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Ski Power Review - Chalet Sylvie, Courcheval 1550

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Our experience was similar to that posted by Snowtown. 2011 stayed in Skipower's Chalet Sylvie, Courcheval 1550 paying for a premier package. Premier it was not, all the food stuffs in the fridge were 'discount' labels from a French supermarket. Lots of claims about the quality of the service, food and chalet made on Skipower's website simply are not true. No facecloths in the bathrooms, no extra towels for the sauna, no canapes (plural) - one a day, no cheese board, fresh fruit, no fresh bread or milk only frozen and UHT, no six course meals, no after dinner mints, no table linen, no daily cleaning. Food was very basic and presented badly, dirty kitchen and rooms, small chalet with little soundproofing, no games room or satellite TV, scruffy staff. Ran out of toilet paper, lightbulbs didn't work, soap not provided.

Since returning have carried out internet research and from what I have read on forums it would appear that our experience is similar to others traveling with Skipower.
Sad
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
rache, welcome to snowHeads......watch out for incoming (I'm off to get the popcorn)
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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?
holidayloverxx, while you are there can you get me some, ta Very Happy
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Boredsurfing, sweet or salted?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Obviously your chalet let you down a bit, but some of your expectations are unrealistic:

Quote:
No facecloths in the bathrooms, no extra towels for the sauna


Why were you expecting them? Their website makes it very clear what you get: http://www.skipower.co.uk/Linen.asp

Quote:
No games room or satellite TV


Why were you expecting them? Their website makes it very clear what you get: http://www.skipower.co.uk/Chalets.asp?res=2&cha=17

Quote:
UHT milk


Getting fresh milk in France is reasonably difficult; it's always UHT (and if you think it wasn't on your previous holidays then somebody pulled the wool over your eyes rather well).

Frozen bread appears to be industry standard in chalets, sadly.

Quote:
lightbulbs didn't work
Quote:
no canapes (plural) - one a day, no cheese board
Did you take the rest of this up with the staff? The rep? Head office?

Justging by the prices, they are a bargain basement operator. You get what you pay for. I've never been with them.


Have you ever been on a chalet holiday before?
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Quote:

Did you take the rest of this up with the staff? The rep? Head office?

Justging by the prices, they are a bargain basement operator. You get what you pay for. I've never been with them.

James the Last, Well done, maybe just those two points will save the next 28 pages!

holidayloverxx, Salted please Very Happy


Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 19-04-11 17:11; edited 1 time in total
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
have taken the feedback up with the rep/staff. Games room or satellite TV, face cloths, extra towels etc are all quoted as part of the premier package on skipower's website! Price we paid is irrelevant we were sold a premier package and what we received failed to live up to expectations.
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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!
Have been skiing for 20 years so yes have taken plenty of chalet holidays before!
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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.
rache, Unless and until you take up the complaint with their head office ABTA and/or the ASA there really isn't a lot of point in registering on here just to slag them off, is there?
What on earth do you hope to achieve from snowHeads?
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
rache, edit: spotted where it says you get flannels

"The above is presented on a wooden Prija display board and basket with flannels "

Why were you expecting a 6 course dinner? agreed they say you get cheese and mints and canapes (plural)


