Luxury Ski Resorts

Some of the great luxury ski resorts are also great family ski resorts as well with high altitude skiing, plenty of blue runs, and limitless skiing. Such resorts that fit this criteria include Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley, Courchevel in the Three Valleys, and Zermatt under the Matterhorn.

Family Chalet

Luxury Chalet Prarion is one of the finest ski in ski out chalets in the Alps and offers a level of service and style that few can rival. Priced competitively at the luxury end of the mass market (from £7,200 in low season rising to £14,500 for the New year), it offers four staff which includes your own chef, on call, driver, a host, and most importantly a Nanny who provides two hours a night entertainment for the children, as well as helps get the children ready and with collection. The latter can also provide an in-house nanny service (costs apply for nanny service only), so you don't have to bring your own or find one when you arrive.

The luxury chalet also boasts six en-suite bedrooms (sleeps 12), a Games Room, cinema projection, and a sunken hot tub.

Ski New Year

With schools becoming ever stricter on taking children out of school term time (I will avoid getting on my soap box on whether it really makes a difference with younger children), the New Year ski holidays are becoming increasingly popular with family ski groups along with the Easter ski break. Families that like this idea should take note of the fact that prices however are not always 'family friendly' and despite the high price tags for this week, availability goes incredibly quickly.

Family Chalets

We're pleased to announce the imminent launch of a new site called Family Chalets the backend of summer which feature the best family chalets from around the Alps. The family chalets label will only be appplied to true family chalets by all accounts, operators that provide family facilities such as games, Wii, toys, sledges, cots, highchairs, etc as part of the service, as well as family friendly ski staff such as children's entertainers, nanny services, etc.

What sets this family ski operator aside many others is that it will also be run by family skiers, so the experts actually come with real experience!

Ski In Ski Out Family Chalet

If you are looking for one of the best family chalets, and ski in ski out luxury catered chalet at that, Chalet Prarion has to be one of the chalets high on the list with:

• 6 en-suite bedrooms sleeping 12
• Games Room
• Sunken Hot tub
• Cinema projection
• 4 staff including a childrens entertainer

And more to the point, some of the best prices you will find. 

Skiing Christmas

Family ski holidays are in our experience far better than staying out home. Firstly you can take grandma and granddad, as they just love time with the family, and sorry mum and dad, especially the grandchildren and seeing them enjoying the skiing and the snow, and also, it is the one ways to avoid the anti-climx and tears that Christmas often delivers.

Yes they can still have all the Christmas presents, the decorations, the Christmas tree, and the traditional dinner, but unlike staying at home, that's not the end of it, as on a Christmas ski holiday they get loads of ski activity, sledging, fresh air and much more to ensure they will have a Christmas they'll never forget.

Easter Ski

The Easter ski holiday just past highlighted the benefits of getting away' for a ski break over the Easter holidays. The snow was some of the best of the season, and the sunshine kept coming and going to balance the spring sunshine, with crisp, pistes, helped by the usual Easter snowfall.

If you missed it this year, our advice is don't next year! Its one of the best times to go with the family, especially with young children, warm long days, and typically great snow, and a chance for mum and dad to enjoy a glass of wine or two whilst the children relax in the garden after a days skiing!

Family Friendly Ski Holidays

For a great family ski holiday, I think there ate three ingredients, the first is picking a great family ski resort, the second is a picking a great family ski chalet, and the third, just the going with the flow!

So firstly,if  you are looking for a family friendly ski resort, the criteria I would be searching against would be:

• Neither low altitude (risk of poor snow) nor high altitude (risk to childrens health and cold), something in between.
• Plenty of blue and red runs
• And for small children, great facilities (e.g. snow garden, good nursery slopes, magic carpets, etc)
• A ski school that locally has a great family ski reputation

And for the family chalet:

• Great facilities to keep the children entertained
• Children entertainer and carers
• A reputation for great family ski holidays (check out the Guestbook)
• Close to the lifts or ideally ski in ski out
• Children menus as well as adult menus
• Great facilities for the parents too - so definitely a hot tub!

And for the flow, just go with it, don't be too worried of what you must or mustn't achieve, the main thing is to have a great time, and if you do, you'll achieve even more than you could have expected!

