Shortlist 
-By Liza
As a family we try to going skiing once a year for a week, and have been doing so for the past 25 years. For the last 10 or so it has always been to Val d’Isere, but this was our first time booking with Interactive Resorts.
My brother, sister and I are now in our late 20s and in many ways not much has changed in the years we have been holidaying together. Arriving at the airport my younger sister (who in general is a very organised 26 year-old who has an Oxford degree and a prolific job working in early years education) realised she had left her passport at home. The solution? Mum of course, who in combination with the Interactive Resorts representative efficiently managed to get her on a later flight.
One ‘child’ down – accompanied by her boyfriend for moral support – we continued our journey. My brother (29 and head of finances for a small start-up), his girlfriend (a 26 year old doctor) and myself (a 30 year old doctor) and our parents smugly checked in and got on the plane.
Transfer to the chalet was incredibly easy and we arrived in time for tea.
The chalet Rive Gauche, which is located in the Le Fornet part of Val d'Isère, was stunning. It was well designed, spacious and had a steam bath and pool. For once there was no arguing over bedrooms, there were no ‘bad’ ones, our only difficult decision was whether to start with tea and homemade cake or to take a swim.
Chalet Rive Gauche's pool. Stock image.
As we sat in the pool eating cake, we berated our little sister in her absence and decided how best we could torment her – possibly by stealing her ski trousers and hoping to convince her she had forgotten them too? Mum as the moderator decided that we should leave any teasing until at least day two, and that maybe simple alcohol fines would be the best way to go.
We started to get to know our chalet hosts Rose and Finn when they served us canapés after our swim with a glass of mulled wine. With the resort representative they explained how things would work during the week. They were kind and patient as Dad interrogated them on the finer points of unlimited wine during dinner, and they were far kinder than any of us to my sister and her boyfriend when they eventually arrived in time for dinner.
We have stayed in catered chalets in the past and I have often felt sorry for the chalet hosts as Mum is a professional chef who used to run a cooking school and own a Michelin starred restaurant. I shouldn’t have had any concerns for Finn and Rose; by the end of the week mum was asking them for recipes and dinners were a real highlight. It wasn’t only their cooking that was excellent either - our hosts really made our holiday the best skiing trip we’ve ever had with all their kindness and hard work.
Val d'Isère village. Image credit: Andy Parant for Val d'Isère tourist board.
Most of our party have skied lots before, but David (boyfriend of the disorganised sister) had never been. He was enrolled in ski school, which was organised through Interactive Resorts, and not only did he absolutely love it but by the end of the week was skiing red runs. We looked forward to hearing his tales from ski school when we all met for lunch: Who was the best? (Often David surprisingly enough.) Who was worst? Who just really wasn’t trying? And, most importantly, who was his best friend that day? In the same way that my siblings and I had reverted to acting like five year-olds on holiday with our parents, David (a primary school teacher) reverted to acting like one of his Year 2 students.
As always the skiing in Val d’Isere was second to none, with plenty of runs for beginners (the Madeleine and Grand Pre being particularly long, wide green runs), and challenging piste and off-piste runs for more experienced skiers. This however truly was the best skiing holiday we’ve ever had, and we’re fortunate enough to have had many.
The things that made this ski holiday truly exceptional were the chalet hosts, the amazing efficiency of all the staff and the beautiful chalet Rive Gauche.
Thank you for an unforgettable experience.
