I'm lying on the flat of my back, gazing up at a cornflour blue sky as the warm sun beats down. But I don't get time to enjoy the beauty of my surroundings before I'm unceremoniously hauled upright by a 6ft tall Kiwi called Pat – for about the 10th time that morning. We're on the ski slopes of Méribel in the French Alps and I'm nearing the end, in every sense, of my first morning on the piste.

There are six in our group and while the others, all experienced skiers, went off to tackle the blue and red runs, it was left to poor Pat to coax me, a novice, through the nursery slope and, finally, onto a green run. And despite careening crazily all over the mountain, rushing headlong into trees and knocking my instructor to the ground, all the while with the added indignity of watching soother-sucking toddlers whizz down the slopes, it's the most fun I've had in a long time.

We're here as guests of High Life, an Irish operator which specialises in all-in ski packages. From the moment we arrived at Lyons airport, we were straight into pamper mode. And even though a heavy snowfall turned a two-hour coach transfer into four, the welcome pack of fresh sandwiches, water and a choice of films helped to pass the time.

And then there are the chalets. When we finally arrived, by this time tired and hungry, to be greeted by a smiling Aoife bearing a tray of vin chaud, which we sipped in front of an enormous log fire in the warm and cosy living room, all thoughts of delays were forgotten. We were in heaven.

Each chalet is assigned its own chef and chalet host and they're there to basically cater to your every whim. The staff are all young, cheerful and skiing mad. When not looking after their guests, they are free to head to the slopes and ski to their heart's content. It soon becomes clear that they are enjoying themselves as much as their guests, which makes for a very convivial atmosphere. They also know all the slopes like the back of their hands and will happily provide guiding services for guests so there's no messing around with maps, trying to find the best runs.

But back to the first night at Chalet Carine. Having done justice to the vin chaud, we sat down to a dinner of beetroot salsa and goats' cheese tartlet, followed by chicken with gratin potatoes and a Thai peppercorn sauce and crème brulee, all prepared by our chef Mark and worthy of a top-notch restaurant. Wine, beer and soft drinks are all included in the price of the holiday and flow throughout the evening.

After a good night's sleep – the bedrooms are comfortable and come with en-suite bathrooms – and a breakfast of pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and a few cups of decent coffee, we were dispatched to the local ski shop to be fitted for boots and skis and then on to the slopes to meet our instructors.

Méribel is part of what is known as the Three Valleys and has 600km of pisted runs. Riding up in a chair lift that first morning, the scenery is breathtaking. And while the resort offers some of the best ski runs in the Alps, the mountains provide plenty of other entertainment. It is liberally sprinkled with bars and cafes and, believe me, after a couple of hours skiing (or attempting to) a hot chocolate never tasted so good.

There are also restaurants for more substantial fare. One favourite was Le Pierre Plate, which, at 2,739m, can only be reached by chair lift. It's right on top of the peak which separates Méribel from Courcheval. The food is hearty and unpretentious, just the thing to set you up for an afternoon's skiing. The restaurant is surrounded by a large deck, where they've thoughtfully provided deckchairs and blankets for those brave enough to sit out and admire the view.

At 5pm, when the lifts close, the hotspot is le Rond Point, a raucous bar, where, for two hours, skis are parked outside and pitchers of beer are downed with gusto.

Then it's back to the chalet, where aching muscles are soothed by an hour in the outdoor hot tub or, if you're up to it, a massage by a professional masseuse, which is all part of the High Life service.

And so the evening goes on – hot wine, more delicious food, more wine, before you fall into bed, to dream of snow ploughing.

A High Life ski holiday doesn't exactly come cheap (prices for a week this season start at €805 per adult) but when you take into account what you get for that – a completely hassle-free holiday in a luxury chalet with superb food, all drinks included, and a dedicated team to look after your every need so all you have to do is concentrate on skiing and having a good time – it suddenly doesn't seem so expensive. This year, they have a number of recession-friendly deals on offer and of course, price is dictated by the time of year.

We all agreed, as we lazed in front of a blazing fire on our last night, that not only did we not want to leave and go back to the real world, but that we would definitely all be back.

www.highlife.ie