 Poster: A snowHead
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No, I'm not turning my chalet into a massage parlour. In my attempts to provide even better value for money for our guests, I’m looking for suggestions as to what small extras you think help to make a chalet holiday even better than you expected. Some of the more obvious (and a few obscure) ones that we already do or will do this coming season are:
Slippers (don’t worry, new ones each week)
2-way radios for use on the slopes
Free lift pass photos
Hairdryer and CD player in every room
Home-made Mars bar vodka and home made genepi (adding the flavouring is the home-made bit, the liquor is shop bought)
Water, fizzy pop and snacks in the minibus for airport transfers
Certificates for little kids (and big ones if they want them) to record their skiing achievements
Loads of CDs and DVDs – what’s the point of a chalet having a player if you have to lug your own stuff with you?
With the vast experience of chalet holidays that there must be out there, what do you think would be the cherry on the icing? Conversely, are there any things that chalets often offer that you think are a waste of time (I suppose hairdryers if you’re bald) e.g daily English newspapers?
Please, serious suggestions only – anyone saying “Elle Macpherson” or “a helicopter like that one off Airwolf” will be punished in a way I have not yet devised.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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beer runs - load up on bottles of kronenbourg at the local supermarket. I don;t drink wine so the "free wine" is no use to me, I usually get through a couple of crates in a week and end up having to restock cos my beer always gets nicked by the wine drinkers
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Sorry, I thought free beer was too obvious  There's always free beer with meals (including breakfast if you fancy it!) and I don't mind handing out a couple of bottles - or gin - per person in the afternoon.
As a beer drinker, would you prefer a choice of lager/bitter/Guinness or do you just expect to get lager? It's hard to come by anything other than lager in France so I was thinking of buying up a load of bitter and taking it over.
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boot dryers/dehumidifyers and deoderising spray, a big soup turine(sp?) on the go all day. I need a cup of soup at tea-time, not soggy cake or nasty biccies.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm ahppy enough with plain old kronenbourg (NOT 1664), bitter would be a bonus 
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and I wasn;t even thinking free beer, just a lift to and from the supermarket - at which point we couod also stock up on ham etc for sandwiches. So arranging for extra bread deliveries would be good too, some place haven;t ben able to understand that...
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Once you've adopted Masque's suggestions you should have all the bases covered. Lose the slippers, 'though; real men and women don't wear slippers.
Sounds like a good time will be had by all.
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Weather forecast for the day (with avalanche warnings) chalked up somewhere at breakfast.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Good stereo with a music selection.
Black pudding @ breakfast.
Integral boot room just inside front door.
Swimming pool.
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I like the soup and weather forecast ideas (current forecasting is supplied by me "Ooh [looks out of window] it looks like it's going to be sunny/cloudy/changeable". I believe this is the method used by that (very odd bloke) Francis Wilson on Sky.
Our chalet's got tiled floors downstairs and wooden floors upstairs so, however much the heating's cranked up and despite a load of rugs, the soles of your feet can get a bit cold wandering around in socks.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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One thing that went down well with us last year was putting out the makings of a picnic lunch at breakfast....it was only legalising what some people do anyway!!
Pre-cut bagette pieces, a plate of ham, plate of cheese, a bowl of fresh lettuce and some slices of tomates, Fresh fruit and a roll of plastic bags to store the results in.
Personally, I love stopping in a restaurant for a good meal mid-day but the families in our group found the whole thing very useful for saving a penny or two on the mountains!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| ben wright wrote: |
| Our chalet's got tiled floors downstairs and wooden floors upstairs so, however much the heating's cranked up and despite a load of rugs, the soles of your feet can get a bit cold wandering around in socks. |
That's the price we have to pay for maintaining minimum standards of decency.
Just say 'No!' to slippers.
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Definitely slippers or indoor shoes - it's the sort of thing you don't take on holiday with you but is very handy for walking around in in a chalet. And weather forecast essential! And a key each for the chalet.
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You know it makes sense.
