Ski New Year

This year the New Year ski break looks set to be one of the busiest yet again with many chalets already booked, and those that aren't filling up pretty damped quick during September and early October. With groups coming in to party, the first chalets to are typically the catered chalets with anything else not far behind. Val d'Isere is particularly popular with its nightlife and great skiing, as is Zermatt for its chocolate box charm, Verbier for its nightlife, and Chamonix for its skiing. But book early if you don't want to miss out on the good times!!

Ski In Ski Out

As we get closer to August and the end of summer, yet again our thoughts turn towards the ski season and the hopes of early snowfalls and November on the slopes! And after a nervous 2009 and 2010 ski season, the 2011 ski season looks set to be a bumper season for bookings as anyone who missed the previous years, looks to avoid missing out this winter.

Talking to Ski In Ski Out Chalets, demand is particularly strong for slope side convenience so for the best ski in ski out accommodation an early enquiry is therefore advisable.

Family Chalets

The great thing about ski in ski out holidays is that it really does take the hassle out of a family ski chalet holiday. If you have had to carry your ski equipment and your children onto a bus, or down snow covered, slippery paths and roads, whilst trying to stop children falling in front of cars, you will probably be able to identify with the benefits.

Step outside the door, put on the skis, and start the family ski day as it should, happy and effortless as the children ski down to their ski school.

Ski In Ski Out

If you are looking to secure one of Chamonix's ski in ski out chalets, the best ski in ski out chalet the Valley has to offer, Chalet Prarion, is being snapped up quickly so time is of the essence. in terms of the peak weeks that are still available, the NewYear ski week is stilling showing as available, and at £14,500 you can follow in the footsteps of a famous golfer's wife who partied there last New year. Most of the other peak weeks have however already gone but off-peak availability is still possible.

Ski In Ski Out

If you are looking to secure one of Chamonix's ski in ski out, the best ski in ski out chalet the Valley has to offer, Chalet Prarion, is being snapped up quickly. Of the peak weeks the NewYear ski week is available, and at £14,500 you can follow in the footsteps of a famous golfer's wife who partied there last New year.

Skiing Half Term

The two most popular ski weeks of the season have started to sell well. The New Year ski week and the half term ski weeks are both two of the most sort over ski holidays in the calendar. The ski half term break this years covers two weeks whereas the February just gone we not only had all schools off the same week (public and private), we also what seemed half of Europe at the same time.

Whilst the split will help availability, don't expect any last minute bargains as this weeks is always a sell out and if any chalets have a room to rent by the end of 2010 for the half term skiing holidays, there's probably a very good reason why. And whilst all children can be testing, I know our can, they don't deserve second best, least of all a room rented by the Adams Family!!

Gay Ski

Well done to a company called Pink Ski who are to launch a dedicated ski site for the gay and lesbian ski community. Whilst the world has in our opinion moved on somewhat from the bigoted prejudices of yesteryear, sadly it still exists and therefore this site should fill a void in promoting resorts, accommodation, bars and nightclubs that will welcome gay skiers without any awkwardness that can sadly occur. God luck to them and we'll try and let you know when this site goes live.

Skiing Easter

For families one of the best weeks to get away are the Easter ski holidays and this year's Easter ski holiday's well and truly illustrated the point. Great weather, longer days, great snow, including powder on and off the slopes, all make the Easter ski holiday one of the best weeks to take the family skiing.

Best Chalet - Part 2 (Ski In Ski Out)

Part 2 of our best chalets series is taking a look at some of the best chalets in Val d'Isere. Unlike Best Chalet - Part 1 which was a relatively straight forward call, there are numerous luxury catered chalets in Val d'Isere so the decision is that much harder. Nevertheless here we go:

Part 2 of Best Chalet we have given to Chalet Mistral, a fabulous luxury Ski In Ski Out chalet, that is a special chalet with its quirky beams and high ceilings. But want gets it our vote is its cosy warmth, with a large open log fire and floor to ceiling windows framing the spectacular view of the Manchet Valley and beyond.

Seven bedrooms, sleeping 14, this ski in ski out luxury catered chalet has real character, a south facing terrace,and great mountain views. All bedrooms have luxury en-suites and a combination of Savoyard wood and Italian marblethat gives them real style. But its not only one of the best chalets for friends and corporate events, it is a great family chalet too with its ski in ski out convenience, a TV room with sofas, games, satellite TV and a DVD player, and room in abundance outdoor for snow games and sledging.

Luxury Ski Resorts

If you are going to the best chalets, which ski in ski out are, why ruin the choice other than by choosing one of the great luxury ski resorts that Europe and America has to offer. So here's my Top 10 recommendations for the ultimate in luxury ski resorts to guarantee the best chalets and best skiing in Europe:

1. Aspen (and Vail)
2. Chamonix
3. Courchevel
4. Meribel
5. Park City
6. St Anton
7. Val d'Isere
8. Verbier
9. Zermatt
10. Whistler

Probably missed one or two such as Banff, but its enough to get your teeth into for the time being!!

