How To Have the Perfect Ski Holiday

Isn't skiing wonderful when you're on the hill whizzing down the slopes, with the wind in your hair and sun on your face? Don't you feel like it's a major hassle getting to that point, what with finding somewhere to stay, having to rent ski gear, getting the kids all dressed up? Not to mention worrying about getting dinner on the table later that night or finding a reasonably priced restaurant. Well follow these 5 tips to make your ski holiday so much better:

1. Stay in a catered chalet. European-style catered chalets are becoming more and more popular in the US. Your group rents rooms or a whole house and has good ol' fashioned service just like a traditional English house party, complete with maids, who do everything for you.
2. Meals included in this type of set up are a buffet breakfast, usually with a hot speciality each day, and afternoon tea and cake laid out for you for when you're starving and have just returned from a hectic day on the slopes. Then there is a 3 course dinner prepared for you by your private chef and you don't have to do a thing! Just sit back enjoy a glass of wine and wait for dinner to be laid on the table in front of you for everyone to enjoy as a family. Of course the washing up is also taken care of and the kitchen is left spic and span. The chefs get one night off per week, so that you can enjoy a local reastuarant of your choice.
3. Cleaning is also completely taken care of. When you disappear for the day's skiing, the beds will be made, bathrooms cleaned and tidied and the whole chalet given a quick spruce up, so it looks perfect when you return.
4. Services - most chalets also offer excellent services and can arrange everything in resort for you. Chalets USA for example can order and collect your lift passes for you before you arrive so they'll be waiting for you at the chalet. Ski school can also be arranged and vouchers brought to the chalet before you get there. They also do in-chalet ski fitting, which means you pre-order skis, boots etc. and they bring a selection to the chalet for you to try on. They are fitted by professional ski/boot fitters right in the chalet, so you don't have to bother with hanging around at local shops and having to get everyone organized when you're tired.
5. Local knowledge is so helpful when you're in a new place. The chalet maids can suggest a great restaurant for their night out, tell you where to take the kids sledding, organise that dog sled ride you've always dreamed of taking and help get to the doctor in case of an emergency.

The Europeans really do have this skiing lark figured out - try this type of ski holiday next time you see the snow fly and enjoy a totally hassle-free vacation for all.