VIP SKI Blog

The clothing collection has been collated with the help of some of the best connoisseurs, including well-known brands such as Volcom, Dare2b, Scott, Legowear and Reima Frost.

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3

1.   Browse their extensive online collection
2.   Choose the perfect colour, size and style
3.   Enjoy free delivery to your chalet and a collection service at the end of your stay

Here are some of the reasons we think it's an ingenious idea.

Environmentally friendly

Millions of pounds worth of clothing goes into landfill each year in the UK. Whilst ski clothing certainly isn’t the only thing to blame for this, a great way to ensure you are not adding to this accelerating issue, is to share and recycle gear.

Hassle-free packing

We can all revel in that moment of relief when your luggage gets weighed and it’s below the maximum allowance. On most holidays this doesn’t prove too tricky but a week or two weeks’ worth of ski clothing can rapidly push you over the weight limit! How easy would packing be if all you had to think about was what clothes to lounge around in after a day on the slopes?

Lost luggage

We don’t wish it upon anyone, but should disaster strike and your luggage get lost along the way, it doesn’t have to stop you heading up the mountain or embracing the alpine weather.

Growth spurts

Whether you’re taking your toddler on their first ski holiday or your teenagers seem to be experiencing daily growth spurts, why not hire clothing? Forking out on new gear every year can add up rapidly.

Pants & jackets and more

It’s not just a fantastic selection of pants (salopettes that is, not underwear) and jackets for adults and children! You can buy socks, gloves, mittens, base layers and neck warmers too!

Seamless

Delivered in a backpack to your accommodation, you don’t even need to step foot out of your chalet to get your hands on your kit for the week. Simply choose what you would like to hire online, carefully taking note of their size guide and advice and they will have it delivered to your (chalet) door.

If you are interested in booking a holiday with us or you have already booked, give us a call today on 0208 875 1957 to discuss this and much more!

I remain sincerely sorry

I am acutely aware that our insolvency caused much pain and inconvenience to a great many people and I remain sincerely sorry that I was not able to find a way through the pandemic. Everything that we previously achieved was due to the unstinting support and loyalty of our guests who we clearly let down. It is true that everyone will get their money back for holidays not enjoyed, the vast majority have already done so, but this is a prolonged and laborious process and I remain ashamed that we were not able to honour our commitments in the first place.

Despite the nuisance caused to so many, I have been completely humbled by the groundswell of support since our demise from guests, colleagues and industry partners and it was this support that fuelled my determination to continue.

Nervous but excited

Having secured the future of VIP SKI, I don’t yet know how or what I feel. Certainly not victorious or even happy. I am minded to remember the late summer evening in 1989, with my family on their knees in front of the TV, stuffing my first brochure into envelopes. When I ponder everything that has happened since, I am panicked at the thought of having to do it all again. But then I realise that maybe I’ve got the chance to cut and paste the half I got right onto a blank sheet of paper. That must be a unique and compelling opportunity.

A new start

So the journey back begins now, and I can’t deny a frisson of excitement at the prospect of putting only the best bits all back together again. I guess it’s a bit like putting a bomb under 30 years’ work, I’ve just got to dust myself down, pull myself together and go back out and pick up all the pieces.

I never considered VIP SKI as my business, but rather a community of people and skiers; hundreds of thousands of guests, tens of thousands of colleagues, landlords, partners and suppliers, many of whom have become close friends, drawn together around a common love of skiing. My colleagues and I are simply relieved to have the opportunity of putting this back together again.

We will be taking bookings later this year

It will take a few months to be ready to open our doors to bookings once more, please bear with us whilst we put the team back together and sort out some admin, but this will be in good time for the new ski season, which my colleagues and I can now look forward to with both relish and new purpose.

We very much hope you will join us again in the mountains next season. Here's hoping 2021 is a brighter year for everyone. 

