Amazing early booking offers for next season

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Sophia Phillips

As you have probably just packed away your skis for another year, booking a ski holiday for next season is possibly not something that is at the forefront of your mind. Although, for groups (particularly those travelling on peak weeks) now is the ideal time to lock in your ski holiday for next season. To encourage early bookings, many ski tour operators are offering incentives ranging from free lift passes to free childcare and also multiple free places depending on group sizes.

From all the offers available at the moment, here is a round-up of our top five early booking offers for the 2013/2014 ski season…

Best option for families
Chalet Marmau, La Tania, France

Offer: free childcare and free lift passes on selected dates in January and March 2014

Chalet Marmau is located just above the ski resort of La Tania and has amazing views down into the Courchevel Valley. Designed with families in mind, Marmau offers a wide range of room configurations and best of all, the excellent crèche is located inside the chalet.

Chalet Marmau, La Tania - France

Best option for large groups of friends
Chalet Annapurna II, Tignes, France

Offer: 2-4-1 on lift passes in January + free places

Tignes has come a long way over the last decade to smarten up its appearance (especially Tignes Le Lac) and it now provides a great value location to explore the huge Espace Killy ski region. The Chalet Annapurna II in Tignes Le Lac is one of the best with its ski in / ski out location and modern wellness facilities. It’s certainly well worth snapping up if it is available (and on offer).

Chalet Annapurna II, Tignes - France

Best option for skiing in USA
Chalet Pioneer, Breckenridge, Colorado

Offer: Stay 14 nights in December and only pay for 10

Chalet Pioneer, Breckenridge - Colorado

Having been to Breckenridge last season, I would return in a heartbeat – and that would be based on the customer service alone. The snow record in this fabulous resort is one of the best in North America and it has terrain that is suitable for all skiing abilities. However, the service provided by everyone – from the chambermaids to the guys at the lift stations – is just faultless. Our Top Tip: Book yourself into the Chalet Pioneer and find out what all the fuss is about.

Best option for anyone looking for an idyllic and traditional chalet
Chalet Paloma, Courchevel 1650 (Montriond), France

Offer: free full area ski pass for all guests staying Christmas week and throughout January

If going skiing conjures up thoughts of staying in a traditional chalet and relaxing in an outdoor hot tub, before settling in for the night in front of a roaring fire, then do not look any further than Chalet Paloma. Perfectly cosy and quaint – this is the ideal chalet to be spending a white Christmas in.

Chalet Paloma, Courchevel 1650 - France

Best option for those who want everything
Chalet Maison, Alpe d’Huez, France

Offer: £100 off for all guests staying in January and selected weeks in February and March

So often someone will call requesting a modern ski in / ski out chalet close to the centre of resort which must also have hot tub and fireplace. Oh – and it also must be in a high resort which is less than 2 hours from an airport and caters for all skiing abilities. Of the 1,138 chalets that we sell this criteria automatically cancels out 1,134 chalets. Fortunately, one of the options remaining is the delightful Chalet Maison which ticks all of these boxes.

Chalet Maison, Alpe d'Huez - France

Please do not delay in your booking process as most of the above offers will expire before the end of May. Avoid disappointment and call the Alpine Answers office. T: 020 7801 1080.

Luxury chalets to make your friends ‘très’ jealous

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Alice-Jane Dalton

Ever wanted to be drinking champagne instead of boxed wine; eating lobster instead of dry chicken and having a team of staff to cater to your every whim instead of one gap year student rushed off their feet? Don’t we all! Well… it’s not as far off as you think, there are several chalets that tick all the boxes in 5 star Luxury but won’t cost you the earth and here are just a few of my favourites!

Chalet Foinsbois (sleeps 12 – 15) Meribel Village

Chalet Foinsbois - Meribel - France

Having worked for this operator last season, I fell in love with this chalet. It has everything you could need to keep the big and little kids entertained – a gym, a sauna, a hot tub and a games room! Prices in January 2014 are starting around £1,500 per person, and trust me it’s worth it, if just for the unlimited Laurent Perrier Champagne! This chalet is situated in Meribel Village which has a great location being just a minute walk to the lift or why not get the private chauffeur to take you directly to the Chaudanne for instant access to Courchevel, St Martin and Mottaret.

Top tip: Why not go all out and get a private transfer from the airport which includes a picnic prepared for you by your chef and some bubbles before arrival (Why not start as you mean to go on!).

