I recently returned from a week’s skiing holiday with Ski Miquel, staying at the Chalet Christina in Saalbach. The chalet is conveniently situated 5 minutes’ walk from the main Schattberg X-press lift and a regular bus service providing access to other ski areas, all on the same ski pass.
The Chalet Christina is a very comfortable chalet, which can accommodate approximately 25 persons, most rooms being good sized twins with ensuite shower rooms, large bath towels, plenty of storage and a sufficient quantity of the all-important hangers. There is also one double room but there is no guarantee it will be available when booking. The staff comprising Carol (chalet manager/rep/ski guide), Arthur (ski guide/barman), Matt (chef), Maria and Tara (chalet girls) were all amazing and really made my holiday. Nothing was too much trouble, including the provision of alternative dishes for two vegan guests and one with an intolerance to gluten.
Having never travelled with Ski Miquel before, I wasn’t sure what to expect but the service provided exceeded all expectations. A few of the other guests were repeat clients, having stayed at some of Ski Miquel’s other chalets in different resorts. Little extras such as constant tea and coffee being available, cooked breakfasts, cake at teatime, pre-dinner canapes, complimentary wine with dinner plus cheese following the meal were a bonus. The dinners provided by Matt were top notch, better than many hotels and restaurants, all beautifully presented.
The big plus was of course the five mornings of ski guiding provided by the two ski guides, Carol and Arthur. Not knowing the resort, I took advantage of this excellent service, allowing me to maximise my time on the slopes instead of spending time working out the best areas depending on the snow conditions on the day, especially when it snowed and visibility was poor.
To top it all, there was no queueing for lifts and very few people on the pistes – a major benefit compared to some resorts where queueing for more than 20 minutes for lifts is not unusual. Although I was slightly hesitant about booking a holiday in Saalbach at the end of March as the top of the highest lift is only just over 2,000 metres, there was no problem with lack of snow; it actually snowed at the end of the week providing some superb skiing on and off-piste. The resort has very good snow-making facilities and it was possible to ski down to the bottom of the lifts without any problem.
Congratulations to all at Ski Miquel and especially their team at Chalet Christina for a most enjoyable holiday!