Chalet Balkiss

New For 2023/2024

New for the 23/24 winter season, this operator is offering guests the option to go off-piste and ‘swap out’ certain elements of the catering, to something you might prefer.

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If you choose one of this operator's catered services during the winter season, you’re in for a treat!

Note, that this operator provides properties with 2 different catering classes. Please check the property description to see if this chalet is sold on a classic or signature catered basis.

On your first night, you will be welcomed to the chalet by your friendly host, who will provide you with a wealth of information about the chalet and resort, whilst you relax with a glass of wine.

You will then be invited to sit down to a delicious three-course meal, accompanied by bottled red and white wines (unlimited throughout the meal). After dinner you can enjoy coffee in the lounge. Guests in Signature chalets will also enjoy canapés and aperitif each night before dinner, and dinner will be followed by the option of a cheese course.

Whether your holiday will involve first lifts and fresh tracks, or mid-morning starts and leisurely lunches, we’ll be up and about working hard to get your day off to the best possible start (and they’ll try to be quiet – we promise!). In both their Classic and Signature chalets you will enjoy a hearty breakfast with a choice of cereals, accompanied by yoghurts and fresh baguette with butter and preserves. We also offer a hot option, such as bacon and eggs, on 5 of 7 mornings during your stay.

Every afternoon you’ll return to the chalet after skiing to find a delicious afternoon tea waiting to be demolished! You’ll tuck into a range of teas, freshly brewed coffee, fresh baguette and butter, preserves and chocolate spread. Oh, and let’s not forget the freshly baked cake or biscuits of the day.

Younger guests are also well catered for and will be served a two-course children’s ‘high tea’ earlier than the adult evening meal – see example children’s menu below. To drink, the younger guests will be offered a selection of cordials, fruit juice or water. We regret we can’t supply fizzy drinks.

They also provide you with the option to pre-purchase cases of beer/lager, or a selection of upgraded premium wines (including Rosé), Prosecco or Champagne to enjoy during your stay.

Catering overview

• Breakfast; 5 days continental breakfast with hot option; 2 days continental self-service
• Daily afternoon tea; including homemade cake or biscuits, fresh baguette and hot drinks
• 3-course evening meal; 6 nights
• House wine; bottled red and white wine, during dinner
• Children’s high tea; two courses (if required)

* All 7 night holidays will include one full chalet host day off and one additional morning off. Please note any short breaks of 3 or 4 nights will still include a full day off for the chalet host.

Signature chalets

In addition to the above, if you are staying in one of this operators Signature chalets, on your catered evenings you will also enjoy:

• Canapés and aperitif; served prior to dinner
• Cheeseboard; served after dinner

Sole occupancy booking will also receive a complimentary bottle of port to enjoy alongside your cheese course.

Optional extras

Upgraded Wine, Fizz and Beers: You can pre-book cases of beer and lager, or a selection of premium red and white wine, along with rosé, Prosecco and Champagne to enjoy along with the wine provided as part of your holiday.

Children’s meals

As standard, children under 12 years are served their evening meal eat at an earlier time than the adult evening meal. The children’s earlier dinner will be served between 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

This operator has included their standard children’s menu below. They would much rather children eat food that they enjoy, so if there is anything they simply won’t eat, please do let us know well in advance of arrival and we will adapt accordingly.

Home-made Chicken Goujons with Potato Wedges and Peas
Chocolate Brownie & Ice Cream
*
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Apple Crumble

It is usually not possible to serve a children’s menu at the same time as the adult menu. Most chalet kitchens are domestic in nature, and it simply isn’t logistically possible to produce two completely different menus at the same time. If you would like your young children to eat their evening meal with the adults in an exclusive use chalet, they will normally need to eat from the adult menu (or a simplified version of the adult menu).

Some parents may prefer their children to eat a small portion of the adult evening meal at the same time as the adults. We are happy to accommodate this for exclusive chalet bookings. We regret we can’t accommodate this in shared chalets.