This operator does have four other chalets in Meribel that are just as, if not more, impressive so do give us a bell if you want to find out more.

Chalet Ferme d’Elise (sleeps 16 – 19) Morzine

Ferme d'Elise - Morzine - France

Now this one really does take the biscuit for exceptional value alongside incredible service. Prices in January are starting at just £850 per person. Bargain.com! All rooms can be made up as twin or doubles so it’s perfect for families or just a group of friends. If you want to keep costs down then you can always drive out to resort. However, being just an hour away from Geneva airport it’s very easy to fly with just a short transfer journey at the other end? The food is exceptional and service is top notch.

Top tip: The jet massage in this hot tub is not to be missed…it’s EPIC after a hard day on the slopes!

This operator has one other similar chalet in Morzine so if the Ferme d’Elise is already booked on your chosen week then please do give us a call (T: 020 7801 1080).

Chalet Chardon (sleeps 20) Val d’Isere

Chalet Chardon - Val d'Isere - France

Money could not buy the totally uninterrupted mountain views one gets from Chalet Chardon. The chalet is situated in a secluded location that keeps you far away from the ‘riff raff’ of Val d’Isere centre! This chalet has the largest hot tub that I have ever seen; you can quite literally swim lengths if you wanted! Don’t worry If you are a smaller group as they are usually happy to split most weeks and sell individual rooms. Or why not try out one of the 4 other smaller chalets run by this luxury operator. I love that all the rooms are unique and are named instead of numbered. January weeks start at about £1,250 and quite often include incentives such as free lift passes (so don’t forget to ask!).

Top tip: Why not ask your chef (there would be a an extra charge) to put together for your group a champagne picnic which can be taken up the mountain to a beautiful spot and set up for your lunchtime arrival. Tuck in. There is nothing quite like it and the memories will stay with you forever!

Chalet Grande Sarire (sleeps 18) Val d’Isere

Chalet Sarire - Val d'Isere - France

This is another luxury operator in Val d’Isere that really does go all the way to give you an incredible week. They have even been known to get bands to perform for guests on the chalet’s terrace. Like all 5 star chalets there’s ample numbers of staff and a hot tub to soak in after a hard day. There is a chauffeured 4×4 to take you to the lifts in the morning (although the Le Fornet cable car station is only a few minutes’ walk away). Prices in January are starting around £760 per person.

Top Tip: Always talk to Richard at the start of your stay about where the best places are to ski during the week dependent on the snow conditions. He has done 7 seasons and can advise you on the best places to go and see. Maybe even areas you didn’t even know existed!

This operator does have 6 other chalets of varying size so do let us know if you want to a look!

Chalet Folie Blanche (sleeps eight) Courchevel 1300

Chalet Folie Blanche - Courchevel Le Praz - France

Don’t be put off by the chalet being in Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz). With easy access to the three valleys and 5 star facilities this chalet is remarkable and would probably cost you ten times more if it were in Courchevel 1850. There is a heated swimming pool and even squash court (racquets included), that is if you have any energy left after skiing! And, yes, there is also a sauna, hammam and top of the range Jacuzzi for those who can’t live without them. January weeks can go for a little as £760 per person… Incredible! The chauffeur service is also not just limited to and from the lifts – fancy being picked up from Courchevel 1850 after a heavy luncheon, NOT a problem! The best thing about this chalet is that you have total freedom to choose your own dinner menu each night (although food and wine are charged as extras at the end of the week) so if you want to eat meals out on several nights, then you are not paying twice.

Top tip: Try out a hot stone massage one afternoon after skiing for ultimate pampering!!

I do warn you. These chalets are popular for good reason and get booked up well in advanced so if you want to book I advise that you give us a call ASAP to chat through these or any of my other favourite options!!

So don’t just say that you are going to do it, DO IT! Treat yourself – life is short, so why not splurge out next year and have a holiday that you will never forget!!

If you are looking for advice on any of our chalets please get in touch as we are here to help. Call us: 020 7801 1080 and speak to one of the sales team. Or visit our website: www.alpineanswers.co.uk

What’s in a name?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Lucy Ogden

Here at Alpine Answers we spend so much time talking about the efficiency of lift systems and the size of ski areas, not to mention the snow conditions (they’ve been phenomenal for the second season running, since you ask), that occasionally all the magical hidden extras and treasures that every given resort has to offer get forgotten. We all know there are resorts which look more ‘chocolate box’ or more ‘purpose built’ than others but what about what actually goes on within that exterior view, whatever that might be?

