Being a chalet host can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will have in your life. If you work hard and get organised, you’ll have happy, satisfied guests and you’ll make loads of new friends and have lots of fun.
It is also likely that you’ll learn new life skills. You’ll become competent in the kitchen and creative at hosting your own dinner parties, surprising mum, dad and all of your friends, probably even yourself! You’ll master the art of time efficient house-keeping. Your social skills, stamina and fitness levels will increase substantially and you will embrace a lust for life. You may even decide to live the dream and establish a career in the industry.
But like everything in life, the more you put in, the more you get out! With the exception of transfer day, you can expect your day to run something like this...(assuming that you have a partner/helper whose tasks include clearing snow and ski hosting)...
7.00am Alarm.
You have a quick rinse in the shower to wake yourself up and get rid of the pub odours from the night before.
7.15am Bread run (in the snow).
If you are very lucky your resort manager has arranged for it to be
delivered somewhere close by.
7.30am Tidy up. Get ready. Switch oven on.
You get back to the chalet to find dirty wine glasses and coffee cups in the lounge from the night before. You clear up, fluff the cushions, remove dirty glasses and cups and return to the kitchen. Croissants need to go in the oven for 12 mins. You empty the dishwasher, put everything away and set the breakfast table neatly. Put the kettle on ready for tea and coffee. There is always an early bird amongst the guests who’ll want a cuppa. Make the cake for afternoon tea and get it in the oven asap.
8.00am Breakfast. Cook hot option.
Serve breakfast, making sure tea, coffee and fruit juice is on tap and that your hot option is perfect. As the guests make their way through breakfast, clear plates and fill the dishwasher as you go. It is unlikely that all guests will appear at the same time which helps with serving the hot options in a timely manner. It is also unlikely that you will have any spare time during breakfast but if you do, you should try and prepare either dessert or vegetables for the evening meal. Don’t forget to feed yourself. Food = stamina!
9.00am Clear table. Guests go skiing. Clean rooms.
Whilst the guests are getting ready to go skiing, get the table cleared and the dishwasher on. Don’t forget to take the cake out of the oven and leave it on a cooling tray. As the guests leave, don’t forget to shout some reminders... “Have you got your lift passes, goggles, sunglasses, gloves, skis, boots, sun cream”? Once you have tidied the kitchen and dining area, it’s time to freshen up the rooms. Make the beds, fluff pillows, tidy up, hoover and spruce up the bathrooms so they look shiny. Expect the kid’s rooms to look like a bomb site!
10.00am Afternoon Tea.
You should have completed the tidying up and cleaning by now. One last job before you can have your fun. The cake needs decorating and afternoon tea needs setting out on the table.
10.30am Attack the mountain!
You should be on the way to the slopes by now and in the rush to meet up with your friends don’t forget your lift pass or skis! A word of warning: Don’t over do the skiing, aim to ski four days a week. The thrill of your chosen mountain sport, the fresh air and the exercise is what makes it all worth it. Have at least one rest day to recharge your batteries and do your admin. You may have to go shopping one day per week, that’s the easy bit, lugging it all up and down the steps to the chalets is the hard bit.
4.30pm Afternoon Tea
Make an appearance in the chalet to make sure your guests have tucked into your lovely cake and have found the teabags. They will all want to tell you about their day and will appreciate seeing you. By now you are their new best friend. Have a cuppa and take it to your room so you can relax for half an hour and freshen up.
5.00pm High Tea.
It’s time for preparing the kids tea. You should allow an hour at the most, set the table and be prompt. Remind the parents that tea is at 6pm for the kids.
6.00pm High Tea. Prepare dinner.
Serve the kids meals. Being late will affect your ability to get the adults meals on the table on time. Kids seem to take ages to eat their meals, so tactfully do what you can to have the table cleared by seven. Don’t get involved with helping to feed the kids, let the parents do it and don’t be upset if they don’t eat much, chances are they have had sausage and chips or pizza for lunch. Whilst they are eating, it’s a good time to light the fire. Then start preparing your evening meal.
7.30pm Aperitifs/Canapés.
Serve aperitifs and canapés (if required). It is a nice touch and keeps the guests away from the kitchen. Your meal should be nicely on the way with lovely aromas coming from the kitchen. Work quickly and be organised. Clean as you go. Periodically go through the menu in your head so that you know you have not forgotten to cook anything. It happens!
8.00pm Announce dinner.
Announce and serve your meal. Eat with your guests. After a few weeks, you may get fed up of your own recipes or eating such large meals, so politely excuse yourself from the odd course. It helps you keep up with the washing up.
10.00pm Clear the table. Serve Coffee. RELAX!
Your guests will have normally finished eating by now and you have probably got the dishwashers ready to go. Serve coffee in the lounge and invite them to relax on the sofas. This allows you to wipe the table clean, sweep and mop where necessary. After a bit of practice, you should have cleaned up and be having a glass of wine with your guests. It’s important that they see you relaxing too, it helps create a chilled out atmosphere! Don’t forget: get croissants out of the freezer to defrost overnight, turn dishwashers on, empty the bins and take them to the bin shed.
10.30pm Make your exit, go party. Or sleep!
"If you work hard and get organised, you’ll have happy, satisfied guests, make loads of new friends and have lots of fun.
Written by Laura Clarke of the Ultimate Chalet Host Cookery Course, who run chalet training courses in La Rosiere.