Tag Archives: luxury catered chalets

Great food can make all the difference to skiing performance

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View of breakfast table at Le Chardon luxury catered ski chaletEnergy and lots of it is required when exploring the spectacular snow covered slopes of the popular ski resort of Val d’Isere.  Preparing for a ski trip by being physically fit as well as enjoying a healthy, nutritious diet both before departure and at the resort can make all the difference to the whole skiing experience.  At the luxuryLe Chardon catered ski chalets located in the private area of La Legettaz in Val d’Isere, cuisine is of paramount importance, with locally sourced fresh gastronomic food and fine wines available.  Each chalet has a personal chef who designs delicious menus and creates splendid meals for visitors.

Being exposed to higher altitudes means the air is dryer, so when out all day on the slopes it is so important to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.  Drinking water will re-hydrate the body and keep energy levels high reducing the risk of a mid-morning or afternoon dip.  The ideal way to start the day in preparation of being on the snow is to have a healthy filling breakfast, which will keep the body and muscles fuelled all morning.  Carbohydrates are an excellent source of energy and also a great choice for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.

Hot tub view from Le Chardon luxury catered ski chaletCome lunch-time, the body is ready for a balanced meal combining lean protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats which provide the vital ingredients to keep energy levels up until it’s time to head back for a well deserved rest and a tasty evening meal.  To re-charge the muscles after a long day out on the snow, nothing beats a soak in an outdoor hot tub.  From there you can relax and take in the stunning scenery from a different point of view whilst you recall the twists and turns of the day and plan tomorrow’s adventures. To enjoy the ultimate skiing and food experience in Val d’Isere, visit Le Chardon to find out more about a luxury ski break in one of the leading French ski resorts.

Image credits: http://www.lechardonvaldisere.com

Paul Websdale, our gourmet chalet chef explains…

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catered chalet chef cookbookLucky 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 Remains one of the top Alpine Ski Resorts

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alpine ski resort of valdisere

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/

Val d’Isere Offers More Than the Perfect Chalet

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Anyone wanting the perfect chalet accommodation, Val d’Isere is the only place that should be in mind.  With a variety of high end and luxurious options, families, couples and friends can find the perfect chalets in Val d’Isere for their needs.  However, being one of France’s top skiing locations, Val d’Isere offers far more than luxury chalets.

Being one of the high altitude resorts, the skiing is fantastic and is the number one attraction for visitors.  For those with a short schedule it is not unusual to see guests dumping their bags and running to the slopes because, with a range of fantastic pistes and off-piste routes, there is a huge variety to keep winter sports enthusiasts happy.  Meanwhile, with a great number of pros in the area, taking a few lessons is a great way to spend a morning or so.

In addition to skiing and top accommodation, Val d’Isere offers great sightseeing and social attractions.  The Alps are stunning and even those on the thrilling ride downhill should take time to look across the panoramic views.  There are also great dining opportunities and trying fondue and raclette is a must.  For those who want to party whilst they are in the Savoie region, Petit Danois, Dick’s Tea Bar, Pacific and Face are ideal locations to drink, dance and have a good night out.

With skiing in Val d’Isere the number one attraction it can be easy to forget that there is so much more to do.  For travellers wanting a little bit of everything on top of great accommodation, Val d’Isere is the place to go.

Source: http://www.travelcontentonline.co.uk/5-reasons-to-leave-your-chalets-%E2%80%93-val-d%E2%80%99isere-awaits/

Family Ski Holidays to remember

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Our chalets are starting to fill up with bookings for the 2011/12 season and it is lovely to see so many enjoying a family ski holiday together. After all, skiing is the perfect holiday for people of all ages to enjoy.

What other activity can everyone do together: mums as well as dads, daughters as well as sons? Or perhaps where parents are able to hand their children over to skilled experts, knowing that they will be happy and safe in trained instructor’s hands. Skiing is equally thrilling and healthy – an uncommon mix – and one does not need to be especially fit or sporty to take pleasure from it.

Our chalets in Val d’Isere tend to be more relaxing for families compared to hotels. Mums and dads hate to think their little ones are annoying fellow visitors and in self-catering apartments so much time is spent shopping and cooking and cleaning – none of which are particularly welcome after a days skiing.

Unsurprisingly, Val d’Isere is the perfect ski resort for families and we believe our catered ski chalets add to the whole experience. Val has great snow, short queues, nursery slopes that are broad and have free lifts, a village that is flat, regular buses that are free of charge, excellent ski schools, teachers who speak English and plenty of British children.

Nonetheless, despite a successful family ski holiday does require a certain amount of planning. Planned in the same manner an ascent of Everest! Again, this is where Le Chardon Mountain Lodges excel – we can organise your transportation from the airport, greet you all on arrival with refreshments and have your skis and boot hire brought to the chalet. We can also organise any lessons well in advance of your holiday as ski schools and private instructors can quickly get booked out. All in all , what make our holidays stand out is the ability to take the stress out of everything and leave you with the time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

French Ski Resorts – Are Expensive Resorts Worth It?

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It is a cliché because it is almost always a fact – you get what you pay for.  Is it worth paying more for a skiing holiday?  It depends on how much time you want to spend actually skiing, as opposed to waiting to ski.  If you don’t want to wait in lengthy queues to hire ski equipment, or to use the chair lift or tow, or to do anything at all, then it’s probably worth paying more.

In France, high altitude snow-sure resorts with a good mountain access system and a superior range of shops, bars and restaurants, can be quite expensive. In our view they are worth it as you will undoubtedly get far more hours of skiing than in cheaper, lower resorts.  A world class resort such as Val d’Isere gets skiers up the slopes in large numbers and incredibly quickly, and offers a unique alpine ambience and a range of high quality accommodation and eating establishments.

Going cheaper usually means choosing a resort where snow conditions are unpredictable or perhaps poor, or where there are few lifts and lengthy queues, or where there isn’t much to do after your skiing. It’s a balance between the amount of time you’re prepared to spend waiting to ski versus the amount of time you’re actually skiing, and the relative cost!

Après-ski is also an important part of any ski holiday, and it is important to have a wide range of things to do that will suit everyone in your group. For these reasons, along with the snow of course, Val d’Isere is considered one of the best ski resorts in the world.

Famous for the massive Espace-Killy ski area and beautiful scenery, Val is one of the top ski resorts in the world. With over 300 km of pistes and more than 100 lifts serving 135 runs, its ease of access to the slopes is incredible. Even on the busiest days, queues are uncommon, as there are more than 78,000 rides per hour to take you to the top of the runs. If you also happen to be staying in one of our luxury ski chalets, you will undoubtedly be in ski heaven.

Also worth considering are the well-known destinations of Chamonix and Les Trois Vallees, which also enjoy perfect skiing conditions over a long season, although, naturally, we would choose Val d’Isere any day!