Jelly and Ice Cream Childcare – now operating in the 3 Valleys

For many years we have recommended Jelly and Ice Cream (formerly Val Tina) as our preferred Childcare specialist for Val d’Isere and Tignes. Jelly and Ice Cream offer a truly tailormade service to ensure that your children are looked after exceptionally well and that adults also get to enjoy a stress free skiing holiday.

This coming season we are excited to announce that Jelly and Ice Cream will also be operating in the Three Valleys covering the resorts of Meribel, Courchevel, La Tania and St Martin de Belleville.

Guest feedback from our clients who have used Jelly and Ice Cream is always exceptional and many guests rebook from one year to the next.

Visit the Jelly and Ice Cream website

Fresh snow in the Alps

A dusting of snow on the peaks in the Rhone Alps….a tease of more to come this winter. All signs are pointing to another great year – time to starting thinking about packing away those shorts and flip flops and airing the salopettes and ski jacket (or 80s ‘all-in-one’ if you prefer).

This picture was taken by our partners at Consensio Holidays – operators of some of the finest chalets in Val d’Isere, Courchevel and Meribel. Contact www.oxfordski.com for more information on luxury ski chalets for this winter season.

Shemshak Lodge Courchevel 1850 – a new era of uber luxury

Shemshak Lodge is a stunning new chalet situated in an enviable position on the piste in the fabulous Courchevel 1850. Making its′ debut this winter the chalet has been finished to a standard to match this world class resort.

Sleeping up to 12 guests in 5 ensuite bedrooms, the chalet is alpine chic at it′s best, with luxurious materials and state of the art design. Bringing you a whole floor dedicated to your wellness and relaxation, Shemshak features a large swimming pool with panoramic views of the valley, separate jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and your own state of the art gym.

Positioned perfectly to enable you to ski in and ski out, Shemshak Lodge gives you the advantage of a fantastic central location in one of the most glamorous resorts without compromising your access to the best skiing to be found in the Trois Vallees. The lodge′s desirable location means that you are also within walking distance of the famous boutiques of Courchevel 1850 but, you have your own private chauffeur to whisk you back in the comfort of a luxury 4×4 to your perfect ski retreat.

More details of this chalet on www.oxfordski.com

Luxury ski chalets with private swimming pools

Each year we inspect many new chalets to add to our portfolio of luxury ski chalets. Some are new build and many are stunning conversions of older chalets which have been upgraded to the very latest of standards with the “must have” facilities.

There is a growing trend for luxury ski chalets with swimming pools and we are delighted to showcase some of our favourite luxury alpine chalets with these facilities….

France - luxury chalets in France
Chalet Black Pearl, sleeps 10 - Luxury Ski Chalet Val d’Isere with private pool
Chalet Le Rocher, sleeps 14 - Luxury Chalet with swimming pool Val d Isere
Chalet Pearl, sleeps 14 - Luxury Chalets Courchevel 1850
Chalet Baloo, sleeps 8 - Luxury Ski Chalets Chamonix with pool

Switzerland - luxury chalets in Switzerland
Chalet Sorojasa, sleeps 10 - Luxury Ski Chalet Verbier with swimming pools
Sagittare, Gentianes, sleeps 12 - Luxury Chalets Verbier
Chalet Nyumba, sleeps 14 - Luxury Ski Chalets Verbier with swimming pool

Austria - luxury chalets in Austria
Aurelio Clubhouse, sleeps 16 - Luxury Ski Chalets Lech

Top Five Luxury Ski Chalets with hot tubs

Chalet Isba, Meribel – voted by Ian Povey for the best hot tub views of the 3 Valleys

Chalet Les Anges, Zermatt – voted by Neil Kitchen for the best hot tub views of the Merrterhorn

Chalet Le Chardon, Val d’Isere – voted by Mark Gibbins for the best tub side champagne service

Chalet Septieme Ciel, Veriber - voted by Robin Quarrelle as the best sunken hot tub in Switzerland

Hidden Dragon, 4 Vallees – voted by Rupert Longsdon as the most ‘Zen’ hot tub in the Alps

Summer in Zermatt

Designer chic in Zermatt

Haus Bor from £499pp on 18 April

For more information click here or call us on 01865 398 130

Happy Easter

Luxury Ski Chalets”

Easter holidays upon us there is still an opportunity to make the most of the 20cm to 40cm of snowfall that covered the Alps last weekend. Spring skiing conditions once again are as good as ever and more snow is forecast later this week. This is becoming a promising trend with great snow now until the end of April for the past few seasons (and great news for those looking to go away over Easter 2011 which falls on Sun 24th April).

Are you looking to go away but need someone to prepare a shortlist of properties for you and then take care of all the last minute arrangements for your holiday? That’s exactly what we are here for….

Last Minute Easter Break
4th to 11th April 2010
Chalet Abode, St Martin de Belleville; €875 per person based on min. 2 sharing (discounted from €1,569). 4 bedrooms available on a catered basis excluding travel.

