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With its picturesque vistas, pistes to suit all levels, fun winter festivals and countless locations offering a whole range of diverse activities, Europe's alpine ski resorts are an easy sell for all lovers of winter sports. However, when it comes to selecting the perfect spot for your next group skiing holiday, the options can become a little overwhelming.
Thankfully, with this guide to Europe's top ski destinations, finding the perfect match for your group's skills, preferences, and après ski inclinations should at least become a little easier. So, without much further ado, let's take a look at the best places to rent a group chalet for your next ski holiday.
Tignes, in the Tarentaise valley, is a jewel among French Alpine ski resorts. Its high-altitude slopes, part of the illustrious Espace Killy region shared with Val d'Isere, boast 300km of pistes. These offer plentiful skiing and snowboarding opportunities, spread over a variety of runs from beginner-friendly blues to challenging blacks, offering something for everyone to enjoy - an important factor to consider when trying to please large groups.
Beyond the slopes, Tignes inspires, with several villages catching the eye. Val Claret sits at the highest altitude and offers plenty of shops, ski-to-the-door bars and restaurants, while the traditional charm of Le Lac and the quieter Les Brévières are also worth considering for your winter holiday. The latter in particular, lined with picturesque chalets and firs, is the perfect place to unwind post-ski. Enjoy Savoyard delights at acclaimed spots like the Michelin-starred Ursus or the traditional La Sachette, then kick back in the local bars or energising après ski venues like The Moose.
And for those looking for something completely different, Tignes also offers other fun activities, like paragliding, ice climbing and helicopter rides, with dog sledding the cherry on top!
>>> Take a look at Chalet Raven, our featured chalet for large groups in Tignes
The charming village of Zermatt is set apart from other ski destinations, due to there being a total ban on combustible engines within the town's limits. This is to ensure the pristine views of the Matterhorn, which towers impressively over this eco-town, remain undimmed by smog, and the gently tranquillity of Zermatt unperturbed by noisy of traffic – instead, electric vehicles and solar-powered cable cars ferry around its happy locals and tourists.
That's not to say its atmosphere is by any means flat! Zermatt enjoys a reputation as a top spot for après ski, with the slope-side huts providing a great place to begin your festivities before heading into the town, where bars and restaurants abound.
And the skiing is among the best in the Alps, with very high altitude resorts offering plenty of snow and a good spread of skill levels represented on the pistes, making it an ideal option for a group ski holiday.
>>> Take a closer look at Chalet CZP, our featured ski chalet in Zermatt
>>> See our full selection of luxury chalets in the Swiss Alps
Nestled in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley, one of the famous Les Trois Vallèes that make up the largest ski region in the world, the splendid area of Méribel is rightly regarded as one of the premier ski destinations in Europe, both for on-piste and off-piste skiing, as well as snowboarding. Meanwhile, it also enjoys a fantastic reputation for après ski - making it a prime candidate for any group ski holiday.
Within the main town itself there are a number of options for après ski entertainment, with a small but high quality selection of restaurants and bars, as well as late night venues in the form of the popular O'Sullivan's Bar (Sully's), Rond Point and Les Saint Pères Mythic Club, all of which provide visitors to Méribel plenty to do (including hear live music!), when their day on the slopes has come to an end.
Those wishing to explore beyond the confines of the main town might choose to venture to one of the several villages in easy reach of Méribel, including glitzy Courchevel 1850.
>>> Take a closer look at our 7-bedroom luxury chalet in Méribel
>>> Discover our exclusive selection of luxury chalets in Méribel
As far as Austria is concerned, St Anton is an obvious choice for many and with good reason: St Anton am Arlberg is both the cradle of modern skiing (thanks to the proliferation of the famous ‘Arlberg Technique’ of ski instruction) and home to some spectacular slopes. Every year, skiers and snowboarders from around the world make the journey to St Anton to make the most of its 300-plus kilometres of interconnected ski runs, offering everything from racing circuits to carving areas, not to mention some superb snow parks and toboggan runs - all set against a backdrop of some truly awe-inspiring scenery illuminated by the regular days of sunshine.
