Luxury Ski Resorts - Europe

I am often asked what resorts I would recommend for a great Christmas ski vacation so here is my list of luxury ski resorts for Europe in order of their charm, sophistication, Christmas ambience and appeal, skiing, and value for money:

1. Verbier - A great luxury high altitude ski resort that gets first place for its fantastic apres-ski, charming town centre, chocolate box charm chalets, and some great skiing. Also with so many chalets operating nowadays from Verbier, Christmas might not be as expensive as you thought.  
2. Meribel - In the middle of the three valleys, outstanding high altitude skiing, villages full of charm, and typically priced reasonably for such a world famous luxury ski resort.
3. Zermatt - Not going to win the value for money stakes, but then why does it need to? Great high altitude skiing, one of the most charming, and also traffic free, towns you can find, this is an expensive resort that is well worth the price for a charming ski Christmas break where you'll be surrounding by fantasic boutiques, and horse drawn carriages!
4. Chamonix - Probably the value for money destination to ski Christmas in Europe's best high altitude luxury ski resorts. A charming historic town centre that creates that traditional Christmas card look. The skiing isn't bad either with some of the best off-piste skiing in the world. Being a town, the boutique shopping will also delight the non skiers in the party! 
5. St Anton - If this was a blog for just singles, and people looking to party for their ski Christmas break, a St Anton Christmas might have been number one! But as its not, it slips down the list as a great 'dinkies' and single resort, but not ideal for families or for those looking for the value for money option!
6. Val d'Isere - If the best luxury ski resort at Christmas was based on charm, sophistication,  and great skiing, Val d'Isere and Zernatt would be topping the list. Value for money is not the reason to go to Val d'Isere, but then this is a luxury ski resort that is a class above the others so why shouldn't you pay for the privilege?
7. Courchevel 1850 - A chic resort that offers great skiing and a sophisticated nightlife. But as one of the most expensive resorts, personally for a ski Christmas holiday I would choose Val d'Isere or Zermatt.
8. Val Thorens - This luxury ski resort has to be on the list for its value for money, znd some of the best high altitude skiing, in the Three Valleys. Sadly Val Thorens won't give you that chocolate box Christmas card charm despite recent improvements to the architecture.
9. Tignes - For Tignes read Val Thorens and just change the words Three Valleys to Espace Killy. Great network, high altitude town too, but the ugly duckling of the luxury ski resorts.
10. St Moritz - Chic, exclusive, a great Christmas ski location for the rich and famous. Number 10 for its skiing however, lack of alpine charm (despite its exclusive appeal), and value for money. But if being seen in the most exclusive luxury ski resort at Christmas counts more than anything else, you might one to book this ski resort today!

Family Chalet

If you are a family ski group looking for a great family chalet, ran by a family friendly ski operators, this week we are going to provide a selection of 3 of the very best chalet operators who can ensure you make the right choices and have a great ski Christmas with the family. I guess if you are looking for a great family ski chalet, the first criteria has to be close to the piste to avoid otherwise dragging all the family ski equipment (and the children), into vans and / or down icy roads.

1. Ski In Ski Out

Well with Ski In Ski Out you won't get closer and this family run organisation will not only select you great ski in ski out chalet, they'll make sure its a family friendly ski chalet too! With chalets in Chamonix, Morzine, Park City Utah,  the Three Valley's - La Tania, Les Menuires), Val d'Isere, and Verbier to name a few, they are bound to have something that fits your budget, from good value catered chalets through to super luxury catered chalets that will leave your friends green with envy.

2. Discover Verbier

A well established family ski company that despite its growth, still has a family run, high quality philosophy.

3. Chamonix Exclusive

Ran by people who have been on family ski holidays themselves, so have a good understanding of your needs, this family chalet continues to get rave reviews year on year with many families returning time and time again to what one reviewer referred to as the "discreet wrap around service that gives Chamonix Exclusive the x-factor"

Luxury Catered Chalets Val d'Isere

For an unforgettable Christmas ski holiday, how could we not mention Val d'Isere a resort that has everything that you need for a great ski Christmas holiday:

• High altitude resort
• High altitude skiing
• Extensive skiing
• A beautiful and lively ski town
• Some of the best luxury catered chalets

Picking up the latter point, for a Christmas ski vacation, this is what really does make Val d'Isere the Christmas ski destination. If you are gong to have a very merry, and a very special Christmas, the setting must be right. And with Val d'Isere luxury catered chalets it is, as being high altitude you are guaranteed that white Christmas, the chalet you book as you arrive will have that stunning wood and traditional stone exterior, and inside, especially if you choose a Ski In Ski Out Chalets featured chalet, you'll find the interior full of character that many of us only expert to experience on the front of a Christmas card!  

Ski Chamonix Christmas

If you are looking for the perfect location to ski Chamonix at Christmas, then Chalet Prarion may well be the chalet for you. This high end luxury catered chalet sleeps 12 in 6 en-suite bedrooms and has an unrivaled south facing ski in ski out position.

Right next to the piste, this chalet is the finest of just three true ski in ski out properties in the Chamonix valley so don't delay if you don't want to miss out. HD Projection cinema, a luxury spa pool, Games Room are just some of its luxury ski chalet features.

Christmas Verbier

If you have just returned from your half term skiing holiday, you may already be pining for the next ski chalet holiday. If so, one great resort to consider would be Verbier. A great town, and a high altitude ski resort as well at 1,500m and skiing on the Mont Fort from 3,300m, this is a great snow sure resort.

Whilst we wouldn't recommend Verbier for very young family ski groups, for the older confident skiers in a family ski chalet party, this is a fantastic resort with so much to before the big Christmas day itself. A tasteful, and lively resort, a visit to Verbier at Christmas creates a fantastic ambience that Christmas cards try to mimic!

So if you want to get over the half term ski blues, you won't go far wrong with a Verbier Christmas ski holiday!

Ski In Ski Out

If you are looking for a great ski chalet for the Christmas ski break, then a ski in ski out chalet might just be the ticket, even more so if it is a family ski trip. Ski in ski out, or should it be ski out and then ski in? Either way it allows you to have your cake and eat it - without having to have walked back up difficult icy steps and paths, or stuffy buses!

Ski in ski out properties, well we think anyway, are properties next to the slopes and let you just leave the chalet, put on the skis, and ski, returning at the end of the day by skiing back to the very door. A great way to celebrate Christmas and ski in style and convenience.