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DIY - catered chalet recommendations (France)

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all

Organising a DIY trip for next season as two of our party will be driving from France. Any recommendations on good quality, not too expensive catered chalet recommendations? Flexible on resort but will need a decent size ski area. Basically I am looking to do a DIY with catered chalet at broadly equivalent cost as going through a TO (otherwise we might as well do a package and they can book accomodation only)

There will be around 14 of us so we'd be looking at sole occupancy. Either over New Year or in late January.

Tips?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:

Basically I am looking to do a DIY with catered chalet at broadly equivalent cost as going through a TO (otherwise we might as well do a package and they can book accomodation only)

It's not just about cost though - you could well get a much better quality chalet by going for an independent operator, which surely would make it worth while?

Would very, very, strongly recommend late January rather than New Year if you have that choice. It'll be a lot cheaper, you have a much better chance of good snow and you won't spend time in life queues.

There were some reports earlier this year of what sounded like a super catered chalet in La Clusaz. If you sent a PM to ricklovesthepowder he could give you the details.
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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?
Places that I have found to work well for DIY are:

Silver Lining Chalets http://www.silverliningchalets.co.uk/
Ski Amis http://www.skiamis.com/
Snow Retreat http://www.snowretreat.co.uk/
Ski Beat http://www.skibeat.co.uk/

Ski Beat are more geared towards package deals including travel but have in the past had a reasonable discount for independent travellers. You could probably negotiate this if needed. We've done groups where half used their flights and half organised their own travel without any problem. There are mixed opinions about them here on snowheads but I suspect many of the poor reviews date from before the company was sold a few years ago. They were by far the most expensive but also the most luxurious of the places we've stayed.

Ski Amis do their own very reasonably priced transfers and I'd probably class them as the best value of the bunch, but I'm probably being swayed by paying £180 for a last minute early season week.

Snow Retreat are here on snowheads and we had a fantastic holiday with them this year in La Tania. Very good quality considering they are much cheaper than someone like Ski Beat.

Silver Lining are a small independent company and I've stayed with them a few times. Nice owners who give good personalised service and go out of their way to help where they can.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
We stayed with Ski Bonjour in Chalet Bonjour Bonjour in Tignes a few weeks ago on a deal and thought it was good value and good quality. They are Sunday to Sunday, and organise their own subsidised transfers (£30 each way for Geneva this season). Their prices for next season are on the website. http://www.skibonjour.com/

Chalet Chardons, who also have properties in Tignes, might be worth considering. They have historically been at the budget end of things, but now have mid-range chalets, too. Not stayed with them, but the feedback on Tripadvisor is pretty good. No prices online for next season yet, but some great deals for the rest of this season. http://www.chaletchardons.com/index.html

As a quality comparison, we stayed with Ski Beat in La Plagne last year, and thought they were good. Overall, though, we felt that quality at Bonjour was better (food higher quality and more 'refined', wine better, beds more comfortable, chalet in better condition).
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Quote:

They are Sunday to Sunday,

I don't know why so few do that. Big advantage for road travel and often for flight prices too.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Thanks guys, some great recommendations here (also thanks to the person who PMed me). Now just got to get our group confirmed!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
pam w,
Quote:

Quote:

They are Sunday to Sunday,

I don't know why so few do that. Big advantage for road travel and often for flight prices too.


I don't like sunday to sunday, prefer to come home on a Saturday and then you get another day of 'holiday' in the UK before work on Sunday. Wit hSunday to Sudnay I find the previous Saturday is kind of wasted as you just pack and get an early night prior ot a 4.30am get up or something.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
kat.ryb, depends when and where you are going, I suppose. The roads are hugely quieter on Sunday and on the peak weekends that can save several hours each way. It also gives you a quiet Saturday changeover day skiing. Obviously it's a matter of taste!
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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.
What kat.ryb said, plus there are fewer flights from fewer airports and it makes getting the SnowTrain really awkward.

Plus the traffic really isn't THAT bad on a Saturday if you have a driver who knows what they're doing.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
If you are not dead set on a chalet, I have quite taken to these http://www.cgh-residences.com/ Going back to Vallandry for the second year, and considering doing a summer trip there also.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Sunday to Sunday much better!! When you work full time, don't get home until getting on for 6:30 in the evening, to have to finish off getting ready for leaving the house by 4am or shortly after the next morning, I inevitably end up taking at least the Friday afternoon off. All I need is to get delayed at work or on my way home and that's my plans screwed on the Friday evening.

At least having the Saturday means I don't have to take that extra day or half day off and quite frankly, all I do on the Sunday when we do Saturday to Saturday is washing and food shopping!! That can wait a day or two...
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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.
Hi KieranM

Thanks for the recommendation!

Best regards

Garrett
Director, Silver Lining Chalets
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Ski Amis were very easy to deal with and very helpful last New Year, my report is here http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2684968&highlight=#2684968


I came across this place when I was looking for a holiday a couple of year back http://www.skivillaroger.com/ It was not suitable for us but might be for you
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
The OP was looking in 2013.... wink
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@pam w, Whoops Laughing
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