 Poster: A snowHead
|
I have used Thomson/Crystal many times taking advantage of special offers. The experience is hit & miss for the quality of the host & local management.
Inghams perhaps a little better.
I used Ski Total twice last year but they were the larger Chalet Hotels, the catering was excellent and the wine free flowing & very drinkable.
I have used Ski World chalets in Colorado and they were excellent.
However much of the enjoyment of the holiday depends on fellow guests which is a lottery unless you take a crowd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
We've used Olympic several times, and they seem to have got the formula right. I've had problems on holidays with them in the past, but all sorted out in the end.
The youngest kids I've seen in their chalets are about 16, they seem to be well set up for adults but no idea how they'd cope with kids. If the kids are old enough (and mature enough) to sit at an adult dinner party environment, then I'd go with Olympic. Their ski guiding has also been very good on the trips we've used it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I worked the last 2 seasons as a chalet host. Now i look forward to actually going on a chalet holiday.... I would say from working that its not necessarily the company but the host that makes a good week.... Especially at the beginning of the season...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Take a look at Skivo2 website. Catered chalets, Courchevel, with free instruction from highest BASI qualified instructors. They say 95% of customers are returners or recommendations. Since 1987. No pretentions, down to earth, and Scottish , so you will understand most of the instruction  . I love 'em.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
northernsoulboy, You could look at MoreAlps, www.morealps.com or A mountain Chalet www.amountainchalet.com both in La Rosiere, both owner run operations and they learnt their trade with Saki Olympic who also have a number of chalets in La Rosiere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ivor Shed, welcome back David
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Look at this : Great with kids and superb english instruction and whole experience is fantastic !
www.connickski.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
And some damn fine Hosting/Driving this season. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Hope their hosts aren't as grumpy as Olympic's 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| eng_ch wrote: |
Hope their hosts aren't as grumpy as Olympic's |
Not that I think this was a specific reference to me when I hosted for Olympic, but I would like to stand up for hosts all over by saying guests can be quick to confuse "Grumpy" for what is really "Hugely intolerant of the bore you've been landed with for the week!" or merely "Massively hungover and wishing you were in your nice warm third of the bed you share with the chef and the plongeur"
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Kaiser, worry not, the digs are friendly and aimed at the short Vader above who was an Olympic host last season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Dwarf Vader, fat fingers, phone and bad eyes 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
Massively hungover and wishing you were in your nice warm third of the bed you share with the chef and the plongeur
|
An Olympic ski host once introduced an after-dinner entertainment in Chalet Mamiray, which consisted of getting from on top of the dining table, underneath it and back on top, without touching the floor. My 16 year old son couldn't resist the challenge, but unfortunately had been equally unable to resist the "free unlimited wine" with dinner, and having chosen to sit next to an exceptionally pretty fellow guest, rather than his Mummy, had imbibed a good deal, without my noticing. He succeeded in the challenge (he's an athletic sort of boy......) but shortly afterwards discovered the unwisdom of hanging upside down under a table after a skinful of plonk.
The subsequent projectile vomiting of red wine tested the tolerance of our fantastic chalet hosts and fellow guests to the utmost. They all passed with flying colours but the lad couldn't look a glass of red wine in the face for many, many, years. He now appears to have put the ghosts to rest, however.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
Massively hungover and wishing you were in your nice warm third of the bed you share with the chef and the plongeur
|
An Olympic ski host once introduced an after-dinner entertainment in Chalet Mamiray, which consisted of getting from on top of the dining table, underneath it and back on top, without touching the floor. My 16 year old son couldn't resist the challenge, but unfortunately had been equally unable to resist the "free unlimited wine" with dinner, and having chosen to sit next to an exceptionally pretty fellow guest, rather than his Mummy, had imbibed a good deal, without my noticing. He succeeded in the challenge (he's an athletic sort of boy......) but shortly afterwards discovered the unwisdom of hanging upside down under a table after a skinful of plonk.
The subsequent projectile vomiting of red wine tested the tolerance of our fantastic chalet hosts and fellow guests to the utmost. They all passed with flying colours but the lad couldn't look a glass of red wine in the face for many, many, years. He now appears to have put the ghosts to rest, however. |
Pam W - you just made my wife's day - its normally her doing that sort of thing!!!! VERY funny!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w, Hold on to that memory, Ski Olympic have dropped the Mamiray this season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Dwarf Vader, the chalet was essentially unsuitable - the kitchen just had (or did when we went there) ordinary domestic equipment, and the electricity supply was not highly enough rated. The couple who were running the chalet the first time we went there were very experienced - he was a proper cook - but even for them it wasn't easy. That night, the electricity had tripped off constantly, and one of the guests would run down to the box where it was switched back on. Consequently the chickens took too long to cook - as the chalet host discovered when we were eating our starter. We assured him we had no problem waiting for the main course, but because my OH is a diabetic and had had his insulin I had to keep an eye on his blood sugar levels - and both the delay and the distraction contributed to the amount Nick got away with drinking.
In fact, I did notice eventually, and sent a warning down the table, and he just looked up at me, grinned, lifted his glass in tribute and said gleefully "But it's freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!"
An expression which has been a family catch-phrase ever since.
We went back to the Mamiray for a second holiday a year or so later - and the chalet host's wife, the following season, had just had her wrist broken when a child knocked her over in a lift queue. So we made our own beds each day and she gave us all a sweetie!
It was a nice little chalet, and very cheap, especially travelling as we did by coach. But I guess people demand much more in the way of "facilities" nowadays and those simply little homey chalets are not what most punters are after. I'd 1000 times prefer to stay in the Mamiray than in some big glitzy hotel with loads of guests, shiny bathrooms and posh bars.
The ski bus stop was right outside, IIRC. I did miss a bus and walk back in my ski boots one evening rather than wait for the next. My feet were sore in my boots so I did the last mile in my ski socks with the boots round my neck. Happy days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We went with Ski Olympic last season and the one before - La Rosiere and La Plagne. Hard to fault - the staff are really very good. Yet to book this year (going in mid-March and hoping for a bit of a deal) but Ski Olympic are first on the list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I don't think I've seen any negative posts on SHs about ski Olympic. Wehad two holidays with them, and only used one of their places - and it was fairly basic, but v good value and the staff in the UK and in France, all excellent.
There's no such thing as "the best" chalet company, obviously, as people look for different things. In terms of quality of chalets and food, nothing costing under a couple of thousand pounds a head, accommodation only, is going to be anywhere near "the best".
But "best value for money?" or "good quality without spending a fortune?" those are different questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
