Enjoy great skiing, snowboarding and live music at The BRITS

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Valdisere Chalets

Not to be confused with the similarly named UK music awards, The BRITS is Europe’s original winter festival and offers unrivalled opportunities for entertainment and relaxation. It’s unlikely that attendees will at any point be subjected to the sight of Jarvis Cocker’s malnourished rear end, find themselves embroiled in a feud with Liam Gallagher or incur the wrath of Adele. Instead, they can expect to enjoy breathtaking views, stunning slopes, the finest refreshments and late night live sets from a host of world class DJs and performers. The festival offers an impressive week’s worth of activities and can only be enhanced by a stay at one of our luxury catered ski chalets in Val d’Isere.

The BRITS is perhaps best known for its winter sports championships and the high standard of talent that these attract. Any British national can enter in the hope of achieving athletic glory, the most prestigious being the Slopestyle Championship, a celebration of aerial acrobatics certain to result in an adrenaline rush for both competitors and spectators alike. The Trespass Cross event was the most watched at the 2010 Winter Olympics and has been a phenomenally popular draw at The BRITS ever since, while the Dare2b British Half Pipe Championship is set to be equally unmissable. To cap things off, a new contest designed to test the prowess of daredevil British jibbers debuts this year.

If all of the above sounds a bit too daunting, then fear not. The beauty of The BRITS is that it offers something to enthusiasts of all skill sets. Festival wrist bands and lift passes offer week long access to numerous slopes of varying difficulty, while its musical programme has been designed to engender communal good times. The atmosphere of London eight piece Lazy Habits’ gigs has been compared to that of “the best house party that your parents never wanted you to have,” while a Back to the 90s disco will provide the perfect opportunity for many festival goers to relive their best years. Just be sure to pack your Adidas Originals in with your skis and snowboard.

Based in Tignes, an attractive commune nestled within the Tarentaise Valley, the festival’s hive of activity is but a brief distance from Val d’Isere, both settlements comprising the famed Espace Killy ski area. However, while seven days of uninterrupted revelry from 23 March 2013 doubtless appeals to many, our catered ski chalets in Val d’Isere mean that guests can choose when and for how long they wish to commute over to Tignes for a little Brits mayhem and use our designated drivers to take the pain out of skiing there and back.

Image source:
www.the-brits.com
www.lechardonvaldisere.com

5 Tips for successful corporate skiing trips

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Valdisere Chalets

Taking clients away to a luxury ski resort is a great way to cement existing business relationships. However, when you’re making the leap from the boardroom to the slopes, there are a number of things you’ll need to consider.

The resort

When you’re planning on taking clients away, the ski resort you choose will be influential in the overall success or failure of your trip. If you’re looking to entertain clients on a weekend ski break, perception is everything.

For example, if you book a lesser known ski resort, the perception could be you don’t value them as one of your top clients.

Other factors to bear in mind are the location of the resort to your client’s home or offices and whether or not they’ve previously been to the resort you’ve got in mind. For example, if your clients are based in the north east of Italy, Val d’Isere in France could be a good resort choice.

Skiing ability

Another factor worth considering is the range of skiing abilities within the group. The last thing you want is to have one of your clients who’s a complete novice skier going away with a group of advanced skiers. Skiing ability is obviously reflected by the choice of slope at the resort and it would be unfortunate if one of your group was left isolated due to having a different level of competence on the snow.

Accommodation

The accommodation is another crucial part of any corporate skiing trip to get right. Some clients may be happy for everyone to stay together under the same roof in a luxurious chalet, while others could be more reserved and expect their own private sleeping quarters.

Based on your existing relationship with the client, you should already have a feel for what’s most appropriate. If you’re planning on booking a catered chalet, it can be beneficial and more sociable if everyone has dinner together in the evening after a hard day’s skiing.

As with your choice of resort, the accommodation you book your clients into will speak volumes about how much you value them. First impressions count, even on corporate skiing trips.

