Christmas ski holiday with children
Discussion
As an almost complete novice to skiing please help me avoid mistakes!
I fancy taking the family on a skiing holiday over the Christmas break - the prices seem quite good considering it's school hols. Is this because there isn't any snow?!
My boys are 7 &10 so I'd like to get them in a ski school.
Any recommendations for resorts or tour operators?
I fancy taking the family on a skiing holiday over the Christmas break - the prices seem quite good considering it's school hols. Is this because there isn't any snow?!
My boys are 7 &10 so I'd like to get them in a ski school.
Any recommendations for resorts or tour operators?
Xmas can be poor on the snow - last year was a write off in many places. Make sure you go somewhere high and fairly snow-sure (Tignes glacier is best, but tignes itself is horrible). Courchevel 1850 is pretty good. Similarly Zermatt.
Ski-school: if the kids have decent French then put them class lessons in the good local school where you're going. Avoid ESF. Lots of places do morning lessons, so you can ski with them in the afternoon.
If you're based SE and have a decent car (big luxury 4x4 is best) then just stick some winters on it and drive. Airports with kids and ski clobber is a painful experience.
Ski-school: if the kids have decent French then put them class lessons in the good local school where you're going. Avoid ESF. Lots of places do morning lessons, so you can ski with them in the afternoon.
If you're based SE and have a decent car (big luxury 4x4 is best) then just stick some winters on it and drive. Airports with kids and ski clobber is a painful experience.
We went to Les Saisies last Christmas. The snow was shocking. We were lucky that about 50% of the runs remained open for the time. We had crystal blue skies and daytime temps up at around 18 / 20c! We were only at about 900m, though, so pretty low. That time of year, you really have to go as high as you can. Even then, it's touch and go unless there has a been a good dump prior.
That said, we had an epic time and made sure we got the first lift every morning and then knocked it on the head around lunchtime and sunbathed all afternoon. We really like the village, so the holiday wasn't all about the skiing.
That said, we had an epic time and made sure we got the first lift every morning and then knocked it on the head around lunchtime and sunbathed all afternoon. We really like the village, so the holiday wasn't all about the skiing.
Phil. said:
Lapland. Great for beginners and combine it with a magical visit to meet Santa for the kids.
On a similar note we really enjoyed Norway with the kids.Different scene to the Alps, but snow sure at that time of year with more than enough skiing for beginners.
Can be a bit nippy though.
desolate said:
Phil. said:
Lapland. Great for beginners and combine it with a magical visit to meet Santa for the kids.
On a similar note we really enjoyed Norway with the kids.Different scene to the Alps, but snow sure at that time of year with more than enough skiing for beginners.
Can be a bit nippy though.
jock mcsporran said:
At Christmas I would say somewhere like Tignes or Avoriaz if you're looking at the French Alps. The last couple of years have been a bit dire at that time of year.
Val Thorens, highest in French AlpsEven then, not snow sure. It's a risk for the Xmas/New Years week.
We ski at Christmas every year. Our children are now 9 and 7 and we have been doing it since they were born.
For snow at that time of year, you need to go high. We normally go either to Courchevel or Tignes. We have always had snow but this year was the thinnest we've known. We were in Courchevel but actually went over to VT most days for better snow. Courchevel/Trois Vallees is good for beginners as they have some high greens and blues. Courchevel 1850 also has quite a high snow park for beginner children but the downside is that it's cold.
We always drive - it just makes it easier and more relaxing - and I would agree that ESF can be daunting for children, especially if their French isn't that good. Both of ours speak pretty good French but, even so, you get the odd old school ESF instructor who can take the fun out of it. We've found that Ski2000 is a good alternative.
If your novices, don't rule out the Ski Esprit/Mark Warner/Nielsson type packages, as they make everything very easy and build in a lot of child care. ski Esprit also send their own nannies out with the children on their ski lessons, which can be reassuring to a more nervous child. Just bear in mind that they aren't cheap and the accommodation/food can be a bit indifferent.
