School holidays are fast approaching, with the first areas breaking from 7th February and the last kids going back to school in mid-March. You might have heard horror stories about the crowds and queues associated with skiing during holidays, but all is not lost! Our Resort Team are your local experts, based in Chamonix and knowledgable about the resort, and they’ve put together some tips to help you make the most of your time here and avoid the worst of the waiting.
1. Pre-book your lift passes
There’s no denying that morning lift pass queues are not fun. On your first day, the last thing you want to be doing is lining up at the cash desks intead of hopping straight onto the lift. Pre-order your lift passes and the Resort Team will bring them to you on arrival so you can skip the queues and get on the slopes as soon as you’re kitted up. (Don’t miss our guide to choosing the right ski pass for you too.)
Speaking of which, you can also pre-book your ski hire on our website – we’ll process the order and send it to a ski shop close by, or arrange delivery if we don’t have a partner conveniently located for your accommodation – easy!
2. Book a lesson
Not only do most ski lifts have a dedicated queue for ski instructors and their groups, but your instructors know the Chamonix valley like the back of their hands so they’ll take you to the quietest spots and best snow. All this means that taking a lesson is a win-win, you’ll get more ski time and spend less time in the scrum at the bottom of the lifts. See our blog post about booking ski lessons and mountain guides.
3. Lunch early or late
Most people will take their lunch between 12pm and 2pm, and this is also when most ski schools take a break or pause for the changeover between morning and afternoon group lessons. So why not plan to eat your lunch slightly earlier or later than usual, and make the most of the quiet(er) pistes? Don’t miss our guide to the best mountain restaurantsaround.
4. Book shuttles to the slopes
School holidays mean busy ski buses, and while they are regular, you might have to wait for one to come along with space for you to get on. So instead of getting crushed in the busy ski buses, why not book our 8-seater minibusesinstead to take you to and from the slopes each day? Book our one-way shuttles and our friendly transport team will collect you in the morning from your accommodation and take you to the bottom of the lifts, while with our return package, they’ll also pick you up at the end of the day.
5. Try something new
Cross-country skiing doesn’t require any queuing at lifts, just glide your way along the tracks. There are two styles to try – classic and skate, or experience true adrenaline with biathlon – cross-country skiing combined with rifle shooting! There are tracks located throughout the Chamonix valley at Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine, as well as in Courmayeur, Italy.
6. Non-ski activities
Get away from the slopes completely with one of our non-ski activities. Husky dog rides are always popular and a wonderful treat for all your group – but bear in mind that these book up early during school holidays. Otherwise, snow shoeing is the perfect way to avoid the crowds – join a group or take a private guide to see the snow-capped mountains from a new angle.
Get in touch
The Resort Team are on hand 7 days a week to answer your questions and help you prepare for your holiday. You can pre-book and pay securely for everything on our online Chamonix Resort Shop – your one-stop-shop for your Chamonix holiday, or contact us on relax@chamonixallyear.com.
