Catered or self-catered chalet holidays, which offer best value?

The combination of the arrival the first snow of the winter in the Alps this week, the Metro Ski & Snow Show and the UK government’s announcement on budget cuts has generated lots of newsprint about how holiday-makers can maximise their value for money this winter.

At Alpine Ethos we recognise that value for money is of paramount importance to any holiday maker but we also recognise that dirt cheap doesn’t necessarily equal value for money. So here’s our two penn’rth on whether self-catered or fully catered ski holidays offer the best value for money.

Most of the really eye catching deals at this time of year are for self-catered holidays, often in the early season. The advantages offered by a self-catered break are clear. You have the flexibility of being able to eat when, where and what you want and theoretically spend within your budget. However the question is does this provide good value for money?

The answer is...it depends. You can satisfy your mountain fuelled hunger with bread and jam for breakfast, bread & cheese for lunch and pasta and sauce (or equivalent budget meals) for tea. Wash this lot down with some vin ordinaire (unless you're French maybe?) and you’ll be living the bargain-hunter’s dream.

The real question you have to ask is “what do I want from my holiday”? Are you going to want to cook (in what will probably be a small kitchen) every night, wash up and clear down after an epic day on the mountain? If you are in a big group, are you used to cooking for that many people? If you are happy with the cooking there is then the cost to consider.

It’s no secret that mountain resort shops and supermarkets ain’t cheap. You see a large “mountain tax” on every product from booze to broccoli and sometimes it can be an eye-watering calculation to make. On top of that, eating out in the mountains can be pretty pricey too. A decent pizza and a pint can cost you 15 euros and who has just one pint or no pudding on holiday?

A fully-catered chalet holiday is a different kettle of fish. Choose a good company (we’d suggest an independent operator – of course!) and you’ll have the strain taken out of the holiday and give yourself more time to relax with friends and family.

Most operators (us included) will offer hot and cold options for breakfast, tea and freshly baked cake when you get back from the slopes and a 3 course meal with wine/beer for dinner. Your holiday costs are fixed when you make the booking (no worrying about the exchange rate upping a food bill), the washing up is done, the menu is set, the fussier eaters in your group are looked after by understanding chalet staff and you’re not doing the cooking! All you have to worry about is whether you want red or white with dinner and where to eat on your day off.

While a fully catered holiday might seem expensive up front the actual cost at the end of your holiday might not be all that different to a self-catered break. If that little extra money means the difference between pasta and sauce and something like this, is there any real competition?

Winter's nearly here - getting the right gear

As many readers will know, team Alpine Ethos made it back to resort this week. It’s been a few days of unpacking, dealing with the summer post and adjusting back to the pace of mountain life. The weather has been glorious since our arrival. The autumnal colours on the trees look stunning and we’ve taken full advantage of the views of them whilst out walking with Benny.

We have also reacquainted ourselves with our local, La Tsaretta in Les Allues and met Steve, the new business owner, who took over during the summer. He’s been making a few changes to the bar including a new paint job (deep red downstairs – very nice), a new sound and light system, TV and projector and a new menu overseen by head chef, Paul.

Inspired by all the chatter on Goneboarding about the new kit people are planning to buy / wear on the slopes this season we thought we’d share our top to bottom guide of what you need to be comfortable, safe & stylish on the slopes this season:

Helmet – a safety garment for sure but can be stylish and should be comfy & warm too.
Goggles/sunnies – protect your eyes from those UV rays with some trendy eyewear. A second pair of goggles/an additonal lens for flat light conditions can be very useful too.
Buff – good for keeping any cold breeze from whistling down your neck
Thermal baselayer – we’re big fans of merino but this is pricey. A Lifa or other synthetic baselayer will do the job.
Midlayer – this can be anything from a t-shirt to a fleece, it depends how cold it is outside, how warm/cold you like to be and how warm your outerlayer is too.
Jacket – A fashion item as well as a must for keeping you dry and warm.
Long Johns – not the height of fashion we admit but if you have shell-like trousers as opposed to insulated ones you’ll appreciate the added warmth.
Ski/snowboarding pants – Baggy, bright, warm and waterproof is our motto here.
Socks – perhaps the most important piece of kit we own, we go for the single layer, ski/boarding sock which have padded bits where you need them.
Boots – Every skier/boarder has their own preference but getting a good fit is essential for maximum enjoyment on the slopes.
Skis/snowboard – whatever your thing, park, piste, off-piste there are skis and boards out there to suit every style.

Here's wishing away the autumn for winter and a big dump of snow!