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Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

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Original poster

Shared chalets with people you don't know?

49 replies

twizzler · 20/12/2008 00:09

Anyone done this?

Want to go with DH and DS but not sure about sharing with strangers.

I was thinking if we went with a family friendly company and booked a catered chalet with family suites it would probably be ok.

Really worried about ending up with a load of young lads or something...or on second thoughts.....

Really confused about what to do. Was thinking maybe self catering but really just want to chill and have other people to cook. Also wanted DS to meet some little mates-or would he get much time with them anyway?

Can you tell me your experiences?

OP posts:

toomanyprojects · 01/01/2009 22:15

I'm sure there will be lots of other children in term time. We first went with Esprit when ours were pre school age thinking that there would be lots of small children but there was a whole range of ages.

We missed last year due to finances and the year before I was pregnant so I am desperate to go this year. DCs will be 8,6 and 20 months. We always stayed in chalets previously though Esprit's chalet hotel in Alpe D'Huez looks very tempting.

Previously we have been to La Rosiere (Schatzi and Le Bracconnier)Montchavin and St Anton (Alisea) All with Esprit. Schatzi I found to be a bit big (I think there were 33 there). Agree with fourkidsmum re ideal chalet size.

ClementFreudsGreatestAdmirer · 01/01/2009 22:23

we've been with ski famille twice and plan to go a third time this year. we are a family of four and we've been in a chalet with 4 other family groups, none of whom knew each other. the chalet has 5 family suites, so each door leads to two bedrooms and one bathroom. perfect. i checked this with the booking lady before choosing the chalet - they're very good at understanding what matters to make it work for you. our kids loved having ready made friends in the chalet, some ended up being in ski school together, but others not. they all enjoyed playing together at tea time and beyond. older kids would stay up and watch dvds/play while we ate our very tasty dinner together. as long as you are gregarious and broad minded it will be lovely. i have to say it's a very expensive luxury way of skiing, which is why we might not go this year....

Original poster

twizzler · 02/01/2009 10:56

Hi Clement.

Skifamille looks really good although am disappointed they only have two resorts. DH and I went to Avoriaz last year (just up from Les Gets and Morzine) and were looking to try a different skiing area.

Maybe next year!

A few of you have been to Le Bracconnier Chalet. I am quite keen on this one and am thinking of booking it-sounds close to slopes etc. Would anyone highly recommend it or did you prefer another chalet you have stayed in with Esprit.

How did I make a decision before MN?!!!

OP posts:

fourkidsmum · 04/01/2009 12:33

As toomanyprojects says, Bracconnier is a nice chalet, in terms of size and location. you can ski in and out and it has lovely views. the downstairs rooms are the nicest i think. suite 2 is the biggest with french windows so you can pop out and chuck snowballs! but has no bath for long post-ski soaks!

Original poster

twizzler · 04/01/2009 18:42

Thank you forkids!

Looks like we will give it a go-

DH likes his baths tho...may have to go for an upstairs room!

OP posts:

fourkidsmum · 04/01/2009 19:52

suite 1 (i think!) is also downtairs, and is nice and has a bath. it's just too small to fit 6 in!! there is also another downstairs room - probably number 3 which is a little smaller still, but nice...

toomanyprojects · 04/01/2009 20:13

We booked late for the Braconnier and had to stay in the upstairs adjoining rooms - not great with a three and five yr old as I was worried they would wake up the people in the quad room next door (which they did at least once). I used to shoot out like a mad woman the moment they woke up. (There was an unfortunate incident in the dark with a cupboard which jutted out in to the room leaving me dazed and with a cut eyebrow...)
The 3 doors were more or less adjacent as I remember. Also I have a feeling that there was a staff bedroom almost opposite which I didn't realise until I was woken up in the early hours after the chalet staff day off by the sound of someone throwing up.. thought it was one of mine at first! Sorry to ramble but the downstairs rooms did look nicer...

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 10:10

Thanks for that!

Am about to book so glad I checked on here first!

OP posts:

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 10:44

too many - we are booked!

Only one room left with a bath - the quad room upstairs!!

