Christmas Ski Chalets

Christmas Ski Chalets - special features to look out for...

1. Large and comfortable sitting room

We have been booking ski chalets for our clients since 1992 so we like to think we know a thing or two about what properties are perfect as a Christmas chalet. First up on the list is to look for a chalet with a large sitting room which has plenty of comfortable sofas and a proper open wood burning fireplace. As this is a family holiday it's more than likely that you will be spending considerable time in the chalet. So, make sure that your chalet is comfortable and that it offers plenty of sofa space. If the weather is bad, which it often is in December, you are likely to be hunkering down inside away from the elements.

2. Cinema room

Christmas would hardly be Christmas without the family film - the cheesier the better. Come on, this is Christmas! It's good to get all sentimental once in a while and if you can't do it at Christmas then when can you? So, a cinema room comes second on our recommended list.

3. Sauna or steam room

A few years ago chalet owners were scrambling over each other to retro fit a hot tub to their properties to meet demand from clients. Whereas there are indeed some great chalet hot tubs in the Alps (some with stonking mountain views) for the most part they're just not as exciting as they sound. The main problem is that keeping them clean is not that easy (and trust me a dose of hot tub folliculitis at Christmas is about as welcome as your great aunt Agatha). Secondly, as most hot tubs were retro fitted they very often are situated around the back of the chalet, by the bins and with no view. Our advice is to look for a chalet with either a sauna or steam room as either would be much more hygienic and just as relaxing.

4. High quality chalet cooking

If your budget can stretch to it we recommend you book with a company that has a solid reputation for producing good quality chalet cooking (ask us for our recommendations). The smaller companies (generally) are more reliable in this respect as they are more generous with their food budgets, employ better cooks and give these cooks greater freedom to serve what they want.

5. Snowsure Christmas ski resorts

Lastly, you might want to consider choosing a snow sure resort is. If you are planning on having a white Christmas then it's best to aim reasonably high. However, there are subtle nuances to bear in mind when looking for a snow sure ski resort. Les Gets in France which is at a modest altitude of 1,200m above sea level only requires 20cm of snow at resort level to cover the grass pastureland that makes up its ski terrain. Compare this will the 100cm or more snow depth that Tignes needs to cover its boulder-strewn topography.