a part of their military manoeuvres, hunting and used as practical means of transportation. Since then skiing has become a professional and recreational sport that takes place all around the world. There are several variations of skiing that include freestyle, dry slope, adaptive, kite skiing, Para skiing and alpine skiing. Skiing has become the most popular sport among all the sports that are a part of the Winter Olympics.

Alpine skiing is also called downhill skiing, but got the name alpine from skiing near a tree line. It was first played in 1861 in Kiandra, Australia and the popularity of this particular variation of skiing has continued to grow rapidly since. Alpine skiing is one of the original sports of the Winter Olympics that took place in France in the year of 1924. It is the sport of riding down the snow-covered mountains on skis that have fixed-heel bindings. Though variations of alpine skiing does have free heel bindings like Nordic skiing and ski mountaineering. There are four different disciplines which are Downhill, Slaloms, Giant Slaloms and Super Giant Slaloms. Downhill being the fastest and Slaloms being the slowest and shortest.

When taking up alpine skiing the main techniques that has to be acquired are the control of the speed and direction of the descent of the skier downhill. Control is gained by making alternate right and left turns while skiing. The snowplough technique is used by skiers to control and maintain a designated speed or to come to a complete stop. This technique involves the skier to point their ski or skis inward and by doing so the speed of the skier is adjusted. Other methods that are used are considered more difficult but more elegant as well are used by skier who are significantly more advanced.

The most famous alpine skier is Ingmar Stenmark. He began skiing at the age of five and became an active skier from 1974 through 1989. Having won forty slaloms and forty-six giant slaloms for a total of eighty-six slaloms makes him the most rewarded skier in the history of all alpine skiers. He holds five gold medals, one silver and one gold.

In a recent study in Austria was named the Salzburg Skiing for the Elderly Study. The study that took place that involved monitoring the effects alpine skiing has on the long-term health of older skiers. The results showed skiers that are 67 who ski 2-3 times a week over 12 weeks has significant improvements in health. Their oxygen intake improves as well as their aerobic capacity. The strength and power in their legs is enhanced and the size of the quadriceps muscle is knowingly larger.

At Interactive Resorts, we’re not just focused on last minute ski holidays and catered ski chalets. We also love pizza, especially down in our IT department (AKA the dungeon). Recently myself and Phil were given the job of dealing with/haggling with/hustling some recruitment companies to get some candidates. Everyone likes a good hustle- especially a London recruitment company.

How to get hustled by a recruitment agency

Step 1 – “Pizza Hut – for two”. Make contact, and get the recruiters terms and of course… haggle! . So the first recruitment company we spoke to stated that they wanted a whopping 30% of the wage of the lucky candidate, if they get us the right person. We’re looking for two people initially. That’s a lot of mozzarella! We got them down to 17.5%, with promises of a fat Pizza hut for myself and Phil for making the deal. Goodwill. Good deal.

Step 2 - “I’ll get you the biggest rib-eye you have ever seen mate”. This is a quote from another recruiter once we told him about our existing deal with recruiter #1. Another player enters the game! We got him down to 10% – unheard of apparently. Now we are confident recruiter hagglers. Guy even offered me the £300 referral fee.. That would buy a lot of pizza indeed.

Step 3 - Waiting. Interviewing. emailing recruiters, looking at CV’s… more interviewing. Throwing CVs in the bin. One poor blighter couldn’t even speak English. Gave him the job obviously.

Step 4 – We found two awesomely talented programmers and it looked like we were going to give them a job sharpish. WHOAH! I realised (to my horror) that we hadn’t carved out a food deal with the recruiter who had gotten us these candidates. Cue the dear Daniel letter to the lucky recruiter…

Dear Daniel
I am very distressed. It’s lunchtime – and I’m hungry. Sadly The same thing will no doubt happen tomorrow. I had a temporary solution in place where I managed to broker some fab deals with one recruiter for a fat Dominos meal for Phil and I should they get us candidates which we hire (and recruiters reap a fat commission). That was my first haggle. The next recruiter haggle was easier (with this recruiter offering us the “biggest rib-eye” we had ever seen.). I was a bit negligent in carving out such an arrangement with you – so I put the question to you – Does your company believe in a free lunch? My dad reckoned there was no such thing as a free lunch. I would like to prove him wrong! Let us know – before it’s too late!

regards
Hungry Niall

The food arrived, it was large, yummy and pretty delish’. Needless to say, us basement dwellers shared our pizza with the rest of the staff, and our poor (after effectively paying £15k+ for our pizza) company directors..

I feel a bit bloated after that

The pizza was so large that it had this effect on me within 10 minutes.. Our company director Liked it too.:)

Recruiters have hustle!

It seems recruiters have some of the best hustle on the planet – with some crazy fees too!, (this SEOer thinks he needs to get into recruitment sometime in the future!!). a BIG Thanks to Dan @ BD Recruitment for the pizza, and of course getting us some excellent programmers.

Over and out, it’s pizza time!