Val d’Isere April Shared Chalet Offer at Le Chardon

March 23rd, 2012

SPECIAL OFFER! We have a superb Split Week offer during April. For those who wish to book a chalet room in a shared chalet rather than a full chalet for exclusive use then this is the perfect ski experience to enjoy the luxury and service of Le Chardon for superb value.

During April we are offering a 7 night stay for £995 per person arriving 8 April, 15 April or 22 April  based on 2 guests sharing a room.

Perfect for a special romantic mountain retreat, for a small group of friends or small family the stay includes a private chef, catering, in-resort chauffeur, Concierge Service and luxury bathroom products.

Having had a record amount of snow, Val d’Isere has retained an excellent base of snow for a long ski season and continues to have great sunshine! Perfect for April skiing.

Contact our Sales Team for availability and booking on 0131 209 7969.

Winter X Games Europe 2012 – Espace Killy

March 21st, 2012

Last week saw endless spectacular world class performances in the 3rd annual Winter X Games Europe 2012 held nextdoor in Tignes.

Val d’Isere descended on Tignes to spectate the event and soak up the exciting atmosphere being followed by tv, press and radio from all over the world.

There were no British on the podium this year but it was the strongest year yet for the Brits male and female in the finals.

Bigger and better with a new slopestyle course, snow smooth pipe and bluebird weather this year was another success and with the most famous names in skiing and snowboarding competing it was a superb showcase for French resorts. Look out for details of next year’s event!

Le Chardon guests last week enjoyed wow-ing at the event. Come and experience it with Le Chardon in 2013!

Footage of the event can be watched on You Tube posted by the organisers of the X Games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXxZRVC97vs&feature=relmfu

Le Chardon featured in Elle Spain magazine

March 20th, 2012

Elle Spain magazine featured Le Chardon in March’s travel section on where to ski this Easter.

http://www.elle.es/viajes/escapadas/destino-nieve

“Val d’Isère Ski Paradise

If you’re a fan of skiing, Val d’Isere this season is a must. In the heart of the French Alps, the resort has guaranteed snow all year, because it has two glaciers. And although this year the snow was expected, now have 94% of open tracks and a thickness of more than two meters. If you do not have plans for the Easter holiday, head out for this season, which ski area (known as the Espace Killy) has over 300 miles of trails for all levels: from green to black. Check out our plan in one of the most exclusive villas in the area.”

Val d’Isere Ski Lift Passes

March 15th, 2012

There are a few options for lift passes in Val d’Isere.

At Le Chardon Mountain Lodges we arrange the pass you want in advance so it’s in your chalet on your arrival…

It is possible to buy a pass for just the Val d’Isere ski area or for the whole of the Espace Killy area (Tignes and Val d’Isere resorts).

Lift passes are available from the resort lift pass office in the centre of the main village and at the bottom of the slopes or they can also be bought in advance online.

**It is worth knowing that a family discount is available for families of at least 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years (or students under 22 years) when both adults purchase a 6 or 7 day Espace Killy pass.  A fourth and subsequent ski passes can be bought at half price.

**1/2 day passes can also be bought and are valid for use in the afternoons only from 12.45pm and are on sale in the morning.

**Free skate or swim! A 2 to 15 day pass allows one complimentary access to the new spa centre in Val d’Isere or entry to the ice rink. Most skiers don’t realise this.

With the environment, its preservation and climate change becoming increasingly important to Val d’Isere it has introduced the recyclable lift pass. This version requires no deposit and can only be bought in resort. Recycling bins for old cards can be found at the lift pass offices. For maximum convenience you can buy or recharge your pass online.

When deciding on which ski pass to choose the Val d’Isere only pass will probably suit you if you do not want to ski all day, every day and bear in mind that it is also possible to upgrade a 6 or 7 day Val d’Isere lift pass to include a one day skiing experience in the Espace Killy.

Alternatively the Espace Killy pass will grant you access to 300km of piste, 115 runs, 94 ski lifts and 2 glaciers and for passes of 5 days or more you can also ski for a day in the Paradiski ski area (Les Arcs/La Plagne) and the Three Valleys ski area (Meribel/Courchevel/Val Thorens) for free. That’s 3 ski areas in 1 lift pass!

**The nursery slopes in Val d’Isere are free as are the nursery slope lifts which is perfect for beginners.

**Anyone under 5 or over 75 is entitled to a free lift pass for any duration.

**Pedestrians are also encouraged up the mountain to meet friends, have lunch and take in the views! There are reduced prices on a number of lifts and some are free.

**The prices are the same between mid December and early May with cheaper lift pass prices at the beginning of December when the resort opens.

 

You can also buy or recharge your Val d’Isere lift pass online here at the official Val d’Isere resort website: http://www.valdiserepass.com/

 

Le Chardon Mountain Lodges featured on www.bahighlife.com

March 12th, 2012

British travel journalist Sara Lawrence visited our chalets in December and wrote a wonderful article about her experience for British Airways.

Sara wrote “Luxury and relaxation are the buzzwords here…Leaving – you just won’t want to.”

http://www.bahighlife.com/Hotels-And-Spas/France-Le-Chardon-Mountain-Lodges.html

 

If you hurry…

March 9th, 2012

There’s just one week’s hire left for the exclusive Le Chardon chalet before the end of the season.  The week of March 18th is still available for anyone looking for true luxury and wonderful skiing.

