Help, not sure where to start?

[peaceanddove]

Looking to book somewhere for next Christmas, with options for a bit of ski-ing, but with plenty of other activities for older teens too. We would need to hire ski gear too. We'd really prefer Switzerland but are flexible.

We want a chalet that sleeps 8, but we need a chalet maid service too. Ski in/out would be nice but not vital. Walking distance to all local amenities, so want a pretty town with plenty to do & places to eat etc.

Can anyone recommend something suitable? Is it best to book a package holiday, but with who?

I recommend Saas Fee, especially as you have non-skiers in your group. Lots of easy runs but also great for touring etc. Has an ice rink and a board park. Spectacular scenery, world’s highest revolving restaurant, snow sure, loads of spas, yoga, all that sort of stuff. We have a week there most years and a week somewhere more challenging like Cham for example.
Downside of Switzerland as others have said is you need a second mortgage to fund it! We do self catering in apartments because that’s the only way we can afford it.

@longcoffeebreak - yes it’s 2000m+ at the top, as many are, but the actual town is lower down. Meaning sometimes once you get lower down it wouldn’t be possible to even ski in ski out if your chosen chalet is lower if that makes sense.

It’s quite common in Austria for the top to be high enough but bottom not. For example my nearest ski area is 10 min drive. The car park and my garden have had no fresh snow for weeks. So you park at bottom, take cable car up to half way and start skiiing from there . To get back to car you have to take cable car the last bit down. Or ski a black run ( which is rarely open due to not enough snow at that level).

I think France is generally better for the whole ski winter experience if you want to be able to stay in one resort, and not have a car. Generally here you need to drive between various areas and to restaurants etc.

France les gets/ val thorens area is worth looking at. Can access huge ski area all car free easily via lifts, nice and ‘wintery’. Lots of chalets at ‘reasonable’ price. High up for early ski

I know you said a chalet, but have you considered a hotel?
Ski hotels are great as they will help with getting all ski passes, hire equipment, ski lessons etc. Plus entertainment for teenagers, pools and spa and food all day in site. And can arrange non ski activities for you like horse sledge rides etc. So might be better for your first trip. Teens can meet others.

This is worth looking at in Val thorens.
www.hotel-kohinor.com/fr/ - Val thorens.

If this is your first ski holiday then I think you should book a package holiday, as it will make organising the ski rental, ski passes, lessons and transfers much easier. Try Mark Warner, for top end Scott Dunn, however I expect it will blow your budget. You will not get a chalet with ski in/out over Christmas for 5k in Switzerland, so try France / Italy / Austria. 26th Dec - NY Day is the busiest week of the year, and so the most expensive. Sounds as though the teenagers would like apres-ski, so you need a town, as opposed to cheaper quieter village. Much easier to use an agent and get a package. I guarantee someone in your party will get the skiing bug.

We’ve been to Morzine lots in recent years over new year. It’s quite a big town with plenty apres. We have also been to Chatel a couple of times, smaller but still lovely. It’s the same ski area (Portes du Soleil), which is massive. No complaints about the snow. Easy to get up to higher ground in Avoriaz via the gondola if necessary.
It’s only one hour away from Geneva, so easy transfers. I just don’t fancy a four hour transfer, double the flight time!
The chalets I’ve recommended above can book everything for you. Super easy if you are unsure what you need. Plus eating fully catered works out much cheaper than DIY. Unlimited wine always goes down a treat! It’s a fab group holiday and would highly recommend!

If this is your first time book a package vacation. Also check insurance etc. Make sure to find out what level you are, beginner, novice, intermediate, or expert/advanced.

By all means hire equipment, a good tip for clothing is to spend on lightweight, technical thermal under layers and don't despise Aldi/Lidl ski suits.

Nothing more likely to put teens off skiing is the simple discomfort unless you have a snow suit. Good luck.