Quote from website:
Wednesday

Canapés
Sun dried tomatoes, basil & Brie pancakes
Smoked salmon Roulade
~~~~~~~
Thai fish cakes with sweet chilli sauce
(vegetable cakes with sweet chilli sauce)
~~~~~~~
Chicken breast wrapped in cured ham with sage sauce
(Sweet-corn fritters with mushrooms, cream & sage)
Sautéed vegetables
Steamed wild rice
~~~~~~~
Poached pears in mulled wine with Chantilly cream
~~~~~~~
Cheese plate
~~~~~~~
Coffee with Mints

Why were you expecting table linen, games room or satellite tv?

quote from website

Chalet Sylvie is a brand new chalet built in 2009 luxuriously appointed with beautifull decorations and a wonderful panoramic view of the mountains. Designed and equipped to Ski Power's exceptionally high standards this chalet enters our exclusive Premier range.

A spacious lounge and dining room with real log fire and large widescreen LCD television await you on your return from the slopes every day. Decorated in a traditional Savoyarde style you will be warmly enveloped in comfort.

If you return with aches and pains from the days skiing why not indulge yourself with the chalets own Sauna, with a changing area and shower adjacent to it.

In a new turn for us we've equipped each bedroom with its own television so you can relax in the surroundings and snuggle into Ski Powers Premier bed linen and watch your own choice of television


Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Tue 19-04-11 17:21; edited 1 time in total
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
OMG for two reasons
a) that a company publishes thread counts (albeit a luxury holiday)

b) here we go again. Never mind the current snow conditions, summer is here already on snowHeads

holidayloverxx, I'll skip the popcorn this time thanks, off to have my spag bol and I'll try not to present it badly Laughing
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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.
Thought this was a forum for sharing views and opinions - plenty of others have shared their holiday experiences including Snowtown's comparable review to mine. I don't regard my review as a slagging off but an honest account of my experience. People should be able to make informed decisions when booking holidays that's why these forums are so valuable.
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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
Lou, Laughing
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
rache, Welcome to Snowheads

It's always a shame when holiday don't live upto expectations - but I think your expectations are wide of reality..

rache wrote:
Games room or satellite TV all quoted as part of the premier package on skipower's website!


SkiPower Website wrote:
These chalets benefit from a higher standard of furnishing and include enhanced entertainment and equipment facilities such as games rooms and satellite tv. Please check individual chalet descriptions for exactly what is provided in each chalet.


SkiPowe Website - Chaley Sylvie wrote:
'Satellite TV - Local' - no mention of a Games room.


I'm struggling to see how they could have made that any clearer that you wouldn't get sky sports nor a separate games room. I can't find the reference to face cloths, but if you want to wipe your face with a face cloth that's been used by 10 previous guests that season (however well laundered) then you're welcome, personally I prefer to take my own.

I paid around £650 for a chalet with flight/transfer/accommodation in early March in Meribel with another tour operator - I wasn't expecting much for that price and I got better than I expected. If you were expecting a 'luxury' service for the £634 advertised price - http://www.skipower.co.uk/Chalets.asp?res=2&cha=17 then I think you're somewhat mistaken, and didn't doo too much price benchmarking against other operators - e.g. http://www.scottdunn.com/accommodation/aurea-courchevel-1850.html# which has a guide price of £2,695 per person / week in January and is definitely luxury. Crystal (who are mass market) are charging some £750 for a similar week in 2012 in a similar size chalet (les clocherets) in le praz.

No I don't work for skipower (or within the industry) but I just get a bit bored of people just joining to slag off a given tour operator, particularly when your expectations have no resemblence to reallity.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
rache wrote:
Thought this was a forum for sharing views and opinions - plenty of others have shared their holiday experiences including Snowtown's comparable review to mine. I don't regard my review as a slagging off but an honest account of my experience. People should be able to make informed decisions when booking holidays that's why these forums are so valuable.


no problem with you sharing your view, but I would expect folk making a booking to be able to make an informed decision on most of your point just by reading the TOs website - you expected things which were clearly not on offer.

We've had a bit of a week of new posters signing up just to complain about their holiday one way or another..... stick around, as you say the forum is a valuable resource
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
rache wrote:
Thought this was a forum for sharing views and opinions


It is and thank you for posting. Having now seen their website

Quote:
We have selected Turner Bianca' Catherine Mansfield range of Linen

Quote:
400 Thread count Egyptian Cotton bed sheet

Quote:
enhanced Premier linen and Premier toiletries


I had to laugh. Haven't seen anything as snobbily linen obsessed since Hyacinth Bucket! Laughing
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Actually I think you're all being a bit hard on rache. If he/she booked the premier package it does quote
Quote:
pre-dinner canapes ... six course meals .... served on beautiful white linen covered tables ... where there is a Hot Tub or Sauna, extra towels are offered


So I think, on balance, that most of rache's list is actually promised and if they didn't deliver, well, why shouldn't we be told about it?

