Our Travel Experience Manager, Lucy Ford, looks at the benefits to planning your ski holiday ahead of the rest.
Your favourite chalet. The best flight times. Lessons when you want them. A locked-in itinerary so you can just… ski. With any holiday there are advantages to booking early, but when it comes to skiing, those that book in advance really do have it better than those who leave it late.
Anyone who has taken on the responsibility of being ‘ski trip organiser’ will know that booking your accommodation is only the first of many steps to creating the perfect ski itinerary. Some of the (many) other aspects to consider include flights, travel to resort, ski hire, lift passes, instruction, childcare, where to eat out (or private catering if you prefer to stay in), and any other additional activities or entertainment required to make your trip truly special.
Some of these elements are pivotal to making your trip truly special, so we would advise getting ahead of the curve with the following:
1. Choice
The starting point for planning the perfect ski trip. Which property will give you the best options for your group? Are you after a chalet with a hot tub / swimming pool / games area for the kids? Do you want to be right in the centre of town, just a stone’s throw from the ski lift / shops / restaurants? Or are you after something more secluded and off the beaten path? Booking ahead will give you OPTIONS. Leaving it until September when everyone else is looking for the same thing will dramatically reduce your choices, and prices could be higher as a result. Do yourself a favour and start looking now! The future ‘you’ will be thankful when you’re relaxing in a hot tub enjoying the best views in town with a glass of fizz in hand…
2. Tuition
You’d be surprised how quickly private instructors and also children’s group lessons get booked up… especially for those sought-after morning sessions. If you want decent instruction, we’d advise looking as soon as you’ve booked your accommodation (or even before / at the same time if this is a key factor for your trip). This will pay off when you’re whizzing down the slopes at the end of the week and your kids come back raving about their ‘awesome instructor’.
3. Travel
We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve booked flights a bit later than intended… and as a result have had to wake up at 3am for early flights or arrive at our destination so late we basically miss our first day. Neither is much fun. Even if the better-timed flights are still available, the prices when booking later can often double or triple… leading to a considerable increase in holiday costs. For example, flights for a family of 4 at New Year to/from Geneva can currently be booked for around £1,000… leave that for a few months to book later in the year you’d be looking at £1,000 each! Likewise, leaving airport transfers to the week before you travel can mean a last-minute panic calling round numerous companies to find ANYONE who will drive you to resort… trust us, we’ve been there. This can lead to long waiting times in a busy arrivals hall, inexperienced drivers and/or luggage being left behind (among other things). To avoid the mad rush and stressful journey, we recommend arranging transfers as soon as you have your flights booked, and we can recommend the best providers to ensure you have a much more relaxing start to your trip.
4. Childcare
If you have any little ones needing private childcare, this is another key piece that you don’t want to be leaving to the last minute. Nannies are in high demand in ski resorts, especially for the busy school holiday weeks, so bear this in mind at the time of booking your accommodation. Don’t run the risk of having to stay back at the chalet whilst the rest of your group head out to enjoy the slopes!
5. Catering
Private chefs in ski resorts are hugely popular. During peak weeks, they will undoubtedly hold out for full-week bookings, and these will usually get filled many months in advance. If your idea of a luxury chalet holiday includes in-chalet catering, it’s worth checking availability for private chefs at the time of booking your accommodation (or very soon after) to ensure you don’t miss out.
With our dedicated concierge team, we can assist in arranging the different elements of your trip to create the perfect travel itinerary, tailored to your group. Working with a variety of trusted in-resort partners, we can recommend the best instructors, nannies, transfer providers and special activities for each group to ensure your stay is perfectly curated to your needs.
Want to know more and discuss your next ski holiday?
Call us on +44 (0)20 3588 6001 – you can also email us using info@theboutiquechalet.com or speak to us on live chat using the chat box below. If you would like us to call you back or arrange an appointment to visit us in Bath or Morzine please let us know.