Thousands of chalets and ski holidays are booked every year. Getting it right means all the group have a great time and will want to come back year after year. Getting wrong means some never return. It is for this reason we work very hard with you to get it spot on. So here are our 10 top tips for booking chalet ski holidays successfully:

1. Choose Something For Everyone – Compromise A Little

Think about the group as a collective. What might be great for some – might not be great for others! Compromises therefore have to be made, but with careful selection these can in fact be very palatable ones that don’t have to devalue your experience and enjoyment.

Our tip is to write down exactly what it is that each wants from the holiday, nightlife, character, extensive skiing, cruising runs, steep and deep, great restaurants, etc. What are the common themes; the groups wants and needs? Where can compromises be made? You can then use this to base the selection using the Chalet Ski Holidays resort guide or contact one of our consultants (experienced skiers) who can talk with experience on what resort will probably best suit your group.

2. Be Honest About Your Ski Ability And That Of Others

Why rush, we suggest you take your time to build up to the big famous ski resorts where it is steep and deep. Ski and snowboard techniques improve by skiing and snowboarding slopes that match your ability. Portes du Soleil for example is a great pace for beginners and intermediates, St Anton less so (but fantastic when you are competent on Reds and Blacks). 

3. Be Open Minded – Horses For Courses

We hear many fallacies from people who have been told not to bother skiing “this resort” for “that reason”. Sadly in most cases created by hearsay from skiers who have not even skied the resort! Les Arcs is a case in point – we often here people say for example that they have heard the skiing isn’t really that good, challenging, extensive, etc when in fact it is all three for at least 80% of holiday skiers. If you are Hans Klammer, then yes St Anton, Meribel, Val d’Isere et al may be more up your street, but we aren’t Hans Klammer or the ski seasonaire in his 10th season who is telling us in their blog why only Chamonix rocks! 

Here at Chalet Ski Holidays we will give you an honest assessment of what each is like (from real experience and understanding) and how they best suit you or otherwise, and often as a consequence you get more for less and a satisfied group! 

4. Book High Early and Late In The Season If Snow Conditions Important

If you want to get the best ski and snowboard conditions then a high a ski resort is best early on in the season (December and early January) and later on (late March and April). This isn’t to say some of the lower ski resorts won’t still have good snow, most times they do, but the higher you go early and late, the more snowsure and better the snow will typically be. The above stated, if skiing and snowboarding isn’t the number one priority, then we have some great lower ski resorts that provide a variety of activities, not to mention picture perfect scenery too.

5. Don’t Leave It Too Late To Book

We place our guests in the best chalets on a first come first served basis. They therefore go quickly. Also, most air operators operate a reverse pricing strategy – prices start low and rise as seats fill. What you may save later (save may be questionable as most late ski deals reflect over priced ski chalets in the first place that couldn’t sell fas a consequence), you will probably pay for in higher air fares later. Choose early, get the best ski chalet for your budget in the best location, book your cheap flights – and enjoy the excitement of counting down the weeks.

6. Checkout The Location On Google

If your operator is telling you it is 2 minutes walk from the piste or town centre, ask him for the Google coordinates to check. Google now shows pistes on Google Maps (in blue, red and black lines as well as ski lifts). Here at Chalet Ski Holidays we make it even easier for you, each chalet has a chalet location map (using Google Maps) as well as the location description (it is clear to see that it does do what it says on the tin). 

7. Beware Of Ski Deals And Supposed Bargains

As we have eluded to in 5 – ski deals are rarely that. Established ski chalets have built up a reputation by doing the good things right. They have an established catered ski chalet (and snowboard) service that runs smoothly, delivers everything it says, is priced competitively, and sells very well as a consequence. People comeback, recommend the chalet to others, and agents place customers with confidence. They don’t need to discount, it is a great price and it will sell without doing so. 

Contrast this to the chalet offering you the so called brilliant price – ask the question what is it they are doing wrong that is stopping theirs selling without the fire sale ski deal?

8. January For Great Snow And Prices

January has grown in popularity in recent years and we are not surprised. Yes it can be a little colder than February or March, but the snow is crisp as a consequence and generally with big snowfalls throughout the month, the pistes and powder make for a wonderful weeks skiiing.

9. Do You Own Research

It is important to search carefully for the right advice and guidance. Try and find out more about your preferred ski resort, or the resort you have been recommended from people who have actually been and can relate to the needs and wants of your particularly group. For example, there is no point reading a review of Verbier in Switzerland from a seasoned chalet worker in their early twenties if you thinking of taking a young family there. A search on what is Verbier like for families is far more likely to furnish more representative and informative reports than just searching for ‘Verbier Resort Guide’ therefore.  Once you have done this, you can move onto 10 and have a good idea if your operator on the telephone really do know what they are talking about.

10. Talk To Operators Who Are Skiers Rather Than Sales Operators

Here at Chalet Ski Holidays we only employ experienced skiers and snowboarders. This means we are able to provide personal experience rather than the hear say or what has been read in magazines or online. There are other good operators too, but check by asking them if they have skied the ski resort they are recommending!