Best Chalet - Part 1 (Luxury Catered)

This week we are starting a periodic feature where we will feature some of the best chalets in the Alps and this week we are starting in Chamonix with Chalet Prarion. This chalet is not only one of the best chalets in Chamonix, it is also one, if not the best family chalet in the Chamonix Valley.

Situated on three floors and consisting of circa 250 square metres, with six en-suite bedrooms sleeping 12 in style, the ground floor consist of the Ski Room, a large double / twin bedroom and a Games Room that is 25 foot by 13 foot approximately and boasts a full size pool table, Wii play station, home cinema for the children, and a library of games and DVD's.

If you haven't already got a strong impression of why this is on our list of best chalets, although I guess you probably have, let me continue with the first floor. The centre piece is home for the double sided fire that lights up the Living Area and Dining Room. The latter is a place to behold, a large traditional farmhouse oak table, and in the Living Room leather sofas and oak continues the luxury theme, with high definition projection cinema providing the opportunity to spend in night at the movies, without leaving your ski chalet! The large french doors open on to a large decked terrace and secluded garden that at the bottom joins the piste, and on the south facing decking, there is a luxury sunken jacuzzi for a night of relaxation and a glass of champagne! There is also a large family sized bedroom on this floor.

The top floor consists of four good sized bedrooms, two large family rooms with south facing balconies looking out to the piste.

We hope you agree, a great chalet to start our 'Best Chalet' feature over the coming months!

Luxury Catered Chalet Val d'Isere

Val d'Isere has to be the epitome of luxury catered chalets, or maybe not. If the International Standards  were based on Val d'Isere, there would be very few luxury catered chalets, and certainly not enough to meet demand.

In a round about way, I guess what I am intimating here is that when people talk about luxury catered chalets Val d'Isere, they are typically talking a cut above the rest! Val d'Isere chalets take luxury to an extreme in terms of space, rooms, facilities, and service and as a consequence the chalets have facilities the 'mainstream' luxury chalets just couldn't compete on, such as indoor swimming pools, billiard rooms, and a lot more too!

Easter Ski

This Easter the Alps has seen an abundance of fresh snow so Easter ski visitors are in for a treat with many of the big luxury ski resorts expecting a further dump on Saturday and Sunday. Having skied myself today, the snow was fantastic, and with temperatures plummeting this week, the powder was immense (fluffy, deep, and light).

Personally i am often asked what it is like to ski Easter, and people I think struggle to believe me when I suggest that the Easter ski break is one of the best times to ski. Well, if you don't believe me, ski this Easter and then let me know what you think?

Family Chalet

Following on from our last blog on family skiing, this week we are focusing on a great family chalet in Chamonix, Chalet Prarion. This luxury catered chalet has a great ski in ski out location that is unsurpassed by any other chalet in the valley. Right next to the slopes, with its own private garden, this is not only the best ski in ski out family chalet in the Chamonix Valley, judging by its reviews its probably one of the best family ski chalets in Europe with 250 square feet of luxury.

Chalet Prarion boasts six bedrooms and sleeps 12 in luxury. Downstairs there is an en-suite bedroom, ski room, and a Games Room with a pool table, Wii, and home cinema.

The main floor accommodates the tastefully appointed living area with high definition cinema projection, a centre piece log fire, and the grand dining room with its stylish traditional oak table taking centre stage. One of the three family sized en-suite bedrooms is also located on this floor down the corridor.

The 2nd floor houses the remaining four bedrooms, all are ensuite and two are again family sized rooms.

Outside there is a large south facing decking and a sunken luxury hydro therapy hot tub to help relax busy mums and dads at the end of the family ski day.

Certainly a great family chalet for all ages to have a great ski chalet holiday.

Family Ski

If you are booking a family ski holiday, a ski in ski out chalet is probably the ideal choice. Being located on the piste, a ski in ski out holiday helps remove the hassle from other 'lesser' holidays. So if you haven't had a ski in ski out holiday before, just imagine waking up as the sun shines through the window, looking out on the piste during breakfast, and then as you ski out from the door and arrive with the family graciously at ski school, quietly gloating as other family ski visitors struggle carrying skis and everything else, or falling out of packed ski buses (sometime literally)! Yes, there is another way to make the next family ski holiday a hassle free one!

