Chalet School - just for children?

Advantages: Addictive, exciting, wide-appeal
Disadvantages: Some of rarer titles are difficult to find

...and the location (Austria and Switzerland were especially interesting). My first Chalet School book was given to me by my Grandmother - I saw the list of 'other titles' on the last page and knew I'd have to read the next, and the next… But as a 24-year-old ddult I continue to read them. The books are beautifully written, with lots of period detail - they even deal with the Nazism and the effects it had on Austria and Europe, in an accessible, but effective way. The books have multi-layers to them, so that both adults and children can enjoy them - in a similar way to the Harry Potter books. They are not even just for females. I know a couple of males who have enjoyed the books tremendously. I have been collecting the Chalet School books since I was 9, and only have 3 titles left to find to complete my collection. Easy you might think...

e_l_parker 13.02.2001 (30.03.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

The school at the Chalet

Advantages: These books are very collectable but also very good reading time and time again
Disadvantages: Hard backs with dust wrappers are hard to find. PB just not the same

...A very sought after book which is timeless in reading entertainment. This book comes under chicken soup category. Take it to bed every time you have a cold or feel the need for cosseting. The book centres round a boarding school set innovatively in Austria. Initially the school is for a handful of pupils, the very first of these being Josephine Mary Bettany, thereafter known as Jo. Her sister Madge has started the school to augment the slender family income and to improve the health of Jo. Before too long the school is embroiled in 'middles' pranks and thrilling disobedience which leads to the heroine Jo almost being killed. He school grows rapidly and the characters in this book set the scene for a further 57 books. No other Chalet series book can compare with the joy of reading the first one. If you can only afford one good hard...

shirley49 21.10.2005 (07.11.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The School at the Chalet - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

Chalet Isis - Chalets De l'altiport Alpe D'Huez

Advantages: Ski in, ski out,
Disadvantages: In the middle of nowhere

...My wife and I stayed with some friends at Chalet Isis in the Chalets de l'Altiport area of Alpe D'Huez 1850 in March 08. We booked through skialacarte. The altiport chalets are all pretty new and are in a gated community situated over the road from the small airport, and about 600 metres from the Les Bergers part of Alpe D'Huez, with the main town a few hundred metres further away. Access was via Grenoble International Airport St Geoirs - 99 kms away and the private transfer by the chalet staff took 1 hour 25 minutes. The chalet sleeps 16 and the rest of the rooms were occupied by other guests. Each room had private ensuite facilities apart from one of the rooms on the ground floor which had a shower and WC room which was also the facility for people using the sauna. Nobody using the sauna ever used this room as far as we could see...

zoetna 27.03.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Les châlets de l'Altiport, L'Alpe-d'Huez

The Chalet School Series

Advantages: Very collectable, interesting historical perspective, amusing and memorable characters, strong moral thread
Disadvantages: Occasionally repetitive and inconsistent in plots towards the end of the series

...Highly collectable and eminently readable, the Chalet School series is a fascinating and uplifting set of 62 books, centering on the School itself, and particularly the Bettany/Maynard families, as they experience the peacetime beauty of the Austrian tyrol, the terror of War, and the changes forced by its aftermath. Always exciting, and with a set of memorable, absorbing and often amusing characters, the set of books as a whole is not without its flaws. As devout fans of the series will tell you, Brent-Dyer could be inconsistent, and occasionally repetitive with her plots towards the end of the series. The first 10 books are universally acknowledged to be the best of Brent-Dyers tales, with the flight from the Nazi invasion of the Austrian Tyrol (The Chalet School in Exile) both moving and historically interesting. The detailed...

JoannaScott 21.10.2006 (10.04.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

The Highland Twins at the Chalet school

Advantages: Warm and moving story for any age group
Disadvantages: hard to get in hard back.