Convenience

It’s not just your time at the ski resort you have to think about. It’s also important to focus on the other little details that can make a big difference to your clients. For example, how close is the accommodation to the slopes? How will your clients get from the airport to the resort? Have you arranged lift passes in advance so you don’t have to queue to get on the slopes every day?

On-site assistance

When you’re organising a corporate ski trip, it’s good to have someone on the ground in the resort who knows how everything runs. Things such as making dinner reservations at the best resort restaurants or arranging a local musician to come and play for your guests are all made easier by having someone at the ski resort with local knowledge looking after you.

A corporate skiing trip should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. By taking the time to plan properly and follow the steps mentioned above, your time away on the slopes with clients is sure to be successful.

Image credits: www.morguefile.com

World Travel Award – Le Chardon Mountain Lodges, France’s Leading Ski Resort

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Claire Richards

Le Chardon – France’s Leading Ski Resort 2012 – World travel awards

It is with the greatest of pleasure that we announce winning the prestigious “France’s Leading Ski Resort” at the glamorous World Travel Awards in the Algarve on 6th October 2012.

At a glittering ceremony, Le Chardon Mountain Lodges’ Director, Paul Gow received the award on behalf of the whole team.

When asked what made Le Chardon and Val d’Isere so outstanding, our lovely Paul said that he believed in “the three S’s of hospitality – Service, Service and More Service.”

An Exceptional Chalet Establishment in an Exceptional Ski Resort

“We’ve been in this business for 20 years and we’ve perfected something rather special,” he continued. “The guest questionnaires, the surveys, the customer testimonials have all been quite exceptional.”

Paul said he was “flattered and chuffed” to represent Le Chardon and Val d’Isere at the World Travel Awards 2012.

“We choose polished personnel, we polish them up some more in their training and then we look after them well. We take care of them and in turn, we expect them to take care of our guests,” said Paul.

“It’s basically our mantra of quality of care – exceptional care for exceptional people.”

A Symbol of World Travel Quality & Luxury

With that philosophy running through the core of Le Chardon’s service, it’s impossible to imagine expecting anything but the very best for our guests, staff and the incredible resort of Val d’Isere.

Thank you to all our lovely guests and fans for helping us achieve this wonderful award. You won’t be surprised to learn we will be using this lovely emblem of our success on all our brochures, blogs and social media from now on.

It’s All About The Team

Finally, it would be wrong to finish this blog post without mentioning the relentless and tireless work carried out by the legions of back room staff, advisers, consultants and suppliers who all work to such a high standard.

As with the definition of luxury itself, it is always in the detail and consideration where luxury can be found.

We are honoured to have surrounded ourselves with like-minded people who believe in excellence at any cost.

Over to You

Why not join us on our journey as we strive for continued excellence?

Join us on our many and varied social media sites to catch up to the minute deals, last-minute cancellations and all kinds of information on what’s happening in Val d’Isere, ski fashion, special group activities and celebrity-spotting on the slopes.

And finally, here’s Paul Gow doing his interview at the World Travel Awards 2012.

Enjoy!

Paul Websdale, our gourmet chalet chef explains…

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Sarah Fox

Lucky guests at Chalet Mistral last season were treated to delights from the extremely talented and creative Paul Websdale as their chalet chef. Paul specialises in using locally-sourced ingredients in creating his delicious dishes, which can be seen in The Island Ingredient – a fantastic book featuring recipes from the man himself and described as ‘a book for anyone interested in islands and remote places, as well as cookery’.

We’re delighted to say that Paul is joining us for another season with Le Chardon Mountain Lodges, and I know I’ll certainly be the first volunteer if anyone is needed to test his new creations! If you do happen to be lucky enough to have Paul as your chef next winter don’t forget to stop by the kitchen as he’s always on hand for a friendly chat, the occasional cooking tip or even a signing of the book if you ask very nicely!