Ski In Ski Out

Well ski in ski out availability for this season is nigh on impossible to secure as the sold out signs have been up for a while yet and already sales are good for the 2011 ski season with the ski New Year week being the most popular, followed by the ski half term week, and then the ski Christmas week in terms of popularity.  These weeks for ski in ski out properties typically go by the end of June, with many of the other weeks going by the end of September. Therefore if you are looking for a ski in ski out holiday, it doesn't pay to hang around, particularly as there aren't that many genuine properties that really are true slopeside ski in ski out.

Ski Christmas

If you just come back from the family ski half term week, you may already be pining for the ski slopes already. Well there is of course the Easter ski break, but if this season is not an option, then it might not be as bad as you think as the new season is just over nine months away! Sounds interesting?

In the high altitude ski resorts, the ski season start late November, and for family ski groups just three or four weeks later. That is if you take the great opportunity of using the Christmas ski opportunity. You may be thinking but won't this be expensive, but surprisingly not probably as expensive as you might think. The real prime weeks are the New Year ski and and half term ski holiday, and whilst the Christmas skiing week is highly desirable, it isn't as busy as the previously two mentioned and therefore prices can be very reasonable.

Ski Half Term

Well today another ski half term week came to a close and already families are scrambling to book the best family friendly ski chalets. Chalet Prarion, a ski in ski out chalet in Chamonix reported this week that this years ski in ski out guest have already booked again for next year.

I guess such demand reflects the convenience of ski in ski out properties for family ski groups whether to ski Christmas, ski New Year, or for the half term skiing break. So good luck in booking next years ski half term break, it is after all never too early!

What Makes A Family Friendly Ski Chalet

It would be easy to think that being ski in ski out chalet was family friendly enough, so I found it very interesting to read Chamonix Exclusive's take on what they think makes their ski chalet stand out from the rest. Whilst clearly ski in ski out Chalet Prarion benefits from its great location, they list a number of criteria that they believe makes their's stand out from the competition.

As a ski in ski out specialist I think the one that stands out is that they care! yes you need to still have the right processes and infrastructure to make it work, but too often we find that people don't. I say too often, more than once is too often, and I do think mot family ski guests make a great choice and have a great time, but for those that don't, please take a read and a lesson out of one of the best family ski companies in Chamonix!

Luxury Catered Chalets

Recently the term luxury chalet or luxury catered chalet seems to be somewhat over used in many quarters, and one company that seems focused on bringing some order back to the term is our own friends at Ski In Ski Out, who have applied a rather stringent, but more reflective star system for their Ski In Ski Out slopeside luxury catered chalets.

Their luxury catered chalets Val d Isere page is a case input, whereas some operators are marking what many would consider to be three star properties as luxury for star chalets, and sometimes five star luxury catered chalets, ski in ski out have resisted this temptation.

Speaking to their Sales Director Sarah Lancaster she was adamant that this would not change "I think we personally have a duty to be honest about the properties we sell and rather than over sell like some of our rivals, our ski in ski out luxury catered chalets are graded o ensure we delight and that we retain our clients in the future, as they trust us. It is only short sighted companies that over sell and that just is not how we want to be seen".

Check out the links above and see why for yourself that Ski In ski Out are set to be one of the best agents for luxury catered chalets, and ski in ski out ones at that!

Ski New Year

If you want to secure the best luxury ski chalets, least of all ski in ski out accommodation, now is the time to book. For many this may seem surprising, but in the ski calendar, New Year every year is the most sort after week. You might think at this point, yes, but with the economic situation, things will be different and I'm therefore going to hang out for a last minute bargain, but if you do - think again, after September, and for many ski chalets, long before in February and March, the ski New Year week is snapped up.

The most popular New year ski destinations are typically Courchevel, Merivel, St Anton, Val d'Isere, and then Chamonix. Big resorts, high altitude skiing, and a reputation for great night life and therefore the perfect place to ski before the New Years Eve celebrations! Therefore if you are looking to book a New Year ski vacation, in one of the best ski resorts, least of all ski in ski out, now is the time to book to avoid the 'Christmas' leftovers!

So for the fun loving ones, book now for that special ski in ski out accommodation for the ski Christmas and New Year ski weeks and live a little!

Luxury Catered Ski Chalets Chamonix

Chamonix is a ski mecca for all skiers and mountaineers from across the world. Nestled under the Mont Blanc it is probably the most famous mountain resort. The town itself is unquestionable a treat, charming, historic, full of boutiques and hip ski and mountain shops, and a good nightlife that makes apres ski time a real treat.

The resort itself has four distinct areas and each has something for everyone. Les Houches and Le Tour are ideal for beginners and intermediates, Les Houches being particularly attractive and famed for the rich and famous who stop in this beautiful mountain village, then there is Brevent and Flegere, an ideal south facing ski area for intermediates with stunning views of the Mont Blanc, and finally the big daddy of Chamonix, the Grands Montets! If you haven't skied the latter, then some locals in Chamonix might suggest you haven't skied yet! Its steep, most people ski off-piste, and therefore the terrain is either powder, moguls, or both! A must visit ski area.