Feel free to PM me if you have any more specific questions
For snow at that time of year, you need to go high. We normally go either to Courchevel or Tignes. We have always had snow but this year was the thinnest we've known. We were in Courchevel but actually went over to VT most days for better snow. Courchevel/Trois Vallees is good for beginners as they have some high greens and blues. Courchevel 1850 also has quite a high snow park for beginner children but the downside is that it's cold.
We always drive - it just makes it easier and more relaxing - and I would agree that ESF can be daunting for children, especially if their French isn't that good. Both of ours speak pretty good French but, even so, you get the odd old school ESF instructor who can take the fun out of it. We've found that Ski2000 is a good alternative.
If your novices, don't rule out the Ski Esprit/Mark Warner/Nielsson type packages, as they make everything very easy and build in a lot of child care. ski Esprit also send their own nannies out with the children on their ski lessons, which can be reassuring to a more nervous child. Just bear in mind that they aren't cheap and the accommodation/food can be a bit indifferent.
Feel free to PM me if you have any more specific questions
I wòuld always recommend Ski Esprit. We skied with them for 7 years as our son was growing up. Zero hassle, the kids make friends and all ski together with other Esprit kids, especially in the bigger chalet hotels as below.
The Belle Plagne chalet hotel is excellent but expensive. The Courcheval one is also good. Also, get yourself booked into ski lessons if you haven't been before.
Look up Oxygene for English ski schools in France.
The Belle Plagne chalet hotel is excellent but expensive. The Courcheval one is also good. Also, get yourself booked into ski lessons if you haven't been before.
Look up Oxygene for English ski schools in France.
as mentioned by others, going on the last couple of years Christmas snow hasn't been great. so try looking for a high resort.
if driving is an option, consider it! imagine the scrum at the airport on the first week of school holidays on charter flights heading to spain....... now imagine that wearing winter jackets, carrying suitcases, carry on luggage, plus ski bags, boot bags, helmets...... its a bit of a pain!
also seriously consider going on a tour operators package holiday, it really does take a lot of the stress out of the holiday. you have a rep who can help, they pick you up at the airport, drop you at your accommodation, direct you to ski hire/lift pass shops, in worst case can provide help in an emergency (eg someone gets injured!) they sort everything out if there's delays with flights/ transfers etc..... I've done a lot of DIY and a lot of packages and they both have positives, but I think for first time, the package does take a lot of stress out of it!
if driving is an option, consider it! imagine the scrum at the airport on the first week of school holidays on charter flights heading to spain....... now imagine that wearing winter jackets, carrying suitcases, carry on luggage, plus ski bags, boot bags, helmets...... its a bit of a pain!
also seriously consider going on a tour operators package holiday, it really does take a lot of the stress out of the holiday. you have a rep who can help, they pick you up at the airport, drop you at your accommodation, direct you to ski hire/lift pass shops, in worst case can provide help in an emergency (eg someone gets injured!) they sort everything out if there's delays with flights/ transfers etc..... I've done a lot of DIY and a lot of packages and they both have positives, but I think for first time, the package does take a lot of stress out of it!
Don't fall blindly in to the higher == better trap. The snow line is highest in the western Alps and drops as you go east. For France, yes you want a higher resort early in the season but while Austrian resorts are lower, so is the snow there.
France
Look at the purpose-built, up-mountain resorts like Avoriaz, Les Arcs and La Plagne. You're up high so should have snow and won't have far to walk/carry skis to get everyone to/from ski school. The flip side is these places generally lack the soul you find in real villages, but real villages are lower so have a greater snow risk (or more morning hassle as you'll have to catch buses/gondolas to get up to the snow - fine year 2+ but you'll have enough to get to grips with year 1).
Austria
The Austrians don't go in for pouring concrete all over the tops of their mountains like the French so most resorts have the accommodation in real villages in the valley and buses/gondolas to take you up to the snow.
Italy
No experience so can't comment.
