hotels vs catered chalets

A snowHead

I was wondering what you all thought about this subject. We have always stayed in a hotel, but I thought maybe we'd make more friends by staying in a catered chalet. Can anyone recommend good chalets in the 3V? I spoke with Scott Dunn, but they're all booked up for the dates I want. And, they seem to cater more for groups/families and not for couples. Is this a general rule? Cheers.

A snowHead

erica2004, we try not to set rules about families/groups/kids etc., mainly because when my kids were younger and we wanted to stay in chalets we were put off by all the adults only/groups/no kids rules that seemed to be prevalent. I don't believe there are any set rules, hooray, but there are some operators who target particular markets and Scott Dunn are an up-market operator with a good reputation, as are mark Warner and YSL. I would recommend Ski Olympic for the 3 Vallees to anyone, we know them well, their manager for the Alps lives all year round in Courchevel and their guests and staff come back year after year. Otherwise, can we tempt you to La Rosiere, we can guarantee good food and a warm welcome in a comfortable chalet with a mixed clientele.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

we went with ski deep, down in la tania, can recommend them

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erica2004, we have tried chalet but we do prefer hotels, both for privacy and comfort. It can be a bit hit and miss with a chalet as to who else you're in with - and there's no getting away from them! We were in quite a small chalet, a party of 6 and the two of us. They were fine and we got on OK with them but it did mean they dominated the chalet somewhat. If you do go for a chalet make sure you get ensuite facilities - and I've never quite got used to not being able to lock your room door, in fact most days, the whole chalet was left unlocked. We went with Skiworld and they certainly didn't particularly cater for families. Personally, I wouldn't want to share with kids running round - another reason for us to stick with hotels Very Happy

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Chalets are more friendly and cosy and it true you can't get away from the people there. Its not a problem most of the time and I have had some very good chalet holidays. I generally stay in hotels now but that is because of the flexibilty of dates.
Approach chalets as a house in the mountains with compromises in the room allocations, some have en-suite and have master bedroom proportions and some do not. You can find this out when you enquire.
We have made numerous friends from fantastic chalet holidays and have being sking together for many years..!!

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We always used to stay in catered chalets, for various reasons (we have now bought an apartment, but that's another story!). First, chalets are generally cheaper, and you also save on the cost of "hotel bar" drinks. You take your own duty frees and buy cheap "mixers" and beers from the chalet staff (one of the ways they make a bit of extra cash). We also liked being able to sit around the fire in "apres ski" mode (ie long johns and slippers) and have tea and cakes at the end of the ski day, without having to dress as tidily as the average hotel would demand and pay extra for each of the six cups of tea we all drank.

We were maybe lucky, but we always enjoyed meeting the other people in the chalet and being able to sort out some ski groups of similar abilities. We did meet other families (which the kids loved) but mostly couples or small adult groups. We didn't encounter any badly behaved children, but some people are very intolerant even of well behaved children, in which case that's a good reason to steer clear of chalets. I would be wary of the very small chalets. Could be fantastic, or a disaster. Around 12 - 16 seems quite a good size. We never used the upmarket operators, couldn't afford it, but found Ski Olympic and Skiworld fine. We stayed in La Rosiere with Ski Olympic twice - same chalet. Our last holiday before buying the apartment was with Le Ski, a bit more upmarket, super chalet in Courchevel 1650. Wonderful food. Not too expensive because last minute deal - with two of you you should get some very good deals and have masses of choice. You could then find out who else is in the chalet before booking, and avoid the sort of situation Cathy Coins described, where it's just you and a cliquey group - that wouldn't be fun. I would also hate having a load of lads (of any age) bent on getting pissed out of their minds every night. Give me some small kids any day! You need to be very sure what is important to you - super food, or good price, or chalet location, or whatever.

One of my nephews, who we took ski-ing when he was 16, fell madly in love with another guest. Holiday romance, we all thought fondly. They are still together, seven years later.... so he's a fan of chalet holidays.

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Go with the right company and Catered Chalet holidays rock. Personally I can vouch for Silver Ski (Reberty & La Praz), and Ski Olympic (1650 & 1850)

After all it is free

I've stayed at quite a few of both. Chalets are far more informal and laid back than Hotels, whereas the facilities and food are better in Hotels.

Never had a problem with the other chalet users, in fact they can make the holiday much more fun, although a group of much older people in Breckenridge were a bit dull - it felt more like a Hotel. It depends on your personality and your expectations on a ski break as to which you prefer, but I wouldn't take my children to a chalet unless our group hired the whole place as it wouldn't be fair on the other chalet users.

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Facilities can be rather nice as well if you are prepared to pay for them. For example, http://www.descent.co.uk

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If you go chalet go SilverSki in La Plagne, I have heard that they have some excellent staff for the coming season Toofy Grin

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erica2004, My 2d's worth - chalet beats hotel any day. But I have found that those that cater for 25 - 40 guests are better for getting to meet other skiers/socialisers.