Ski In Ski Out

Here at the Family Ski Chalets blog we believe that for the best chalets for a family ski holiday either have to be close to the piste and ski lifts, or actually ski in ski out properties. And when we talk about ski in ski out we mean piste side! Seems obvious I know, but you might be surprised how many claim the ski in ski out label but aren't anywhere close to a recognised ski slope. So if in doubt, ask where the slope is in terms of distance from the piste! On the latter point, assuming the family ski chalet is a 'true' ski in ski out chalet, the other important question is what colour is the piste that runs by the chalet. Whilst most chalets are on blues, and one or two on reds, there is after all no point renting a ski in ski out chalet that is on a black run when some of the family ski group can only ski blues!

Family Chalet

If you are looking for a great family chalet, Chalet Prarion has to be one of the best family chalets in Chamonix. Firstly it benefits from its unrivaled sunny south facing ski in ski out location:


But that isn't just it, read its reviews and your find that the staff and operators really do care about giving great family ski service.

Then there is the south facing garden, a Games Room that includes a full size pool table, Wii, and a children's home cinema system.

At this family chalet, it isn't just the children that are spoilt, for the parents on the family ski holiday, there is the cordon bleu chef, the Projection cinema, south facing decking, and the all important hydro therapy hot tub to relax, pre-dinner, with a glass of champagne.

Luxury Ski Resorts

This week I thought I would focus on Europe's favourite luxury ski resorts from a family ski perspective. Firstly, lets start with listing alphabetically what we would consider to be the best luxury ski resorts, and then assess them from a family perspective:

• Chamonix
• Espace Killy (Tignes and Val d'Isere)
• Three Valleys (Courchevel, Meribel, La Tania, Les Menuires, and Val Thorens)
• St Anton
• Verbier
• Zermatt

Whilst their luxury ski resort status can not be questioned, the question here really is whether they are family ski resorts, so here is our analysis of the pros and cons for a family ski perspective:

Chamonix

Pros: Some of the best skiing in the world, high altitude but also some resorts the childrens areas are lower so great for younger skiers

Cons: Not a linked ski resort, runs can border on the extreme

Stick to the family ski resort of Les Houches and avoid Chamonix and Argentiere. La Tour is another alternative but not as pretty as Les Houches.

Espace Killy (Tignes and Val d'Isere)

Pros: High altitude skiing, extensive network ideal for intermediates and advanced.

Cons: Tignes isn't the prettiest resort and Val d'Isere which is, isn't the cheapest for a family ski holiday. High altitude resorts so not always ideal for young children in terms of altitude and cold.

Three Valleys (Courchevel, Meribel, La Tania, Les Menuires, and Val Thorens)

Pros: High altitude skiing, extensive network ideal for all abilities.

Cons: Val Thorens isn't the prettiest resort although Meribel's villages are. Courchevel isn't the cheapest for a family ski holiday. High altitude resorts so not always ideal for young children in terms of altitude and cold.

La Tania and Les Menuires are great well priced Three Valleys family ski resorts and offer great value for money.

St Anton

Pros: Some of the best skiing and nightlife in the world!

Cons: Unless your family ski holiday involves children in their late teens, this isn't a family ski resort. This luxury ski resort is one of the best in the world, but it is such a party town it is best left to singles and young couples.

Verbier

Pros: Sunny resort, extensive skiing, great family ski areas as well as advanced skiing. Lively chic town that is great for family skiing groups as well as singles and couples.

Cons: Some of the skiing leans more to the good intermediate and advanced skier

Zermatt

Pros: Traffic free centre, great well pisted ski runs, resort height great ffor children, good snow record

Cons: The price

Half Term Ski

The ski half term week, along with the ski New Year week, are the two busiest ski weeks of the year and therefore an early booking is strongly advised if you want to secure a great family chalet for your half term ski week.

In terms of great family ski chalets for the half term ski week, Ski In Ski Out Chalets have some great ski in ski out chalet ski rentals that are ideal for family ski chalet holidays being located on the piste. If money is no object, take a look at their luxury catered chalets in Val d'Isere or for great value catered chalets in Les Menuires or La Tania. The latter two options really are unbeatable in terms of their Three Valleys locations and exceptional price.

New Year Ski

If you have an older family ski group, New Year ski resorts such as Chamonix, Val d'Isere, or Verbier might be ideal, whereas for younger family ski New Year holiday groups might want to avoid the party places, and opt for great chalets just off the beaten track.

If your persuasion is the latter, and a nice celebration in front of the log fire is more than enough for your New Year skiing holiday, other option to the main New Year ski destinations include La Tania, Les Menuires, and Tzoumaz in Verbier's 4 Vallees.

