We're full...

...almost! We've one week left for this ski season, and that's the last week of the season (17-Apr-10). In our experience, or rather what our friends in the village tell us, it's a great week to be there, as everyone's on a high! There are plenty of end-of-season parties and, after 17 weeks of hard work, they party hard! On top of that, the snow's normally excellent, so you don't need to worry about wrecking your skis on the rocks.

Church Mice

For those of you who prefer to stash away the savings outlined in the previous posting (rather than blow them on NetJets flights) and who prefer not to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, you should be aware that we have not one, not two, but three companies who are ready and waiting to transport you from your chosen airport to Chalet Kiana. Two of them (ChamVan and ATS) are linked on our website (under the Travel tab). The third (Ski-Lifts) is new to us this year, so we are testing them out before adding a link to our site.

2010-11 Ski Season Prices

As enquiries are already coming in for the next ski season, we've had to get the calculator out earlier than we're used to! And...we've reduced our rates. Why, when we're one year into a three-year programme of upgrading the chalet? "It's simples"...as the ad goes...interest rates are down.

On average, next season's rates are 4% down on this year but, of course, rates for the most popular weeks of New Year and Half Term particularly (which we could sell many times over) are up. We've calculated that we're 40% less than an equivalent week in Val d'Isere, for those of you who still compare Les Contamines with Val de Sloane Square.

There's no comparison, of course; YSE's Chalet de Pierre (sleeps 10, 5 baths 2 showers) or La Grande Sassiere (sleeps 12, 4 baths 2 showers) will cost you £13,320 (€15,270) for a peak week at La Pierre (assuming you negotiate a free 10th place for having filled the chalet) or £15,235 (€17,650, same assumption applied for having filled La Grande Sassiere).

OK, so those are catered prices, including charter flights from LGW and transfers to the resort (3 hours from Grenoble!). But our peak weeks of New Year and Half Term are €6,700 and €6,500 at our self-catered rates. That leaves you on average €10,000 to fly 10 people to GVA and transfer them to Les Contamines, plus food & drink for a week. If the food and drink for 10 is €3,000, then that leaves you €7,000 for your flights and transfers! What's Net Jets' number?!

Nick & Laura's First Post

Our team in Les Contamines (Nick & Laura Pomeroy) took advantage of the beautiful sunshine last week to take a trip up the Mont Blanc Tramway from Saint Gervais. It's a route that takes around 50 minutes from the station to the Bellevue plateau, opposite the Bionnassay Glacier.

The tramway goes up to 1795m during the winter months, and continues up to the Nid D'Aigle (Eagle's Nest) at 2380m in summer. Works began in 1904 and the winter route was finally completed in 1926. The steam engines were replaced by electric motors in 1956, and the trains were named “Anne”, “Jeanne” and “Marie” after M. Noury's (the owner's) three daughters. It's around €18.00 for a return trip and offers access to the Les Houches / Chamonix and also Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, with some lovely walking tracks into the forests. 

Spectacular views all round, over the Val Montjoie (Les Contamines), the glaciers and also the Chamonix Valley – the small restaurant at the top serves up a great chance for a drink with a 360º view!