 Poster: A snowHead
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Chalet holidays are great. Always have a good crack; skiing, booze and laughter all round.
There can somtimes be a couple of boring middle England types who keep themselves to themselves, but sod 'em; their loss.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| gryphea wrote: |
stoatsbrother,
Barney makes me want to vomit. Barney at breakfast is even worse. I would have punched the parents , and I've never done that before. |
Excuse gratuitous name-dropping here. It is fundamental to the narrative.
A few years ago, a friend and I were having a spot of food at a diner in New York. I noticed that Mike Myers was sitting at the next table and we got chatting to him. He was very cool and approachable and was stoked to chat to a couple of idiots from the UK. Anyway, as we chatted, I saw a fellow at the table on the other side looking almightily put out. After a bit of earwigging, I established that he was, in fact, the guy INSIDE the Barney suit and was jealous that he never got any fan attention.
What a tool.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
you must visit Virginia
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Trust my I try (that is a mis-spelling right)
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Well it looks like I am going to a 'club hotel' next season. I'm told this is somewhere between a chalet and a hotel. So the upsides are a bit of privacy and a decent sized ensuite room (with a bath, what luxury!) and tea and cakes waiting when I get back in from the slopes. The downsides are a hotel full of noisy Brits, possibly children and staff that probably don't care anywhere near as much as in family-run hotels. But I shall reserve judgment until the time comes.
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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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I've never stayed in a chalet that my party hasn't filled, but meeting people in ski lessons and at dinner in a chalet-hotel I find enjoyable. Same goes for flotilla sailing holidays.
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Righty-ho, we're off at an ungodly hour of the morning on the way to a chalet in Mottaret. I've got my guitar, jesters hat, karaoke machine, big fat cigars and porno mags. I will make sure that I double dip, hog the cakes and fart all over the show while wandering around in my base layers and boxer shorts scratching myself and leering at anything female under 50. I'll also chuck any Barny dvd's out into the snow and do s0d all to help at breakfast on the Chalet Doris' day off.
Have I missed anything?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Dr John, Whatever else you do, do not forget to help yourself to food and beverage from the fridge, especially on Chalet Doris' day off. Also, don't forget that it is only the hired helps day off, not the chalets, so don't forget to cook yourself up something special, using all the utensils, and then leave them in the sink for Doris' return to work the next morning.
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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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| MarjMJ wrote: |
| Going on holiday to meet folks has never really been on my agenda for any vacation...That's why a chalet would be guff as it puts one in that situation. |
Although I really like the chalet concept for family skiing holidays, I can certainly appreciate this view. For years, before we had kids we would by and large not interact with fellow holiday maker, other than in ski lessons. On summer holidays in France, we would literally run a mile to avoid sunburnt fellow Brits who communicated by means of shouting slowly in English. (Not that we ever purposefully went to such an area!)
Holidaying with kids changes the dynamics somewhat, and finding them some in-house playmates is worth the risk of sharing the chalet with potential bunny boilers or other anti-socials, as risk that it has to be said has never come close to being realised.
Each to their own, I guess. If you like what you do then it's "right". Luckily, skiing isn't a zero sum game, and with a bit of luck, we can all get something close to what we want.
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The Voice of Reason, good man.
*licks pencil* steal spare food and drink, check. Use all the cutlery and crockery, check. I'll also be sure to leave ruddy great dirty finger prints all over the cheese and leave the milk out to curdle.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Well it looks like I am going to a 'club hotel' next season. I'm told this is somewhere between a chalet and a hotel.
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queen bodecia Sorry to disapoint you but my experience of a club hotel is that it is merely a big chalet and nothing like a hotel. The biggest difference between a chalet and a hotel IMHO is that in a hotel you get to choose what time you go to dinner. In a chalet you eat when you're told. But there are probably other differences (it is definitely not merely the presence of an en-suite bathroom - I need that wherever I stay!).
I've only stayed in a couple of "club hotels" so obviously can't speak for them all but I now definitely avoid them given those limited experiences.
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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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| Quote: |
Same goes for flotilla sailing holidays.
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Great fun guessing, on the first get-together BBQ evening, who will be what kind of sailor. the one who has his wife and kids perpetually holy-stoning the decks and coiling all the ends of halyards into little snaily things. And the one who never knows which way the wind is coming from, can't sail up it, and hoists his main halyard, with nothing hanging on it, right up to the masthead on the first afternoon. Or the lovebirds who do their own thing, have a half hour sail then anchor in some secluded cove and rock and roll for a few hours. Or the one who brings out a sextant to get from one Croatian island to the next, because he's got to get some practice in for his Yachtmaster Ocean. Flotilla holidays are probably, like catered chalets, a very British institution. I've only done one, in Croatia, and it was extremely enjoyable.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Tiger2, thanks. To be honest I'm not sure about it myself but it's reasonably priced, has two single rooms and is in a great resort. Like I said I shall reserve judgment.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ooooh, I'd forgotten dropping a jar of mayonaise, so it smashes around the top, picking it back up and putting it back in the fridge with bits of broken glass in it. We never really got to the bottom of that one, but the lads coming home drunk from the pub and thinking that a bit of potato salad with leftovers might be a good idea had a crunchy midnight feast  The jagged edge at the top should have been a giveaway, but they were hungry and a bit drunk...
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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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I'm intrigued that it is possible to get 8 people on half/chalet board with flights and transfers from the uk for £1000 at half term or even outwith holidays, Paulio, please share.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ghost Dog, I don't think he ever said that..... 