Meribel ski resort view of village

To cover all resorts would be impossible since there is more on offer in each resort than any holiday maker would normally imagine. Therefore, by way of giving an example of the vast opportunities on offer in most resorts, I’m going to use Meribel as an example. Before we begin I should confess that I’m obsessed with Meribel. It was my home for a large portion of 2011 and 2012 and before that a beacon of much loved childhood memories. Having made this disclaimer let’s continue this virtual tour, whilst remembering that similar opportunities mentioned here are on offer in numerous resorts across the beautiful mountain ranges of Europe and North America.

So, let’s start somewhere delicious. Skiing holidays are one of the few times you can get away with eating that larger portion (or at least pretend you can) so why not make the best of it? For evening meals in the Morel area head to the Petit Onion where your bill will be served in a locked treasure box whilst finding the key requires you to dive through a bowl of sweeties to retrieve it. Chez Kiki serves beef that taught me the true meaning of the words ‘steak that melts in your mouth.’ Meat doesn’t melt in your mouth, I thought. Well, it does at Chez Kiki. These restaurants are a little more pricy than some but really worth the extra. They’re also convenient for anyone who is really suffering the effects of a hard day’s skiing and has been rendered unable to make the five minute walk down into the centre of town. On a Monday the Petit Onion is closed for food as it houses a live band and serves solely as a bar. However, it’s still worth a visit and also it’s the only place in Meribel to serve Guinness!

Rond Point Bar and Restaurant Meribel

For anyone with less weary legs I would recommend taking the short walk into town via the shortcuts running between all the chalets. It makes for a mini adventure, a more scenic view and occasionally a perfect way to try out the grip on your snow boots. Make your way to La Fromagerie for the most delicious and authentic Savoyard experience. Walking into the restaurant is rather like getting hit by a wall of cheese since the fumes from the food would give any fondue and raclette mecca a run for its money. However, you’ll soon not notice it and, believe me, the food is good enough to excuse almost anything. The fumes might, however, give your legs an added wobble by the time you get up to leave. If it doesn’t then I recommend you continue your evening’s entertainment in La Poste cocktail bar just down the street. French, stylish and brimming full of inventive liquid treats all guaranteed to come with added leg wobble when consumed in multiples. Well, you are on holiday after all!

If you’ve found yourself in town but have already had your fill of French skiing faire then head to Evos at the bottom of the town. Offering a wide range of good food in a friendly atmosphere it’s a safe option for everyone. On a Sunday Evos have an all you can eat ‘buffet’ (dishes are brought you your table) which has a different theme every week eg. Chinese, Thai, Indian. It’s also a really good option for breakfast since it’s so close to the Chaudanne area which operates as the main lift hub.

For those looking for lunch munch (or just an excuse to sit down for a bit) then Meribel is packaged with surprisingly good value gems. The Rond Point (‘Ronnie’ as it is affectionately known) is on the run down to the Chaudanne from the Courchevel side of the valley and before this much loved venue heats up the slopes with its après scene, it runs a full lunch service on their sun trap of a terrace. Tanning and tartiflette? Why not?!

Rond Point Bar and Restaurant Meribel

If you’ve been exploring the Mont Vallon area or are heading over to Val Thorens then you’ll likely find yourself in Mottaret. You won’t fail to miss the buzzing cafe scene that appears mysteriously quickly just before midday. Post-lunch the crowd disperses quickly enough to make you wonder if it was ever there in the first place. Consequently it becomes a rather tranquil patch for a spot of mid afternoon people watching (and you thought those ski googles were just for keeping out the sun’s rays.) Midday or mid afternoon you’d be a fool to miss out on a Mountain Burger. It’s sure to provide lots of energy (although we’re probably good enough friends now to admit that what I really mean is that it’s not exactly health food) but at €6 you can afford to eat as much or as little of this feast as you fancy.

