Chalet Ski

A warm welcome to Chalet Ski who launched at the Metro Snow at Olympia in London at the weekend. One of the more interesting stands to visit, we'll watch out for them in the future to see if they can match the launch on an ongoing basis. The mass chalet market is certainly not an easy one so we will watch this space, although we were told other niche sites will soon follow.

Ski Christmas

Its not too latter get a great Christmas ski deal with many chalets showing availability. Yes, some of the best have been snapped up, but many nice chalets offer a great chance for a great 'white' ski Christmas. Late August and September typically see many of these weeks being snapped up, although with Christmas Day falling so late in the week, there may still be chalets available well into the Autumn.

Ski Half Term

As we get close to the children returning to school, more and more of us will be turning our attention to the ski season and which school holidays we will be taking them to the slopes. For the more affluent families, this is often two holidays, and sometimes three with Christmas skiing and the ski half term weeks being the two most popular. The New Year ski week is often less so, partly due to this week being one of the most expensive in the ski calendar, but the first week of January is growing each year. Not only popular with Russians celebrating their New Year, it is also popular with many families who's children attend public schools.

I guess however that there is little competition for the most popular family ski week, with the ski half term week always a sell out and this year expect the weeks commencing the 12th and 19th of February to be the scene of five year olds embarrassing us all as they ski both faster, and with more style than us! The Fourth dimension is of course the Easter ski break, once a quiet time, with later snowfalls and longer / warmer days means its popularity is fast competing with Christmas and will probably soon pass it as the most week with the family.

Ski New Year

If you are thinking about skiing New Year, and you haven't sorted your accommodation out so far, now would be as good as time as any to make the commitment. Already many chalets have been booked, and the real rush comes in August and September, leaving little in October.

Luxury Chalet Chamonix

Six bedroom Chalet Prarion is the best ski in ski out chalet in the valley. This luxury ski chalet sleeps 12 in six en-suite bedrooms and includes a jacuzzi, projection cinema, pool, Games Room, childcare facilities, a chef, chauffeur, childcare service and much more.

The chalet decor blends warmth and character with style and good taste. Leather, oak, and tasteful furnishing ensure this is one luxury chalet experience you won't forget in a hurry.

Family Chalet

If you are looking for a great family chalet, Chalet Prarion in Chamonix has to be one of the chalets high on the list in our view. Situated right on the piste, it boasts a Games Room, Wii, Home Cinema, Projection Cinema, a sunken hot tub, and four staff (professional chef, chalet host, on call driver, children's entertainer), and rightly claims to be the best ski in ski out chalet in the Chamonix Valley. Not convinced, click on the link above and you probably soon will be. And what's more, before you think it's nice but it'll be too expensive, check out their availability page and you might be pleasantly surprised. True luxury for the family at a price many can afford.

Luxury Catered Chalets

Some of the best luxury catered chalets shouldn't be great chalets, providing a great service, they should in our opinion be in a great ski location too. That means either a stones through away from lifts or the ski slopes, or ideally a ski in ski out chalet that is next to the piste. And if you want to be sure that ski in ski out really does mean slopeside, and avoids cross country skiing as some chalets that claim the title, forget to mention the roads, paths, and gardens you will need to cross, we recommend Ski In Ski Out Chalets, the ski in ski out specialist.

Ski In Ski Out

If you are looking for a ski in ski out luxury chalet Chamonix, the best chalet by some way is Chalet Prarion, a six bedroom luxury chalet that features its own Games Room, cinema projection, a luxury hot tub, a professional chef, host, driver, and a childrens entertainer. Yet the prices for up to 12 people range from just £7,200 to £14,500 for the New Year ski week.

Easter Ski

What a great Easter Ski holiday to finish off the season! I say finish off the season, but here in Chamonix there is still plenty of snow and skiing to be had with two weeks left of the season and a reported 355cm at the top station (source Ski Club of Great Britain).

So when people ask me what its like to ski Chamonix at Easter, the facts I guess speak for themselves.

Ski Equipment - Ski Carrier

This week the office has received an interesting device from a company called PortaSki who are based in England.  Basically its a compact set of wheels for your skis, so a ski carrier with wheels is probably its best description.

The device took about ten minutes to fathom, but once we did we really quite liked it. It unpacks neatly in to two pieces. One piece fits neatly on to the top of your skis and acts as a'pull along handle' whilst the other part, the wheels, fits on the bottom of the ski.