Copies can be found on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Ingredient-Jude-Law/dp/0955835305

Sarah, Le Chardon Mountain Lodges
sarah@lechardonvaldisere.com

Val d’Isere Chalet Le Chardon 19th February

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Valdisere Chalets

Our largest lodge, Chalet Le Chardon, is available to book Sunday 19th February – Sunday 26th February as a shared chalet.

The chalet sleeps 20 guests in 10 ensuite bedrooms and the price is from £1,500 – £1,995 per person.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience Le Chardon – our chefs, the views, the incredible snow and enjoy a special skiing holiday.

Please call Sarah or Penny for details and availability.

Makeover for Val D’isere Ski Region

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Valdisere Chalets

Val D’isere and the surrounding area is about to receive a small makeover, offering new facilities to visitors. For luxury catered ski chalets, France is ideal, especially the area of Val D’isere. For those who have been to this area before, new services and attractions are to be welcomed.

It has emerged that the ski lift company STVI met with councillors last week to discuss an investment of approximately €51 million to redevelop certain aspects of the area. Offering great new facilities for winter seasons, the project includes plans to replace the current Solaise Express with new cable car operations.

Val D’isere village is also to get a small makeover, including both local improvements and better traffic networks. For enjoying luxury catered ski chalets, France offers a great variety of options, with Val D’isere being highly popular. As such, guest numbers to the region are high, with councillors wanting to offer the best possible holiday for visitors. Le Fornet’s central square is to get a new water fountain to add to the area’s attractions, whilst there are also plans to pedestrianise Laisinant during the winter months. Meanwhile, with the region very popular with families, there is also the possibility that a dedicated small children’s village area will be added to both Le Joseray and Rond Point des Pistes.

With a field meeting planned for the 2nd September, developments are yet to be set in stone. However, with the winter season looming, those travelling to this popular French ski area can expect a number of beneficial changes.

Source: http://www.valdinet.com/news-and-weather/val-d%27isere-to-get-a-mini-makeover.html

Val d’Isere Remains one of the top Alpine Ski Resorts

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Valdisere Chalets

Out of all of the resorts in France, Val d’Isere is regarded as one of the finest amongst families and those wanting to splash a bit of cash. Val d’Isere is one of the best destinations to visit and remains very attractive for skiers. With a huge range of pistes, along with quaint village charm and luxury catered ski chalets, France offers skiers no better place for a skiing holiday than Val d’Isere.

Nestled in high altitude, Val d’Isere is ideal for skiers as it is the sole focus of this resort. The local village has remained quaint and largely untouched by the commercialism of the chalets, so holidaymakers can enjoy the secluded and charming atmosphere whilst on holiday. There is a huge variety of skiing opportunities here, with access to the entire Espace Killy available for keen winter sports enthusiasts. Almost 25 acres of off piste powder provides the perfect attraction to play in, and a great range of high speed slopes are the ultimate thrill. Meanwhile, off slope fun is great too, with Folie Douce offering the best in après ski.

Both Meribel and Courchevel 1850 also offer alternatives to skiing in Val d’Isere, with the former being particularly popular with families. Meanwhile, Courchevel 1850 is often regarded as a location for the rich and famous to indulge in their favourite winter sports pastimes. However, with a quiet charm, plenty of skiing opportunities and a great array of luxury catered ski chalets, France getaways to Val d’Isere remain a popular choice for many.

Source: http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2011/08/26/courchevel-val-disere-or-meribel-which-ski-resort-to-choose/

Corporate Skiing in Val d’Isere Ideal for Winter 2011/12

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Valdisere Chalets

Bonding weekends and corporate events are ideal ways to not only reward staff but increase company loyalty. Skiing events are a fantastic way of enjoying a thrilling few days away with team members, and Freshly Squeezed Events have revealed that they offer top retreats for corporate ski Val d’Isere getaways.

One of the leading enterprises behind corporate skiing events, Freshly Squeezed Events offers a one stop service for companies to get the best trip away possible. Dedicated events managers are provided for each trip, allowing individuals to have key contact throughout the planning process. Having been in the business for almost a decade, the firm utilises experienced mountain professionals to provide the best advice and support for corporate groups.