In terms of ski in ski out Chamonix accommodation, there are only three true ski in ski out chalets to choose. Maison Jaune is a nice chalet, unpretentious and the slightly lower cost option, Chalet Schuss a a small step up, and finally the real stand out ski in ski out accommodation in Chamonix, Chalet Prarion and hence why its featured on www.skiinskiout-chalets.com. Chalet Prarion really is the choice for the discerning skier with luxury unrivaled by the others, and hence why it's clientele includes the rich and famous, and the suprising factor here is that it is only a marginal increase in the price (if you don't believe us check out the other two)! Chalet Prarion boasts six bedrooms, all en-suite, a luxury hydro therapy spa, HD cinema projection, and new for 2010/11 we are told that it will be added a games room, including pool table, Wii, home cinema, and much more to entertain all the family ski members and ski friends too!

Ski Val d'Isere

This week Ski In Out have added the exceptional Chalet Yeti to the the very impressive Ski In Ski Out Portfolio. In Val d'Isere, the luxury catered ski chalet portfolio boasts 6 outstanding ski in out, boutique luxury chalets.

At ski in out, the ratings unlike some operators are based on fair and objective criteria, and therefore some of the ski chalets that other agencies would class as 5 star ski chalets, here are only marked 4 star! But in this collection of six outstanding ski in ski out luxury catered ski chalets, everyone is a 5 star luxury boutique chalet.

And don't just take our word for it, check out the ski Val d'Isere page and the specific chalet pages of (even if it is only window shopping):

• Luxury Chalet Bergerie Val d'Isere (Sleeps 11)
• Luxury Chalet Kilimanjaro Val d'Isere (Sleeps 8)
• Luxury Chalet Lafetenia Val d'Isere (Sleeps 12) 
• Luxury Chalet Mistral Val d'Isere (Sleeps 14)
• Luxury Chalet Yeti Val d'Isere (sleeps 10)
• Luxury Chalet Le Chardon Val d'Isere (Sleeps 20)

Undoubtably one of the best Val d'Isere and Espace Killy luxury chalet potfolios we think you will come across.

And if you are looking for other ski in ski out France properties, click on the hyperlink to see Ski In Ski Out's full list of ski France properties.

Ski In Ski Out - Chalets

The specialist Ski In Ski Out site, www.skiinskiout-chalets.com will shortly be going through  rebranding exercise. The new site is going to be called www.skiinout.com and the new ski in ski out logo will receive a darker, more luxurious ski make over, as will the main site, whilst retaining the current characteristics.

The new ski in out brand as you will see here retains the skis within the the 'ki' but accentuates a stronger 'ski in ski out' imagery with the 'n' and the 'u' linking the ski 'in' and 'out' convenience that such ski in ski out holidays deliver.

We certainly feel it brings a stronger appeal but would welcome your feedback before its official launch in February.

Heavy Snowfall Across Europe Brings Great Ski in Ski Out Conditions

This week it seem that nearly every house in Europe and parts of America are ski in ski out!! Heavy snowfall and an arctic freeze have transferred much of the two continents into a winter wonderland! From a ski holiday perspective, this is great news as ski conditions have gone from good, to fantastic, with more snow expected this weekend and next week.

This said, the cold weather, whilst preserving the powder for the ski powder enthusiasts amongst you, has meant skiers have had to wrap up warm with that extra layer. The Family Ski Advice Blog has some useful tips for children's ski clothing, that at the current time might be useful for older ski holiday makers too!

Enjoy the great snow, but wrap up warm. And if you haven't booked already, it not too late to book that ski in ski out holiday!

Ski In Ski Out - Les Houches, Chamonix

Les Houches this week seemed to receive a great deal of attention in the press this week, although reading between the lines, there was more than an element of creative journalism (we are of course being nice here with our wording)!

Les Houches certainly is one of the gems in the Chamonix Valley and has steadily built up a select and knowing following who love the quaint, and pretty Les Houches, and its large chalets and alpine gardens. Whilst at one time Les Houches chalets were predominantly owned or given to the farming community, the Les Houches luxury chalets we now see are a far cry from these, and the old farm houses transformed into luxury boutique chalets.

As for the ski in ski out Les Houches chalets, these are few and far between, and there are few of note. According to press reports, one of them, Chalet Prarion, is the most exclusive ski in ski out chalets in the world and we tend to agree. However, the claims of this property being $10,000 a night appear somewhat 'expanded', and this ski in ski out luxury chalet Les Houches can be secured from anything ranging from $10,000 for a week, up to $20,000 in high season.