The Vegan Society

According to the latest research carried out by the Vegan Society in 2019, the vegan population in Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2019. There are an estimated 600,000 Vegans in Britain, compared to just 150,000 in 2014. Almost half of UK Vegans made the decision to make this change in 2018, suggesting this pattern will only continue and accelerate. They estimate that Vegans and Vegetarians will make up a quarter of the British population by 2025 – the growth is exponential!

Changing mindsets

Veganism is one of the fastest growing lifestyle movements, and slowly but steadily even the more close-minded regions are beginning to adapt their repertoire. There is no doubt that this movement is worldwide, but in part due to the British influence on certain ski resorts, some ski towns have developed Vegan-friendly restaurants more rapidly than other, more traditional regions.

Home from home

We’re sure you would all agree that a catered chalet holiday revolves primarily around the food (and skiing of course). Our goal is to make your holiday as seamless and stress-free as we can. Whether you are gluten intolerant, dairy-free, nut-free or vegan, we work hard to ensure the menus will suit your needs.

Flexibility

Whilst our chalet menus are fixed, they are not set in stone. We have a switch menu option which allows you to swap dishes in and out in order to personalise your holiday menu.

For those of you staying in one of our CLUB Chalets, the chef will be offering canapes and a choice of menu on six evenings; and in our Hotel Theodul and Hotel Arlberg there is a more comprehensive meal plan with cooked breakfast and a choice of menu for the evening meal, on all seven days.

Regardless of which property you may choose, the London office team are on hand to discuss any concerns or requests prior to travel. The team in resort will be informed of any changes to the menus or other information long before your arrival.

Don't take our word for it

Naturally, we are biased and think highly of our culinary skills but if you need a little more persuading, here are some of our latest guests’ reviews on the matter:

No 2 Penthouse Avoriaz – January 2020: …the food was absolutely exceptional. Two of us were vegan, one lactose-intolerant and one unable to eat beef so the way they accommodated us was far beyond what we hoped…

No 2 Aspen House Val d’Isere – January 2020: …Her cooking was amazing, afternoon delights were to die for, and she was most polite andattentive to all of our needs. Our party included two couples (one of which had numerous food intolerances) and a 21-month-old. Sophie cooked my little boy a nutritional two course meal from scratch, every night and made sure all of his favourite meals were on the menu…

Chalet Marielaine Meribel – January 2020: The food is superb; better than the food we had mid-week! We really appreciate the trouble Anna has gone to, to cook gluten free for my husband and vegetarian…

Valdez Suite Morzine – January 2020: Exceptional food with any special requests catered for and menus were well thought out…

Darkoum Lama Courchevel 1850 – January 2020: The food was wonderful and they were able to tailor our meals to various specifications - one person has several severe allergies to nuts, eggs, etc, then there were children’s tastes to account for and adults!

If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, we’re not sure what is! Whether you have dietary requirements or simply love to talk about food (we do too), give us a call on 0208 875 1957 to discuss your next catered ski holiday today!

Loved up in Lech

Lech rightly deserves its reputation as one of the finest ski resorts in Austria, and indeed in Europe. The village is timelessly picturesque in a traditional Austrian style. Hotel Theodul offers both style and comfort, with excellent facilities including a lounge, bar and spacious restaurant. Top tip for romantics … book room 3 with the four poster bed!

Skate under the stars - Experience ice skating under the stars at the natural ice rink in Zürs. Every Wednesday evening they offer candlelight ice skating to make it even more spectacular.

Your very own fairy-tale moment - What could be more romantic than a horse-drawn sleigh ride? Cuddle under a warm blanket, just sit back, relax and let the magic of the journey unfold.

Unwind in the spa - Hotel Theodul boasts a modern spa with sauna, steam room, relaxation area and outdoor pool - the perfect way to unwind after a day on the mountain. Make it even more romantic by booking a massage or treatment for your loved one.

Stay in the wonderful Hotel Theodul in Lech on 9 February with special offers from £1200 pp.