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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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"Ghost Dog, I generally pay only about £1000 for 8 people at half term, and that's without having to share with a load of dodgy strangers. You should demand your money back! "
In response to my comment that £3-4k for a family of four at half term was hardly cheap. You're right I didn't specify that I was from the UK and would need transport and food, but the bulk of Snowheads are in that boat and the concept of a "Chalet" holiday on these boiards is well understood (I thought). Half term is easily £1000 a head if kids are in their own rooms and you want to go anyuwhere decent. And 0I would love to be proved wrong (headline brochiure prices please, not last minute).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Ghost Dog wrote: |
"Ghost Dog, I generally pay only about £1000 for 8 people at half term, and that's without having to share with a load of dodgy strangers. You should demand your money back! "
In response to my comment that £3-4k for a family of four at half term was hardly cheap. You're right I didn't specify that I was from the UK and would need transport and food, but the bulk of Snowheads are in that boat and the concept of a "Chalet" holiday on these boiards is well understood (I thought). Half term is easily £1000 a head if kids are in their own rooms and you want to go anyuwhere decent. And 0I would love to be proved wrong (headline brochiure prices please, not last minute). |
OK. Looking at next year, Crystal brochure, St Anton. Chalet Illona £895 pp in twin rooms. Not huge amount under £1000, and the other chalets in St Anton are more expensive, but it is under, and it took me two minutes to find.
Kitzbuhel - Chalet Karlberger, same price.
Any other time except New year is much cheaper (including both Christmas and Easter for those stuck with School holidays).
But there certainly isn't much. I couldn't (on a quick search of that one brochure) find any chalet in Switzerland or France for under £1000 per head at half term.
I must say, I would hate to be in your position, of being limited to Half term, since at brochure prices you pay at least 75% more than any other high season week, for the most crowded week 
And with four of you, I'm not sure I'd want to risk late booking for a chalet in that week either.
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| alex_heney wrote: |
| OK. Looking at next year, Crystal brochure, St Anton. Chalet Illona £895 pp in twin rooms. |
Not exactly on-topic, but we stayed here Christmas 2004 and 2005. We had 2 good trips, and the chalet hosts did very well with the cooking.
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I find that putting a crack pipe on the table and saying that I find it relaxes me after my attempts at skiing helps to break the ice. Also asking if they have any younger sisters or pets cuts to the chase.
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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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Pirate noises comming from the next room
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| Tiger2 wrote: |
| Quote: |
Well it looks like I am going to a 'club hotel' next season. I'm told this is somewhere between a chalet and a hotel.
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queen bodecia Sorry to disapoint you but my experience of a club hotel is that it is merely a big chalet and nothing like a hotel. The biggest difference between a chalet and a hotel IMHO is that in a hotel you get to choose what time you go to dinner. In a chalet you eat when you're told. But there are probably other differences (it is definitely not merely the presence of an en-suite bathroom - I need that wherever I stay!).
I've only stayed in a couple of "club hotels" so obviously can't speak for them all but I now definitely avoid them given those limited experiences. |
Ding ding - Chalet Hotel = former small hotel now being run in shoddy chalet style with added disadvantage that they may be licensed premises so forbid you from drinking your own booze in order to buy at bar.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Also asking if they have any younger sisters or [b]pets[/] cuts to the chase
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I know you live in Wales but......
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| Ghost Dog, I don't think he ever said that..... |
Maybe I implied something I didn't mean to.
What I meant is that you can sleep 8 people at HT for a grand all in (i.e. £125pp accomodation only). I didn't intend to imply that this includes flights and transfers, although I normally budget flights+transfers+accomodation at no more than £400pp. I shoot for a total spend (i.e. inclusive of lift passes, gear hire, and eating/drinking) of under a grand - say £850pp.
I can't find you a 'brochure' price for this, since it's all DIY.
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Alex Heney, I did say £3-4k in my original post. I normally manage about £2500 at New Year, never actually go away at half term as kids only get 2 days off. I go at Easter instead.
Paulio, that seems cheap. As AH says, TO price is £850 plus, on top of that is ski hire, lift passes, & lunch.
Where do you stay for £125 a wek, I usually stay in Mayrhofen and pay abot £40 a night B & B when I'm DIY-ing?
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You know it makes sense.
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Have done both La Thuile IT and Valmeinier FR at that sort of price.
LT was £326pp for flights, car hire and accomodation (so gear and lift pass on top of that).
V was even cheaper at £519pp for flights, car hire, accomodation, lift pass and gear hire.
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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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I'm going to La Rosiere next week - in a shared chalet of random strangers (well, five are also friends, but probably count as random and strange ...)
La Rosiere and shared chalets - TWO SnowHead Behemoths in one!!!
I've been on about 7 'random' chalet experiences and always seem to meet some interesting, funny, people - many you wouldn't want as lifelong mates, but add an extra, good, dimension to a week on the slopes. Definitely preferable to DIY rabbit hutches or hotels in my book.
Let's hope this one's as good...
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Poster: A snowHead
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| anarchicsaltire wrote: |
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Also asking if they have any younger sisters or [b]pets[/] cuts to the chase
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I know you live in Wales but...... |
Old quote from 'The Young Ones' 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SkiBod, good to hear from you again! Is this your first post in a while?
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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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Grumpy staff.
The annoying turd who has to be right about everything and appears to be impervious to logic. Yet this person somehow wants to be your new best mate. You play musical chairs at dinner to avoid him. You will ski over a cliff edge not to have to ski with him.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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laundryman, Thanks! Yes - the excitement of imminent snow has lured me back!
Glad to see many of the old characters and debates still going strong - less of the old, already 
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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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FAQ
), but when the Lads 'n I do our annual trip we would fall into the 'middle class professional' pigeon hole, and trust me, you wouldn't want us in your chalet* 
