 Poster: A snowHead
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Don't you just love them................. or not?
I thought I'd got a real bargain with the Chalet Loori, St Anton at Feb Half-Term for £499. TO .............. Ski Val-ue-Less
Staffed by clueless standby chalet hosts, devoid of any food hygiene, I can honestly say the meals were "finger-licking-good".
The outstanding Chalet Manager really did get things better, and all praise to her, but the atmosphere between the two (just out of teenage years) chalet seasonnaires (neither of them a "host") impacted at meal times.
The website brochure was quite impressive for a small independent TO, but in reality the cuisine, wines, comfort, and general cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Souless bedrooms, tiny/cupboard sized boot room with no boot dryer, doubling up as the only place to store skis, no bench to sit on when putting ski boots on really summed up the attention to detail.
The flights were good, on time, 2 hour transfer from Freidrichshaven, and with the lion's share of other peoples wonderful children, I cannot complain about the journey at all. I just hope all those unfortunate not to get their bags at baggage reclaim at Friedrichshaven airport got them delivered fast enough not to spoil more than a couple of days skiing.
My beef????? .................................
Why on earth do TO's put in place kids that can't? BTW, one of our chalet boys never made it to the end of the week, him being sacked (quite rightly) for bad atitude and not turning up to prepare breakfast a couple of mornings after late night partying.
But the worst thing........................ the Focker family.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 27-02-13 22:31; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
thought I'd got a real bargain with the Chalet Loori, St Anton at Feb Half-Term for £499.
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you got what you paid for. 
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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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Everything, I would NEVER go on chalet holiday, it's self catering all the way for me........sitting beside people I don't like and having to speak to those same people all week is my idea of a nightmare BUT if the Swedish netball team were looking for 1 more to make up the numbers then MAYBE but otherwise, no!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The best thing - they keep plebs out of nice hotels
The worst thing - those people breed
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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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skimastaaah, you got what you paid for - the guests who paid over £1000 didn't.
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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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pam w, point taken.
But the question remains as to just why do TO's do this?
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Best chalet food hygiene I've experienced was the host turning the grillades and slices of raclette on the hot plate for us. With his own fork. That had been in his mouth.
Yes, thanks for that mate. So.. about that pizza delivery company you mentioned earlier in the week...
That said I do like being cooked for, so long as the chalet hosts aren't disgusting layabouts like the aforementioned.
Would never ever just book a room though. Sole occupancy and a big group of mates every time. But then again, I've got more friends than most people have. I realize it's not so easy for some of the rest of you.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| skimastaaah wrote: |
pam w, point taken.
But the question remains as to just why do TO's do this? |
Because they can and they know the glossy brochure will bring a whole new batch of mug punters in next year.
BTW they are not all the same.
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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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| Quote: |
Why on earth do TO's put in place kids that can't?
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Because they pay tuppence a week and that's what applies for the job. Der.
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You can find bad food/service/other guests anywhere, not just a chalet. As long as the ambience is there, the other guests are nice (and they generally tend to be), the food is plentiful and edible, the rooms are clean, warm and en-suite and the staff are friendly and helpful, I have no quibbles. Generally speaking I prefer hotels to chalets, they just seem to offer more privacy and tend to feel less 'British' (it's a foreign holiday after all), but a nice chalet with friends and good food is fine by me.
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You know it makes sense.
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I went on my first one in December and have to say I really enjoyed it mainly because of the other people who were staying there.
There was quite a mix of people (two of us in our mid 30s, 4 guys in their mid 20s, a middle aged couple with their three teenage sons and another couple in their 40s) but everyone got on really well. I have no complaints about the staff or the food either.
I can imagine it being Hell if you're stuck with people you don't particularly like however.
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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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one of the things about hotels is that you never see what goes on in the kitchen....
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've only ever stayed in two chalets, both in Courchevel 1850, where we (3-4 families) had booked it out as a group. Quite enjoyed it, apart from the team projectile vomiting on the second occasion.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| laundryman wrote: |
| I've only ever stayed in two chalets, both in Courchevel 1850, where we (3-4 families) had booked it out as a group. Quite enjoyed it, apart from the team projectile vomiting on the second occasion. |
That'll be the "finger-licking-good" food prepared by the teenage chalet chef who's got a GCSE/BTEC in grub-prep/toilet hygiene!
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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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swiftoid, You never met the Fockers then?
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I've done 3 chalet holidays now and can honestly say i like them. It does really help if you get on with the other people staying in the chalet. Last year we stayed in a cystal chalet with 12 other people, there were 4 groups of people and after the second day i couldnt tell you who belong to whos group becuase everyone just got on like a house on fire (still in tocuh with them). The young hosts were great, the food was good not fine dining but still above average and it was great.
This year i went to la plagne for a week on my own and got a late deal with Ice and Fire, the hosts in this chalet were a bit older about my age (30s) and they'd done 3 seasons before. It really made a difference, i think it helps if the hosts are of similar age. Again got on well with everyone, in fact we hooked up with our hosts on their day off for a ski (Note to ESF this was not guiding lol)
I'll be host i'm a quite a private person and on paper i dont like the ideal of chalets but somehow it works. 
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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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skimastaaah, maybe you could tell us about the Fockers then .
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Having to share things with people like me.
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| skimastaaah wrote: |
| swiftoid, You never met the Fockers then? |
Not in a chalet but, yes, on a campsite in Norfolk last summer. This'll probably sound made up but I swear they turned up in a campervan the size of a bus with 'The Fockers' emblazoned on the front and parked right beside my tent (no need, plenty of other places they could have parked) and proceeded to setup their tables, music system and badminton net right in front of my door then continued being extremely loud and annoying. I was rather annoyed but least I had the luxury of being able to move with relative ease.