Special dietary requirements

The model of a catered chalet holiday is based on a pre-selected set menu, served to the whole chalet for the duration of your stay. Ingredients are pre-ordered and delivered to resort well in advance of your stay. Additionally, hosts are not catering professionals and it is essential they have the time to prepare for requirements that deviate from the set menu. It is this model that allows us to provide competitively priced ski holidays in all of our resorts. It also helps ensure that hosts working hours are in line with the legal regulations.

Many catered chalet operators are now charging for special dietary requirements, at anywhere up to €85pp/pw. They aim to continue to be able to cater for special dietary requirements at no extra cost.†

To do this, they need your help. It is essential that all special dietary requirements and allergies are communicated to us a minimum of 4 weeks prior to your holiday to allow us to add these into the ordering cycle.

Any requirements communicated after this time, or upon arrival in resort, will be subject to a locally payable surcharge of €45. Late notice also means we may be unable to cater for your requirements on the first night of your holiday.

It is the group leader’s responsibility to inform us of any dietary requirements their party may have.

Vegetarian* and Pescatarian** versions of the set menu are available if requested in advance.

* Our definition of a vegetarian is someone that eats neither fish nor meat.
** Our definition of a pescatarian is someone who eats fish, but no meat. Pescatarians will be served the vegetarian menu, with the inclusion of a fish dish on one evening.

They can generally cater for other alternative diets that involve the omission or substitution (where available) of certain ingredients from their menu that allows them to produce a variation of their standard meat and meat-free menu. They cannot cater for diets that require new or completely different dishes to those on our standard menus.

They can usually provide a suitable menu to cater for special diets such as Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free and Coeliac.

France is still catching up to the benefits of a Vegan lifestyle. The choice of products on offer to assist us in producing vegan menu options in much more limited, and it can be difficult for hosts to prepare a fully refined vegan menu for the week. The vegan menu is predominantly vegetable and legume based alternatives to the meat dishes. They cannot access replacement products such as vegan meat substitutes, vegan cheese, chocolate or agave syrup. And in many resorts, it’s difficult for them to source alternative milks such as almond, oat or coconut milks. They can source soya milk and yoghurts, as well dairy-free spread. They regret they are unable to provide vegan wine.

Again, it is essential we know about your requirements well in advance so that we can order the correct products. See above text for late notice surcharge information. If you have very strict dietary requirements or a particular desire for certain products, it may be useful to bring these important items with you. Please feel free to discuss your requirements with us prior to arrival and we can advise which products are available in resort.

They regret they cannot provide a kosher or halal environment. They may not be able to cater for other uncommon dietary requests – please discuss with us prior to booking.

†Please note, if your group has a large amount of varied or complex dietary requirements, we reserve the right to levy a one-off fee to cover the additional working hours required to source and prepare alternatives for you.

Allergen Information

It is important to be aware that chalet hosts are not qualified catering professionals and cannot always know whether the food products used have packaged and prepared in an allergen free environment. Menus also routinely feature many common allergens such as nuts, seeds and dairy products and cannot guarantee there will be no cross-contamination.

Additionally, it is important to be aware that guests are welcome to bring into the chalet food items of their own, they therefore cannot guarantee that other guests will not have allergen-containing food items in their rooms or other areas of the chalet. As a result, they cannot and do not guarantee the avoidance of specified ingredients and cannot accept liability in the event of any dissatisfaction with special dietary arrangements, including the occurrence of an allergic reaction.

If you or one of your party have any allergies, please speak to us prior to booking.

Chalet host day off

Chalet hosts have one full day and one morning off per week. Prior to departing on the evening before their mornings off, a self-service breakfast will be laid out. Early in the morning, fresh bread will be delivered to your chalet. Afternoon tea will be available when you return from skiing in the afternoon. The evening of the full day off is an excellent opportunity to try out one of the excellent local restaurants. The resort team will be happy to make a reservation on your behalf.