I highly recommend Optimum in Villaroger ( for Les Arcs ). This is a very well run chalet that has a very high % of repeat guests. Food is great and it has it's own small bar which helps with the early intros. Only problem could be that there is next to nothing else in Villaroger/Le Pre to do in th evenings - but that suits me just fine. I will be there again with SP at the end of March for a week next year.

I have used many Mark Warner Chalethotels which is where my opinion on chalet size is based - saying that I will be contradicting myself at Christmas as we are going to Tignes with MW, but we are going with friends.

Last year SP and I also went to La Rosiere with Ski Olympic, who already have a recommendation or two here, and they were very good. However I think they may have closed their main chalet ( David@traxvax, ) may be able to confirm this even though they are the opposition Very Happy

CP

boredsurfin, Yes but avoid chalet Maxine unless you are a REAL party animal

You know it makes sense.

Frosty the Snowman, rob@rar.org.uk, OK, OK, I was generalising again rolling eyes

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Well, seeing all the good reports perhaps we should give chalets another go. I think CP is right - a larger chalet with more guests would be better and would get round the cliquey-ness of smaller chalets - also more likely to find people you get on well with. And I guess going for a more expensive chalet/chalet company should get round the problem of the gang of lads drinking all night Very Happy

But I do like staying in hotels with other nationalities, coming down for brekkie in the morning and saying 'Morgan' to everyone, trying to make yourself understood to reception. It's part of the being away from England holiday experience. Not too sure I want to be surrounded by little england.

A snowHead

boredsurfin, Frosty the Snowman, Stop trying to get me sacked before ive even gone! I think the food in chalets can be much better than the food in hotels if the people working there know what theyre doing and are allowed to use a bit of creativity, rather than the "cooking by numbers" technique a lot of chalet companies use.

oh and by the way- my cakes are EXCELLENT! especially the passion cake.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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I've done chalets in the past as have been a very price conscious twenty-something, and at the time the experience was great - like you say you meet lots of people and its a relaxed atmosphere.
But I feel I've moved on from that now for the following reasons - size of room - unable to hang wet clothes properly, rarely had ensuite bathroom, dependent on the people who join you in the chalet.
Don't seem to have a problem meeting people through lessons, lunchtime stops or gondola's so am less worried these days about social life than I am about the luxury of a nice room, balcony, ensuite and privacy!

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Just to clarify, 30 of us stayed in the sister chalet next door to Maxine where Nadenoodlee, will be working next season. The staff and company could not be faulted, the food was superb, and I am sure that Nads has exactly the personality that results in Silver Ski having such huge return business.

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erica2004, if you are not sure, your best option is to seek out a "chalet-hotel" which is a small hotel run on the same board basis as a chalet i.e. two meals a day plus afternoon tea & cake, usually with english-speaking staff seasonaires. You also get the benefits of a hotel i.e. a seperate lounge, a bar etc. I like chalets but it is pot-luck as to who you end up sharing with. In a chalet hotel you can usually avoid the idiots and find someone to hang out with.
Loads of TOs run chalet-hotels in many resorts, you shouldn't have a problem finding one. Mark Warner have loads but they cater for the family market which may put you off. Ski Miquel have a decent chalet-hotel in Bad Gastein.
If you do go for a chalet proper bear in mind you generally get what you pay for, and if you are used to hotels you won't want to slum it in a cheap chalet, in a small bedroom with shared bathrooms.

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well recovered- you're back on my "like" list. Frosty the Snowman,

After all it is free

mountain mad, Nadenoodlee's Chalet for Next season has good size rooms, most with balconies, good views, All en suite, underfloor heating (which is great fror dying wet clothes if you are a messy meff like me), piste and lift within 60m. There are some wonderful chalet holidays to be had out there. The only slight downside being that it is generaly brits only.

CP, the Roc Nor is not being used by Ski Olympic this season, it was getting more than a bit old and tired, the owner didn't want to spend any money on it. However they have opened 3 new chalets in the past 2 seasons so they have more than replaced the capacity offered by the Roc Noir. I wonder which bar is now going to be the seasonaires favourite?

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Chalets are much more sociable- other people who are open to staying with people they don't konw.
In general, rooms can be larger in chalethotels as they are often former hotels and usualy have en-suite. (USUALLY!!!)
Also - food can be hit and miss really as staff are varying in ability!!!
Would go chalet every time, meeting new people is always a laugh and you are only there a week if they are horrid - and skiing all day!!!

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Peter B, I Certainly did

Frosty the Snowman, R u sure u did? I'm uncertain

brian

Personally I'd go for a hotel (on B&B) or self catered every time. I don't want to be stuck eating in the same place every night, I like to get out and try a few different restaurants. Food is a big part of my holidays !