You didn't manage to get a sneaky look at it did you - is it a decent size? Wondering whether to just go downstairs to a room without a bath now.

God, I'm useless - I need someone to make all my decisions for me!

OP posts:

fourkidsmum · 05/01/2009 11:03

poking nose in a bit

only you know how important the bath is...but...i would go for a downstairs room for a couple of reasons - they all have seperate sleeping areas for the dcs (obviously linked) rather than your quad room, and they are quieter as the upstairs rooms are next to the lounge/dining room and kitchen and the staff bedroom - however you might prefer that so your dcs are alseep right next to you when you eat...
and re the bath, the first time we went i was concerned about this as i thought i mightn need to soak my old bones, but to be honest (though this might just be our rather chaotic family life!) we would barely have had time to use the bath. mornings hectic to get kids to ski lessons, then back for tea, then quick showers and all in to bed in time for grown ups' dinner. that said i guess dh could have a bath when dcs are having tea...also, it's a nice chalet and whichever room you have i'm sure you'll have a good time. the upstairs rooms are a reasonable size. oh, also there is a sauna where you can relax if you can find half an hour or so

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 12:05

Thank you fourkids!

It's so great being able to get the low down on places before you go!

I think you might be right-will have a word with DH and may change to downstairs.

Also, reg. the town - did you find it a nice stroll or a bit of a trek? The esprit rep said 350 yards but with little legs (DS that is!)it always takes longer....

Did you bother going to the town much? Is there a good selection of shops for extra gear or food etc.?

OP posts:

toomanyprojects · 05/01/2009 12:28

Hi twizzler
I think I would change to downstairs - I did have a look at all the rooms (we were the last flight to leave) but it was three yrs ago so I can't remember everything.

The quad room upstairs is OK - I seem to remember the bunks were sort of tucked away around a corner - part built in to the walls if you know what I mean. Also there is no balcony - I have a feeling the window looks up or across the slopes and I think (may be wrong) that you can see in to it as you walk from the slopes towards the chalets - fourkids probably remembers better.

The downstairs rooms look down across the valley I think and looked more spacious.

There is not much in town a few shops and restaurants and a market as well sometimes but plenty to get snacks etc and good gear shops - I bought my boots in one of them.

In the brochure there is an aerial shot of the resort - the ski hire shop is near Sandrine chalet which is on the main street. It's not far but Bracconnier is slightly downhill from the shops (so downhill on the way back which is good!)

When are you going? Hope you have a great time.

fourkidsmum · 05/01/2009 12:36

it's just a few minutes - with little dcs exactly how long it takes depends how much snow/ice is one the roads and how slippery it is! but five minutes or so.
it's only a little town but has a few nice places to eat and a few nice shops, also a couple of supermarkets and a chemists, and some gift shops.
we only went into town with dscs on the chalet staff's night off and for lunch/souvenir shopping on the saturday, but had our lunch there sometimes. the rest of the time we skied (how do you spell the past tense of ski???), sledged, threw snowballs, made snowmen...did free stuff!
i hope you have a lovely time - i am a bit jealous. oh, and this is an insider tip: you are not allowed to do it because the chalet owner doesn't like it, but there is a little scruffy dog (can't remember it's name), and in the lounge is a bell just inside the door (next to the fireplace). everytime you ring the bell the dog leaps up in the air. it is very funny show the dcs when no-one else is around!

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 15:37

Thanks fourkids and toomany.

I have changed to suite 2 downstairs. I've just seen that you mentioned it earlier fourkids!

DH will just have to have a lie in the sauna if he is missing the bath!

One final question-sorry!-Did your kids have lunch with the Snow Club (if they did ski school in morning) or did you have lunch together as a family? Am thinking it would give DH and I a little more time to ski before picking up DS and having family time in afternoon.

Did your children like the food? And was the supervision good? Not sure whether to book this as well.