Corporate skiing in Val d’Isere is ideal for company retreats due to the area being one of the best French Alps resorts in the world. Situated in the vastness of the Espace Killy it has a range of skiing for all levels, in addition to both on and off-piste routes. In addition, its après ski offerings include ice driving, paragliding, heliskiing, climbing and dog sledding, making the location ideal even for teams where not all members want to hit the slopes every day.

With the winter 2011/12 season looming, many winter enthusiasts may be looking ahead to getting the chance to indulge in their favourite pastime. For corporate events, Val d’Isere offers the ideal location.

Source: http://www.freshlysqueezedevents.com/why-freshly-squeezed-ski-events/

The beauty of Val d’Isere

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Valdisere Chalets

Val d’Isere is renowned for its skiing and Le Chardon Mountain Lodges has been an established provider of ski accommodation in the resort for the past 20 years, yet familiarity makes it easy to forget what a beautiful place this is and how Val came to find itself as one of the premier skiing resorts in France.

Originally a small farming village, Val d’Isere grew into a contemporary alpine resort whilst managing to keep its village feel and sense of tradition. Life within Val d’Isere centred around the church in the village square and this church continues to be an integral part of the town life and activity. The Old Town is without doubt the most attractive part of the resort, with quaint, aged, stone houses that line small snow-crammed roads. A particular Savoyard lifestyle is exemplified within these conventional stone and wooden homes.

This ski resort has traditionally been very popular with the French and British although the Russians and Americans have also found Val attractive in recent years due to its abundance of great boarding and skiing. There are more than 300km of marked piste runs as well as limitless off-piste skiing in the Espace Killy region, which makes it a perfect place for boarders and skiers of every ability to satisfy them. Together with its adjoining resort of Tignes, the Espace Killy region is devoted to every aspect of skiing – make sure you buy a Val / Tignes pass to make use of all the runs during your holiday.

Because of its location against the mountains of the Italian border, Val d’Isere’s record of snowfall is outstanding. It frequently acquires heavy snowfalls from the Mediterranean low pressures that deposit their snow on the Italian Alps. The snowfall coverage is amongst the best in Europe and conditions usually allow great Val d’Isere skiing right up until the end of the season aided by Val disere’s own snow canyons and piste management.

Le Chardon Mountain Lodges has specialised in 5 star catered accommodation to match this luxurious ski resort with chalets that will make your skiing holiday truly memorable. Call us on for more information on 0844 0920350 and find out what we can do for you, your family or company.

Spotlight on our largest chalet – Le Chardon

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Valdisere Chalets

Le Chardon is without a doubt one of the most appealing and unique ski chalets within Val d’Isere. Situated neatly to the side of the Solaise Mountain, Le Chardon is a destination for enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders of all capabilities. Its entire ten en-suite bedrooms offer ground to roof windows supplying continuous sights of the Vanoise National Park as well as the Manchet Valley.

Along with two individual living areas, big television room, dining area and study room, Le Chardon is the perfect chalet for bigger groups as well as business parties to take in the enchanting atmosphere. The big private terrace is an excellent place to have fantastic barbecues whilst, in the correct conditions, drinks are offered from a handmade snow bar. Le Chardon offers an ideal way to combine business and pleasure.

Following a busy day on the slopes, elect to unwind in one of the two personal hot tubs whilst enjoying a glass of bubbly or, for those who are more lively, a splash about in the swim spa. On the other hand you might decide to enjoy a complete body massage from a recommended professional physiotherapist or to relax in front of the open log fire whilst reading a great book. After unwinding, enjoy a five-course gourmet experience from a commended head chef, served in the recently extended dining area that overlooks the Manchet Valley.

Le Chardon has many features including dinner and lunch for children, a huge choice of wines, luxurious bath items and toiletries, fresh flowers and a chauffer service.

Chalets in Val d'isere – luxury catered ski accommodation

5 luxurious ski chalets in Val D'isere, France

Tag Archives: catered ski chalet