In terms of the pro's; number 1 has to be its price at £19.95, we expected it to be twice the price, aimed at the luxury ski market, but far from it - at this price it's aimed very much at the main stream. The compact lightweight nature of the product was also impressive, but still it looked durable, although just too bulky for a pocket and needs either a small bum bag or rucksack to store whilst skiing. And once we had worked it out, it was also easy to fit, and pulled along very well, on all terrain, including spring snow!

So what about its downsides, not many really, and relatively insignificant, particularly when you consider its price. Small points would be the cover that sticks up over the skis (see photo above and right), a rubber suction pad and spring to lay flush with skis may have tidied the 'lid' which seemed slightly out of place sticking up (we thought at first we had fitted it wrong). Such a pad may have also helped reduce the slight movement and occasional misalignment of the device and skis when pulling over uneven terrain. On snow it was pretty impressive, although perhaps a pair of miniature Dyson wheelbarrow balls rather than wheels might have been the coup de grace!


All in all, a great little invention that really does take the pain out of carrying skis and see this as a big winner in all markets, but particularly loved by the luxury ski and family ski sectors.

Ski Half Term Holidays

When you landed after this years ski half term holidays you probably had it high on the list to rebook straight away. If it was the great family ski holiday you expected, then to secure your favourite family chalet, and if it wasn't up to the standard that you had hoped, not to leave it to the last minute and be left with every other persons left overs and cast offs!

So this weeks blog is just a gentle reminder that to secure the best chalets in the best luxury ski resorts, now is the time to get in quick for the ski half term 2011 ski weeks. You may, although I doubt this, get a late ski half term deal if you hang on, but if it hasn't been snapped up already, it probably won't be luxury!

Best Chalet

If you are looking for some of the best chalets, Val d'Isere stands out as the exceptional resort, followed by Zermatt as the exceptional locations. In terms of value for money, Chamonix is well worth a mention, as it offers some great value chalets in comparison to some of the other luxury ski resorts.

But in terms of my favourite, ski in ski out Park City's Casa Nova has to get a mention, not only one of the best in Park City Utah, but probably anywhere in the world!

Luxury Ski Resorts

Being short this week of time to write this blog, I thought I would give a little plug to the Luxury Ski Resorts Blog that has started. Its an interesting concept that will initially start with the European luxury ski resorts and may at a later date spread further to the US to feature American ski resorts.

The exact resorts and therefore scope of the blog is probably still being developed but expect to see the likes of the following regularly featured:

• Chamonix
• Courchevel
• Meribel
• St Anton
• Val d'Isere
• Verbier
• Zermatt

And maybe one or two more?

Ski Easter

If you ever needed proof on the merits of an Easter ski holiday, this Easter is sure to provide the necessary evidence. After a big snowfall, pistes are in great condition, especially above the mid station and Chamonix currently leads the world snow depth charts with 168cm at 2,000m, and 400cm at 3,275. Whilst the luxury ski resort of Val d'Isere can't boast 4m it can celebrate a nevertheless health 35cm of fresh powder and 200cm at the top, and 127cm on the runs into the resort.

So next time you are questioning whether a ski Easter break is a good idea, just remember, if you didn't come this Easter ski holiday, just remember what you missed this Easter ski weekend!

Chamonix New Year

Don't forget to get in early if you want a great luxury catered chalet in Chamonix New Year. Every year the ski New Year week is the most sort after week of the ski season so it is not a week to hang around, unless you want to miss out.

As for Chamonix, a charming town, the New Years Eve celebration is a busy one which culminates in thousands of fellow revelers meeting in the Chamonix town centre to see the New Year in with a stunning fire work display. Definitely not a New Year party to miss.

Luxury Catered Chalets Val d'Isere

The one thing that strikes you about Val d'Isere when you ski there, is that luxury catered chalets means very much that, luxury! It does help when the sun is shining and this week we are certainly enjoying the sunshine, but this isn't the only reason it looks special, and is so.

Val d'Isere were on of the sensible resorts, whilst the Les Arcs, Avoriaz, and Deux Alps of the world opted for the cram them in and pile them high philosophy to ski resort development, Val d'Isere recognised that their ski resort was a little bit special and a cut above most others. Whilst development has been rapid in recent years, they have made sure that Val d'Isere chalets look like chalets, with stone and crafted wood demonstrating the landscape.

As such the luxury catered chalets of Val d'Isere are a notch or two above the other resorts and the guest well heeled as a consequence. Therefore this isn't a resort for the riff raff, but it does know how to party with chic bars and restaurant and an affluent crowd that know how to let their hair down.