OP posts:

fourkids · 05/01/2009 16:05

we always use the lunch for the dcs - as you say it gives us that bit longer...so you can pop to italy or have lunch out somewhere (or just a quick nap! ). the lunch food seemed fine and the supervision was good - they had a great time.
the evening food always seems to go down a bit less well but is still alright - it's hard to please a dozen kids at one meal!!
the first year we booked them into all day skiing/snow club in the afternoon - but hated having a holiday and barely seeing the kids so didn't send them after the first day or so. skiing and lunch club is a good compromise
thinking of eating...buy a multi pack of milkyways or marses or whatever and take them with you for the dcs to take one out each day as they stop and eat them mid morning for the sugar rush!
suite 2 is the biggest in the chalet - i only know that because it is the only one you can squeeze 6 into! and the french windows are really useful. tou probably aren't meant to use them but we have never been told off! the dcs can go out and run about in the snow while you saty warm and watch through the window!!

Crunchie · 05/01/2009 18:43

Oh yes thanks for the reminder about the mid-morn snack!! I must stock up

I always do the lunch club, it works great and TBH you get from 9 - 2pm to ski (we barely stop) and then pick them up Perfect

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 20:01

Thanks toomany and crunchie.

Think I'll book DS in for lunch! Lunch in Italy sounds. Can't wait!

Fourkids-will look out for little dog. DS loves dogs! Are you going skiing this year??

OP posts:

fourkids · 05/01/2009 20:21

we are going to obergurgl...i am VERY excited
i have never been to austria before and am not sure what to expect...except lots and lots of lovely snow
come back and we'll compare notes (and injuries!) when you get back!

Original poster

twizzler · 05/01/2009 20:59

Obergurgl looks lovely!

Have great time - I will be back in a month to compare notes.

Thank you for helping me with my holiday!

OP posts:

fourkids · 05/01/2009 21:11

my pleasure

MollieO · 11/01/2009 10:59

Have just returned from a shared chalet holiday in Ardent with Family Ski. Can really recommend both the resort and the childcare and ski school (ESF but small and friendly).

Can't say I can recommend the sharing with strangers as much though. Went with my son and as a single parent was made to feel very odd by others in the chalet. All couples and very coupley (I was asked to move seats at dinner so couples could sit next to or opposite each other). I fortunately made friends in other chalets to ski with and their chalets sounded like a lot more fun so I think I was just a bit unlucky. Children played well together which was nice and have exchanged email addresses with others in other chalets for next year's holiday.

Am very used to travelling on my own with my son and never had this sort of issue before. A couple of the couples kept referring to how expensive the holiday was (I thought it was pretty good value compared to other companies I looked at). I realised by the end of the week that these comments were actually meant for me as if to say how as a single parent can you afford this type of holiday? Thought that was very funny. I tipped the same as the other families despite our family being half the size and also had one of the parents say that I must have spent a lot less on the holiday than them! Well, yes as there were four of them and two of us and my ds is under 5 so no ski pass to pay for. Very odd.

Having said that I only had to deal with that attitude at dinner as we didn't see each other during the day and had I been in one of the other chalets I am sure I'd have had more fun. Even one of the hosts commented at how unfriendly some of my fellow guests were!

It wouldn't put me off next year though as I did think that Family Ski were very well organised and can't speak highly enough of the childcare provided. There was never a day during the week when my ds didn't want to go.

OneLieIn · 11/01/2009 11:07

MollieO, sounds like you were with a right bunch - sorry to hear that! Most shared chalet hols I have been on have always had the odd few weirdos who were unfriendly, but on the whole OK.

MollieO · 11/01/2009 15:01

Yes OneLieIn, I do think I was unlucky a bit! Fortunately I realised that having spent my days with people from other chalets. Also having a chat with one of the hosts in our chalet made me understand that it wasn't normal. Hasn't put me off for next year though as I liked the idea of eating dinner whilst my ds was asleep upstairs - near enough to come down if he wanted something. I know I'd worry if I tried the same sort of holiday in a hotel so for the time being a shared chalet is probably the best option for the two of us .

elenabdesmond · 28/01/2009 17:45

If you book with a small company you can ask them for info about who will be there at the same time. If they're sensible they put families together. We stayed at Chill Chalet in La Plagne with 2 other 4 person families and it was perfect because the kids played together and we shared the cost of the nanny they provided for us.

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