The team behind your Dream Ski Holiday – Get to know our Pre Arrivals Manager, Elin

The team behind your Dream Ski Holiday – Get to know our Pre Arrivals Manager, Elin

Our mission is to create fantastic holidays that are unique to each guest’s specific requirements and to offer a totally seamless experience from start to finish. They can decide exactly what they want out of their trip, minus all of the hassle of planning.

At every touch point, our Alps-based team can offer their wealth of local knowledge – both from living and working in the resorts, and from plenty of experience tailoring previous trips to meet our client’s exact needs and high expectations.

 Meet one of our Pre Arrivals Experts

We sat down with Elin Magnusson, one of our talented Pre-Arrivals Managers, to get her take on her role and why the Bramble Ski pre-arrival service is so vital to our client‘s overall experience.

 Having been an avid skier since a young age, Elin has always had a passion for the mountains and the outdoors. “I moved from the west coast to the north of Sweden to start my journey to become a ski instructor. Sweden is very cold in the winter though, so in the end, I decided to relocate to the beautiful Alps.”

 Elin spent several rewarding years instructing in Verbier, before deciding to turn her extensive understanding of alpine life to the luxury ski holiday industry, instead. She describes this career transition in the Autumn of 2021; “little did I know that I would spend 7 winters instructing before putting that career to bed and moving into Pre Arrivals for Bramble Ski. I now get to ski just for myself and try to get up there as much as possible.”

 This switch was a natural fit for Elin, who has always loved interacting with visitors to the resort and now gets to do so in a more involved capacity. “It is so rewarding to see our guests enjoying their trip to the fullest and knowing we made this happen” she says. “We can make the perfect recommendations so that they don’t miss out on anything we think is worth trying or seeing. We know our resorts inside out, and it is a joy to share this knowledge and plan our guests’ ideal holidays”.

Elin’s top tips

Putting Elin’s knowledge to the test, we asked for a rundown of her top tips and personal favourites. Many guests when they book with us are open to trying new ski destinations, and each of our resorts certainly brings something unique to the table. Of course, Verbier is most dear to her heart, and she credits its “sunny south-facing bowl and the easily accessible pistes” as key reasons why it is eternally popular with visitors – from freeride experts to families taking their first turns.

 She says, however, “I recently fell in love with the Austrian resort, Lech. This little resort has so many hidden gems. The restaurants are fantastic, and the village has a great atmosphere. The lift system and pistes are long and fast, and you can ski all the way to St. Anton and enjoy the best of both!”

For those wishing to get the most out of both the mountains and the glamorous and atmospheric Lech village, look no further than the Chalech residence. Chalech L, currently available for both Christmas and Half Term, is a fantastically well-appointed property sleeping eight with tasteful interiors, a wood-burning fireplace and high-end finishes. Guests will benefit from shared access to the exceptional wellness facilities, including an indoor pool and gym, and the residence’s location under a 10-minute walk to the nearest lifts and village centre offers unbeatable convenience.

 Meanwhile, for avid skiers wanting to maximise on-mountain time, the ski-in Skyfall Penthouse sits nestled above St Anton in the hamlet of St Christoph. It is surrounded by vast mountains and sleeps 8+3 in its impressive modern alpine interior, which features a sauna and hammam to soothe those weary ski legs in. Currently, it is available for all of the main family holidays of the 2022/23 season; Christmas, Half Term and Easter.

 One of Elin’s top recommendations is “after a long ski day, pamper yourself in the chalet spa or maybe enjoy a relaxing yoga session.” She goes on to explain, “when I was ski instructing, I noticed a pattern of guests being the most tired on the third day of their holiday. I would recommend having a late lunch this day and returning to the chalet for an aromatherapy or sports massage. If there is a special occasion, then allow us to arrange an in-chalet blow-dry to have you feeling your best!” We work with trusted providers in each resort, and many of our properties have luxurious in-chalet facilities where you can retreat for some well-earned you time.

 Guests at Chalet Shalimar in Zermatt will enjoy a private spa to rival any five-star hotel. With a beautiful indoor pool, sauna, hammam and a dedicated massage treatment room, allow us to arrange a soothing treatment for you without the need to venture outside. This wonderful property sleeps 20, and with current availability for the 2023 February Half Term, it is an ideal alpine escape for large extended families and their friends.

Meanwhile, those staying at our new additions in the resorts of Megève or Courchevel 1850, will too be treated to exceptional in-chalet wellness facilities. At Chalet La Connivence, sleeping 10+2, the spa experience is set in the great outdoors, where a landscaped garden harmoniously wraps around a gorgeous cedar wood hot tub and a barrel sauna with a glass side for you to enjoy sweeping vistas while detoxing.