(Not that I'd want to go there anyway as they sound like a right pretentious bunch of tossers rolling eyes Laughing )
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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?
maggi, where does it say that? I had a good look on the TO website but couldn't see it - if I'm wrong then my apologies to rache,

edit - found it

"Our premier service chalets offer the very best cuisine and facilities. These chalets are slightly larger than your average chalet and have enhanced facilities such as jacuzzi en-suite bathrooms for a soothing soak after a day on the slopes, Hot Tubs or Saunas. These chalets benefit from a higher standard of furnishing and include enhanced entertainment and equipment facilities such as games rooms and satellite tv. Please check individual chalet descriptions for exactly what is provided in each chalet.

The catering is of the highest standard with pre-dinner canapes and chef-prepared speciality, six course meals, accompanied by wines imported from our own vineyard, served on beautiful white linen covered tables.

Premier service chalets come with enhanced Premier linen and Premier toiletries. Towels are refreshed mid week and where there is a Hot Tub or Sauna, extra towels are offered, plus you can expect those little extra touches around the chalet that make your holiday special. "

so apologies to rache - the TO website is confusing with the general Premier description under accommodation which is then not followed through on individual chalet description. but it does say "check individual chalet descriptions for exactly what is provided in each chalet" re the entertainmet facilities
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
http://www.skipower.co.uk/Service.asp

Quote:
Our premier service chalets offer the very best cuisine and facilities. These chalets are slightly larger than your average chalet and have enhanced facilities such as jacuzzi en-suite bathrooms for a soothing soak after a day on the slopes, Hot Tubs or Saunas. These chalets benefit from a higher standard of furnishing and include enhanced entertainment and equipment facilities such as games rooms and satellite tv. Please check individual chalet descriptions for exactly what is provided in each chalet.

The catering is of the highest standard with pre-dinner canapes and chef-prepared speciality, six course meals, accompanied by wines imported from our own vineyard, served on beautiful white linen covered tables.

Premier service chalets come with enhanced Premier linen and Premier toiletries. Towels are refreshed mid week and where there is a Hot Tub or Sauna, extra towels are offered, plus you can expect those little extra touches around the chalet that make your holiday special.


http://www.skipower.co.uk/Chalets.asp?res=2&cha=17
Chalet Sylvie claims to be a 'Premier Service' chalet.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
holidayloverxx, yeah, the site is confusing but I just thought that rache was being dismissed when actually there were more than a few niggles and I would have complained too. Nothing major but small things add up when you have been promised Buckingham Palace Toofy Grin
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
bertie bassett wrote:
I paid around £650 for a chalet with flight/transfer/accommodation in early March in Meribel with another tour operator - I wasn't expecting much for that price and I got better than I expected. If you were expecting a 'luxury' service for the £634 advertised price - http://www.skipower.co.uk/Chalets.asp?res=2&cha=17 then I think you're somewhat mistaken, and didn't doo too much price benchmarking against other operators - e.g. http://www.scottdunn.com/accommodation/aurea-courchevel-1850.html# which has a guide price of £2,695 per person / week in January and is definitely luxury. Crystal (who are mass market) are charging some £750 for a similar week in 2012 in a similar size chalet (les clocherets) in le praz.

No I don't work for skipower (or within the industry) but I just get a bit bored of people just joining to slag off a given tour operator, particularly when your expectations have no resemblence to reallity.


Ding Ding.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
So you turned up on Saturday evening with your list of expectations and there was no facecloth or spare towel.

What did you do to point out to the chalet staff on the Saturday evening/Sunday morning/Sunday evening that they were absent, and did you mention this to the rep.

Even in the Ritz (which is probably more than £634 for a night, not a week) things can get forgotten. Unless you say something at the time really you have no leg to stand on.
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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!
We stayed with Ski Power a couple of years ago in La Tania. It was billed as excellent food and it was all budget ingredients and average food. We ended up buying our own croissants and decent milk as breakfast was home made bread or cereal with UHT milk. You can get pasteurised milk easily in France these days. The logs had run out weeks ago and the hosts were not allowed to buy more. The chalet could have been lovely but it was obvious that it was budget pretending to be more than it was. The room was basic but nice and warm with a good bathroom ,and it was almost slope side so if another company ever took it over I'd go back!
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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.
I'm always a bit cynical when people register on a site just to provide a really poor, sometimes over the top review of a holiday they've just been on. I guess everyone's snowheads membership has to start somewhere, but I find in cases like this that its always good to be able to view a person post list to get a fair balance. Just my opinion, of course.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Dav, and resurrecting a thread from 3yrs ago rolling eyes
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