What to expect on a catered ski chalet holiday

Apart from snow (and plenty of it), there are a few basics to a ski chalet holiday. It needs to be cosy with plenty of warm and welcoming furnishings and décor. It preferably has a wood burner or open fire to warm the feet (and feed the soul) at the end of the day. And you can’t do without plenty of home-cooked comfort food to fuel your days in the mountains.

The home-from-home environment of a catered chalet really appeals to the British with nearly one in three holidays being booked through a tour operator. It could be the fact that we like to have the place to ourselves, or maybe it’s the great value. Or maybe that tour operator chalets come with a friendly chalet host so you don’t have to lift a finger!

From the moment you arrive in resort to the final goodbye, your chalet host (or hosts) will be on hand to help with every element of your holiday.

As well as being experts in hospitality, your hosts will prepare hearty cooked and continental breakfasts every day so you’re ready for the slopes. They’ll make a daily sumptuous afternoon tea with freshly-baked cakes and biscuits, ready for when you get home.

And while you’re relaxing and freshening up (or enjoying some local après) they’re cooking your three-course evening meal and opening the complimentary wine. Throughout the week, they’ll also give you a taste of the region you’re staying in with speciality dishes.

Possibly best of all is that your hosts will do the everyday tasks like clearing away the dishes, washing up and making the beds for you. You are on holiday after all!

Your hosts don’t spend their whole time in the chalet though. They live and breathe mountain life, making them experts on that resort and probably others too. They’re on hand to offer advice on pretty much anything you need to know about the resort, from which slopes are best first thing in the morning to the best bars in the area. They’ll even recommend and book up tables in a local restaurant if you wish.

If there’s a group of you going, be it a couple of families or a bunch of friends, it’s definitely worth booking the whole chalet. You won’t be stuck for choice as there are plenty of options ranging from chalets sleeping groups of six to eight, right up to those catering for 20 or 30 people.

The benefits for groups are huge. You’ll often get a better price when there’s more of you as companies offer big group discounts when you take a whole chalet. You also don’t need to worry about budgeting for food or having to split the bill however many ways when you go out for a meal.

The other bonus is that you’re already with like-minded people, as you chose them to come on holiday with you! You have the entire chalet to make your own so you can set the mood with your own music and banter over dinner.

Christmas is always a special time and we want to make sure you have that home from home feeling in your chalet. All of our chalets are festively decorated and everyone celebrates in style. Start your day off with a breakfast Bucks Fizz before heading out to see how many skiing Santas and reindeers you can see. Don’t worry as everything is open and working as usual including the lifts and ski schools.

After a magical day on the slopes, come home to a warming aperitif before sitting down to a full traditional Christmas dinner for guests of all ages. You can expect all the trimmings and free flowing wine followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies and fresh coffee.

You're also more than welcome to bring your presents along too and leave them under the tree, ready for Christmas morning (especially important for families).

So, if you want a classic, hassle-free and easy ski or board holiday with great food and excellent hospitality, a catered ski chalet is the perfect choice for you.