|
European Chalets
European Chalets
Many holiday makers believe that your chalet is your refuge after a hard day on the slopes so picking the right chalet for your holiday is an important factor. Luckily Europe boasts an enormous range of chalets, from Mazots (small chalets) up to Chalet Hotels, so whatever the size and needs of your group there is a chalet for everyone.
The four main types of accommodation available in Europe are chalets, hotels, B&Bs and self-catering apartments/chalets. Different countries do differ in what accommodation they offer for example Austria predominantly offers ‘pensions’ (B&Bs) and hotels and in France you will mostly find self-catering apartments and catered chalets.
Catered chalets offer a relaxing experience as you have someone to cook you breakfast, afternoon tea and a 3 or 4 course meal in the evening. The chalet hosts will also organise any activities you want to take part in and have good local knowledge of the restaurants and weather conditions. Chalet hosts will organise your lift passes and ski lessons as well as sorting out rental for you. This kind of set up is good for families as the catered chalet offers structure and can cater for children who would rather have high tea than dinner. It is also worth finding out to see whether you chalet hosts also do ski hosting, this will give you a chance to ski with people of a similar standard and also to familiarise yourself with the pistes and the restaurants!
Location is one of the key factors when considering your chalet. You may want to be right in the centre of resort just a stones throw from après activities or perhaps you would rather be further out up the mountain in a more tranquil ski-in/out setting. Whatever your preference; the quality of chalet food and wine, whether your bathroom has a bath, or having a bedroom with a view, there is plenty of choice on offer. You may also wish to consider whether you would like to book a room in the chalet and share with a group of other skiers and boarders or opt for a private chalet exclusively for your family and friends.
Always check the accessibility of your accommodation to ensure you are not lugging your heavy skis up the mountain after a hard day! Often chalets provide transport to the lifts in the morning if there is no public transport available, but this is not always the case so check before you book. It is advisable to enquire about your menu for the week if you have food allergies or intolerances, also if you have children that do not favour the rich European dishes as your chalet hosts will likely need prior warning to prepare for your arrival.
Self catering is a good option for groups that would find the catered chalet too restrictive. This is a good idea if you enjoy your après and don’t want to rush back to your accommodation for dinner. Though be warned many of the kitchens are poorly equipped with small ovens and few utensils so ensure you don’t over fill the occupancy levels. Whatever style of chalet accommodation you require there is something for everyone.
Essential Travel are working to provide a helpful resource for customers looking for information on Ski Chalets.
We have broken down this resource into some of the most popular Ski Chalet locations in Europe. If you would like to recommend a new category or other locations please visit our contact centre to send us an email.
|
|
