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.

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.

Club Med in Peisey-Vallandry

• Return flights and transfers
• Accommodation
• All meals (including lunches) with wine, beer and soft drinks
• Unlimited drinks and snacks
• Ski and snowboarding lessons
• Local Ski Pass
• Mini Club and Juniors’ Club
• Baby Welcome
• All leisure activities

As far as business models go for ski companies, you have to go an awfully long way to beat the example set by Club Med, as I found out in Les Arcs last week. I received an invitation to stay for 4 nights in the 4 star Hotel Club Med Peisey Vallandry to see what all the fuss is about, and I have nothing but good things to say!

We flew out from Heathrow Terminal 1 with Swissair and the transfer coach whisked us to resort. Pretty standard procedure really, but it is here that the Club Med experience really kicked in. We were met in the lofty, plush reception area by a team of smiling, friendly staff who gave us a welcome drink and an envelope containing our lift passes and door keys. Within the hour our bags were taken to our rooms by the porters, our ski tuition and guiding requirements were met by the in-house ESF team, our ski hire was sorted by the in-house fitting team and we were enjoying canapés in the comfortable bar before dinner.

Hotel Club Med in Peisey Vallandry

Dinner at Club Med has to be seen to be believed! There are a lot of Club Med properties of varying standards across the Alps but the quality of the food, I am reliably informed, changes little. I felt like a kid in a toy shop! After asking for a bottle of red from the smiling waitress, I strolled into the buffet area to find at least 5 separate areas of starters, salads, mains, Alpine specialities and desserts, each with a helpful chef on hand to advise you. (All-you-can-eat has its drawbacks, I discovered, and it was only on the second day that I learned the importance of pacing myself.)

After dinner it was down to the theatre / bar area for the evening’s entertainment which, although fun to watch, is very “Euro”. There’s no limit on how many cocktails you can order from the bar, and a wide selection of beers and spirits complements the stock nicely. It’s only the champagne that you have to pay extra for. The bar has no less than 4 separate seating areas to choose from and a large outdoor terrace area for enjoying the spring sunshine. The entire area is spacious, open and welcoming.

And so to bed… The rooms in the property are all a very good size and the en suite facilities I saw were all perfect, and spotlessly clean. The beds are comfortable, the rooms well designed and the facilities  such as TVs, balconies and lounge areas make the rooms very comfortable indeed.

Fresh Powder Skiing in Les Arcs

Our first day on the mountain went like this: Wake up, go to breakfast, go to the ski lockers, ski out from the back door with our ESF instructor, return for lunch, ski out from the back door again, return for dinner, go to the bar, go to bed. It was like that for the next two days except that in the afternoon of the second day it began snowing heavily, and didn’t stop! The pistes around Peisey are all tree-lined and are just glorious. As you head round the mountain towards Arc 2000 you climb above the tree line to more open ground but the entire area is a pleasure to explore. We woke up on day three to a mountain of fresh powder  and decided that instead of heading back over to Arc 2000, we’d session the tree runs around Peisey. 6 hours spent tracing fresh tracks through the forest is 6 hours well spent in my book, but it was getting dark and I was hungry so I went back for dinner and a well earned beer…!

Club Med has something for everybody. Groups of young adults would really benefit from the all-inclusive nature of the food and drink offered. Families with kids in tow can easily use the in-house childcare facilities, and people of advanced years would thoroughly enjoy the general level of comfort afforded them in Hotel Club Med Peisey Vallandry. Any non-skiers won’t be bored either – the hotel is equipped with a heated indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, hammam, studio, gym and wellness centre with fully qualified masseuses on hand, which is also beneficial if you’ve spent the day throwing yourself down the mountain and need a soothe before dinner…

Chris stayed in Peisey courtesy of Club Med where all-inclusive prices start from £1,249pp. For more information on this or any other Club Med property in the Alps, please give us a call at our London sales office or visit http://www.interactiveresorts.co.uk/ski_chalets and search for “Club Med”.

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.

Interactive Resorts is now established as the UK’s biggest ski specialist travel agent. Unlike some other agencies, we deal only in Ski and Snowboard holidays which means our specialist knowledge of ski resorts is unrivalled in the industry. Not only that, but we’re completely independent, which means that when you deal with us for your Skiing or Snowboarding holiday, you’ll receive completely impartial, objective advice and help with choosing your holiday. In order to provide such a service, we dedicate a lot of time to picking only the very best people to work in our sales team. Everyone in our sales department has done at least one season in resort, with some having done upwards of 5 seasons abroad. This is the first in a series of “meet the team” articles which will profile some of our staff members old and new and give you the chance to find out about the people who make your holidays happen.

Matt Simpson – Sales Manager

Matt is one of the longest serving members of the team here at Interactive, with over 5 years service. He’s done five seasons in total, one each in La Plagne, Courchevel and La Tania plus two in Serre Chevalier. He’s a snowboarder and  Serre Che is his favourite resort thanks to “the best lift served off-piste I have ever come across”. Aspen is his dream destination and his hobbies in the UK include ballroom dancing and embroidery. Marred by a lifelong love of Tottenham Hotspur, Matt is sports mad and has been known to place bets on Mexican amateur wrestling on Tuesday nights.

