Better rent or buy an accommodation in a ski resort?

When going on holiday in a ski resort, whether it is in winter to ski or in summer to hike, you have to find a place to stay. Sometimes, you can wonder if it would be worth it to buy a place in a resort or if you should continue to rent. Let’s see some pros and cons for the two possibilities.

Pros and cons of buying

Buying an accommodation in Les Menuires, Les Arcs, Chamonix or any big ski resort is quite an investment. It is indeed just like buying a house but only to go on vacation. So it is something that needs to be carefully considered beforehand.   wooden chalet in a ski resort However, if you regularly go on holiday in a ski resort, you could save money in the long run. You would just have to go always in the same resort which can be both a disadvantage and an advantage because you can really enjoy a place you know well. Also, if you have a place of your own, you can go several times a year and not only for the winter holidays for example. If you don’t have to pay for the accommodation, the cost of the whole vacation is considerably reduced.

Pros and cons of renting

The main disadvantage of renting your place in a ski resort for your holidays is money. This is money forever lost whereas when buying a place, even if you have a loan to pay back, this is money invested in something that is yours. But the biggest advantage of renting is that you have the possibility to go wherever you want and change resort every year. Finally, when you rent a place in a ski resort, you can sometimes get some advantages with it like a promotion on ski passes or some groceries delivery service. To sum it up, you really have to think carefully before buying and make sure that it suits your needs but it does have a lot of advantages in the long run. If you choose to buy, you can look up properties for sale in St Martin de Belleville in the 3 Vallées resort for example. This is the largest ski area in the world!

Alpine ski resorts – the next big thing in business travel?

Businesses are always looking for new destinations for incentive travel experiences, conferences or team-building exercises. Over the past few years, France’s Alpine resorts have developed into real contenders in this segment of the market.

Catering to corporate clients at Les Arcs

One type of client not often associated with ski resorts is the businessman or woman. However, Alpine resorts such as Les arcs, in France, are actually very well placed to cater to this kind of customer. Les Arcs 1950, the newest village at Les Arcs ski resort, has anticipated this demand with the inclusion of dedicated function and meeting rooms in a number of residential apartment complexes. A large main function room (485m²) may be subdivided into 6 smaller rooms seating between 50 and 280 people, whilst other meeting rooms seat from 45 to 120 individuals. In the summertime, there’s also the option of putting up an outdoors marquee. Your guests will be put up in luxurious five star accommodation (hotels or apartments), with views of either the village, the ski slopes or Mont Blanc itself. Bed and breakfast, half-board and full-board options are all available, and of course, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in the village itself, serving local dishes and more international cuisine.

A wide variety of activities tailored to business customers

There are lots of activities that are suitable for corporate clients, whether your event’s focus is on team-building, rewarding co-workers, networking with customers or something else. Naturally, winter sports form a big part of what Les Arcs 1950 has to offer. Your clients or colleagues will get the chance to enjoy snowshoeing, snow mobile rides, tobogganing, dog sledding and more. They’ll also be sure to love the ‘igloo village’, which boasts an igloo bar, an ice cave with ice carvings, a restaurant and space for dancing! After an intense seminar or a long day in the conference hall, who wouldn’t want to relax in a sauna or get a massage? Your guests will be able to do just that thanks to the Deep Nature Spa located at the heart of Les Arcs 1950. Open until 8pm, the spa extends over 1000m². One unique aspect of this facility are the panoramic views of Mont Blanc to be had from some of the treatment rooms.

What to do during your stay in Chamonix?

Whether you are staying in Chamonix for the weekend or for a whole week or two, there are many things to enjoy. Chamonix is a very well-known French ski resort but it offers many more activities besides skiing. Here’s a sample of what you can do there.

Discover famous spots

The Mont Blanc

Chamonix is located in the French Alps, at the foot of the famous Mont Blanc (reminder: it is the highest mountain in Europe). Thus, spending your holidays in Chamonix and seeing the Mont Blanc is quite incredible in itself. It is possible to hike on this moutain at a reasonable height or go to the top for those who can hike well, or hike on surrounding moutains, which guarantees an amazing view.

