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Ski In Ski Out Chalets Are not Always Quite What They Seem
As ski holidays have grown, so has the pace of development in many ski resorts with ski chalets being developed further and further away from the slopes which has resulted in a real increase in demand for ski in ski out chalets to minimise the daily ‘commute' to the slopes. Of course 20 years ago it was virtually a given that your ski hotel or ski chalet would be close to a ski lift at least, with most ski chalets and hotels being typically less than 300 metres away. Today however it some times feels like 300 kilometres in some cases and whilst in some cases this negative affect has been mitigated by chauffeured transfers (increasing the carbon foot print), in others it means half an hour on the ski bus!
Having skied for nearly 25 years I do not remember ski in ski out being a widely used term when I first started and this seems to reinforce the change in circumstances, or maybe it is just the mere fact that as the consumer society has developed we seek greater convenience, and with most facing an hourly commute to work, the last thing we want on our holidays is a similar experience? Whichever it is, nowadays the ski in ski out chalet label is a useful USP that in many resorts can provide one chalet with competitive advantage over another. Certainly our experience is one that once a customer has been on a ski in ski out holiday then there is rarely afterwards any looking back at alternatives. The mere fact that you can click your skis on and avoid icy paths and roads, or hot and humid transfers is probably reason enough.
As a consequence of changes in both circumstances and the subsequent changes in demand, the ski in ski out industry has grown in prominence and so has the number of ski in ski out chalets. The growth in ski in ski out chalets of course is not down to just new chalets springing up. Whilst the positive angle here is the growth is merely that most ski in ski out chalets have just become more aware of the ski in ski out attribute and with its now sort after prominence are capitalising on it accordingly, there is also a negative side too. Competition in the ski industry is nowadays strong, so the desire to gain advantage is strong. As we all appreciate in respect of the job interviewers we have participated in, ‘stretching of the truth' when our livelihood is at stake is common practice and it is no different in the ski industry. As in the recruitment example, whilst some might accept that such is part and parcel of marketing effectively, the level of ‘stretching' is a fine line. Every industry has its less than scrupulous cases and the ski in ski out industry is no exception. As a specialist in ski in ski out chalets we have been taken back by how few really are what we would term true ‘ski in ski out' and in our definition this means next to the ski slope and doesn't involve jumping fences, crossing gardens, skiing through woods, across roads, paths, lanes, etc – or ‘snow conditions permitting')!
In effect, when ski in ski out chalets claim to be ski in ski out it is therefore important to test whether they really are and not just to take their word for it. Google maps can help, but is not definitive, as it will show whether a chalet is in the middle of the resort or next to a green patch of grass that could or could not be a ski slope, but nothing more. You will therefore need to be little more investigative and we believe it is not as difficult or as time consuming as you think to establish such and here our some quickly steps we think will help considerably. The first is the gallery page, let's face it, if you have such a sort after concept, you are going to want to sell it hard and the reality is that most people are sold on visuals more than text. In which case, if you have a true ski in ski out chalet you are going to want to sell the concept with a great photo, the ski chalet and the slopes next to it with skiers on, a piste board, a piste basher cruising by, something that is pictorial evidence to your claim. If the ski operator hasn't got such a photo, the initial alarm bell might be sounding and you will now need to ask one or two more pertinent question. The first is how far is it from the slope and do you have a photo of the nearest slope in relation to the ski chalet. We know of several supposed ski in ski out chalets that are in effect can be 500 metres from the nearest slope and to ski to or from such chalets it is an assault course to get back! Beware therefore of ski chalets that claim ‘ski in ski out conditions permitting'. Any slope side chalet doesn't need to put such, the piste management will take care of ensuring ‘snow conditions' permit, but they won't maintain snow across fields and gardens that is generally what is being said here! Finally, if they tell you that they are close, just ask them to define close in metric terms, and then put it in writing. Words are easily denied, but black and white is a different kettle of fish.
To conclude, there are far more honest and robust ski operators out there than unscrupulous ones, but just beware. If you do find sadly the latter, before you endorse their more dubious practises by still going with them, you may want to ask how many other claims have been ‘stretched' and instead go with a more ethical ski in ski out company, one where you really do know what you are getting.
About the Author
Mark Leyshon is a Director of Ski In Ski Out Chalets (http://www.skiinskioutchalets.co.uk) and has been in the ski in ski out chalet industry for several years providing true slope side ski holidays for discerning guests.
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