February again already, how time flies when you’re enjoying yourself innit. School holidays get under way here this weekend, so we’re expecting carnage all over the roads and a resort full of anklebiters and ESF 15-snakes.
But in the middle of all this kids ‘n’ families fest you chaps are going to have to take time out to pamper your ladies. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day on Tuesday. There, I’ve reminded you now, so there’s no wriggling out of it. You’ll thank me for it in the long run – domestic strife in a ski apartment the size of a matchbox is not a pretty sight.
So what romantic options are there on offer in a family-oriented ski resort during shool holidays? As if taking your woman skiing isn’t in itself romantic enough.
Speaking as a person of the female persuasion, I can tell you that prezzies are always welcome. And before you all panic and get yourselves into a fluster at the idea that you might have to go into shops and choose things, remember that it’s a traditional occasion, and the old favourites are always appropriate. Decent champagne is readily available in all the resort’s supermarkets. (Yes, it has to say ‘champagne’ on it and not ‘cremant de Bourgogne’. She’ll notice. I certainly would, at any rate.)
On the subject of champers, I am once again going to plug the Windsor’s champagne cocktails – generous amounts of fizz combined with a liberal helping of various spirits and a dash of something fruity, topped off with a fruit basket on a stick. What’s more rose tinted than that? Don’t let her get past two though, or you’ll be carrying her home and putting her to bed, which is possibly a bit less romantic.
Chocolates are also a good bet, particularly if you get fancy chocolatier-made ones from the Marjolaine on the main road through resort. (Recommending the confit orange slices dipped in dark chocolate.) The Chat Gourmand round the corner also does posh chocs, as well as some very nice cakes and desserts. Good option for the self-catering family – bring home a gourmet dessert and make sure the kids clear the table and load the dishwasher while mother indulges.
Be warned, though, that flowers can be dodgy. If you’ve snuck down to the florist in Bourg d’Oisans and bought a properly prepared bouquet, you will be the perfect man for at least the next six months. A bunch of wilted roses out of the bucket by the checkout in U Express, on the other hand, is a bit petrol station. Not to mention outrageously overpriced.
The eating out options are numerous, with montagnard dishes lending themselves to dinner a deux – share a fondue or partage a pierrade for the ideal intimate evening. On the other hand, you could push the boat out and go for the Hotel Chalet Mounier’s Michelin-starred P’tit Polyte restaurant, the Alisier opposite, or the Raisin d’Ours on the main drag, run by the Mounier’s former chef. I’d book those as soon as you land in resort on Saturday though, because they’re bound to be busy.
If your woman is the type to enjoy a bit of pampering (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), consider booking a spa session, once again at the Chalet Mounier. What better way to round off a day’s skiing in these utterly Baltic temperatures than by thawing out in the sauna before indulging in a relaxing massage followed by a dip in the pool. This is how the uber-rich do skiing holidays. (Admittedly thay have it all privately ensuite in their personal umpteen-star chalets complete with naked butler service, but you can’t have everything. Or us mere mortals can’t anyway.)
So there you have it – all right, you’re half way up a mountain during peak family holiday season, but that’s no excuse not to do the slushy romance thing. You could even propose, if you haven’t done it already – haul her up to 3400m and go down on one knee in front of a panoramic view of half the Alps. Don’t stay down there too long though, or you’ll freeze solid – get it over with and scoot off for celebratory vin chaud in the restaurant.