Good luck with that! If you find a snow-sure, ski-in/ski-out chalet with maid service and spa facilities in a pretty town with lots to do for Christmas week ANYWHERE for less than 5k, keep quiet about it and guard your secret with your life. I’ve been looking for something similar for years and they are hard to find for double that budget.

There a few things you could try to achieve your dream. You could up the budget massively, or relocate your ambitions, or downgrade your list of requirements.

You could find a pretty chalet in a smaller town with fewer activities but decent skiing for that price, or a winter wonderland with very limited skiing, or if you look very hard and are very lucky you might find a winter wonderland with skiing but you might have to ditch the maid and spa.

Look at the Scandi places - they are not well-favoured by skiers as the skiing is not extensive, but what skiing there is is beautiful, and there are lots of other activities like husky mushing, snow mobiling, and naked outdoor sauna-ing! It is dark though.

If you say sod it and up the budget, I would go with a package company. Scott Dunns will find you that Wham video dream, at a lottery win price, but Crystal or Neilson will find you a Christmas week in a ski resort somewhere for your set budget (maybe!)

The final thing to consider, if your budget is definitely set and you want to make the most of it is to wait till the start of December and hoover up a cancellation at bargain price, as most people have their Christmas plans locked in by then. Takes nerves of steel to hunt and nail down this approach though.

Okay, my cousin has decided not to join us as the budget was getting too big and one of her DSs insisted he wasn't bothered by ski-ing. This then prompted a re-think for us too as I don't want to ski and DD1 isn't keen either.

I've realised that actually we're all about the pretty scenery, snow, sleigh rides, hot chocolate and a cosy chalet. Ideally with a good Christmas market thrown in. We don't want to stay in the centre of somewhere like Innsbruck or Saltzburg because we won't find a cosy chalet there - though we'd like to visit for a day.

Can any of you guys suggest somewhere that offers all of the above? Snow is very, very important. Thank you.

Seefeld Kitzbuhel, Zell am See or St Anton if you fancy Austria. the main markets are in the cities but most resorts have a local events programme and these are not too far from either Innsbruck or Salzburg for an excursion by train. Engelberg if you fancy Switzerland, near to Lucerne which has Advent windows and lights, and a glacier for snowsure excursions and skiing, igloo and mountain hut experiences, although catered chalets are less of a thing there.

Thank you for the suggestions. We think Austria looks prettiest and the chalet doesn't need to be catered anymore, we'll just eat out.

Seefeld is lovely - about 30 mins on the train from Innsbruck and plenty of places to eat. You can do horse drawn sleigh rides there. Or Mittenwald in Bavaria is very pretty - might be too low though. Or Mayrhofen - with a trip to the Krimml waterfalls and the Hintertux glacier. Of you're a fan of the Chalet School books - they were set on Achensee. Also easily accessible from Innsbruck with a steam train up the side of the mountain.

If the snow is very, very important then anywhere low is a risk. Whilst there's lots of snow this year, there have been several years in the past decade where Morzine, Zell etc have not had good coverage at Christmas. There will often be snow on the mountain (aided by cannons), but it can be a whole different ball game in town.

If snow is the top priority, then I'd go for Finland. Chance to ski (great for beginners), pretty chalets, lots of activities (sledding, snow shoe walking etc) and the chance to see the Northern Lights.

Some Austrian suggestions:

Zell am See - with the caveat that there might not be snow in the town, but there will definitely be snow on the mountain and on the glacier at nearby Kitzsteinhorn.

Kitzbuhel - but you'll need deep pockets.

Saalbach, Maria Alm, Westendorf, Solden, Flachau ... there are literally hundreds of places.

"Wham-video" style chalets are not as widespread in Austria as in France or Switzerland, but there are plenty of nice cosy guest houses (Pensions) which of course have staff who cook and clean.

Try asking the same question over on Snowheads.com - there are a number of British chalet and guest house owners on that forum who might be able to help.