This season’s snow and weather has been perfect and shows no sign of breaking, so you’re guaranteed a terrific week on the slopes whether you’re skiing, telemarking or boarding.  At the end of the day you can wind down in one of two private treatment rooms with a private masseur, enjoy a glass of champagne while you relax in a hot tub or take a gentle swim in the 18-foot swim spa.  Or you could just do nothing in front of the open fire in one of the two living rooms.

The chalet’s only a two-minute drive in our chauffeured car from the centre of town and the buzzing nightlife, if you want to go out.  But there’s no need: everything you could possible want has already been thought of.  There’s an open bar stocked with beers, fine wines, spirits and soft drinks.  Children’s lunches and dinners, if required, and five-course gourmet dinners cooked by your private chef.   Satellite TV and internet connection.  A concierge and two hostesses on hand to pamper you.  Not to mention a terrace with a carved-snow bar and, in daylight, spectacular views from every room.

Le Chardon really has to be the best luxury ski chalet in France, for families, friends or corporate groups.  It sleeps up to 20 in ten twin or double en-suite rooms.  Everything is designed for your comfort.  You can ski to the pistes in two minutes so there’s no time wasted at the beginning or end of the day.

All you need now is your 19 closest friends!

GPS Ski Goggles

March 8th, 2012

Goggles are rather unexciting ski accessories? Not anymore. The latest in goggle technology will have all technology geeks and dedicated skiers excited over this new product! Like some technological invention from the future the Recon-Zeal Transcend Goggles are the first in the world to offer a head-mounted display and GPS system. A tiny internal optical system allows skiers and snowboarders to enjoy a projected digital display detailing speed, altitude, temperature, distance travelled, a stopwatch facility and all this without affecting their view of the slopes nor needing to stop. Cool.

That’s not all this amazing set of goggles can do as it can also record then download your day’s tracks following where you’ve been on the slopes or mountain lunch venues. They handily feature permanent anti-fog, polarized lenses that block 99% of glare and a sensitivity to automatically transition between yellow and deep amber shades as light and weather conditions change.

The GPS is powered by a battery that lasts up to 6 hours on a 3 hour charge and can store up to 24 hours of tracking so you can ski and have a good oggle for hours.

The goggles cost £252 available from good ski specialist stores and were recently rated by GQ magazine as one of the coolest luxury gadgets.

Spring Skiing in Val d’Isere

March 6th, 2012

Wish you were here?

Val d’Isere has had some spectacular sunshine! The sun is hot, the skies are cloudless and blue and the mountain restaurants and apres ski spots are buzzing happily. Despite all this recent spring weather it still continues to snow as another dump fell on the resort at the weekend.

Val d’Isere, with its village base at a high altitude 1850m, terrain as high as 3456m and 2 glaciers, is one of the highest resorts in the Alps with a long ski season and has had a record amount of snow this current season. With over 300km of pistes and 2 snowparks the resort offers skiing and snowboarding for all levels.

The season is set to be a long season this year with good snow in April. The advantages of April skiing in Val d’Isere, aside from the sunshine and the opportunity to ski in shorts and t-shirt, are the warmer temperatures and longer lift opening hours. Both The Guardian and The Telegraph Travel rate the Espace Killy ski area (Val d’Isere and Tignes) as one of the top destinations for April skiing.

Swap your goggles for sunglasses and come to Val d’Isere for Spring skiing!

Take a look at our live resort webcam:

http://www.lechardonvaldisere.com/webcamimages.htm

 

 

Happy 100th Birthday to Émile Allais

February 29th, 2012

Extraordinary Frenchman and legendary skier Émile Allais is celebrating his 100th birthday this week.

Born in Megeve on the 25th February 1912, Émile took to the snow at a young age and by 25 he had achieved triple world champion status at the 1937 Olympics hosted in Chamonix – in the descent, slalom and combined disciplines.

After enlisting in the military service with the chasseurs alpins, Émile developed the official French ski method and established the renowned ski school École du Ski Français (known as ESF).

Then after fighting in the Second World War, Émile moved to North and South America to assist in the development of a number of new ski resorts such as Squaw Valley, Sun Valley and Portillo. On his return to France with his new knowledge from across the Atlantic he introduced piste grooming and piste security to Courchevel in The Three Valleys.

Following on in the 1960′s he worked with local developers as a technical consultant for resorts such as La Plagne in the Paradiski and Flaine in the Grand Massif ski area.

He also worked closely with ski brand Rossignol to contribute to the notable Allais 60 skis – the very first metal edged production skis – a breakthrough in ski technology. He coached the French Olympic national team for seven impressive years.

In December 2005, 93 year old Allais was invited to the French Senate in Paris where he was honoured for his lifetime contribution to French skiing.

Le Chardon Mountain Lodges wishes a happy 1ooth birthday to Émile Allais.

Le Chardon Val d’Isere Sample Dinner Menu

February 24th, 2012

Salmon and beetroot tartare amuse bouche

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Starter

Fois gras cappuccino with quince jelly and brioche soldiers

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Main

Seared sea bass with crab crushed new potatoes, seasoned spinach and a citrus mussel beurre blanc

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Dessert

Pear soufflé with cinnamon ice cream crumble and pear martini

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Coffees with mini toffee apple and truffles petit fours

 

Come and stay at Le Chardon Mountain Lodges to taste fine dining at altitude created by one of our 5 professional chefs. Our five luxury catered ski in ski out chalets provide our guests with exceptional dining from traditional local French Savoyard specialities to Asian, Scottish, British and other specialities of cuisine. You can also liaise with our chefs to create your ideal and bespoke menus suited to your tastes, ideas and dietary requirements for during your stay.