If you’ve never stayed in a catered ski chalet before, it can be difficult to picture what the experience is actually like.
You know there’ll be skiing. You know there’ll be food. You know there’ll be somewhere comfortable to sleep. But what does a typical week actually feel like?
How much time do you spend with the chalet staff? What happens on their days off? When do you eat? What do you do for lunch? And how does it compare to staying in a hotel or self-catered apartment?
Here’s a look at a typical week in a Ski Basics chalet, from the moment you arrive in Meribel to the day you head home.
Sunday: Arrival Day
After a day of travelling, arriving at your chalet should feel like a chance to finally switch off and start your holiday.
Check-in opens from 4pm and, if you’ve chosen one of our catered chalets, you’ll be welcomed by your chalet host. The chalet will be warm, inviting and ready for your arrival, with afternoon tea waiting, pillows plumped and everything prepared for the week ahead.
If you’ve pre-booked your ski hire through one of our recommended ski hire suppliers and selected chalet delivery, your skis and boots will already be waiting for you. Alternatively, your chalet manager can arrange for you to visit the shop to collect or organise your equipment.
Guests who have pre-ordered lift passes through the Ski Basics portal can also enjoy the convenience of having them delivered directly to the chalet. Your chalet manager will stop by to introduce themselves, explain how they can help throughout the week and answer any questions you might have. Whether you need restaurant recommendations, help arranging activities or simply some local advice, they’re there to make your stay as smooth as possible.
As evening arrives, it’s time for your first chalet meal. As evening arrives, it’s time for your first chalet meal.
Guests staying on our Classic Catered service can look forward to a freshly prepared three-course dinner on five nights of the week, served with unlimited house wine. Those staying on our Plus Catered service will enjoy an enhanced four-course dining experience, along with unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks throughout their stay.
Whichever service you’ve chosen, dinner is one of the highlights of chalet life. It’s a chance to gather around the table, share stories from the journey and start settling into the rhythm of the week ahead.
Once dinner is finished and everything gets cleared away and the space is yours. There’s no lobby full of strangers and no pressure to leave the dining room. Instead, you can put your feet up by the fire, enjoy a drink with friends or family, play a board game with the children or simply relax and soak up the alpine atmosphere.
Monday: Finding Your Rhythm
The first full day on the mountain starts with breakfast from 8am.
On hosted mornings, you’ll wake up to the smell of freshly prepared breakfast, with hearty cooked options alongside continental favourites to set you up for a day of skiing.
After breakfast, it’s time to collect your equipment from the ski room, pull on your boots and head for the slopes. For chalets located more than a 5-minute walk from the lifts, our driver service is on hand to take you straight to La Chaudanne.
Then it’s time to ski.
Some guests spend the day exploring as much of the Three Valleys as possible. Others take things at a more relaxed pace, stopping for a long mountain lunch and soaking up the views from a sunny terrace.
One of the joys of a ski holiday is that there’s no right way to do it and if you need any recommendations, your chalet host and chalet manager are always happy to suggest their favourite runs and local hidden gems, the best areas for beginners or the best mountain restaurants in Meribel, from sunny terraces to hidden local favourites.
Throughout the afternoon, our drivers are available to bring guests back from La Chaudanne between 4pm and 6:30pm.
Back at the chalet, afternoon tea is waiting. Fresh cake, tea, coffee and a chance to swap stories from the day before heading off to shower, relax in the hot tub or enjoy some downtime before dinner.
Your chalet host returns around 6pm to begin preparing the evening meal. Children’s meals can be served earlier, typically from 6:30pm, while adults usually dine around 8pm.
The menu changes every day, drawing on ski chalet favourites and Alpine-inspired dishes, but the rhythm of the evening remains much the same. Great food, flowing conversation and a relaxed atmosphere that feels far more personal than a hotel restaurant.
Tuesday: The Chalet Team’s Day Off
One of the questions we’re asked most often is what happens on the chalet staff’s days off.
The answer is simple: the holiday continues much as normal.
In the morning, your chalet manager will stop by with fresh bread and everything needed for a continental style buffet breakfast. Once you’ve headed out skiing, they’ll return to clear away and tidy up so you can come back to a welcoming chalet later in the day.
Drivers continue operating as normal, helping guests get to and from the slopes.
Afternoon tea will still be waiting for you when you return.
The main difference comes in the evening, when you have complete flexibility to spend the night however you choose.
Some guests head into Meribel to enjoy one of the many local restaurants, with recommendations and reservations arranged through their chalet manager.
Others enjoy a relaxed raclette evening in the chalet.
Some choose to arrange additional experiences, such as a private mountain mixologist evening.
It’s a chance to experience a different side of Meribel while still enjoying all the support of the Ski Basics team.
Wednesday and Thursday: Settling Into Chalet Life
By the middle of the week, most guests have fallen into a comfortable routine.
Breakfast. Skiing. Mountain lunches. Afternoon tea. Dinner.
It’s a simple formula, but one that makes for a seamless, unforgettable holiday.
One day you might spend the afternoon chasing fresh snow in Courchevel. The next, you could find yourself enjoying a long lunch in Meribel Mottaret before cruising home through the trees as the lifts begin to quieten down.
Back at the chalet, the atmosphere shifts with the week. What felt new on Sunday now feels familiar. Favourite seats in the lounge have been claimed. The best stories from the day are shared over tea and cake. Children settle into their routines and adults relax more with each day.
Thursday brings the second chalet staff evening off, offering another opportunity to explore the resort, try a local restaurant or simply enjoy a quieter evening together.
Friday and Saturday: Making the Most of Every Last Run
By the final few days, guests are usually skiing with more confidence, exploring further and making the most of every moment on the mountain.
The familiar chalet routine continues, with hearty breakfasts, freshly prepared meals and afternoon tea waiting at the end of each day.
For many guests, these final evenings become some of the most memorable. The week has settled into an easy rhythm and there’s a shared feeling of wanting to make the most of the time that’s left.
Saturday evening often feels a little bittersweet. The final chalet dinner is enjoyed, plans for future ski trips are discussed and nobody is quite ready for the week to end.
Sunday: Time to Head Home
Before long, departure day arrives.
One final breakfast is served from 8am, giving everyone a chance to fuel up before the journey home.
Check-out is by 10am, although luggage can usually be stored if you’re travelling later in the day.
And then it’s time to head home.
For many guests, the lasting memories aren’t just the skiing. They’re the small moments in between like returning to afternoon tea after a snowy day on the mountain, sharing stories over dinner and relaxing by the fire with friends and family. Feeling looked after without ever feeling restricted. That’s what staying in a chalet is really about.
Ready to book your catered ski chalet?
If this sounds like the kind of ski holiday you’re looking for, take a look at our carefully handpicked catered chalets in Meribel.
Or get in touch with the Ski Basics team and we’ll help you find the chalet that’s right for your group.