What’s more, with its chic nightlife and refined restaurants, it can be considered among the very best winter resorts in all of the Alps.
The beautiful Val d’Isère is found in the Tarentaise valley of the Rhône-Alpes region, just 5km from the Italian border, and offers the very best of the French Alps. An exquisite blend of diverse and challenging ski runs, top-class facilities, unforgettable vistas and some of the most celebrated après ski anywhere in the Alps... the Val d’Isère has it all.
The skiing itself is notoriously tricky, with an abundance of challenging off-piste runs to test more advanced skiers, as well as plenty of areas for snowboarders and free-skiers. It is made up of three main areas, Le Fornet, Bellevarde and Solaise. Despite its reputation, however, beginner slopes actually make up over half of the pistes available, meaning a trip to Val d’Isère will have something for everyone.
Much more than just a ski resort, those looking for different experiences might choose to explore the local snowshoe walks, husky-sledding, ice-skating options, while those who see a holiday as an opportunity to be a little less active might opt for a trip to the various wellness centres, the casino, exceptional restaurants, alpine history museum and strong offering of high-class boutique shopping.
>>> See our featured chalet for groups in Val d'Isere
>>> Take a closer look at our full selection of exclusive chalets in Val d’Isère
The chic Swiss resort of Verbier offers a premium option for those looking to rent a group ski chalet in the Alps. Famed for its upscale clientele who flock to the slopes to revel in its high-end eateries, bars and shopping while enjoying the vast natural beauty on show throughout the 4 Valleys ski area.
The ski is top-class too, with its resorts including Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon and La Tzoumaz offering a variety of ski and snowboarding options for all abilities, thrilling black runs for the bolder amongst you. And away from the slopes there are plenty of other activities to keep all ages entertained, including the snowshoe hiking, hiking tours, family walks and outings, a zip line over Mont Fort glacier, paragliding, dog sledding and equestrian sports. A wide provision of things to do for those who prefer to spend their winter holidays both on and off the slopes.
>>> Take a closer look at our pictured chalet for large groups in Verbier
While the exclusive Courchevel 1850 offers a truly luxury option for celebrities and elites from all corners of the globe, the quieter resort of Courchevel 1650 (Moriond) provides a fine family-oriented alternative for groups looking to enjoy the beauty of the French Alps in a more sedate environment.
It still offers access to the huge Trois Vallèes ski area, the largest in the world, and those who are in search of a little more glitz and glamour can take the bus up to 1850 easily enough. For those who choose to stay, Courchevel 1650 delights with its Anglo-friendly atmosphere and impressive offering of beginner and intermediate pistes,
The local selection of bars and restaurants, such as Le Bel Air, offer great food and mountain views, while La Boulotte Bar, and the cosy, piste-side Fire & Ice bar are favourites for those look to sit back and sip something after a day on the slopes.
>>> See Chalet Abequa, our featured group chalet in Courchevel 1650
>>> All our chalets in Courchevel:
When you book a luxury chalet in Chamonix you are gaining easy access to one of the finest ski locations in the French Alps, and therefore the world. A brilliant family-friendly resort that boasts delightfully powdery snow and top-class facilities, as well as pistes to match every skill level (there are two ski schools for little ones…).
Summer skiing is available at higher altitudes reachable via the famous Aiguille du Midi ski lift - the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, where the 360 panoramas are truly breath-taking.
With a whole host of après ski bars and activities, and a vibrant nightlife scene, Chamonix is the go-to spot for those looking to balance exhilarating ski days with entertaining evenings. What's more, with its location just over an hour from Geneva airport, it's conveniently reachable from the UK, making group ski trips easy to coordinate.
>>> Explore our featured group ski chalet, Chalet Sariette
>>> Click for our full selection of luxury ski chalets in Chamonix
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