Christmas in the French Alps

In countries across the world, Christmas celebrations and traditions vary massively. From stuffed turkeys, roaring fires and hopes of snow to beach barbecues, sun cream and swimwear, the great thing about Christmas is that you can make it into your own and create your own traditions. Getting away for the festive season may seem daunting, but if you think about it, is there anything more Christmassy than spending quality time with loved ones in an amazing place?

The numbers of people choosing to spend their Christmas in The Alps is increasing each year. After all, what could be better than watching your loved ones open gifts in a beautiful chalet amongst the snow-covered mountains? If you are interested in spending your Christmas in The Alps or going on a ski holiday, then here is a guide to spending your festive season in The Alps. Just contact Finest Holidays and speak to a ski specialist.

Experiencing Different Traditions

You probably have your own Christmas traditions within your home town, but they’re likely to be nothing compared to the traditions of ski towns in The Alps. Spending time in a ski resort during the festive season means that you get to experience a whole different culture than the one which you are used to.

For example, in Val d’Isère, France, one of their traditions is a street parade which is full of costumed characters who entertain the crowds before Santa arrives on a sleigh, offering gifts to children. You’ll find that Christmas in The Alps is far less commercial than in the UK and festivities are more relaxed and laid back.

The White Christmas You’ve Always Dreamed Of

In many parts of the world, Christmas-lovers alike dream of the ultimate Christmas must have – snow. Even the least-festive amongst us would struggle to contain their excitement if they woke up on Christmas Day and saw snow outside. Whilst it is a cliché which happens all the time in Christmas movies, a white Christmas is something which rarely happens in real life. However, The Alps is perhaps one place where snow is pretty much guaranteed over Christmas and waking up in your own winter wonderland is a truly magical experience. Whether you’re looking for the perfect Christmas getaway for your family or a romantic break, The Alps is the perfect Christmas destination.

Trying New Cuisines

Christmas food and culinary traditions differ all across the world and as nice as traditional Christmas food is in the UK, there are only so many mince pies you can stomach. The Alps is full of delicious dishes and is often the perfect comfort food after spending a day on the slopes. Raclette is a Swiss delicacy and is, basically, half a wheel of cheese which is slowly melted and scraped on top of soft potatoes. Other delicious meals include tartiflette, which is a combination of cream, cheese, bacon and potatoes and is incredible when served with soft bread, and diots, which are Savoyard sausages traditionally cooked with wine and onions.

Rest and Relax

Whilst Christmas at home is fun, there is no denying that when you have a family and your own home to look after, it can become very stressful. There’s food to cook, gifts to buy and wrap and all the other household chores which come with keeping the house in top condition for guests.

Spending Christmas in your own luxury chalet or in a luxury 5 star hotel in The Alps is an unforgettable experience, but it means that you can rest and relax whilst letting other people do the hard work. Say goodbye to hours in the kitchen and instead head to a restaurant or your private chef will prepare a delicious dinner for you in the comfort of your luxury ski chalet. Put away the board games and, after lunch, head to Méribel Square for Christmas Carols, brass bands and mulled wine. After a day of Christmas festivities, there is no better feeling than sitting in a hot tub with a glass of bubbly!

Contact Finest Holidays to book your luxury ski chalet.

Guest blogger Natalie Wilson. She is a freelance writer in the travel niche. Twitter @NatWilson976