Chalets

[mumstheword1982]

Hi all

Researching ski holidays for next year. We normally go Feb half term but have noticed it's cheaper at easter...if we went then is the snow good? Which resorts are still good.

Also we've never done a chalet but seen others talking about it on here, is it more economical given that its catered. Any recommendations for companies?

What are your tips for keeping costs down but not compromising on the holiday?

2 adults and 2 kids, must be in school holidays.

Thanks

Easter is very late next year so you need altitude ie a resort over 2000m and plenty of skiing above that on predominantly north-facing slopes. You can get lucky and get a cold snap at Easter - we have in the past - but less guaranteed as the years go by.

I would go for Val Thorens or Tignes or Cervinia, but can't comment on chalets - suspect Val Thorens would have most options in this respect. Tignes is building more chalets in the lower villages (Les Brevieres particularly) but I wouldn't stay there at Easter - I would look something at 2100m/Le Lac which has more in the way of chalets, or Val Claret, which does have a few chalets, but is mostly self-catering or hotels so probably not want you're looking for.

*what you're looking for

Chalets tend to work for groups, I don't think they're a great option if you're just going as a family.

There’s a reason that Easter is so much cheaper - it’s very late next year so you definitely need to go high. I’d be aiming at 2000m for accommodation with higher skiing. Even going high you’ll have spring conditions - often icy in the morning and very soft / slushy by early/mid afternoon.

How old are the kids? Not all companies accept kids in chalets unless you have sole occupancy

I've skied quite a bit at Easter and I've never skied as late a 18 April. Personally, I'd stick to half-term if you can afford to. If Easter is the only option, go as high as you possibly can.

Re. chalets, I like them and don't think they're only for groups - in terms of expense, l don't think they're that cheap. If you're looking for the most cost effective way, it's got to be a self-catering apartment in a French purpose built resort lots of self-catering apartments, e.g. La Plagne, Val Thorens.

I think that Easter will pretty much be too late next year. Chalets are better for big groups (with big budgets) we usually just book an apartment from somewhere like booking.com and separate flights and car.

We've just booked Austria for Feb next year, it was £1000 for accommodation for me, DH & 2x DC. We went to Morzine this year which was fab but the accommodation seems to be ££££ in Feb 2025.

Cervinia is fab and high, but the accommodation options are pretty grim!

As others have said, Easter 2025 (Good Friday is 18th April) is too late in the season for most resorts. In the Alps only the very highest resorts will still be open and prices will be high - and the number of pistes will be limited, making them crowded. An alternative might be Sweden or Norway, but these are not inexpensive places either.

Tips for keeping costs down (which of course mean some compromises):

• Look at the week before Christmas, or even Christmas week;
• Self-cater in an apartment (you don't have to cook every night if you eat on the mountain and/or are happy with a pizza once or twice);
• Austria and Italy are better value than France or Switzerland;
• Consider satellite resorts - if you don't need the night life, staying in a village 5-10 minutes out of the main centre, or on the fringe of a big linked area, can give a big saving. E.g. Kirchberg for Kitzbuhel, Leogang or Viehhofen for the Saalbach Ski Circus.
• Look at smaller resorts if you don't need hundreds of km. E.g. Rauris, Maria Alm or Lofer in Austria, Kronplatz in Italy.

When do your Easter holidays start? You might catch first week of April if your kids break up earlier. We’re doing that next year and we’re finding flight availability is much worse than half term so you save on accommodation but might be paying more on flights.

We ski right up until May every year in Tignes and will be here for 2 weeks every Easter for the foreseeable! I much prefer it to half terms, plenty of high runs and once you’re used to the slush it’s all good. Here right now and there’s tonnes of snow. Feb half term is the worst week of the year to ski in a big resort, much rather ski some slush and have an emptier resort!

I don’t think I would want to do a mixed chalet as a small family group, it’s really hit or miss. Having worked a few years in a chalet a mixed booking rarely goes well. I would go large chalet hotel or self catering apartment in VT or Tignes.