France
Look at the purpose-built, up-mountain resorts like Avoriaz, Les Arcs and La Plagne. You're up high so should have snow and won't have far to walk/carry skis to get everyone to/from ski school. The flip side is these places generally lack the soul you find in real villages, but real villages are lower so have a greater snow risk (or more morning hassle as you'll have to catch buses/gondolas to get up to the snow - fine year 2+ but you'll have enough to get to grips with year 1).
Austria
The Austrians don't go in for pouring concrete all over the tops of their mountains like the French so most resorts have the accommodation in real villages in the valley and buses/gondolas to take you up to the snow.
Italy
No experience so can't comment.
Just to add, if you're driving, there is merit in picking the places a little closer to Calais. Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, etc.) and the Portes Du Soleil (Avoriaz, Chatel, Morzine) are a good 2 hours closer to Calais than the Southern French resorts (Val D'isere, Courchevel). Those last 2 hours (difference between an 7-hour run from Calais and a 9-hour one) can be an absolute killer.
We used to take our three to Avoriaz and stay in a British owned chalet in Montriond which is just outside Morzine. The chalet owners provided transport to the slopes. Must have done 5 Xmas/New Year trips, at other times Feb half-term, and only ever lost one day due to poor conditions (rain). Alway used ESF for lessons. I found that some of the instructors favoured Brit customers to help improve their English.
brickwall said:
Just to add, if you're driving, there is merit in picking the places a little closer to Calais. Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, etc.) and the Portes Du Soleil (Avoriaz, Chatel, Morzine) are a good 2 hours closer to Calais than the Southern French resorts (Val D'isere, Courchevel). Those last 2 hours (difference between an 7-hour run from Calais and a 9-hour one) can be an absolute killer.
Also those last two hours up to Espace Killy etc. can (and usually does) turn into 5 hours on the busy transfer days of the school holidays.As a novice, and if you're driving through France, I would avoid the big resorts and find something in Les Portes du Soleil or near to Grenoble (Les Sept Laux, Chamrousse or Villard de Lans). It will be cheaper, less frantic and a better family experience.
As already mentioned; If you're flying, Austria is a good bet for snow early in the season. I can recommend St Anton (Flying into Zurich or Munich) as well as Zell am See / Zaprun. The Austrians are very good at hosting!
As already mentioned; If you're flying, Austria is a good bet for snow early in the season. I can recommend St Anton (Flying into Zurich or Munich) as well as Zell am See / Zaprun. The Austrians are very good at hosting!
If You Ski website has a good resort finder/accurate reviews: http://www.ifyouski.com/ski-resorts.aspx
I've not (yet) ski'd with our boy but when he's old enough will be looking at Val Thorens for snow certainty, and a good ski school right in the centre of the village. There's lots of ski in/ski out accom which can be a godsend as a learner - I remember being pretty tired at the end of each day when I was learning and just wanted an easy journey home, but had a massive trek.
Val d'Isere is fairly snow sure and my favourite resort, but the runs down into the village can be a little hairy for novices, I can think of easier places for complete beginners.
A colleague of mine with similar age kids to yours swears by Vaujany - on the Alp D'Huez lift system, but slightly lower and therefore a bit cheaper.
He reckons it's the best place he's been for kids learning. Village is only 1250m but one gondola ride from it takes you up to 2100m
http://www.vaujany.com/en/ski-area-map-slopes
I've not (yet) ski'd with our boy but when he's old enough will be looking at Val Thorens for snow certainty, and a good ski school right in the centre of the village. There's lots of ski in/ski out accom which can be a godsend as a learner - I remember being pretty tired at the end of each day when I was learning and just wanted an easy journey home, but had a massive trek.
Val d'Isere is fairly snow sure and my favourite resort, but the runs down into the village can be a little hairy for novices, I can think of easier places for complete beginners.
A colleague of mine with similar age kids to yours swears by Vaujany - on the Alp D'Huez lift system, but slightly lower and therefore a bit cheaper.
He reckons it's the best place he's been for kids learning. Village is only 1250m but one gondola ride from it takes you up to 2100m
http://www.vaujany.com/en/ski-area-map-slopes
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