Self-catering Ski Accommodation Advice

Self-catering ski accommodation has many benefits but also a few drawbacks. This page will give you a useful guide to self-catering ski holiday accommodation, explain the pros and cons and how to go about getting the best place and best deal you possibly can.

Why go for self-catering?

Self-catering ski accommodation can be a good choice for most people but particularly useful for large young families (with young or noisy kids), group of close friends or ski holiday makers with special diet needs such as vegans, vegetarians etc. Self-catering is often the 'lower-cost' option when looking for ski vacation accommodation. This assumes you are staying in, cooking your evening meals and doing you shopping on the way up to the ski resort. If you eat out most nights and do your grocery shopping in the resort you are better of going for a catered option.

Pros and cons of selfcatering

Self-catering in ski holiday accommodation terms means normally self-catering apartments or chalets. On rare occasions you can also get rooms and sometimes even hotel rooms on a self-catering basis. Apartment sizes vary, catering for small and large groups. Ski apartments tend to be compact, less spacious than chalet accommodation. Ski apartments sometimes look dated with emphasis on providing a space to sleep after a long skiing day rather a place to live. However the standard of the accommodation should be reflected in the rental price. (Not always the case during peak seasons).

Most ski holiday makers would probably go for a chalets if money would not be an object. Chalet ski holidays epitimise classic image of ski vacation. Unfortunately chalets tend to be more expensive and mostly viable for larger groups willing to pay the premium. End of stay cleaning might also be an issue if not included in the rental price.

A big draw-back of self-catering ski holidays is flexibility - change-over times tend to be fixed to Saturday or Sunday. You can only book for a full week. If you stay less it gets proportionally more expensive. Unfortunately weekend change-overs also means that you have to book flights and ski transfers at the most expensive time of the week.

Things to consider when looking for self-catering ski accommodation:

>> Configuration of bedrooms, sleeping areas
>> Total space available - 18sqm for 5 people is not much to move in
>> Bed line / towels included in the price
>> Car park cost included in the price
>> End of stay cleaning included in the price
>> Tourist tax included in the price
>> Any extras such as discount ski pass, ski transfers etc. available
>> Local agency for key / problem handling

Try Ski Accommodation Finder to find your self-catering ski accommodation. Unless you have to, why limit your enquiry to self-catering only. Our system allows you to submit a request for 'any' accommodation type and see what offers you can get. You might be surprised and pick up catered accommodation or even a catered chalet for the budget you had in mind for your self-catering ski vacation.

Please also try our sister site Ski Transfer Finder. Helps you find Cheap Ski Transfers and get Ski Transfer Enquiries in the same way Ski Accommodation Finder does.

Ski Accommodation Finder is the only site that allows you share your self-catering requirements with all registered owners and ski accommodation providers. There are no middlemen and there is no commission to pay. This should enable you to get the cheapest self-catering ski accommodation possible.