Here’s all you need to know about holidaying in a ski chalet. And don’t call me chalet…
We all love our home comforts when we go away on holiday and when skiing this is even more important. Mountain ski chalet holidays offer a home away from home, with the added bonus that someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning for you (sounds like an Irish mammy to us).
Whether you are looking for somewhere you can meet the neighbours over tasty home cooked meals, an intimate space for you and all your friends and family or luxury accommodation with that extra special something, you can have your dream ski holiday at a chalet.
No two places are the same (except for identical ones built next door to each other of course) and each chalet tends to possess its own individual personality.
There are small chalets, where taking the whole chalet gives you privacy and a space to call your own. On the other side of the coin, there are big chalet-style hotels that can take up to 50 skiers and boarders under one roof.
Napoleon Bonaparte, or maybe it was Homer Simpson, famously said “an army marches on its stomach” and we’re pretty sure that skiers and boarders are very much the same, which is why a chalet holiday has this sorted.
Up early to eat a hearty breakfast, followed by a little warm up before heading to morning training at the ski school.
In the afternoon, after a little packed lunch (which can be made up for you by your chalet hosts) and some R&R, it’s time to patrol the mountain passes and put all of that training into serious practice.
Waiting for you on your return is tea and cake – helping to warm the insides and keeps those hunger pangs at bay until the evening meal.
When dinner is served, the wine starts flowing too – which is also included on chalet holidays – and another tasty meal will set you up perfectly for bed time, before it’s time to do it all over again the next day.
At some point in the week the chalet host gets a well deserved day off (once they’ve got your breakfast and afternoon tea ready, that is) and this leaves you with the opportunity to check out the local surroundings and rendezvous with the locals for one evening meal during the week.
A fair few of Crystal’s top snowflake rated chalets go hand-in-hand with extra pampering. In the top-rated chalets, marked as ’Crystal Finest’, you can usually find plenty of added luxuries alongside pretty swish furnishings and service to go with it. Food gets a refined upgrade and a few added touches such as pre-dinner canapés, excellent wine selection, after-dinner cheese, coffee, port and some top-notch chocolates.
Expect WiFi, iPod docks, TVs and DVD players to keep everyone entertained and Molton Brown toiletries so you smell lovely.
Never mind home away from home – Chalet life sounds better to us!
Crystal Ski Holidays , 18-19 Duke Street, Dublin 2 have fantastic packages: Book a 7-night package to a selection of Crystal Ski Holiday resorts, before 21st October, and when you buy one lift pass you will get another one for half price!
Call: 01 433 1010 or www.crystalski.ie for details.
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