Sight seeing in Megeve

“Hmmmm, yes we think the snow looks pretty good!”

Karen and Ellie, our hotel specialists, are busy visiting some of our favourite hotels and chalets in Megeve this week.  We’re not sure though….this photo seems to suggest skiing rather than inspecting?!

Seriously though, we cannot speak highly enough of the importance of regular visits to all our hotel and chalet partners.  We invest a lot of time and effort into getting to know everything about the properties and resorts in our portfolio so that we can offer you honest, impartial advice. From in depth inspections where we meet all the hosts and managers to checking out  all the latest restaurants and ski schools – we really know our stuff! Occasionally, we also have to fit in a bit of skiing…just so we can tell you which are the best pistes. Purely for research you understand!

If you’re interested in going to Megeve and want to have a chat about it, please give us a call – 01993 899 420

Delicious food with a difference at Le Chardon, Val d’Isere

Egg & Soldiers? Yes…but with a difference!

These are in fact coconut pannacottas with mango puree and caramelised pineapple soldiers! Mmmm delicious!

Just a little taster of what guests at Chalet Mistral, Val d’Isere can expect!

If you’re looking to get away this Spring, Val d’Isere is an excellent snow sure resort for late season skiing. Experience fantastic service, delicious food like this and luxurious accommodation at Chalet Mistral from Sun 22nd – Sun 29th April for the bargain price of just £995 per person based on two people sharing.

Call us for more offers like these! +44 (0)1993 899 420 www.oxfordski.com

Excellent value ski-in, ski-out chalets in Val d’Isere

Clinging to the hillside in the exclusive Carats enclave in Val d’Isere and spread over 4 floors, beautiful sister chalets Cristal A and Cristal B have arguably some of the best views of all the chalets in the resort.  They’re also ski-in, ski-out AND they offer excellent value for money! What more could you want?

Flexible service? No problem.

Your chalet manager here will arrange and organise anything you require during your stay, acting as your personal concierge to tailor-make your trip, exactly as you want it. Sometimes for example, it’s nice not to be catered for on every night of your holiday, so in the evenings here you can choose to eat out in one of Val d’Isère’s many restaurants, cook for yourself or we can arrange for a chef to prepare and serve dinner for you. The chalet price will be altered accordingly offering excellent value and ensuring you don’t pay for anything you don’t want or use.

There is also a hammam, home cinema and an extensive wine cellar! What’s more, if you enjoy challenging skiing, the formidable Face run is just 50m from the door.

There is still plenty of time to book a ski trip this season but there is very little availability left at these chalets! Book now and save 25% off the normal price for the weeks beginning 3rd March, 17th March and 24th March. Call us on 01993 899420 to find out more.

First visit to the Alps? Here’s what we recommend for American visitors…

Skiing in Europe is often a totally different experience to skiing in North America and  narrowing down the options can be difficult when there are so many resorts and properties to choose from for your first trip.  In the Alps you can expect iconic mountain vistas and unbelievable views, culture filled, traditional Alpine lodges and chalets, vin chaud, marmottes, horse drawn carriages, beautiful tree line skiing and charming, ‘chocolate box’ resorts amongst many other things. The ‘apres ski’ is great too!

Here are some of our top choices for an unforgettable holiday in the Alps -

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND – home to the Matterhorn

Chalet Grace, Zermatt 

This is an amazing property with incredible Matterhorn views and a designer Alpine finish which we know you’ll love. Zermatt is a picturesque, car free resort with excellent ‘foody’ mountain restaurants. Book a ski guide to take you on a gourmet journey through the mountains or take a help-skiing trip into Italy.

KLOSTERS, SWITZERLAND  - the ski resort  favoured by Prince William & the Duchess of Cambridge 

Chalet Bear, Klosters

This centrally located, quintessential ‘chocolate box’ chalet is privately owned and managed, offering exceptional yet informal service that’s ideal for families. The British Royal Family have been coming to Klosters for years.

VAL D’ISERE, FRANCE – one of the largest ski areas in France. 

Chalet Marco Polo, Val d’Isere

Everyone’s talking about this fantastic new ‘uber’ chalet in Val d’Isere right now. It has been finished to an incredibly high standard and has a private indoor pool, spa, fitness area and cinema. Val d’Isere is a high resort so a good bet for great snow cover throughout the season.

COURCHEVEL, FRANCE – the St. Tropez of the Alps 

Chalet Hermine, Courchevel 1850

This is a typical Savoyarde chalet in one of  the chicest resorts in Europe. Offered with a professional chef, manager and driver, this property offers very good value for money in a resort where most chalets with this level of service are twice the price!

MERIBEL, FRANCE – a perfect family ski resort in the heart of Les Trois Vallees – the largest ski area in Europe.

Chalet Trois Ours, Meribel

A great value, family chalet with direct access to the slopes and offering incredible food and service.

ST ANTON, AUSTRIA  - renowned for its Austrian hospitality and après ski. 

Chalet Gertrud Gabl, St Anton

For those looking to travel on a lower budget this is an excellent choice!  The food offered here is truly exquisite and the service is impeccable. The chalet is very comfortable and simply furnished  with everything one needs. You’d normally expect to pay twice the rate for what you get!

Ten of the Best Ski In/Ski Out Chalets!