 At Chalet Carat, sleeping 8+2, the bottom floor boasts an indoor pool, with a bar, relaxation area and separate sauna. Both of these exquisite homes have availability for various popular dates throughout the season and are bound to be snapped up quickly!

 Elin goes on to recommend some of the other unmissable things to do across our resorts. “There are lots of activities apart from skiing and snowboarding. Why not book a paragliding tandem session for the adventurous, or a cross-country ski lesson for those who want a workout and to see the mountain from a different viewpoint? Verbier has a great zipline from the highest peak – Mont Fort, and in many resorts, you can go tobogganing in the evening after dinner.” What could be better than filling up on warm fondue and wine, and then whizzing home down a beautiful snowy track through the forest? It is a must-do for all the family that our team can gladly arrange.

 Don’t forget though – there are many other culinary delights to indulge in in the Alps, besides just fondue. We asked Elin what her favourite restaurants would be (trust her, she’s tried plenty of them on resort visits – a perk of the job!). “I love Italian food. So my top choice in Verbier would be Le Dahu for the best pizza on the mountain (and the salads on the summer menu are next level). In Val d’Isère, my favourite would be a lovely pasta at the French/Italian restaurant LouLou, which is located in town, but at the end of the piste. Both restaurants have amazing sun terraces and can be accessed by non-skiers too, so make great meeting points.”

 If you’re keen to sample the snow-sure pistes and varied gastronomy and après ski scene of Val d’Isère, Apartment Chartreuse’s unbeatable location is the perfect spot to explore from. This stylish, ski-in ski-out duplex sits just seconds from the piste and is a 10-minute walk from the heart of town. Sleeping eight and with rare availability for the 2023 Half Term break, this would make a dreamy family ski holiday home base.

 In Verbier, Chalet Melliot is a modern scandi-style family chalet, ideal for those who want to get straight out on the slopes! Sleeping four and positioned right next to the Les Esserts piste, this property is available for Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter – on a Lagom self-catered basis.

 For those who want to get the most out of their time in the resort and try the excellent local restaurants, our team have the very best recommendations, be it for a casual family dinner or a sought-after spot at the chef’s table. We will gladly make your bookings ahead of time for you, so that you can be carefree and enjoying every moment to the fullest.

On the other hand, the Pre Arrivals team will work closely with guests staying at our catered properties to tailor an exceptional in-chalet menu to their tastes and dietary requirements, which their highly-experienced private chef will serve in the comfort of the chalet. Taking our queues from you, we can arrange anything from casual family-style meals to elegant, fine-dining dinner parties – served alongside your favourite wine that you can request to be pre-ordered and stocked in the chalet prior to your arrival.

 A cut above the rest

Why is our pre-arrivals procedure so unique? From the moment you book a holiday with Bramble Ski, our aim is to deliver the highest standards in the most seamless manner. Elin elaborates, “We take care of all the finer details to make sure your holiday is planned to perfection, with no request too big (or too small!). We offer our guests the unique opportunity to relax even before their holiday begins, by arranging every last detail exactly to their needs.”

 And how does this process work for our guests? “We like to start planning early. This is to ensure they get an experienced ski instructor to match their level, lunchtime spots on the most popular sun terraces and the perfect timing for their afternoon massages.” Elin explains. “We will also deliver lift passes and offer in-chalet equipment fitting so you are all set and ready to hit the slopes.”

 Besides the practical elements of your trip, you can put our event planning skills to the test and make requests such as special birthday surprises, post-wedding soirees and even magical Easter egg hunts for the children. “It is always extra fun to help guests with birthday planning!” Elin says. “We can organise any type of bespoke cake – your football team, a cartoon character – you name it, we can arrange it. We can also commission the most amazing balloon arrangements for extra ‘wow’ factor.”

 Are you hoping to treat a loved one to an unexpected celebration? Fear not – we will make it happen. “If it’s a surprise, our staff will all be aware and will do everything to ensure it is organised discreetly and to absolute perfection. And let’s not forget your favourite champagne!”

 Finally, we had to ask, what is Elin’s favourite chalet on our portfolio, and why? “Chalet Elbrus in Zermatt – I love the light-coloured interior and the big balcony overlooking the amazing Matterhorn” she says.

 Allow us to help you begin planning your best ski holiday yet. Contact us today to reach our friendly and experienced Alps-based team, or browse our full availability to find a property ideal for you and your loved ones this Winter season.

9^th November 2022