Remember the chalet-hotel? A comfortable, home from home atmosphere, with afternoon tea by the fire, hearty dinners, and a sociable atmosphere with friends and new people.

What used to be the go-to holiday of choice for Brits has almost completely disappeared from the ski holiday landscape. We caught up with Ralph Johnson, at Ski Miquel, one of the few remaining companies still offering chalet-hotel holidays in resorts across Austria, France, Spain, and Switzerland, to find out what happened and where we can still find that familiar holiday we love so much.

WL2S: Tell us a bit about Ski Miquel and what you’re offering this season.

RJ (Ralph Johnson, Ski Miquel): Our holidays are designed to give guests that “extra” experience. We provide traditional chalet-hotels complete with private bars. From the moment you arrive, we’ve taken care of the details—arranging lift passes, equipment rentals, and ensuring clean, comfortable rooms. Guests enjoy chef-prepared four-course dinners (with wine included) and our complimentary ski concierge service, which helps you find the best skiing (and lunch spots) in the resort. Our staff, known for their friendly approach, are always there to assist, and their mountain knowledge is unmatched. With 44+ years in the business, we aim to offer unbeatable value for money.

WL2S: Why are we seeing fewer companies offering the full chalet-hotel option these days?

RJ: The pandemic and Brexit have had significant impacts, reducing the number of ATOL-covered chalet-hotel providers. You could argue all day about which had the greater impact, but in reality, the combined effects were severe. Companies like Evasion Travel, Rude Chalets, Green Rides, and others couldn’t make it through. Some went under during the pandemic and never returned. Surviving in such conditions has been a massive challenge for all of us, and I have immense respect for those who pushed through to keep bringing joy to skiers.

WL2S: Why has it been so hard for chalet-hotels to survive?

RJ: Even before COVID and Brexit became common concerns, the industry was already facing significant challenges. The collapse of Thomas Cook in 2019 was a wake-up call about the risks of debt in a capital-intensive industry like ours. Businesses like ours must pay significant seasonal rents or make large purchases for chalet-hotels, which strains cash flow. That’s something that has taken down many companies. Debt was a major issue for Thomas Cook too, along with an inability to adapt swiftly, which ultimately led to its collapse.

WL2S: What has Brexit meant for companies like yours?

RJ: Brexit has brought new and costly challenges, especially in terms of hiring UK staff in Europe. The process of securing visas and navigating new regulations increased both costs and logistical complexity. These difficulties led to decisions like Crystal Ski shutting down all their chalet-hotels. The landscape has changed significantly, and the companies that survive need to be leaner and more adaptable.

WL2S: What other trends have affected the chalet-hotel market?

RJ: The rise of low-cost airlines, combined with a European preference for apartments, has changed things. Developers have also been converting hotels and chalets into apartments to flip for profit, pushing rental and purchase prices up. This shift has favoured dynamic package holidays from providers like SunWeb, Heidi, and WeSki, which have taken a different approach and provide minimal, if any, in-resort services. Consequently, traditional chalet-hotel accommodations are disappearing.

WL2S: Are there still many companies offering the chalet-hotel experience?

RJ: There are still some. Ski Miquel is proud to continue offering ATOL-covered chalet-hotel experiences after 44+ years. Inghams has a solid portfolio, Ski Beat offers chalets across various resorts, and Ski Olympic and Mark Warner have one chalet each. The market has shifted towards low-contact holidays that miss the communal atmosphere that skiing and snowboarding should be all about. These trends are driving an upmarket experience, which comes with climbing costs and thus increases in price as companies protect their margins.

WL2S: For those who are still keen to experience the classic chalet-hotel vibe, which RJ: Ski Miquel holiday would you recommend they check out this season?

RJ:The classic chalet-hotels are Tannenburg in Bad Gastein, Christina in Saalbach (both in Austria), Charllotte in Serre Chevalier, and Lucille and Elise in Montgenèvre (both in France). These are classic old-school chalets, which I like for different reasons. The Tannenburg has a really homely bar, and the nail game means you always make new friends, so that has to be up there. The Rosa is one of our smallest chalet-hotels and so just feels like a home-from-home, with a lounge that just entices stories of the day to be told. I cannot go without mentioning our new edition, the Rosset. It is a little larger than the rest of them, but we will run it with the same atmosphere and just know the view from the bar is going to create some great memories.

If you are looking for a trip this year and want a deal, then Ski Miguel are offering all We Love 2 Ski subscribers £150 off selected pre-Christmas or Christmas week holidays and £250 off the Montarto at Christmas with code WELOVETHEFALLINE. Giving you prices like:

• £479 on 14th Dec – Tannenburg, Bad Gastein
• £715 on 14th Dec – Christina, Saalbach
• £517 on 15th Dec – Elise, Montgenèvre
• £779 on 21st Dec – Rosa, Lauterbrunnen
• £786 on 21st Dec – Tannenburg, Bad Gastein
• £998 on 22nd Dec – Montarto, Baqueira

Book now: skimiquel.co.uk

With all resorts now covered in snow and more to come, there could not be a better time to make some great memories in the mountains. We all know memories are the best presents.