Andy Crisp – Senior Sales

Andy has been with interactive for over 3 years and is part of the furniture now. He served his time abroad in Alpe d’Huez, Val d’Isere, St Anton and Saalbach. His favourite destination is St Anton, which Andy says is almost like somebody designed  a resort with his personality traits in mind. We’re not sure whether this is a reference to the superb skiing or extensive drinking but it could well be both! Andy dreams of visiting Chamonix and when he’s not on the slopes, his favourite sport is Badminton and he can often be found in the gym. London Wasps RFC take up a lot of his spare weekends.

Nick Barlow – Sales

Nick has been with Interactive Resorts for just over a year, having done seasons in Meribel and Fernie in Canada. His favourite European resort is Chamonix. Nick struggles to name a single dream ski destination as he has so many but Japan, Verbier and New Zealand are all up there on his list. Nick is a keen cyclist and is fluent in Polish. He’s a very sociable chap who can very often be found in the various watering holes of South West London, all too aften alone. Another Rugby nut, Nick’s Leicester Tigers have a habit of giving him bragging rights over Andy!

Anna Defreitas – Admin

Anna doesn’t sell our holidays but works tirelessly behind the scenes in the admin department to ensure that everything goes smoothly for clients both before and during their holidays. She’d never skied before joining Interactive but has since been converted and loves the sport! Her favourite resort is La Rosiere thanks to its wide open runs which give her plenty of space to work on her technique. Anna is an arty sort who enjoys museums, art galleries and walks along the South Bank. Rumour has it that Anna has completed marathons on every continent of the Earth, but she refuses to confirm this!

From St Martin de Belleville through De Bettaix and Les Menuires all the way up to the breathtaking heights of Val Thorens nestled at 2300m above sea level, the Val Thorens Valley and its neighbouring resorts of Meribel and Courchevel make up Europe’s largest and most popular ski area. So how did it all come about…?

The History of Val Thorens Ski Resort

In the 1960s the potential of Val Thorens to be transformed from a small mountain village into a location for a purpose built ski area was noted. The first area to be developed was the lower part of the valley in Les Menuires, which began in 1967. In 1969 the access road was extended up to Val Thorens so that development of the resort could start. In 1970 Joseph Fontanet, President of the council and mayor of Saint Martin de Belleville, created a mixed trade union of Belleville in association with the Savoie Department and the neighbouring towns.

This trade union’s goal was to implement the huge project developed by Pierre Schnebelen - creating on one side an important resort and on the other side the Massif de Péclet Polset which would include 2 winter resorts: Val Thorens on the Belleville side and Val Chavière in the south, in the Vallon du Planay, which is situated in the Parc de la Vanoise. The goals of this massive project were on the one hand connecting the region with a network of ski lifts and ski trails thus helping the development of the tourist economy of Modane, and on the other hand creating a vast summer ski complex on the glacier around the summit of Péclet (3650 m).

To their dismay the project at Val Chavière went against the regulations of the Vanoise National Park which did not allow any urbanisation. After many protests and governmental involvement the project Val Chavière was abandoned. The project for Val Thorens – outside the park – was allowed and the first construction works started. Within a year, the department built an 8-kilometre stretch of road between Les Menuires and Val Thorens.  On 18th December 1971 the fist of 3 drag lifts was installed, followed in 1972 by the opening of the first ski school. Like many 1960s purpose built resorts in the French Alps, Val Thorens suffered from a lack of architectural guidelines in the early days, leading to an over dependence on concrete, making the resort not particularly aesthetically appealing and giving it its very ‘purpose built’ feeling.

Year after year, Val Thorens continued to develop and gain international recognition. The Caron cable car opened in 1982 and was at the time the largest cable car in the world. The construction of this cable car put Val Thorens in the top category of European winter resorts.

The Caron cable car in Val Thorens

In less than 10 years, with an average annual investment of 10 million Euros, the ski area of Val Thorens had become one of the most modern in Europe; it included dozens of new generation chair lifts (4 & 6 seats), a cable car with a capacity of 150 people, as well as many technical innovations such as the double boarding ability on many chair-lifts and two funitels (Péclet and Grand Fond), that are unique around the world.

In the meantime, the resort took an architectural turn in the 1980s : the modern style of the 1970s was altered to try and create the architecture and charm of a mountain village. Despite the after-effect of the “concrete years”, Val Thorens returned to its original Savoyard style by repairing the façades, covering the walls with stones and wood and constructing new double pitched roofs.

To help achieve this change, a church was built in 1993 and the appearance of the new area was composed of only chalets. Compared to some of its fellow purpose built resorts such as Les Arcs or Tignes, Val Thorens has a definite charm about it. The fact that it is the highest resort in Europe and it is there for one reason and reason only makes it a very appealing choice for all level of ski abilities. Its architectual turn around in the 80’s, now makes Val Thorens more pleasing to the eye. This young resort has everything to offer. Everything apart from trees.

For more information on Val Thorens or any of the resorts featured in this article, please give us a call in our London sales office or drop us an email. All of our Val Thorens chalets can be viewed at www.valthorenschalets.co.uk