Chalet Margaux, Val d’Isere; £849 per person based on min. 2 sharing (discounted from £1,689), 3 bedrooms available on a catered basis including Gatwick flights and airport transfers.

Chalet Berbou, Verbier; £7,950 for exclusive use of the chalet for up to 14 people on a catered basis excluding travel.

11th to 18th April 2010
Chalet Serena, Chamonix; £13,680 for exclusive use of the chalet for up to 14 people on a catered basis including flights and transfers.

Summer 2010
A good number of our chalets are available to rent over the summer. If you think the Alps are beautiful in the winter then many would say they are even better in the summer. There are endless outdoor activities and with 200 days of sunshine a year the weather is invigorating. The most popular resorts are Verbier, Zermatt, Chamonix, Megeve, Morzine and Meribel but we have chalets across the Alps so please just ask. Here is a selection……

Verbier - These chalets are available as self catered rentals, however services can be arrange on request.
Chalet Five Roses (Sleeps 8); £6,000 to £7,500 per week (from June to September)
Chalet Crijibe (Sleeps 10); £9,000 to £11,000 per week (from June to September)

Zermatt– These chalets are available on a fully serviced rental basis.
Chalet Grace (Sleeps 10+2); CHF20,400 to CHF25,500 per week (from May to September)
Chalet Ulysse (Sleeps 8); CHF 8,590 (from May to September)

Winter 2010/11
We are actively updating and improving our portfolio of chalets and hotels across the Alps and North America for next winter season. There are some exciting new developments and we will make sure you have access to them all. The standard of accommodation and level of service is improving all the time.

We are already taking bookings for next season and as always the best chalets sell first for the peak periods. I would strongly recommend booking ahead. Please contact us now if you would like on of our sales consultants to send you a proposal. Email info@oxfordski.com or call +44 1865 398 130.

Still plenty of time to go skiing in 2010

At this half way point of the ski season there is still plenty of time to go skiing in 2010! With the February holiday behind us, the months of March and April offer great opportunities to enjoy the ski slopes. In fact some of our guests returned from such an enjoyable week at half term they have since called and booked again at Easter!

Please see below a snap shot of some great luxury chalets left this season at reduced rates (although do call us with your group requirements as there are many more properties we can offer)

28 Feb – 7 March 2010
Chalet Vallon, Meribel; £749 per person (2 rooms available). Fully catered. Includes travel.
Ferme de Moudon, Les Gets; £18,964 exclusive use (sleeps 10). Fully catered. Excludes travel.

7 – 14 March 2010
Chalet Mathilda, Val d’Isere; £1,595 per person (1 rooms available). Fully catered. Includes travel.
Chalet Des Drus, Chamonix; £20,000 exclusive use (sleeps 14). Self catered. Excludes travel.

14 – 21 March 2010
Le Ti Chalet, Verbier; CHF 20,000 exclusive use (sleeps 6+3). Fully catered. Excludes travel.
Chalet Chapelle, Alp d’Huez; £829 per person (5 rooms available). Fully catered. Includes travel.

21 –28 March 2010
Chalet Maria Schnee, St Anton; €18,250 exclusive use (sleeps 8 +7). Fully catered. Excludes travel
Chalet Le Chardon, Val d’Isere; £995 per person (6 rooms available). Fully catered. Excludes travel.

28 March – 4 April 2010
Chalet Louise, Zermatt; £22,950 exclusive use (sleeps 10). Fully catered. Includes travel.
Chalet de Pre, Morzine; £10,990 exclusive use (sleeps 10). Fully catered. Includes travel.

4 – 11 April 2010
Chalet Chopine, Meribel; £16,920 exclusive use (sleeps 10). Fully catered. Excludes travel.
Chalet Cybou, Verbier; £12,950 exclusive use (sleeps 8). Fully catered. Excludes travel.

11 – 18 April 2010
Haus Ulysse, Zermatt; CHF 30,700 exclusive use (sleeps 8 + 4). Fully catered. Excludes travel.
Darkoum A, Courchevel 1850; £1,160 per person (3 rooms available). Fully catered. Includes travel.

18 – 25 April 2010
Chalet Black Pearl, Val d’Isere; €15,000 sleeps 10 people. Catered. Excludes Travel25 April – 2 May 2010
Chalet Kilimandjaro, Val d’Isere; £7,960 sleeps 8 people. Catered. Excludes Travel

Looking for something else?
We work with around 100 tour operators and privately owned properties in 28 of the worlds best ski resorts. Please contact one of our sales consultants to discuss your requirements and let us do the hard work and find you the perfect property.

If you are looking for luxury hotel options, you can contact our hotel team on +44(0) 1865 398 133.

Click here for six good reasons to book with The Oxford Ski Company

Olympic Gold for Britain in Vancouver 2010

Congratulations to Amy Williams who won gold in the Women’s Skeleton in Vancouver this weekend.

Take a look at the BBC Sport website for more….

Photograph: (c) Getty