Chalet booking tips for skiers

When it comes to booking a ski chalet there are lots of questions to think about, from how easy it is to get to the slopes and the shops to size, facilities and more.

With this in mind, the Alpine Club is giving its top ten ski chalet-booking tips helping you make sure all the right questions are asked and you get what you are looking for.

Here are Lucy Crisp of the Alpine Club's top ten tips for chalet booking:

1) Find out everything you can about the chalet from someone who knows it inside and out.

"This is where smaller operators and owner-managed chalets excel as they know the exact details of their individual chalets inside out, rather relying on the same vague brochure information on countless chalets which you have," she said.

2) Ask whether the agent or a member of their team has seen the chalet.

"This can be invaluable so you can clear up any worries about sleeping arrangements, en-suites, the seating area and realistic distances to the lifts, restaurants, bars and other vital amenities," Ms Crisp explained.

3) Ask lots of questions about the ski resort.

Ms Crisp suggests the following good questions: "Is it snowsure for the time of year? Is it the right level of skiing for my group? How much is the lift pass?
Does the resort have the après
ski/nightlife/restaurant scene I'm looking for and is the resort beautiful or purpose built?"

4) What is it like on the slopes?

"Ask about the transport to and from the pistes. There may be a mini bus service, but is it regular and reliable?" Ms Crisp said.

"If you like long leisurely lunches, check you won't be stuck with canteen-style sandwiches and soup.

Smaller operators usually specialise in a few resorts so they know their resorts well as they'll have been to the resort, skied the area and know the ski instructors, restaurants and nightlife like a local."

5) Stock pictures or real?

"Sometimes, brochures and website use generic or stock pictures to represent a typical chalet or meal. If you've been sold on beautiful interiors or sumptuous-looking food, check it's actually what you'll get,"
said Ms Crisp.

"Check also that the plans are accurate regarding the size of rooms and the number of en suites."

6) Who is going to be looking after you while you are there? "Although gap year students and people in their early 20s are often enthusiastic, energetic and keen to learn, inexperienced teams can lead to problems," Ms Crisp explained.

"This is because they usually have a steep learning curve which is often at your expense as they learn how to manage their roles and responsibilities. In addition, inexpert staff often find themselves foundering when it comes to problems, complaints and crises which can be even more dramatic in the accident-prone context of the mountains."

7) Ask about the chef's qualifications.

"The ability and flexibility to change the menu based on guests' requests is a skilled job," Ms Crisp said, recommending holidaymakers opt for a chalet company which employs professional chefs.

8) Find out what is included

Ms Crisp said: "Although booking a chalet holiday usually means that six days' meals and linen are included, there is a lot of variation between operators regarding what else is included from flights and transfers to lift passes and equipment hire.

"Most of the time, it should be clear what you've paid for from the brochure, but it's always worth double checking so you don't get any nasty surprises."

9) What will happen if I get there and I am not happy?

"It can be extremely frustrating to go on holiday and be disappointed because the standards aren't high enough, the chef is late or the chalet is dirty. A good chalet company or tour operator will have a system in place to sort this out," Ms Crisp advised.

10) Get your agent's name, so you can tap them for more information, check what they have told you against what you actually get.

Ms Crisp explained: "In larger companies, the person who sells the holiday is not necessarily responsible for delivering the service, so can promise things that may not end up being delivered.

"Having the name of the operator gives you a back up, but also finding out to whom you're talking to can be very reassuring. Knowing that you've booked through an experienced sales person or the owner can provide reassurance that you will receive the holiday you've been promised."