St Valentine in St Christoph

St. Christoph is a one-of-a-kind location; at the foot of the Galzig mountain, set in an open snow bowl at 1800m, the traditional village is a hidden gem. Stay in our new piste-side Hotel Arlberg, if an après ski drink on this terrace isn’t romantic enough for you then we’re not sure what will be.

Party in St Anton - Whilst you can stay in the tranquillity of St Christoph, those who want the best of both worlds can access the party après ski vibe of St Anton, which is just a short ski or taxi ride from the Hotel.

Escape just the two of you - Rent some snowshoes and go and explore. Imagine… nature as far as the eye can see and fresh mountain air! Feel the satisfying crunch of snow under your feet, inspire your senses and escape from the stress of everyday life.

Stay in the wonderful Hotel Arlberg in St Christoph on 9 February with special offers from £1079 pp.

Vow to wow in Val d'Isere

Val d’Isère offers terrific skiing at high altitude, a beautiful setting with a cheeky side for those who are looking to enjoy the night-life. 

Dogs or helicopters? Get a taste of Alaska on a husky powered sledge whilst taking in the breath-taking mountain scenery. Or for a truly amazing, thrilling and exhilarating panoramic bird’s eye view of the mountains choose a sightseeing scenic helicopter tourist flight.

Have dinner in a Yurt - For a truly unforgettable evening … in a secret place near Boisses, in the middle of the woods; enjoy an aperitif around the fire under a starlit sky, followed by a typical Savoyard meal in a cosy Mongolian yurt.

Drink champagne in the hot tub - Stay in CLUB Bellevarde and we’ll provide you the perfect spot for a romantic moment.. we’ll even provide the fizz!

Stay in the wonderful CLUB Bellevarde in Val d’Isere on 9 February with special offers from £1539 pp.

Here are a few of our recent projects being brought to life...

Building chalets in Avoriaz

Back in the summer of 2018, our talented CGI friends created the first images of our new chalets in Avoriaz. They certainly had their work cut out, portraying both the style and space within these wonderful chalets.

Chalet Beluga

CGI - Chalet Beluga living room 

Chalet Beluga

Real photo - Chalet Beluga living room 

Chalet Beluga

Real photo - Chalet Beluga bathroom 1

Chalet Beluga

CGI - Chalet Beluga bathroom 1

CGI in Alpe d’Huez

Eden East and West were also added in summer 2018 and they have become two of our most sought-after properties. The CGI imagery really captured the essence of these chalets, manifesting their impressive wooden eaves, open fires and squashy sofas. Long before our ‘real’ photos were taken, guests loved them and they flew out the door.

Eden West

Real photo - Eden West dinning area

Eden West

CGI - Eden West dining area

Eden West

Real photo - Eden West living area

Eden West

CGI - Eden West living area

New home in Val d’Isere

Not one, not two but eight modern apartments and a spa! Our new Aspen house was a real challenge for our CGI friends. They successfully illustrated our vision (yet again) in the hope of attracting both new and returning guests.

Aspen House

CGI - Aspen House Exterior 

Aspen House

Real photo - Aspen exterior

No 1 Aspen House

Real photo - No 1 Aspen House Room 2

No 1 Aspen House

CGI - No 1 Aspen House Room 2

Back in Avoriaz

Once again we put our faith in the CGI team to produce images of three more new piste-side chalets in Avoriaz. Once again they nailed it!

Chalet Kipnuk

Real photo - Chalet Kipnuk Bedroom 1

Chalet Kipnuk

CGI - Chalet Kipnuk Bedroom 1

Chalet Ipaka

Real photo - Chalet Ipaka Bathroom 1

Chalet Ipaka

CGI - Chalet Ipaka Bathroom 1

A huge thank you to our CGI team for helping bring to life our chalets months before the interior designers were able to; thank you to all of our clients who have booked a holiday with us and trusted that the CGI imagery truly does reflect what they see upon arrival in resort.

If you’re tempted to head to the mountains and experience these dizzying views and luxurious chalets first hand, then call the team today on 0208 875 1957.