The famous Mont Blanc which you can see in Chamonix

Mont Blanc – Source: Wikipedia

The Aiguille du Midi

In chamonix you can also find another very famous moutain which is the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 meters high). Thanks to a cable car, you can go to the very top of this moutain and experience a unique sensation by “stepping into the void”! A room completely made of glass allows you to admire the Alps with the impression of floating in the air. If you are afraid of heights however, this might not be for you.

The Mer de Glace

If you like hiking, there is a beautiful path that leads to the Mer de Glace, which is a glacier situated in Chamonix. You can also go there by taking a small traditional train. Once up there (1,913 meters), you can admire the gacier and learn about its history and changes. You can even visit the glacier and go under the ice!

Experience new activities

If you want to try new sports or if you are a free-flight fan there are several activities that you can do in Chamonix.  For example, you can try para-gliding or hang-gliding to see Chamonix from the air and get a breathtaking view of the Alps. You can also fly over the valley with professionals. Para-gliding in the Alps If you’d rather stay on the ground, you can golf or go shopping in the numerous stores of the resort. You can also check the dates of famous festivals that take place in Chamonix and sports events like the World Rock-Climbing Cup or the UTMB for example. Finally, if you are staying in a MGM residence for instance, you can enjoy the fitness equipment or the spa to relax.

Cheap ski holidays start with great-value accommodation

French ski resort breaks needn’t cost the earth!

The French ski resort of Val Thorens is famous for its high-altitude slopes (it’s based at some 2300 metres above sea level) and enormous ski area (as part of the 3 vallées area). What may be less well-known about ski holidays in the French Alps is that they’re not necessarily the preserve of the well-to-do. There are many ways of reducing the cost of your next skiing vacations. Probably the most effective of these is to shop around when looking for accommodation. Sometimes it’s worth contacting a given ski resort directly to see if they have any special offers. The average French ski resort does have quite a wide range of accommodation categories which are designed to suit all budgets. At Val Thorens, for example, there are 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, ski-in apartments in larger ‘residences’, self-catered flats with room for 10 or more and even a youth hostel!   Ski holidays in the French Alps for family-friendly fun! No matter where you go in the French Alps, whether on ski holidays or summer vacations, you’ll find that French ski resorts are very much planned with families in mind. For those looking for cheap ski holidays for families, a great place to start is the official Val Thorens ski resort website which offers a range of special packages, including ones aimed at family groups. These will typically cover both accommodation and ski passes. (more…)

4 stars Chamonix hotels: your home-from-home for winter sports fun!

The French Alps are the place for winter sports of all kinds. There are many different resorts scattered throughout the region, but Chamonix, as one of the oldest of all, has a special place in many people’s hearts. This is reflected in the way in which the town caters to virtually every pocket and every kind of visitor. From 4 stars hotels in Chamonix to self-catering apartments and bed and breakfasts, there’s an embarrassment of quality accommodation out there. If you’re a real winter sports fanatic, finding a location that’s close to the relevant ski lifts and cable cars is crucial. Four star hotels and similar luxury establishments are often strategically placed. For example, the Hôtel Les Grands Montets is, as the name suggests, sited at the foot of the famous Grands Montets ski area, which has some superb off-piste skiing to enjoy.  

mountain-ski

Getting off-piste in the Grands Montets ski area

Chamonix

has a total of four large ski areas and is also home to world-class competitions like the Freeride World Tour and Kandahar – the Men’s Alpine Skiing World Cup. If you’re not quite in this league, you can still enjoy a range of winter sports:

  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Snowshoeing
  • Ice climbing
  • Hiking

  If you’ve chosen a 4 stars Chamonix hotel for your stay, the chances are you’re looking to be pampered after a hard day on the slopes. Many 4 stars hotels in Chamonix offer all-inclusive packages with just that in mind – access to spa facilities, massages and more. hotel-chamonix Pamper yourself with in-hotel spa facilities Lastly, Chamonix is also known for its lively après-ski scene and fine dining.