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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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A shared coach transfer with some godawful saaaf laaandan caaants to Meribel has ensured I will never risk a holiday with 'randoms', ever. Not ever.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chalets all the way - everytime! Have been doing chalets for many years now - 2-3 holidays per year - can honestly say have never had a bad one. Once went self catering - never again - too much hard work - and cost more than a chalet holiday. Have never come across anyone to dislike - can honestly say have had some fabulous hosts over the years.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK - as with all holidays - dont just book it and hope for the best - do some research!
I guess I am lucky, I am always part of a group, usually anywhere between 6 to 12 of us. But ..... if we are a small group going into a large chalet I will always ask how the other rooms are filled (presuming that info is available). I would not want to be in a chalet with a group of kids who want to party all night - but yes that is a chance you take!
I have just booked my son and his 7 friends into a chalet - I know there will be a couple there - I did advise the TO the boys will be coming in late etc etc - it would be fair to advise the couple (presuming they are older) poss give them the chance to move to another chalet??
I always stay with smaller 'family run' type companies - they really do seem to care more for their clients.
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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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Both chalet holidays I have had have been brilliant. Both bargain basement last minute deals. 1 in Sweden with Neilson, clean, decent layout, great host, plenty hot water, lovely sauna 50m from the white and fluffy stuff.The other with Alpine elements in VDI, huge chalet, great staff, clean shoebox to sleep in but as plenty of room to lounge about in the bar or breakfast room this was no issue, courtesy bus shuttle to and from the slopes, staff had great attitude to their work and constantly smiling. A couple of times when meeting them on the slopes during their time off they offered assistance carrying skis on/off gondola (I am disabled and unsteady on my feet) which they didn't need to do but just proves their attitude.
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Only ever book a chalet if you have a group of friends who can ski to fill it. Organised many Chalet holidays with friends and had a great time(s). Except for one holiday in Plagne 1800, nice chalet, very very poor host. Poor hygiene standards, poor cook, not enough for every one at a meal time food couldnt/didnt clean. had to complain to the resort manager to get a decent meal, and a wtitten complaint when we got back. Was offered discount vouchers but told them (Crys tal) we wouldnt book with them again and got £50.00 pp back
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You know it makes sense.
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Mr Piehole, I wonder if they were the same bunch of caaaanntts that were on my coach to Val Di Fassa this year? My friend and I both quietly cheered when they got off at a different chalet to ours.
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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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Minion1980, our caaaants piled onto the return coach journey reeking of booze, proudly farting, uncontrollably swearing, and fighting each other. It's one of the closest I've ever been to just punching someone in the face in blind anger.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Minion1980, Naaaaaaaaaaah................these Fockers wore 1980's yellow one-pieces and had loud pre-pubescent opinions that black-holed the dining table.
Apart from the daughter....................... there was a 16 year old pre-GCSE Foundation genetic clone of his dad. Sadly!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have always been happy with Chalet holidays. But they are always booked last minute and I pay as little as possible.
A lot of the companies don't do themselves favours with the way they promote the properties, but also it seems like the punters need to be more realistic. Sure if you pay 1k (full price) for something without knowing any better then I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping the TO survive and letting me go on the cheap when they can't sell certain weeks.
If you are paying only 499 for one of the peak weeks of the season, for flights, transfers accom and food (however average it maybe) then perhaps you need to be more realistic?
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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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kioksor, ................... like the salmonella inducing finger licking chalet chef?
BTW..................... I got great skiing!
BTW...................... with the amount of dosh I saved I could afford to eat out most nights!
BTW............. I did!
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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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| Quote: |
kioksor, ................... like the salmonella inducing finger licking chalet chef?
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Not sure, not that I noticed. No sickness noted. Quality of food has certainly varied.
more importantly however, what was the wine like?
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Sounds fine for £499.
We paid a little less one Easter and got a similar service from Skiworld. So our host was as bad as yours, but it was also his last week of the season. I think had it have been any other point in the season he'd have got the sack. The chalet was a poo-poo hole, long way from the lifts....... But because we paid next to nothing for it we weren't too fussed. Had a great weeks skiing.
Mr Piehole, Minion1980, I think we had the plum voiced middle class version of your lot on our last flight. Loud but talking in a "we're considerably richer than yaow" manner about Sebastian's wood burner. Couldn't control their kids. When we found they were in the same resort as us we were dreading it, but they got a private transfer and headed to different accommodation thankfully.
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| Quote: |
| what was the wine like? |
just like hungarian meths!!!!!!!!!!!! 
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i take it you'll be going Chalet catered next year skimastaaah 
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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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If you go with anything TUI, seriously what do you expect. I think anything that can be bought from a mainstream travel agent on a budget will be much the same.
I have been with Colletts and Mark Warner loads of times and have always had a good experience. The staff are obviously hand picked very carefully and have always been very pleasant and eager to please, I suppose they are thinking about the end of week tip. Never I have come across the "Sarf London Cants" type. But on my last trip with Colletts a few weeks ago there was more than the usual pretentious middle class types, who made sure everyone knew what a fantastic career they had. Made us laugh on staff night off when we ended up in the same restaurant, they all had just a Pizza and 2 carafes of wine between 13  . I think all the talk was hot air and I doubt any of them had a pot to pi$$ in if the truth be known.
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skimastaaah,
Cripes.. sounds like you've gripped the sh1tty end of the stick every time 
Every time we've done a chalet deal it has been fine....Always last min. £280 up to £450.
Fellow guests have always been good company except Jan 2012 when we encountered a very strange lady who was a "personal fitness trainer" Imagine a female Bond movie villain/Nazi. Apart from her all good.
Compared with self catering which works out more hassle, more stress, more expense and less fun.......well?
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