Ski Blog

Chalet hotels have once again grown in popularity in the past couple of years, the idea of chalet-style board, with food & wine provided, but on a larger — often more socialable — scale.

Last season we saw a twist on the chalet hotel, with the introduction of two new ski lodge concepts. One concept offering an exclusive feel, including concierge services and elegant, but large properties, the other concept aiming at the boisterous, low-budget freestyle scene.

This summer's addition to the chalet hotel scene sees a couple of our favourite affordable-luxury suppliers bringing us a more traditional chalet hotel experience.

Chalet Hotel Les Chardons

Les Chardons is a interesting addition to our website, the chalet is run by a Val d'Isere specialist who prefer to offer traditional mountain charm, great food and blond chalet girls, as opposed to flat-screen TVs and high-end, modern furnishings. They are running a hotel sized property for the first time in a decade, though there's nothing these guys don't know about Val d'Isere and good quality chalet food.

Chalet hotel Les Chardons is based right in the middle of Val d'Isere, a mere stone's throw from the church, in one of the quieter corners of the resort centre. The slopes are closer to walk to than it takes a snowboarder to strap in, and the nightlife is a simple stumble away. The new owners had expected to need to renovate the place when they took it over earlier this month, but have discovered its charm and quality have meant the only work needing doing, is to add their own personal touches, such as creating a self serving bar and bringing in their simple, but cosy bedding.

The description of the place gives the impression of a family run hotel that has been converted into a chalet hotel and given a new lease of life. The brochure description is fab and shows why we love them so much: "actually, some of them are baths, but those wonderfully short baths only an Oompaloompa could stretch out in, so most people treat them as showers"

Chalet Hotel Montjola

Chalet Hotel Montjola is altogether another beast. Run by another top quality chalet company who specialise in the top, top resorts, the Chalet Hotel Montjola is their largest property — by some margin — and their first in St. Anton.

The chalet hotel Montjola, was formally a family run favourite in St. Anton, but over the summer will be given a complete makeover which will no doubt make the property one on the top chalet hotels in the Alps. The property will be filled with plush furnishings, and will boast flat-screen TVs in each room, plus the usual such as Wi-Fi, outdoor hot tubs, sauna, steam room and a massage room. The Montjola will keep its bar, though it will only be open to guests and will most likely run from late afternoon until around midnight, offering beers, wine and coffee for a small charge.

Though the property isn't being run by one of the typically large family specialists, the Montjola will have two on-site nannies and allow children on all dates, whether the property is filled or not. There will also be a chauffeur shuttle service from 8am-8pm from the ski lifts and resort centre. The Montjola is a good ten minute walk from St. Anton's slopes and nightlife — so the chauffeur service is a touch — but offers stunning views across the valley taking in the Tyrolean region from the sun terrace, as well as several of the rooms.

So, when you start to put plans into place for next winter, if looking for lively, charming properties with great staff, even better food and fantastic wine, make sure you give the Les Chardons and Montjola a look, as neither will let you down. The chalet hotels will be perfect for families, groups and couples alike and I have no doubt they will be among our most popular properties. My biggest problem is deciding whether I want to head to St. Anton or Val d'Isere and convincing the boss to give me a week off!

Having taken a look at alternative resorts in the last couple of weeks, with Austria and Italy, I thought I'd take a look at where to enjoy a luxury ski holiday next.

Luxury ski holidays can mean something different to all of us, for some it's sitting in one of Chardon Mountain Lodges chalets in Val d'Isere, enjoying fabulous food and Perrier Jouët on tap, for others it's about staying in one of Courchevel 1850's exclusive hotels, or enjoying the champagne ice-bars that accompany the après ski scene in Lech.

Luxury skiing is also about the resort you stay in, the mountain you ski and, of course, where to eat, drink and shop. As mentioned everyone want's something different on their ski holiday, so here are a few of our favourite European destinations to burn a hole in your wallet with.

Courchevel 1850

Courchevel 1850 has been synonymous with luxury skiing holidays for longer than I've been alive and will no doubt out live me too. The resort offers the world's largest linked ski area in the Three Valleys, some fantastically flattering pistes around the resort itself and is stunning.