Lucy skiing in Meribel - Mont Vallon

Now moving on to evening activities that, shock horror, don’t involve food, I recommend heading to an ice hockey game in the Olympic Centre. It’s roughly €4 a ticket and, unless there’s a big tournament happening, Wednesday is match day. In all honestly the Meribel team aren’t going to be winning any big championships but that doesn’t normally stop the crowd from making lots of encouraging noise. If you don’t warm up your hands by flapping and clapping then a Vin Chaud is €3. Moving next door, the bowling alley is open every evening and buying a game also buys every player an array of glow sticks and accessories, making this activity somewhat of a unique disco experience.

Now I know I said that the aim of this read wasn’t to impart knowledge of skiing but it is my job and old habits die hard. So….head to the Altiport area, which is on the Courchevel side of the valley, for real beginners. You can do the Actimel Challenge ski cross run which is essentially a really mini ski cross complete with tunnels and skittles. Then, you can ski through the trees on the Animal run and find all the animal statues hidden in the trees. In my experience this is a skill unique to children but I’ll blame that on their more suitable eye level to save face. Following this you can ski the Golf run down to Meribel Village. This run is good for basic intermediates but is also a really lovely run for everyone. You can ski down to the Lodge Du Village (LDV) in Meribel Village which is good for lunch as it has a great terrace that acts as the perfect sun trap. You could also head to the LDV for a lively après scene and live music on Tuesdays.

Lodge du Village in Meribel Village

The thing is, I really have only just scratched the surface in this blog. It really is best if you go and experience it all for yourself and discover all the gems that this blog is too short to tell you about. Please do telephone us here at Alpine Answers and we can help you find your perfect chalet in Meribel or an alternative resort where similar treats lay in store.

Weekend adrenaline rush in Engelberg

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Earl Knudsen

Wow, what a gem of a resort. Having never been before but having heard so much I was intrigued. I was also a little sceptical as Simon in the office dislocated his shoulder skiing in Engelberg and consequently did not give it a glowing report.

Arranging a ski weekend in Engelberg could not be easier as flights to Zurich are plentiful and my SWISS flight went without a glitch. The two friends I was meeting up with had about a 45 minute delay so I got to experience Zurich airport, which is actually very impressive. Plenty of shops and restaurants to keep oneself busy for an hour or so. We picked up a car and the short transfer time of 1 hour 20 minutes makes Engelberg, one of the shortest transfer destinations from a major airport.

How much snow?

It was not love at first sight as we arrived in sub zero temperatures, in fact, none of us were too keen to get out and ask someone where to find our hotel. The long and short of it is that Engelberg is not that big so eventually we found THE SCHWEIZERHOF; how could we miss it as it was right in the centre of the resort next to the Bahnhof! With the resort totally covered in snow and snow continuing to fall on our arrival we all knew we were in for a good weekend of powder.

The very friendly Hotel Schweizerhof

The next day after a hearty breakfast we got our skis and walked the seven minutes to the Titlis Gondola with the snow still falling. Please note we could have also hopped on the local bus for a four minute ride to the lift. OK, the visibility was not great but with so much snow around we were on a mission. After the two stage Gondola we hopped onto the cable car and arrived at 2428 metres which is actually not that high and with the final Rotair cable car still to take we decided we would start our weekend on skis at this point. The snow under ski was amazing and within a short time we found our perfect pitch to go crazy in the POW! The Laubersgrat area was perfect with powder up to our thighs on either side of the piste, we were soon getting in the groove. The visibility remained poor for most of the morning but after a spot of lunch every skier’s dream came true – a “bluebird” afternoon was in stall for us. We jumped on the Rotair Cable car, which is quite unique in that it revolves round as it ascends to 3028 metres. Now the heart was pumping as the views were amazing of the Steinberg glacier below us. We could see plenty of skiers and boarders in paradise skiing thigh deep powder. However, without a guide we were not going to tackle the glacier so instead we skied a safer itinerary route which was just as amazing. Having skied hard all day our end run was the famous bowl called the Laub. This is 1400 metres of off-piste North facing powder with a perfect pitch – a real thigh burner but we were in heaven! My tip on reaching the bottom of the Laub is not to walk out but take the taxi ride back. For 2 Swiss francs I can assure you it’s worth it. Day one was over and I was a spent force.

The Gondola Titlis mountain

Days two and three were just as inspiring, as we went over to the Jochpass area and found plenty of excellent off-piste terrain. Wherever you look you’ll find tracks as this is an off-piste paradise given the right conditions. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time as I cannot remember skiing in such light and deep powder – just truly amazing! Next time I go I will be fitter and I’ll book a guide, well if I am being more realistic maybe I’ll just book the guide.