...A much later book than School at the Chalet, Highland Twins is number 16 in the series. Now for the story: When it beings, Jo (of School at the Chalet fame) has left school, is a prolific author, married and has triplet daughters. The chalet school has been forced to remove itself from Austria, first for a brief stay in Guernsey then as the war in Europe gets closer, they move to the Golden Valley in Armishire. Naturally Jo and her family move too. It is hard for people who were not around to imagine what wartime in Britain was like. I do not mean the air raids as such but the everyday deprivations people endured. Women who had never worked since marriage were suddenly being called up to work in munitions factories and other occupations left vacant by the men. Single women had to become land girls, bus drivers or join one of the many...

shirley49 06.11.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

Building up a collection of Chalet School books

Advantages: great morals, fun, exciting
Disadvantages: too addictive

...The Chalet School series by Elinor Brent-Dyer seems to be one of the most popular school series. There were 62 books altogether which is why it is so difficult to collect the whole set. There were also additional books and newsletters. Recently new authors have written 'fill-in' books where they feel there should be extra information not provided by the author herself. Some of the books are extremely rare and some paperbacks, even reprints can sell for £30+ making some of the hardback first editions extremely valuable indeed. If you have started a collection or would like to I have some tips for you. Firstly decide whether you wish to collect paperbacks, hardbacks or either and whether you want to get every title or just the actual series of books and not the newsletters, additional books and books by other authors. Once you have...

racheldarcy 01.03.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

COLOGIN COUNTRY CHALETS AND LODGES

Advantages: Great location, close to Oban, but feels like you are miles from town!
Disadvantages: If you have 3 kids you will need to use the sofa bed/s.

...Great location, lovely and quiet and if you have a dog there are excellent walks from the chalet. We've been several times and have always found the chalets clean and comfortable. The Barn is a great place for a drink and to meet locals and other guests. The kids love the playpark and the freedom they get when we stay. We have never found our chalets damp and we have stayed in several different ones. Cant say that for the weather - which is often wet so take your wellies. Don't let that put you off. This place is still a good family holiday even in the rain. Friendly staff, pets are welcome - but you can't take them into the pub any more - which is a shame but blame health and hygene. I'd recommend Cologin - and have done to many families. None have come home disappointed - quite the opposite....

BLACKDOG1010 13.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Cologin Holiday Chalets - Lerags Glen, Oban

The Chalet School Series & Real Life

Advantages: Gives an insight into school life in different countries.
Disadvantages: I think the language side was a bit unrealistic.

...For me the title chosen above sums up this series very aptly. From it's very small beginnings of a few pupils through to the final book in which reference is made to the Three branches of the Chalet School-The Main Swiss Branch, The English branch & St Mildred's Finishing branch it is a school which is immensly popular. Not difficult to see why either when you consider, the friendly but strict in school hours mistresses several of whom were old girls, the choice of uniform which both the staff & pupils get to help choose, the list of trips that every section of the school get take on to broaden their knowledge, the walks closer to the school in loverly English countryside or Swiss mountains & the extremly varied choice of food that has me wanting to try some, mentioned in most books. But the other side for me is the very vivid...

FriendlyLynn 03.10.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Chalet School - Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

A chalet with a view

Advantages: Choice of accommodation, bargain price, lovely setting
Disadvantages: Scary dogs in neighbourhood

...a reservation. I rang the bell beside the iron gate and waited; presently a middle-aged gentleman appeared on the terrace above me. He spoke about as much English as I speak Romanian but we had German in common. He threw down some keys and said he would meet me in the garden. Unlocking the gate I got the biggest fright - the owner's Alsatian appeared from nowhere and started barking like a police dog apprehending a criminal. It took a moment or two to realize it was behind a fence! A short footpath led to the main part of the garden and here you see just why Pensiune Ionescu is so highly rated by those who have stayed there. On the gentle slope, there are four small wooden chalets - quite Alpine in style all opening out onto the view over the town. One is big enough for a family of, say, two adults and one child, two others are able to squeeze...

fizzytom 28.11.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Villa Ionescu, Brasov

Chalet Haven

Advantages: Very friendly owners, relaxing and quiet
Disadvantages: No shop near-by, pay for electric.

...LOCATION Ivyleaf Combe is a chalet/log cabin holiday park. It is situated in North Cornwall, England and is about 2.5 miles from the holiday resort of Bude. Bude is a lovely sea resort where you will find shops for buying wetsuits, clothes, food shopping, souvenirs etc. Ivyleaf Combe is considered to be ideally situated for visiting Bude, as it’s just outside all the hustle and bustle, especially during peak season. However, on the downside the site is not within walking distance of any amenities, which was a disappointment. So instead of hoping for a week of walking and relaxation we ended up having to drive every day. The site is also not in an ideal location for visiting the rest of Cornwall. It took us about 1.5 hours to visit Newquay and over 1.5 hours to visit the Eden Project in St. Austell. The owner of the site is Tony...

gwarwick 03.08.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Ivyleaf Combe