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Definitely the local weather forecast. Should be easy enough to get off the internet every morning.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Cathy Coins wrote: |
| Definitely slippers or indoor shoes |
This is madness.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Nibbles 'n dips, 'n cheese 'n bread.
if you have DVD's I presume you have a TV. If so you can get old game platforms dirt cheap, gives the kids something to do while adults get gently pizzed.
Slippers. NO!
Rest of it, loverly.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| marc gledhill wrote: |
| Slippers. No! |
Good man.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Do the slippers come with a pipe/knitting?
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A good chef - the only thing that puts me off staying in a Chalet is the thought of poor food!
A hot tub.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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ooh yes, hot tub on the verandah, so you can soak and drink the beers chilling in the snow
slippers are for winners
nbT : Confirmed Wearer of Slippers
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| nbt wrote: |
| nbT : Confirmed Wearer of Slippers |
Wouldn't that be CWS?
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Internet access to post snow reports to snowHeads.
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Mineral water - a Vittel bottle (with a sports cap that can go to the slopes) and a box of tissues in the bedroom. Hot tub outdoors. Sweetis by the bed. A store-room to store my skis in until I return next year, but I will spare you my boots unless you have a boot drying rack.
Skis and boots ferried to the lift each morning.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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On the picnic lunch front, I had toyed with the idea but thought it would be nice for our guests to put some money into the rest of the local economy. The restaurants are pretty reasonably priced and we eat out at lunchtime 2 or 3 times a week to show that our being there is good for everyone's businesses.
We've got loads of DVD's (100+) and playstation with plenty of games, boardgames, books etc. so enough to keep anyone happy.
Unfortunately, the chalet's no smoking so pipes to go with the slippers are out. Maybe some chewing 'baccy with strategically placed spittoons would do the trick.[/quote]
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seriously, a massage!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
a box of tissues in the bedroom
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we don't have those sorts of films Seriously, someone had suggested that to me before but I'd forgotten it. Noted.
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Sweetis by the bed
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I usually offer what I class as "energy snacks" for emergency use on the slopes (known to non-gannets as Kit-Kats or Snickers) to people in the morning but take-up has been low, suits me as then I get to eat them. Perhaps a selection of penny sweets would be better.
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Internet access to post snow reports to snowHeads.
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that's on it's way (subject to broadband arriving - it was supposed to be in the area in Feb but had still only reached 15 miles away in June)
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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some posters on this thread must have had worrying childhood experiences with slippers. Such vehemence about slippers, for goodness' sake! We tell visitors to our apartment to bring thick soled slippers because of the very cold floors, but some people still don't, and still moan because outdoor shoes are absolutely banned indoors. So, non-compulsory slippers would be very welcome. Lots of good washable ones in French supermarkets.
When we stayed in chalets (always enjoyed them) the kids felt left out of the "free drinks with dinner" scene. Free drinks for kids too, please.
2 way radios to borrow - good idea. Lots of hooks and shelves in bedrooms, for all those little bits of kit.
My top suggestion - somewhere comfortable to sit and relax with no TV, no video and no DVDs, please. I don't remember ever watching TV, or a video, during our chalet holidays. Games platforms for kids - great, provided not in the main sitting room.
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| pam w wrote: |
| outdoor shoes are absolutely banned indoors |
That's where you are making your great error. Shoes are shoes and, unless obviously muddy or covered in dog sh*t, should be worn indoors (and out, obviously). Stockinged or bare feet are perfectly acceptable. But slippers? Words fail me.
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You know it makes sense.
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shoes in ski resorts tend to be covered in snow whic melts quickly once indoors. if carpeted, it will son smell, and if not carpeted, the floor will be slippy.
Think about it eh?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Which is why guests in Austrian hotels always take slippers or, if your dad wears slippers and you prefer, indoor shoes.