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Frosty the Snowman, Sorry I put on my "stealthmoderation" head, and tried to put in the missing bracket so Nadenoodlee's name was in bold. I eventually corrected it but obviously c*cked up somewhere along the way.

A snowHead

Cheers guys Little Angel

As with all things, still undecided. I did think the bigger chalets may be better - I see Stanford Ski have a couple in Megeve. I do like my own bathroom though.

A snowHead

My 2p's worth may well contradict some of the other postings. Chalets are more fun than Hotels, sure you may not have the facillities but you can have more craic with the other guests. Most people are there for the same reason as yourselves. Good skiing, socialising and having a good time.

You do have the opportunity to meet others on a better basis than in a gondola. The size of the chalet is most important. Not too small (6 pax), not a chalet hotel as mentioned above as you do not get the same facilities you would in a real hotel and it is probably too big to get to know others as the dining arrangments are akin to those days at boarding school.

15 - 18 pax is perfect, you may get a large group in your chalet but unless they are tearing the ar*e out of it you should be ok. We took 16 from Ireland last year to Courchevel had a great time and nobody from the other parties had a problem, I suppose it depends on the group.

The only bad side of chalets is that they tend not to be purpose built and toilet and showers are not always ensuite. A pretty big downer I know. What I do is book a particular room with the facilities I want, may not get the best price but hell, its holiday time.

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When I started skiing it was in Austria and we stopped in hotels, great when your part of a big group and can make your own fun. As the group dwindled through marriage and childbirth etc the remaining few found the big French resorts and chalets. I've always found chalets, for all their faults, a great compromise and have met and skiied with some great people. Admittedly nowadays I'm a little more discerning with my choice of chalets and would expect to pay a little bit more for ensuite facilities, but then again you end up with like minded folks as well. If you stick clear of the main stream / high street TO's I believe you get a better deal of food and facilities. I think nowadays I'd struggle to go back to a hotel as I'd I find them too stiff and restrictive for a ski holiday.

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A couple of bits from me as a confirmed chalet user.
1. It is pretty easy now to find purpose built chalets with en-suites. I would not stay in one htat did not have an ensuite
2. Lots of chalets now have additional features like saunas etc and don't really cost anymore
3. If taking children it is always best to make a group and take the whole chalet
4. I've also found that the smaller operators will often let you specify no children if you are the first to book the chalet with a reasonable number
5. Do book the room in the chalet that you want - furthest from the door and the lounge is normally the quietest
6. If booking late the TO will usually be able to tell you the type of person that has already booked. Look for similar ages to you and a number of separate bookings. It is better to share with a number of separately booked couples/groups then with one big group. That said probably the best chalet holiday I have had with my wife was when we late booked with Snowline into a chalet in Morzine that had been taken by a group of 7 lads and 1 girl where only the girl was straight. A lot of champagne, a lot of clinique products and a very good laugh all week. Also the best guinding I have ever had. the lass took us around the entire PDS without looking at a map once.
7. I have always found chalet food to be very good and hotel food to be very disappointing. if I'm staying in a hotel say for week-ends then I would be B&B only and go out to eat.
8 i echo all the comments on chalets above with regard to the casualness and comofrt i.e. sititng around drinking tea in the loiunge, eating dinnner in very casul clothes and not having "to get dressed" to go down stairs for dinner.

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Cathy Coins, that sounds dressed up to me Smile

. In a chalet it is t shirt, shorts, bare feet for breakfast and dinner

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The thread above is a really good guide to what is good and bad about chalets - and should enable people to choose the sort of thing that appeals to them. I have a friend for whom "getting dressed in something nice" for dinner is probably the most enjoyable part of a holiday. She goes on cruises with a trunk full of matching outfits. She wouldn't like the kind of chalets we have stayed in but no doubt there are posher ones to which people go in helicopters... I suspect I wouldn't like the company in that kind of chalet, but that is probably sheer prejudice. The fact that you have breakfast and afternoon tea in your longjohns is part of the attraction for me, as is the fact that the rooms are unlocked so my husband's uncanny key-losing knack is not a problem. I travel light to ski - nothing in my room would be worth pinching. But my friend would need somewhere secure for her jewellery and cosmetics. Despite the criticisms often made of chalet staff, I have generally found them hard working and interesting people with lots of good stories to tell. Exception was a couple of disinterested girls in a chalet with one of the big TOs - the advice about giving them a miss is good. The small independent operators seem to make a big effort to describe their chalets, and their philosophy, accurately to avoid recriminations. I strongly agree with Roy Hockley about chalet hotels - I found my only experience of a chalet hotel (a cheap one, with Snowcoach) to be as he describes. Facilities were good value for the very low cost, but I was glad we had gone with friends as the big "boarding school" dining tables were intimidating and cliquey.

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hotels vs catered chalets

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