Courchevel is known for its superb hotels, designer shopping and, of course, the James Bond altiport — okay, so it's not actually called that, but you may recognise it from the opening sequence of Tomorrow Never Dies. Courchevel boasts lavish, exclusive hotels, for those who can afford them and also a handful of chalet hotels, for those who can't, but enjoy watching the Prada clad skiers/shoppers and the fantastic atmosphere.

As mentioned, Courchevel is renowned for great hotels, and though they currently seem to be filled with the Russian nouveau riche, there is still an elegantly Anglo-French atmosphere and plenty of wealthy Brits in town. The Hotel Annapurna has to be the reference point for Courchevel's hotels, it has been well established for 36 years and under the same management for the past 20 years — testament to it's reputation. The Annapurna is also closest to the altiport, important for those looking for helicopter transfers or mere James Bond fans.

The Hotel Les Airelles has been a celebrity favourite for years and it's regulars include Eddie Jordan, Mike Rutherford and Chris Rea, as opposed to reality TV stars. The relaxed atmosphere and lavished surroundings, as well as a great location, also add to it's popularity. Now, Le Chabichou, may only be a four star establishment, but boasts the world renowned, michelin starred, Michel Rochedy as it's restaurants head chef. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 1979 and its second in 1984 and there aren't too many hotels in the Alps that can boast the same level of cuisine!

Lech

Lech has been referred to as the Courchevel of Austria, and though it's an exclusive resort, filled with luxurious hotels, offers world class skiing and is steeped in history, it is a very different resort to Courchevel. Courchevel is where the rich happily flaunt their money, Lech is the opposite of this.

Over the Christmas and New Year holidays you won't be able to find a room for love nor money, as many of Europe's elite have the hotels wrapped-up, and have done so for decades. You'll find the owners of Mercedes and BMW, along with their families taking over the resort during the festive season, and though there is always an air of wealth, there types of skiers in Lech never feel the need to show it.

With the big, open, motorway pistes of Lech and the more technical skiing of St. Anton to enjoy, along with this gorgeous, relaxed resort you can see why it is a former favourite of the late Princess Diana.

The Gasthof Post opened in 1937, and like the Annapurna in Courchevel, is the reference point for Lech, the family run hotel has stuck to the same recipe for years and remains a favourite of Lech's regular skiers. Other notable hotels in Lech include the Almhof Schneider, based a the foot of the Schlegelkopf mountain and the luxury chalet-styled, boutique hotel, Hotel Aurelio.

St. Moritz

Though Klosters can often take the limelight when it comes to luxury skiing in Switzerland — and when the Royal family are in town there's no surprise to why — St. Moritz is one of the world's most elegant resorts, boasting one of the most iconic hotels in the Alps, Badrutt's Palace.

St. Moritz is the original winter sports resort, if not the first true ski resort. It came to popularity with the Brits at the turn on the 20th century as skiing began to grow as a holiday activity for the wealthy, and has remained a favourite resort for generations since.

Though not as flashy as Courchevel with it's designer shopping, fur jackets & Range Rovers, it is not as understated as Lech. This is a resort that, again offers an air of wealth and chic surroundings. The shopping would be enough the break to average bank account and the skiing is comparable to Val d'Isere — in size at the very least. There are motorway pistes and flattering runs, for the more pedestrian skier and challenging off-piste for the adrenaline junkies out there.

The historic Palace Hotel in St. Moritz opened in 1896 as the successor to the first winter sports hotel, the Krup Hause. The hotel has recently changed it's name to the Badrutt's Palace, but remains one of the most recognisable hotels in skiing. The founder of hotel built the first bobsled run for his guests and the current owners have maintained the reputation of one of the leading hotels in the world.

There are so many great resorts for a luxury skiing holiday, with Val d'Isere, Davos, Klosters and Ischgl to name a few, but Courchevel, Lech and St. Moritz have long been at the top of most people's wish lists and will remain there for years to come. The question is which resort is the right one for you? Whether you are there for the skiing, the lavish hotels or the shopping.