Interesting to speculate the respective conditions some of us live in I think
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Poster: A snowHead
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nbt, it has to be bare or stockinged feet, or a different pair of shoes. The alternative is too terrible to contemplate.
ise, what Austrians get up to is their business, they are a sovereign nation after all, but it is not an excuse for us to lower our standards. I am a shoe wearer indoors, and proud of it. A few muddy footprints and scratches on the floorboards are a small price to pay.
BTW, it's strange that the autocensor won't let me write sh*t properly, but allows people to bandy the other S word about freely. Funny old world.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 6-07-05 15:16; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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what about one of those foot spa thingies - get all the lovely hot bubbles round your tired tootsies!
Chips & dips to nibble on - excellent idea! How about fizzy orange (or coke) and ice cream cocktails? - known as Lavin cocktails where I'm from (vodka optional).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Flip flops NOT slippers or shoes indoors!
richmond, I'm now trying to think which S word/s you are referring too. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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IncogSkiSno, the sli*per word. Flip flops just get in under the wire, BTW, if you were worried (you weren't, I'm sure).
What is wrong with shoes indoors all of a sudden, so long as they're not too dirty?
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 6-11-06 16:33; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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richmond, 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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All you slippers haters out there. It is truly wonderful to slide my feet into a warm, all embracing, totally shapeless slipper after a day in ski boots. Bliss. And if it makes my host happy........ 
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A couple of things that made Scott Dunn special IMHO-
The transfer bus had a seat pitch about twice that of other coaches that I've been on, very comfortable.
On the transfer coach, packed lunches were passed out for each chalet, as were wine and beers, very civilised.
Not on Scott Dunn, but on Mark Warner transfer coachs they show a suitable DVD to keep the children (and this adult!) quiet.
Not having to deal with your own luggage.
Canapes before dinner.
Being woken with a cup of tea in bed. (Marvellous - very cheap to do, but does make you feel that little bit spoiled)
Having the choice of either a full cooked breakfast or a "chef's special" every morning.
Staff who would actively look to sort out your day for you, offering to book taxis, or arrange lunch. (Again, the fact that you don't have to ask makes all the difference.)
Complementary slippers.
These are just some of the things that made us feel that we're likely to book with Scott Dunn again, even though they're not cheap. Hope this helps.
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sorry for the plug, but a copy of the board game Schuss + a set of the 05/06 question update pack (300 cool questions created by Fall-line magazine & Natives)....oh and chalet owners get a nice big discount....
....and back to topic, I'd like as extras in a chalet:
- a chillout room with plasma screen and top ski + non-ski vids (and doesn't disturb other "socialising" guests)
- evening guests - maybe ski tech talking about looking after your skis or instructor talking about off-piste intro etc (they get free dinner + entertain guests + maybe drum up a bit of business)
- more space at the table per guest - maybe I've been on cheapy hols but always seem to be squeezed in like battery hens
- "honest" review of local bars/clubs/skischools - done in filed folder thing, to get a real feel for what's hot and what's not....
...could go on for ages, but will stop blahhing now - dg ;o)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Kramer wrote: |
| Complementary slippers. |
Not you, too, Kramer. Is there no end to this?
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Early breakfasts. Some of us like to use the first lift of the day and some ski schools like their clients to gather 15 minutes before the lifts open. It often seems a rush between a 8am breakfast and an 8:45am meeting. It is even worse late season when the lifts open earlier, also when you have to collect skis after an overnight service. Actually, ski collection from a service shop would be useful.
Following on from the above. Chalet staff who have breakfast ready at the stated time. Having them only start to make breakfast at the specified time is annoying and makes you gulp you food or go without.
A radio in the boot+ski room, tuned to the resort's radio station, so you can listen to the weather forecast etc while putting on your kit. Also a clock.
In each bedroom want places to hang, dry and air one-piece ski suits. Too many rooms only have rails at about 4ft above the wardrobe floor. Often coat hooks are placed too low for hang a one-piece on a hanger. Even airing salopettes is difficult in a wardrobe.
Sandwiches or similar for a snack at the airport, to avoid the horribly expensive airport stuff.
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FAQ
