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Original poster

Anyone been skiing staying in a hotel at xmas?

18 replies

skixmas · 14/12/2023 13:54

We have never been abroad for xmas or stayed in a hotel whilst skiing. We usually self cater. HB in Italy in family run hotel with under 100 guests. Any tips on what to expect. Thanks

OP posts:
tescocreditcard · 14/12/2023 13:56

Sounds great. I've been ski-ing in Italy but not at xmas I'm sure it'll be lovely though

Original poster
skixmas · 14/12/2023 14:05

Thanks yes I am sure it will be. Just wondered if there are any ski traditions if away over xmas (wear xmas jumper or hat?) or if people dress more smartly on xmas day etc.

OP posts:
Cazziebo · 14/12/2023 14:31

We used to always go away for Christmas. You do have to go somewhere quite high to guarantee snow at that time.

Austria is magical at Christmas. Snowy, carol singing, friendly. The hotels we have stayed at have had a big gala dinner and entertainment and Santa came - on a real sleigh! - with presents. Wonderful.

Also did catered chalets which are great but not quite as sociable. Not sure about any traditions although in Soll there were a few Scots lads in kilts with bare chests skiing down the slopes.

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Original poster
skixmas · 14/12/2023 15:06

Thank you. We are going to Italy but high, snow doesnt look great even so at the moment. Did people dress up more than usual for xmas dinner?

OP posts:
AutumnComfort · 14/12/2023 15:46

Check which day they celebrate Christmas (and whether they celebrate with the meal in the middle of the day or evening).

Original poster
skixmas · 14/12/2023 16:50

Christmas meal is hotel evening of 25th, we dont get lunch provided. Lifts are open so hopefully somewhere open for lunch!

OP posts:
AutumnComfort · 14/12/2023 18:47

Sounds really nice

declutteringmymind · 14/12/2023 18:48

We skiied as normal on Christmas Day with dinner at the hotel. It was magical. That was in pomporovo.

Original poster
skixmas · 14/12/2023 22:15

thank you. Was that in a hotel? Did anyone take/wear anything christmassy?

OP posts:
LIZS · 14/12/2023 22:22

We did a few years back. Smart casual, slightly more formal than usual, for a gala dinner. Most of Europe celebrates Christmas eve and. Rw .year more than Christmas day.

RoseJam · 14/12/2023 22:31

Yes, we have. It was great. Christmas Eve is a bigger event in Europe. We had a Santa visit in the ski-village and a ski procession with a few fireworks and carol singing. The hotel we stayed at, had a Santa visit too. On Christmas Day, all the ski schools and ski slopes were open so we spent Christmas morning out ski-ing! It was lovely. Then back to the hotel for a traditional Xmas dinner (with no washing up, cooking or clearing). Bliss!

Do ask your hotel what special Christmas arrangements they have.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 14/12/2023 22:32

@skixmas it's not as lovely as it sounds like it should be. I worked a lot of ski seasons as a Resort Manager, my first time I was SO disappointed, but having had my expectations adjusted (ahem) it is what it is.

if it's the only week you can go, then it's fine, but I wouldn't do it deliberately to celebrate Christmas.

one season, the snow late, that Christmas Lunch/Dinner was the first meal the hosts had cooked for guests.
utter fucking chaos!! I drove food around all day & helped cook in more chalets than you can imagine.

it depends what makes Christmas for YOU.

scratcher have beans on toast with family/friends, that a Christmas Dinner in a Restaurant.

in a resort you may get neither 😂 but hopefully you'll get fab skiing 🤢

margotrose · 14/12/2023 22:33

We have in Switzerland. We skied as normal and had a mountain lunch and then the hotel did Christmas dinner.

You could arrange to have gifts under the tree for your family or children too.

Christmassss · 14/12/2023 22:40

I also went to Italy one Christmas on
a ski holiday, it was on a half board basis. The Christmas Day dinner was a tiny bit fancier than the other nights and nobody dressed up.

WestwardHo1 · 14/12/2023 22:50

I have. It was the best Christmas exH and I ever had. The staff made an effort for Christmas day and there was a lovely camaraderie among the guests who were mostly child free/retired Brits. Sounds awful but it wasn't!

Original poster
skixmas · 14/12/2023 23:08

Thanks for all this. We all love skiing and want to do that all xmas day and dont want to be dressing up for meals. We wont be bringing presents with us or missing the traditional dinner as we can do that at home before and after. In fact the kids dont really want any presents, part of the reason for skiing then (plus GCSEs/A levels affecting skiing later in the season). Just wanted to check that we were not going to seem too odd!

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 15/12/2023 10:26

The only place where people glammed up for meals (that I've experienced) was Bulgaria. Despite a superb Christmas dinner with unlimited alcohol, I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a ski resort. Caveat - may have improved in past 10 years.

Everywhere else, it would be normal après ski clothes - jeans, shirts etc.

declutteringmymind · 15/12/2023 17:36

@skixmas yes it was in a hotel - family run but they put on a nicer dinner and there was traditional music and dancing.

We wore Christmas jumpers, and took stocking for the kids.

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