Family Ski Chamonix

If you are looking for a great family ski chalet in Chamonix, you might want to take a look at Chalet Prarion, widely acknowledged in the Chamonix Valley as the best ski in ski out chalet. Sleeping 12 people in 6 en-suite bedrooms, its facilities include high definition cinema projection, a Games Room with Wii, Home Cinema, and a full sized pool table, and for the parents leather sofas, a south facing decking, and a luxury hydro therapy hot tub.

Being on the piste its the ideal ski in ski out chalet for family ski holidays and the Guestbook suggests that they aren't just a great family ski chalet operator, they're really one of the best!

Ski Christmas

What better way to spend Christmas than skiing in your favourite ski resort. If you choose a reputable catered, or even better, a luxury catered chalet, then it still comes with all the trimmings in terms of the traditional Christmas dinner, the decoration, the Christmas tree, you name it, it just means that the children won't get bored after five minutes, and the parents celebration limited to one day - of clearing up.

Being a catered chalet holiday, the ski Christmas holiday is literally given to you on a plate, which means, everything is done for you, except the skiing! And if this isn't enough, just think, assuming you choose a high altitude resort, this year you can forget praying for that snow flake on the BBC Weather station to claim a "white Christmas", as this year there is going to be bucket loads of it outside the door!

So, choose a high altitude resort, a great luxury ski chalet, and have a very merry ski Christmas!

Luxury Catered Chalets Val d Isere

If you are looking for great family ski holidays for the rich and famous, then Val d'Isere is probably going to be high, if not top of the list for its extensive high altitude skiing, and some of the finest luxury catered chalets.  Situated at 1,850m it provides a snow sure record that is second to none, and if you want the perfect family ski chalet, Ski In Ski Out have some outstanding luxury catered chalet in Val d'Isere that allow you to ski in and ski out, making them ideal for family skiing for clients looking for that truly luxurious holiday.

Being a rather sort after resort, they won't however be available very long, especially if you are looking at the ski Christmas, ski New Year, and ski Half Term weeks .

Ski Half Term

Well the Ski Half Term Week is already half way through and it certainly seems to be one of the most popular family ski weeks for many years in French ski regions with what seems the whole of Paris on holiday, large parts of Italy, and in the UK both public and private schools having the same half term week for the first time.

Thankfully with such great snow conditions the resorts appear to be coping well with demand with slopes from the top to the bottom of the mountains generally in great shape. So for those enjoying some great snow and the best ski slopes in Europe, have a great ski half term family ski holiday.

Family Skiing Chamonix

Chamonix is often seen as a steep and deep resort, loved for its off-piste and therefore not a great resort for family skiing holidays. This however is not a fair representation, as Chamonix has two great family ski areas in La Tour and Les Houches. The latter is particularly geared to family skiing with a great ski school, a snow garden at the base of the resort (Jardin des Neiges) for the small children, a travelator at the top of the mountain and short chair set in a gentle sunny bowl, and great blues and reds to build confidence.

The other great factor regarding a family ski Chamonix holiday is related to the standard of chalets available. The catered chalet market in Chamonix is competitive and strong and therefore differentiation has led to a sharp rise in the standard of chalet accommodation in this ski resort. Most chalets here are of a luxury chalet standard in other resorts. And therefore the luxury catered chalets are typically what it states on the label, real luxury.

And judging by the huge demand for the peak school holiday ski weeks of Christmas, New Year, and Half-Term, the secret regarding how good Chamonix is, and les Houches in particular are regarding family ski chalets and as a resort, is no longer such a well kept secret.

Next week we'll focus on the best ski in ski out chalets that are ideal for family skiing in Chamonix.

Family Ski Chalet

A new family ski chalet blog that will focus on great ski holidays that are focused on family skiing and family friendly ski chalets. There are of course already great blogs on the subject, and we see ourselves complimenting these and where there are stand out articles on family skiing, providing a reference to them.

We also want to identify the best family ski operators, these are organisations and ski chalet operators that firstly care, secondly know what they are talking about, and thirdly provide a level of service to families that is over and above the norm, and therefore really are true family ski chalet and family friend holiday companies. So tell us how it is and we will post your articles. Please note we will verify your posting to avoid spurious / bogus operators skewing the reports.

If you are an operator, send us an article on why you believe you are a great family ski holiday operator and we will reference you accordingly.