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A catered ski chalet is a type of ski holiday accommodation that includes a dedicated chalet host (or sometimes chalet chef and chalet host) who cooks and cleans for the chalet guests throughout the duration of the stay. This type of service is usually referred to as chalet catering.
What is chalet catering?
As part of a chalet catering package, chalet guests can expect breakfast, afternoon tea, a multi-course dinner, and a drinks package - to include an allocation of beer and wine - and soft drinks. So what can you expect from each of these package elements?
A cooked breakfast
Usually served from around 7.30am to 9am (to allow for first-lifters and those wanting a bit of a lie-in), breakfast typically includes a cooked option, alongside a continental selection including pastries and cheeses. Your chalet hosts should have tea and fresh coffee on the table, alongside juices, freshly baked bread, butter, and jams.
Afternoon tea
After your chalet host has served breakfast, they’ll get started on baking a fresh cake for you to come home to in the afternoon. You’ll find a different cake waiting for you each day after you get back from the slopes, often alongside more fresh bread and jams. You’ll also be able to help yourself to tea and coffee.
Pre-dinner drinks
Your chalet catering package will include an allocation of beer and wine for your stay. Depending on the chalet company you go with, you may also get a pre-dinner drinks reception with canapes, making it a nice opportunity to sit down with the rest of the chalet guests and talk about the day’s highlights.
3 or 4 course dinner
Dinner usually consists of 3 courses, and can vary on extravagance depending on the star rating of the chalet you end up staying in. While there is some flexibility with meal times for sole occupancy chalets, you’ll find meal times for shared chalets remain the same (more on sole occupancy vs shared later).
You can typically expect well-cooked home-style cooking in 3 star chalets, while 4 star chalets are slightly more elevated, and 5 star chalet guests can expect fine-dining silver service. You’ll also find that 4 and 5 star chalets may include an additional course.
“I stayed in a 3 star chalet in La Plagne and can remember how delicious each of the courses were. It was proper home-cooked food, and you could tell it was lovingly cooked by someone who really understood flavour.”
Aimee, Iglu Ski Marketing Manager
If you have dietary requirements, catered chalets can be a great option. As cooking is done on a much smaller scale, you’ll be able to request vegetarian, vegan, and coeliac options, and they also cater for allergies. Just make sure the chalet company is made well aware of your dietary requirements at the time of booking.
How does catered accommodation work?
Commonly, catered accommodation will include breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner, and a cleaning service. Sometimes, catered accommodation includes a minibus shuttle service to the slopes.
The type of catered accommodation experience you’ll recieve will depend on the type of catered chalet you go for. Broadly, there are two types of catered chalet:
Sole occupancy catered chalets
This is where the chalet is occupied by your group only. You’ll have your own dedicated host, who’ll cook for the group and make your beds, and clean your bathrooms every morning (or clean the shared bathrooms if bedrooms aren’t ensuite).
Shared catered chalets
Shared catered chalets work a little bit like an intimate hotel, where you have your own private room (and usually bathroom), but share the communal spaces and meal times with other guests. It’s a great way to get to know other people, and tends to be a popular choice for two friends or a couple looking for cost-effective, sociable catered accommodation.
“The chalet I stayed in La Plagne was a shared chalet. I went with my friend from my ski season, so the experience was great. We had our own twin room, and socialised with the other guests at meal times. You’ll find yourself making friends over the course of the week and skiing with different people from the chalet.”
Aimee, Iglu Ski Marketing Manager
If you aren’t sure on whether a catered chalet or hotel is the best choice for you, read our guide on ski chalets vs hotels to help you decide!
What types of catered ski chalets are there?
We’ve already covered sole occupancy vs shared catered chalets, but you’ll find in amongst that, there are different types of catered ski chalet to be aware of.
Ski in ski out catered chalets
If you’re new to skiing, you may not be aware of the term ‘ski in ski out’.
Essentially, a ski in ski out chalet does what it says on the tin - it means you can ski into your chalet in the evening and out of it every morning.
You won’t need to worry about walking in ski boots or carrying your skis to the slopes (although people will argue this is a part and parcel of a ski holiday), as you can slip your skis outside the front door and ski down to the nearest lift.
If you’re yet to have a lesson, don’t worry, as you’ll still be able to walk down to the ski school meeting point and most ski in ski out chalets will be on gentle green or blue run which you should be able to tackle after a few days (it’s just something to bear in mind).
Catered chalets with hot tubs
While some people like to frequent the apres bars for a few beers and a table dance, others like to kick back and relax with a glass of champagne in the hot tub after a long day on the slopes. You’ll find both shared chalets and sole occupancy ski chalets can come with a hot tub, and you may also find that they come with a sauna, too.
Large group catered chalets
If you’ve got a lot of you looking to hit the slopes, a large group catered chalet is a great accommodation choice. Catered chalets come in all sizes - from 6 people to 26+ people - so you’re bound to find one to fit all of you. If you’ve got an extra large group of you, you may wish to look at a chalet hotel, which offers the same experience as a catered chalet, just on a much bigger scale.
Catered chalets with childcare
Some catered chalets do come with childcare - this can come in the form of chalet-run childcare or catered chalet providers will organise a nanny service on your behalf. You’ll also find the family-friendly ski chalets are happy to do a separate meal time for kids, so they’re not too astray from their usual routine.
Need help finding the perfect catered ski chalet?
With hundreds of ski resorts out there and thousands of ski chalet options, it can be hard to pinpoint the perfect chalet for your needs. That’s where we come in.
As the UK’s number one travel agent, we have the largest collection of ski chalet holidays and deals available on one site. We’re a team of passionate skiers with unrivalled resort and accommodation knowledge - so you really will be in the best hands if you’re looking to book an incredible catered chalet holiday. Why not give us a call today?