Morzine, Avoriaz and Chamonix, France.
Welcome to Rude Chalets (slogan: ‘When Hell freezes over, we’ll build a chalet there’). This dynamic snowboard company provides very cool chalet and apartment holidays in Morzine, Avoriaz and Chamonix in the French Alps. Sitting in the middle of the market, their deals include airport transfers, half-board accommodation and (worryingly) unlimited wine. But more importantly, they firmly believe that they compete on price with well-known big operators but with the addition of much better service and accommodation. All the chalets have en-suite bedrooms, table football and free WiFi. If you are partial to a bit of hot tub action, chalets Chapelle, Christophe and Chocolat each have one. There is also an on-site Burton Snowboard test centre which is stocked each year with new boards to rent. This winter the centre will showcase their latest hardware, from the Custom V Rocker to the dangerous-sounding Mayhem and the Lipstick. There is also the opportunity to test the latest EST bindings in the form of The Exiles, Cartels, CO2’s and Scribes. New this year are their custom snowboard weeks, including the Burton Snowboard Test Weekend (11–14 December) and the Rudegirls snowboard week (10–17 January 2010).
Check www.rudechalets.com for details.
For flights to Geneva www.nowfly.co.uk/cheap-flights-to-Geneva.aspx.
Les Trois Vallées, France.
If you don’t have young children and have no desire to be surrounded by other people’s while skiing, upscale chalet company The Alpine Club has earmarked a number of adult-only weeks in response to guest requests. After a day’s skiing the endless terrain of Les Trois Vallées guests can talk nonsense by the fire while their personal chef prepares fine food in an atmosphere free of squeaky toys. This year highly rated chef Ben Woods returns to open their new chalet, Abode, where he will be drawing on a summer spent cooking in Cornwall. The Alpine Club’s boutique chalets are situated in the resort of St Martin de Belleville, offering easy access to the 600km Trois Vallées network without the crowds of Méribel, Val Thorens and Courchevel. Adult-only weeks are on 31 January, 7 February, 7 March and 14 March 2010. Costing from £895 per person, this includes seven night’s luxury accommodation and cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, canapés and high-end five-course dinners on six days.
Check www.thealpineclub.co.uk for details.
For flights to Geneva www.nowfly.co.uk/cheap-flights-to-Geneva.aspx.
Northstar-at-Tahoe, California, USA.
If you have outgrown sharing a room with friends while skiing, where the smell of socks becomes an obsession, get yourself to Lake Tahoe for a bit of indulgence. Opening in December 2009, the 170-room Ritz-Carlton Highlands is situated on a mountain at the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. The resort will feature ski-in, ski-out access, ski valet services and a restaurant by renowned San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins. Another of the big draws will be the 17,000 square foot spa and fitness centre, with 16 treatment rooms and ladies' and gentlemen's lounge areas with sauna, steam and whirlpool. Two outdoor swimming pools allow guests to swim laps or just float about like happy flotsam. The fitness centre, with state-of-the art weight training, will also run yoga classes in case you haven’t done yourself enough mischief on the slopes. It is the first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades and might well become Northern California’s finest mountain retreat.
Check www.gotahoenorth.com for details.
For flights to Los Angeles www.nowfly.co.uk/cheap-flights-to-Los-Angeles.aspx.
Kitzbühel, Austria.
In or near the Austrian resort there are two new five-star hotels. On 15 December, just in time for glüwein, Kitzbühel’s first Leading Hotel of the World will throw open its doors in welcome. Unless you just want to use the loo, in which case they might be frosty. Located in the neighbouring village of Jochberg, the Royal Spa Kitzbühel will combine heady luxury with direct access to the slopes, a state-of-the-art spa and stylish dining rooms rustling up top regional and international cooking. Prices start from €515 per person for three night’s half-board and include a two-day ski pass. Meanwhile over in Kitzbühel, this winter will be the first time guests tramp snow through the lobby of the five-star Grand Tirolia Golf & Ski resort, which opened on 24 July. Contemporary in design, there is a private cross-country ski run around the hotel and a free shuttle bus to the slopes. As well as a restaurant and bar, the hotel offers the services of a proper mountain spa, which features a sauna suite, outdoor and indoor connecting swimming pools and a body care centre. Accommodation starts from €258 per night per room half-board.
Check www.kitzbuehelroyalspa.com for details.
For flights to Salzburg www.nowfly.co.uk/cheap-flights-to-Salzburg.aspx.