Catered chalets are one of France’s national treasures – there are more here than any other country in the world and that means options. You’ll find everything from simple ski lodgings to larger-than-life mountain mansions. Choose between barn and monastery conversions in traditional Savoyard settings or modern, purpose built properties within inches of the slopes.
Whether you’re feasting on simple comfort food or gourmet delights, the chalet catering system works wonders for ski holidays – meaning breakfast, afternoon tea and supper are served six days a week, with a day spare to find the best tartiflette in town.
Some of the world’s most luxurious chalets can be found in the French Alps, complete with entire floors dedicated to spas and facilities like gyms and cinemas. These are especially fine in first-rate resorts like Courchevel, Val d'Isere and Megeve, where you can spend your time off the slopes browsing designer boutiques and lunching in Michelin-starred restaurants. At the very top end of the scale, the chalet chefs have trained in some of the best restaurants on the planet and helicopter transfers can be arranged for your arrival in resort.
Besides the kings of the chalet world, back down on earth you’ll find oodles of superior properties for a more than comfortable stay, with luxuries like champagne receptions, pools and hot tubs.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find somewhere that does ski-out accommodation better than France. The purpose-built resorts here – like La Plagne, Avoriaz and Val Thorens – have positioned their villages right on the slope-side, where you can schuss straight out of the boot room after breakfast.
More traditional bases like Val d'Isere do doorstep skiing too, giving you the best of both – a traditional setting and terrific slope access.
There are dozens of indie chalet companies across the French alps – set up by families and friends and run by a close-knit, talented team. Some companies run a single chalet or two, while others have a fleet of fine properties in multiple resorts. Each has their own ethos, whether it’s family-focussed, foodie-focussed, simple and homely or incredibly luxurious.
France’s independent chalets are usually booked as accom-only, leaving the travel plans up to you. Some provide a transfer service to collect you from the airport or train station, but if not we can help to get the last leg of your journey sorted – or the whole journey if it makes life easier.
Once you arrive, classic chalet catering provides most of the food and drink you’ll need for the week: breakfasts, afternoon teas and suppers with wine on 6 days out of 7. You can often discuss the menus and mealtimes that work best for you, and in certain chalets, extras like snacks for the slopes are thrown in too.
We love to ski on catered chalet holidays in France. From the high altitude snow-sure slopes and ski in ski out chalets of Val Thorens, to the beautiful chocolate box charm of France's catered chalet favourite Val d'Isere, ski chalets France and catered chalet holidays are synonymous. More Britons book catered ski chalets in France than anywhere else, because this is arguably the best place to ski and stay. Let us help you find your next chalet in France – call our France ski specialists now.
Here at Sno we have created a selection of the very best ski chalets in France and also the best value French catered chalet packages. If you want book on a peak date like the school holidays check out the blue links above to see ski chalets in France on those particular dates. If you want to ski France, but not necessarily in a catered chalet, it's worth reading about French ski resorts and browsing all accommodation types on the main France ski holidays page or call us now.