If you’ve never been on a chalet holiday before you might wonder what a chalet host is.

The catered chalet is very much a British idea and usually means you stay in a traditional mountain chalet and are looked after by one or more ‘chalet hosts’.






Here are nine examples of what you can expect from your chalet host:
 

1. An Early Start

Whatever size chalet you are in, your chalet host will start early and will normally be in the kitchen by 7am or earlier. They may have already been to the boulangerie to collect warm, freshly baked baguettes and croissants ready and will make sure everything is prepared and ready for your breakfast before your day’s skiing. By the time you wake up they may even have cleared away all the new snow outside the chalet! 

 

2. Your Chalet Hosts will cook and serve you breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your chalet hosts will make sure that a hot meal and plenty of tea and coffee is ready to set up your day on the slopes.

What’s included varies by company, but at Le Ski you can expect ‘proper Yorkshire Tea’ (none of that Lipton rubbish), a selection of bacon, sausages, eggs, grilled tomato, mushrooms and sauce, plus warming porridge, cereals, yoghurts, jams and fresh French bread.



 

3. Freshly baked cakes for ‘Afternoon Tea’

‘Afternoon Tea’ is one of the highlights of a chalet holiday and marks a significant different from staying in a hotel. When you get back from skiing every afternoon, your chalet host will have baked a fresh cake or treat such as scones, brownies or home-made cookies for you to enjoy in the comfort of your chalet.  Plus there’s tea, coffee and hot chocolate and chance to relax after a hard day in an informal atmosphere.


 

4. Chalet Hosts cook a 3-Course Evening Meal (with free wine!)

The highlight of any catered chalet ski holiday is the evening meal. This is usually three- or sometimes four-courses (including a cheese-board).

Unlimited wine is usually served during dinner and is followed by tea and coffee relaxing in the comfy seats of the lounge. Most chalet hosts (from the better companies, anyway!) have catering qualifications or considerable experience. Larger chalets are typically staffed by qualified chefs.


 

5. They’ll also prepare a ‘High Tea’ for your children

If you have younger children, then your chalet hosts will prepare an earlier ‘high tea’ for your children with wholesome and nutritious food.     
 

 

6. Options for vegans, vegetarians, coeliacs and specialist diets

As long as you let your chalet company know at least several days before you arrive, your Chalet Hosts will cater for any specialist diets and prepare separate meals for you that fit into your dietary requirements. Some companies charge a fee for this, although Le Ski does not.
 

7. Chalet hosts have two days off a week

Most Chalet Hosts have two well-deserved days off every week (usually Tuesday and Friday). On these days, most chalet companies offer breakfast as normal, just without the ‘hot’ options and you can still expect a tasty afternoon tea, although it might be cookies rather than a freshly-baked cake. There is no evening meal, so this is a chance for you to explore the local restaurants in your resort. 

 

8. Cleaning to a hotel standard

Your Chalet Hosts will clean the chalet every day (apart from their one day off a week) to a hotel standard. That means they will make the beds, empty the bins, clean the toilets, shower and bath and dust and vacuum the whole chalet.




 

9. A Chalet Host makes your chalet a ‘home from home’

The reason so many Brits prefer a chalet holiday is that your Chalet Hosts will make your chalet a true ‘home from home’. The atmosphere is so much more informal than a hotel: your chalet host is a cook, a waiter and a cleaner, but more than that, they are your ‘host’ for the week.

They may sit and join you for dinner if time allows or share a glass of wine after everything has been washed up and put away and will certainly answer your questions and give you the insider tips on the best bars, runs and restaurants in resort.





If you’d like to try a ski chalet holiday for yourself, then Le Ski has 35 chalets in Courchevel, La Tania and Val d'Isère for two to 23 guests and all run by excellent chalet hosts.

Find out more by looking through our selection on our website or call us on 01484 548996 to chat through the options and find the right chalet for you.
 



Chalet Jobs with Le Ski

To find out more about working for Le Ski, please take this link to our recruitment pages.