Ski and board

One Christmas we decided to self-cater for our annual family ski holiday to Val d'Isère, instead of staying in the usual half-board chalet.

Prices at the supermarket were horrendous and we were faced with standing in a queue each day after skiing then dragging heavy bags of shopping up an icy hill to our apartment. The only other option was for five of us to eat out at a restaurant, which was prohibitively expensive.

When it comes to accommodation for a family or group of friends, particularly in an expensive resort, catered chalets are the most relaxing option. There's no outrageous bar bill, as wine (and sometimes the entire bar) is included in the price, which is usually at least two meals a day with several-course dinners.

Forget any worries about your children annoying other guests because they'll be able to treat the space like their own.

Each winter sees a crop of new home-from-homes, suitable for families, couples or groups of friends.

Chalet Mont Fort Verbier
VIP's foray into Verbier sees two new chalets, Mont Fort and Tortin, a mere three-minutes' walk to the main Medran lift. Mont Fort is a sleek penthouse chalet-apartment with vaulted ceilings, wi-fi and iPod docks. From £779pp (sleeps six), vip-chalets.com

Chalet Seven Crans Montana
Chalet Seven is new to Crans Montana, exclusive Swiss playground of the rich and famous and not usually associated with rental chalets. It is 300m from the piste, has four apartments and a six-bed children's bunkroom. The vast terrace has an outdoor hot tub and fire pit.

The chalet exterior is grey crystal stone and ancient wood, while the inside is decorated with sumptuous Japanese furnishings and iPads, iPod docks and Apple TV. The spa has a vaulted ceiling, Hammam and there's an eight-metre, indoor pool. From £69,000 for the whole chalet (sleeps 30) or £17,240 per apartment, chaletseven.com

Auriane La Tzoumaz
Chalet Auriane is in the offbeat resort of La Tzoumaz, a little-known village due to develop in the future, with a handy lift link to Verbier. The luxurious chalet (left) has fur throws and after-dinner chocolates and is perched on the side of the mountain and reached from the piste by a private lift. From £825pp including transfers, (sleeps 12), chaletauriane.com

Chalet Praline Courchevel 1850
This pretty little chalet has an open-plan living and dining area. It is right next to the Pralong piste, so it offers ski-in ski-out accommodation. A Laurent-Perrier champagne reception greets as you meet the chef on the first night. From £6,100 for a family of four, including return flights, in-resort driver and transfers, scottdunn.com

Scattolas Lodge Courchevel 1650
Scattolas Lodge is in Courchevel 1650, the less expensive and less ostentatious village below 1850 - and with the better skiing. It houses five smart chalets with a shared Jetstream pool. From £749pp (sleeps two to six) including flights and transfers, leski.com

Cragganmore Chamonix
After 20 years of running chalets in its namesake resort, Ski Verbier is branching out into Chamonix with two new chalets. Cragganmore has floor-to-ceiling windows, with the highlight a vast pyramid-shaped fireplace suspended from the living room ceiling. The chef calls you before your holiday to organise menus for your stay. Cragganmore from £13,950 for the whole chalet (sleeps 12), ski-chamonix.co.uk