Bluebird day in Engelberg - Top of the Laub

The resort of Engelberg is situated in a box canyon as the Americans like to call it, and is typical in style of many Swiss resorts. The larger buildings being quite square and austere, mixed in with traditional wooden mazots, make for an interesting combination. Getting around can generally be done on foot although the local bus service is frequent and reliable. There are plenty of good hotels and I can highly recommend the Hotel Schwiezerhof where we stayed. They offer a great breakfast; and the rooms are large, comfortable and clean. There is a small bar and lounge to relax in as well as a small wellness area. The hotel restaurant which we did not try does local fondues, so next time I will give it a go.

No - that is not a grey beard - it's ice. Well, perhaps not all of it is ice.

Please note as we only skied for 2 ½ days we did not have time to try the Brunni side of the resort. This is the family and beginner ski area, so don’t let the fact that I have recommended Engelberg to powder hounds put you off, there is something for everyone.

Stats o’clock!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Paula Liiv

Here at Alpine Answers we like to keep tabs on the latest trends and tendencies in the chalet market and after all the festivities one of our highest priorities was to see whether there were many beds left to sell across the Alps.

We work with a huge number of chalet operators and collate availability for more than a thousand properties of various quality and size, which gives us a good idea of what is out there and helps our clients to make the right decisions and avoid disappointment.

The table below shows how booked up each of the remaining weeks of this season are. Data collated on 31st December 2012.

Bed availability table according to Alpine Answers Chalet Market Research 2013

January Departure weeks

This season many people organised their parties early, booking their chalet well in advance. This resulted in almost 80% of January beds being sold by the end of December – an unprecedented high figure. Perhaps this can be attributed to some growing confidence in the UK economy but undoubtedly the amazing snow falls from the very start of the season have played a major role here.

Over the course of this last month big groups have struggled to find much choice, especially when looking for holidays packaged with flights from the Northern UK airports. However, there were some great deals in January, the cheapest period of the season so far being the 19th/20th January departure week with prices plummeting as low as £229 per person (catered chalet with flights and transfers). However, these prices were rare – and the chances of bagging last minute beds this cheap were not high.

February Half Term

The main UK Half Term week (16th – 23rd Feb 2013) is very busy but some operators with remaining beds and flights have started to discount so there are actually some great deals up for grabs. The week starting 09th/10th February was originally priced very steeply (many tour operators assumed it was a popular UK school half term week) and as a result was only 60% full by the beginning of January. The low popularity to travel on this week has now created some massive discounts for this period. Those parents that do have children with this half term week are in luck if they are looking for a last minute getaway to the Alps or North America.

Half Term skiing!

March Departure weeks

March weeks have not been discounted yet but from the beginning of February we will start seeing some reduced prices for these weeks. Bearing in mind that over 50% of March beds were sold during the last 4 weeks big groups can’t be too picky and must book on the spot when they come across something they like. For families looking to ski over Easter the latter of the two Easter weeks starting 06th/07th April is relatively under sold at this point in time. Perhaps there will be some late deals to be had for this week. Although please remember that the higher, more snow sure, resorts will always get booked out early.

Next Winter season 2013/14

Just out of interest I had a look on the next season’s enquiries and was surprised to find out that we have already been contacted by over a 100 separate party leaders with their 2014 requirements. So it’s certainly not too early to start seriously thinking about your next perfect white Christmas or happy New Year holiday!

Perfect White Christmas with Alpine Answers.

Conclusions

Unless you are just two people living near London who don’t care what room you stay in, and have absolutely no preference on which resort to go to the lesson to learn from the above statistics is to book in advance. You should also bear in mind that small independent ‘accommodation only’ chalet operators can’t compete on late deal prices with the larger package holiday tour operators who cut their prices in order to sell their committed flight seats. Therefore when booking late it never works out cheaper to buy flights in advance and wait for an ‘accommodation only’ late deal. Of course there are advantages in booking with a smaller (accommodation only) chalet company - higher quality service from more motivated staff; better chalet cooking using higher grade ingredients and superior chalet furnishings. It’s just that price, on a last minute booking basis, is not one of those advantages.

If you are looking for advice on any of our chalets or hotels please get in touch as we are here to help. Call us: 020 7801 1080 and speak to one of the sales team. Or visit our website: www.alpineanswers.co.uk