Ski In Ski Out

If you are looking for great ski in ski out accommodation, the ski in ski out specialist has to be Ski In Ski Out who only offer slopeside properties. They have a number of stand out properties including Chamonix, Park City, and the Three Valleys, but the stand out portfolio has to be their luxury chalets Val d'Isere.  With a half a dozen to choose from, there are only two real problems, the first is making the choice, the second is booking one of the chalets before someone else does!

Ski New Year Chamonix

If you are thinking of skiing the New Year in Chamonix, its never too early to book, judging by the scramble this year for accommodation. We ourselves were asked to find some additional accommodation in December for some clients and the only accommodation available was an apartment that had just been refurbished and hence why it hadn't been sold before. A stunning truly luxury property nevertheless being offered at 22,000 GBP for the New Year ski week, and yes it did sell.

So if you are looking to ski Chamonix the New Year ski week, it really is better to get in early rather than late. you will however pay a premium, and if the chalet owner is really offering a discount, it might actually be a bad thing and for this week say a great deal about the New Year ski chalet you are trying to book believe it or not!

Family Ski

I guess when luxury chalet clients are looking for a great catered chalet, then typically the weeks are either the ski Christmas, New Year ski holiday, or the ski half term week. Certainly our experience is that these re three of the busiest weeks, but closely followed by the other February weeks, and early March. The first weeks of January is also becoming very popular with Russian guests seeking to celebrate the Russian Christmas and Russian New Year Year.

Next year the ski half term week will for luxury ski chalets probably cross over two weeks as affluent guests look to book both the private schools ski half term week, and the public schools half term holiday which follows the week after.

If you are are looking for a family ski chalet, then you might first want to check out first the facilities, and second speak to the operator themselves to assess how well they understand family ski holiday requirements. If they are a true family ski holiday operator, they should be able to discuss all sorts of family requirements, from dietary through to ski school recommendations relating to what should suit each of your family's needs. If they don't know, do they really deserve your booking?

Luxury Chalets Val d'Isere

As an alternative to our ski in ski out chalet here in Chamonix, Ski In Ski Out, a specialist in slopeside ski in ski out properties such as our our own, have six stunning Val d'Isere luxury chalets that really are exceptional properties.

In terms of luxury ski resorts, Val d'Isere has to be up there with some of the best. High altitude and extensive skiing as part of the Espace Killy network, this pretty town is always a popular destination for the rich and famous.

Chamonix

Well here in Chamonix we have taken a quick breath after the ski half term holiday before getting straight back on to ensuring our luxury chalet maintains the exacting standards that places us as one of the top luxury catered chalets in Chamonix, and certainly the best ski in ski out chalet in the Chamonix Valley.

It isn't easy of course for any operator to maintain such high quality luxury services but I guess that's what makes it interesting. But success isn't just about always getting it right, and sometimes we have to reflect and really analyse at times to make sure we improve our luxury offering. And if ever we do get it wrong, and everyone is of course human, what sets the good guys apart from the rest is how they put it right.

So at Chalet Prarion, its one luxury catered chalet Chamonix that doesn't take your business for granted, and certainly isn't standing still!!

Ski Half Term

This I think must have been the busiest ski half term week I can remember. Certainly the slopes this week didn't suggest that we were still crawling out of recession! Thankfully families skiing in Les Houches, Chamonix would have been pleasantly surprised how well the lift system and slopes dealt with the high influx of family skiing guests!

Contacts in other other resorts such as Val d'Isere and Verbier paint a similar picture that whilst every catered chalet was full, least of all luxury ski chalets in the resorts, that the towns and slopes were coping well, helped by fantastic snow conditions at all levels.

Luxury Catered Chalet

With February being one of our busiest months, with the ski half term holidays next week, this blog may have to be a little shorter than others. As a luxury catered chalet, there is always something to do, whether it is ensuring the luxury ski chalet service is nothing less than exceptional, or even at this time or year planning our next development that will take our chalet on to the next level.

We are already the best (in our view by some way) ski in ski out luxury chalet in the Chamonix Valley, but we aren't standing still as a consequence. With guests already commenting on how nice the ski chalet is, many ski Chamonix operators would be forgiven for taking a step back to catch their breath. Not however at Chalet Prarion, this is one luxury catered chalet that won't be standing still and with the extension this season, we have already added an extra bedroom to cope with your demands for more of your friends and family ski members to join you at this great ski in ski out location. So from this season we now can accommodate 12 people in six luxury en-suite bedrooms, but that isn't it, in the summer we will be fitting out the new Games Room. Thirty-six square metres of great entertainment for friends and family to enjoy, including a full sized pool table, Wii, home cinema television, and a variety of games.