Being able to step out  of your chalet and ski off straight away is surely an ultimate luxury. It’s definitely close to the top of our list of requirements when we go skiing. After all, who enjoys trudging for miles in cumbersome ski boots and waiting in lift queues? We’d rather save our energy for swishing down the slopes!  We always get asked if the chalet we’re proposing is ski in/ski out and so to help with this, we’ve come up with a list of 10 of the best truly ski in/ski out chalets for you to marvel at -

Ten of the Best Ski in/Ski Out Chalets

1. Le Petit Château, Courchevel 1850 Right on the edge of the Bellecote piste in Courchevel and only 5 minutes from the shops too!

2. Chalet Indigo, Megeve Situated in the wonderfully private Mont d’Arbois area with a  terrace overlooking the piste – wonderful.

3. Chalet La Tene, Val d’Isere The dining room at this beautiful chalet has the formidable le Face run as its backdrop.

4. Chalet Chamois, Courchevel 1650 Literally on the piste and bright and airy throughout.

5. Tivoli Lodge, Davos An exclusive mountain retreat. Intensely private and discreet but still ski in/ski out.

6. Chalet Gentianes, Courchevel 1850 Ski straight back to your door, then dive into your own private swimming pool!

7. Chalet Montana, Val d’Isere The Sunday Times have called this chalet ‘The Best in the Alps’ and it’s right on the Face de Bellevarde.

8. Chalet Trois Ours, Meribel One of the best located chalets in Meribel for ski in/ski out convenience.

9. Hidden Dragon, Les 4 Vallees As the name suggests, this chalet is secluded and exclusive with great ski in/ski out access.

10. Elephant Blanc, Val d’Isere Close to the nursery slopes and with direct access to a blue run – great for more tentative skiers.

To find out more about all of the above chalets and many more with ski in/ski out access, please give us a call – we have personally inspected each and every one!

Happy skiing!

Introducing The Little Concierge Company

Here at The Oxford Ski Company, we’re always keen to highlight the fact that the holidays we organise are truly tailor-made.  We really can organise every last detail of your trip, planning everything to suit your personal needs and requirements. In order to do this, we work  closely with some wonderful concierge partners and we think this is such a great idea, we had to tell you about it…

Introducing The Little Concierge Company…

Travelling with children can often leave you feeling exhausted.  Will your little ones like eating the local food? What if you can’t get the same nappies over there? The hassle of  taking your own formula, baby food, sterilisers and bottles and then dealing with excess baggage charges can leave you wishing you’d just stayed at home.  Family holidays mean mountains of luggage, especially when you’re going skiing and with many airlines only allowing you 20kg or less per person, it’s often incredibly difficult to fit in everything you need. This is where The Little Concierge Company comes in…

They can deliver every baby essential you require during your holiday direct to your chalet or hotel, saving you space in your luggage and easing the stress of family travel.  After all, you’re meant to relax on holiday and little extras like this give you the chance to enjoy a  worry free break.

How does it work?

It’s all very simple! Choose all the same brands of trusted product that you use at home, put them in your basket and input your destination.  The Little Concierge Company will do the rest, carefully hand packing and shipping all your items to your chalet or hotel so they’re ready and waiting for you on arrival. What’s more, they can also take care of parents too with a huge selection of grown up essentials and luxuries available.

If you book with The Oxford Ski Company, we can offer you an exclusive 10% discount with The Little Concierge Company so call us today on 01993 899420 and get ready to breath a sigh of relief. We really can help you relax!

We only have one thing to say to you today…KEEP CALM BOOK OXFORD SKI!

Incredible Verbier deals!

Do you like to keep things simple? How does an all inclusive holiday in the fabulous resort of Verbier sound?

Throughout March and April we can offer an amazing ‘all inclusive’ price where you don’t need to worry about a thing – Lift passes, transfers, equipment hire and 1 day of ski guiding are all included when you book one of these beautiful Chalets:

Chalet Kernow
Chalet Bella Coola
Les Esserts
Gentianes
Fontanet
Le Ti

It goes without saying that you will also receive top notch service, fabulous cuisine and an all round wonderful holiday.

AND………

If you want the luxury Chalet experience but there are just two of you or you are a small group, we also have the perfect solution. The fabulous Chalet Fontanet is available to book room by room on 26th February or 25th March at just £2,500 per person. That’s not all though, you also receive a free lift pass! It really doesn’t get much better..

To find out more details of this incredible offer, please call The Oxford Ski Company today on +44 1993 899 420 and we can make your holiday booking as hassle free and straightforward as possible. Simply look no further.

Chalet La Tene in Val d’Isere – get 15% off in February!

Chalet La Tene is a magnificent chalet located right the heart of Val d’Isere.

Newly-renovated for this season, it’s now one of the most sought after properties in the resort and the service you get here is impeccable! Guests can expect to be treated to the ski experience of a lifetime here.

The chalet is being offered at €17,595 for the weeks commencing 29^th January and 5^th February 2012 -this is a 15% discount off the original price.

For more information or to book this beautiful luxury ski chalet in Val d’lsere, please contact our team on +44 1993 899 421. Full details can be found on www.oxfordski.com 

Destinations Travel Magazine: Ten of the Best Luxury Chalets!

Check out our article on Ten of the Best Luxury Chalets in Destinations Travel Magazine !!

We think these are some of the very best chalets in the world.

Check out The Luxury Chalet Collection for even more options.

Please also see Destination Travel Magazine’s feature on Top Travel Agent Secrets to remind yourself of all the many reasons why you should book through The Oxford Ski Company

Simply look no further!