Where to ski in France with novice children?
Discussion
Finally, after many years of badgering, I have persuaded my wife and son to come skiing in February time. Originally, we were looking at Breckenridge, as I know a great B&B there & we thought we had enough air miles for the 3 of us. However, the miles ddin't cover the 3 of us & flights started looking pretty toppy.
So, cut a long story short, we are now planning to go to France for 4 days or so in February. I have skied Avoriaz, 3V, Tignes & Chamrousse in the past & enjoy them all. However, I am a reasonable skier (not brilliant, just reasonable).
As my lad (9) is a complete novice, I want to take him & my wife somewhere that has lots of gentle nursery slopes & green runs for him to build his confidence and realise that skiing isn't always all about the big crashes he sees on "you've been framed"!!!
Can anyone recommend a good resort and also, a decent B&B / chalet there?
Cheers
Alex
So, cut a long story short, we are now planning to go to France for 4 days or so in February. I have skied Avoriaz, 3V, Tignes & Chamrousse in the past & enjoy them all. However, I am a reasonable skier (not brilliant, just reasonable).
As my lad (9) is a complete novice, I want to take him & my wife somewhere that has lots of gentle nursery slopes & green runs for him to build his confidence and realise that skiing isn't always all about the big crashes he sees on "you've been framed"!!!
Can anyone recommend a good resort and also, a decent B&B / chalet there?
Cheers
Alex
Avoriaz is a good choice, I think.
There's the nursery slopes right above the town, the run through town (outside of the morning and afternoon rush!) and the green(s) heading out of Avoriaz towards Morzine.
Both my kids loved Avoriaz/Portes Du Soleil as beginners, but it offers good skiing (on and off piste) for better skiiers too.
Vastly underrated area I think. I prefer it to the 3 Vallees.
Another option might be Serre Chevalier.
M.
There's the nursery slopes right above the town, the run through town (outside of the morning and afternoon rush!) and the green(s) heading out of Avoriaz towards Morzine.
Both my kids loved Avoriaz/Portes Du Soleil as beginners, but it offers good skiing (on and off piste) for better skiiers too.
Vastly underrated area I think. I prefer it to the 3 Vallees.
Another option might be Serre Chevalier.
M.
I would suggest having a look at Flaine.
Easy transfer from Geneva, plenty of variety of slopes with good centrally located nursery slopes but also a decent variety of other runs for the more experienced in the party.
Linked to the rest of the Grand Massif area so you'll certainly not get bored in a week.
Maybe not the prettiest of resorts but you don't go for the architecture!
Easy transfer from Geneva, plenty of variety of slopes with good centrally located nursery slopes but also a decent variety of other runs for the more experienced in the party.
Linked to the rest of the Grand Massif area so you'll certainly not get bored in a week.
Maybe not the prettiest of resorts but you don't go for the architecture!
I think trois vallees (sic?) is awesome. However I think Les Acrs is very very kid friendly as at the wrong times coming down to the near slopes and its was full of tiny little red chaps with no poles :P
I would avoid Serre Chevalier as it has a black run down into the main bit or a green with ZigZags through the woods left and right but crosses the black while doing so and I found that a bit weird and dangerous. It didn't seem that great or kid friendly. I wouldn't go again to that resort to put it that way.
HTH
I would avoid Serre Chevalier as it has a black run down into the main bit or a green with ZigZags through the woods left and right but crosses the black while doing so and I found that a bit weird and dangerous. It didn't seem that great or kid friendly. I wouldn't go again to that resort to put it that way.
HTH
Yet another vote for Flaine, our first skiing holiday was to there in 1988 with the kids when they were 5 and 7, it was brilliant and we went back a couple of times after that.
The other resort that might fit the bill is Alpe D'Huez, the slopes around the centre are mostly green and the further away you get the higher rated they become until you get to the tunnel or the super long black.
The other resort that might fit the bill is Alpe D'Huez, the slopes around the centre are mostly green and the further away you get the higher rated they become until you get to the tunnel or the super long black.
Might I also recommend looking at going to Xscape in MK or similar - we booked 4 lessons of 1hr before going.. That _really_ helped and I think they do an early morning parents+children session, which is limited in nos. and was very good and opens your eyes to the reality of skiing with a complete novice again!! Although ours were 5 or so..
ETA
I'd concur with most of the above. France cater really well for children. We've been to Les Arcs and Les Gets and would go back to both again.
ETA
I'd concur with most of the above. France cater really well for children. We've been to Les Arcs and Les Gets and would go back to both again.
My family and I have looked into this also.
Really recommend the 4, 1hour lessons at a indoor snow slope. Both my kids are novices, El 9 Drew 5, they both went through these lessons and can now use the main slopes inside with controlled snow plough turns.
We were recommended Le Tania by a friend who for a living organizes ski packages and also goes there themselves with the kids. One factor for us though was we are going in April, Le Tania is higher altitude wise so we are hoping to have nice sunny spring days but with plenty snow. The kids are booked on to lessons together so they can encourage each other. This also gives Em and I chance for a good ski.
Cannot recommend this yet though as it is our first time and with the kids also. If anyone has been then please comment.
Oh yes we are driving out, self catering and taking provisions.
Really recommend the 4, 1hour lessons at a indoor snow slope. Both my kids are novices, El 9 Drew 5, they both went through these lessons and can now use the main slopes inside with controlled snow plough turns.
We were recommended Le Tania by a friend who for a living organizes ski packages and also goes there themselves with the kids. One factor for us though was we are going in April, Le Tania is higher altitude wise so we are hoping to have nice sunny spring days but with plenty snow. The kids are booked on to lessons together so they can encourage each other. This also gives Em and I chance for a good ski.
Cannot recommend this yet though as it is our first time and with the kids also. If anyone has been then please comment.
Oh yes we are driving out, self catering and taking provisions.
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.
Having looked into it a bit more, we are now decided on going from 30th March - 6th April. Consequently, we need to go high. I am pretty much set on Tignes Val Claret, as I've skied there a few times before & it has one of the best chances of guaranteeing late season snow.
Now to find an apartment....... If anyone know of any availability, or good websites, please shout!!!!
Regarding lessons, yes, I'm going to book my lad in for a course of both dry slope and indoor snow lessons. I guess that I am in the somewhat fortunate position that my father used to be a Basi ski instructor and skied to a pretty high level up until about 10 years ago, so once I've got my lad to understand the basics, we should be able to bring him on fairly quickly with some 1:1 sessions (although, at the moment, he seems set on wanting to snowboard, which buggers my plans up a bit, as neither I or my father are any good at that!!!)
Having looked into it a bit more, we are now decided on going from 30th March - 6th April. Consequently, we need to go high. I am pretty much set on Tignes Val Claret, as I've skied there a few times before & it has one of the best chances of guaranteeing late season snow.
Now to find an apartment....... If anyone know of any availability, or good websites, please shout!!!!
Regarding lessons, yes, I'm going to book my lad in for a course of both dry slope and indoor snow lessons. I guess that I am in the somewhat fortunate position that my father used to be a Basi ski instructor and skied to a pretty high level up until about 10 years ago, so once I've got my lad to understand the basics, we should be able to bring him on fairly quickly with some 1:1 sessions (although, at the moment, he seems set on wanting to snowboard, which buggers my plans up a bit, as neither I or my father are any good at that!!!)
schmalex said:
... (although, at the moment, he seems set on wanting to snowboard, which buggers my plans up a bit, as neither I or my father are any good at that!!!)
I found getting an overweight, unschooled British snowboarder to fall on my daughter was an excellent way to discourage her from wanting to snowboard!She's now a pretty decent skiier!
M.
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