Luxury catered chalets don't come much better, and they certainly don't get any better for ski in ski out accommodation in the Chamonix Valley.

Enjoy your family ski chalet and the great conditions for the ski half term break.

Ski Christmas Chamonix

Here at Chamonix Exclusive we have been busy reviewing and publishing our prices for the 2010/11 season. It is never an easy to do as despite being a luxury ski brand, at Chalet Prarion we still believe in delivering outstanding value for money. Not only for the popular ski weeks such as Christmas, but throughout the season, price and service have to be closely aligned and I guess our ongoing success suggests we aren't too far wrong here. Next year the additional 6th en-suite bedroom, and the new games room I am sure will make Chamonix Exclusive again your favourite choice for luxury catered ski chalet accommodation in the Chamonix Valley.

One of the most popular is always the ski Christmas week and Chamonix is a great choice as it not only offers outstanding high altitude skiing, it has a great town centre to really soak up the atmosphere ahead of one of the most import dates.

At Chalet Prarion we plan the week carefully, ensuring all the Christmas decorations are tastefully set up and positioned for our clients arrival, and the menu reflects our luxury ski brand in that it isn't your average Christmas Day roast! Turkey is an option but typically our clients choose the venison or the traditional Goose with all the trimmings, all expertly produced by our professional chef.

So if next year you are looking to ski Christmas in the Chamonix Valley, Chalet prarion at 10,500 GBP for up to 12 people is probably the first Christmas gift you may wish to wrap up!

Ski Season Bookings Once Again A Great Success

Whilst it is certainly too early to talk about the ski season being a success, after a slow start, this season looks set for record sales! This may or may not reflect our continued success and growing reputation as one of the best luxury catered ski chalets in the Chamonix Valley and certainly the premier ski in ski out holiday chalet. Certainly our reputation as one of the best luxury chalets means that we certainly can't stand still as others quite rightly seek to copy our success.

The ski in ski out location will be hard to surpass, but that's only part of our success and we are already thinking about next year in respect of how we take the luxury ski chalet service up a level or two. On this note, we have already added a sixth bedroom and your favourite ski in ski out chalet now accommodates 12 people in six luxuriously appointed bedrooms. At the end of the ski season we will be added a Games Room as well fully fitted with a pool table, home cinema television, Wii, children's toys, to name just a few.

So for those who are asking what is behind Chamonix Exclusive's success and appeal to all, quite simply its because at this luxury catered ski chalet, we never stand still!

Ski In Ski Out - Great Mountain Restaurants Chamonix

If you are visiting Chamonix Valley, and Les Houches in particular, and you love great mountain restaurants, the Chamonix Exclusive Ski in Ski Out Blog may be of interest to you as today's blog covers the fantastic (good), the bad, and the ugly Mountain Restaurants. But if there is one restaurant in the Chamonix Valley that stands out, it has to be the Vieilles Luge:

Vielles Luge - Les Houches, Chamonix
As you will see from the blog, this is a mountain restaurant that is a must visit for any skier who thinks skiing should be a gastronomic delight as much as it should about great skiing holiday. 250 years old, a rustic farmhouse where the warm welcome is somehow surpassed by the fantastic cuisine. Lower your head, step inside, and just take in the charming, quaint, rustic, savoyard, cosy,  all rolled in to one. And if you bump into Julie and Claude, give them our regards, and then savour the occasion!

Luxury Ski Chalet

If you follow our Luxury Ski Chalet News Page or Luxury Ski Chalet Blog at our Chamonix Exclusive site, you will have noted that Chris Hogg and Ruby Mahil left our ski in ski out organisation with immediate effect last week. For legal reasons I can not provide any further details on this.

Whilst we had a number of candidates apply, the position has now been filled, and we thank our interim chef for the fine food she served out our luxury ski chalet.

Running A Luxury Ski Chalet Is Never Dull

The last few weeks have certainly not been dull here. Many of you will have seen the press reports relating to Les Houches and Chalet Prarion and needless to say, a great deal is just speculative journalism and inappropriate in our view at that. The fact that Chalet Prarion has no employee by the name of 'Chris May', as the press claim, and never have had, speaks volumes in respect of the credence some of the reports in our opinion should be given!

On a brighter note, a happy New Year and we hope you had a great Christmas! If any readers went on a Christmas ski, or New Year ski break, lets us know your thoughts and accounts and we will try and publish one or two.

I look forward to completing a more in depth blog when I have time and perhaps the next one can focus on the luxury ski chalets in Les Houches in view of the recent attention Les Houches and the most exclusive ski in ski out chalet has received.