Skiing suggestions for family with young kids. Easter 2013
Discussion
I'm a novice when it comes to European skiing, but keen to go next Easter. Kids are 6 1/2 (who can ski basic slopes), and 4 who will have some first lessons before we go.
Ideally wanting catered chalet with kids club/ lessons during day, and an option for a couple of babysitting nights. The club med all inclusive sounds good in principle, but not sure if its the best option yet.
Location and accommodation suggestions greatly appreciated. Best flight options for us would be from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Manchester (in that order)
Cheers
kf
Ideally wanting catered chalet with kids club/ lessons during day, and an option for a couple of babysitting nights. The club med all inclusive sounds good in principle, but not sure if its the best option yet.
Location and accommodation suggestions greatly appreciated. Best flight options for us would be from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Manchester (in that order)
Cheers
kf
kiwifraser said:
I'm a novice when it comes to European skiing, but keen to go next Easter. Kids are 6 1/2 (who can ski basic slopes), and 4 who will have some first lessons before we go.
Ideally wanting catered chalet with kids club/ lessons during day, and an option for a couple of babysitting nights. The club med all inclusive sounds good in principle, but not sure if its the best option yet.
Location and accommodation suggestions greatly appreciated. Best flight options for us would be from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Manchester (in that order)
Cheers
kf
Where else have you skied OP? I’ve answered a question like this before (could be in the link below which makes and interesting read anyhow).Ideally wanting catered chalet with kids club/ lessons during day, and an option for a couple of babysitting nights. The club med all inclusive sounds good in principle, but not sure if its the best option yet.
Location and accommodation suggestions greatly appreciated. Best flight options for us would be from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Manchester (in that order)
Cheers
kf
To start with I’ve never been to Bulgaria, I think for the budget conscious it is appealing but nothing I hear about it makes me want to go. Ever. Stories of unreliable snow lift queues to name a few of the issues but if you don’t know any different it might be OK? As you’re getting to the back end of the season the snow may be even iffier.
Some sweeping generalisation here but a quick summary of the Euro ski destinations. It might help to pick a country first then narrow down resorts.
Austria. My favourite destination for a ski holiday. Resorts are built around proper working towns many of which are very attractive of the ‘front of a chocolate box’ type places. Austria doesn’t have the selection of huge interlinked resorts that France does (although there are some) but the vast majority of places offer more than enough to you busy for a week or more. Generally the Austrian resorts are lower in altitude (although there are many high altitude resorts) but Austria is further east, the tree line lower and gets more snow generally than the Western Alps. Having real town instead of purpose built resorts gives plenty of non-ski activities to do. Austria is cheaper for food and drink than France, both in the town and on the mountain. In the mainstream French resorts £6+ for a pint and £5-6 for a plate of chips on the mountain is not uncommon neither is £10-15 for a plate of spagbol. Times this by 4 and it becomes expensive. Catered chalets are less of the norm in the resorts offered by UK agents although there are plenty if you go to a specialist or independent. Relatively short transfers appeal to me too, takes 1.5 hours to get form Salzburg or Innsbruck to the resorts I go to, more like 3+ hours in France. I’d avoid Grenoble if possible.
France. Huge choice of resorts with something for everyone. I ski in France regularly too but have only went catered chalet board and it helps keep costs in check and can take sandwiches out for lunch. Allot of the resorts sprang up in the 70’s and are pig ugly with high rise hotels although newer buildings are chalet style and lot easier on the eye. Lots of resorts with ski in ski out which is handy but most resorts also have buses included on your lift pass.
Italy. Excellent food and better value than France. Many resorts particularly well rated for kids, resorts are generally very low key with not allot of après ski going on. Have a look at the Dolomites, huge selection of resorts and breath taking scenery.
The rest. Switzerland brilliant but just too bloody expensive given the exchange rate. I find it encompasses the best of what the other big Alpine resorts offer. Andorra used to be the cheaper alternative to the Alps I’m not sure it is anymore with about the most expensive lift pass going, long(er) transfers, and lack of challenging skiing I haven’t been for years now. Had a bit of an iffy season snow wise this season compared to the Alps but you never can tell. Scandinavia, small is comparison to the Alps but resorts in Norway, Finland, and Sweden are very popular with families and at that time of year won’t be unbearably cold. Also some more obscure choices like Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia but I don’t know much about them except the Sierra Nevada.
There you a have it a quick guide that will hopefully help you narrow down your choices.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Try using Esprit ski, they are great for families. Some resorts give free lift passes to the kids which is worth checking out, and from an adults perspective you don't need to go to a huge ski area as you probably will come back to the kids at lunch time meaning you can't get the full benefit from the 3 valleys.
But as you're going at easter go high up, 1500m +.
But as you're going at easter go high up, 1500m +.
We went with Esprit last Easter to Val d'Isere. They were incredibly geared up for children and you could either see your children all day, some of the day or not at all (not really my idea of a holiday that last one). Have a look at their website to see what they can offer. Our girls were 10 and 6. They made friends with other children in the chalet/hotel and had lessons every morning with their friends all week. It was great for them and we had every morning free to ski without them. They could have been taken back to the chalet by Esprit staff for lunch and afternoon club if we had wanted but we chose to collect them after their morning lessons. There were also evening clubs/babysitting as well. I highly recommend them.
5MUG said:
We went with Esprit last Easter to Val d'Isere. They were incredibly geared up for children and you could either see your children all day, some of the day or not at all (not really my idea of a holiday that last one). Have a look at their website to see what they can offer. Our girls were 10 and 6. They made friends with other children in the chalet/hotel and had lessons every morning with their friends all week. It was great for them and we had every morning free to ski without them. They could have been taken back to the chalet by Esprit staff for lunch and afternoon club if we had wanted but we chose to collect them after their morning lessons. There were also evening clubs/babysitting as well. I highly recommend them.
That sounds like exactly the right format for a skiing holiday! Thanks, and I'll have a look at Esprit. Was Val d'Isere easy to get to?Would certainly recomend catered chalet,
1/ someone else does all the work
2/ you meet other people and make friends
3/ you dont get shafted every night when you go to eat
4/ free wine ,saves a fortune !
5/ social skiing, nice to ski with others etc
6/ Afternoon cake and tea usually included
7 FREE WINE
Often works out cheaper than doing it yourself.
We've been with a lot of companies over the years
Ski olympic
Equity
Ski Esprit
Neilson
Ski Miquel
But 'Silver Ski' have been consistantly best and cheapest, worth checking out. Only fly from Gatwick now tho which is a spoiler for us
eta just seen your choice of airport, not so good for you either.
1/ someone else does all the work
2/ you meet other people and make friends
3/ you dont get shafted every night when you go to eat
4/ free wine ,saves a fortune !
5/ social skiing, nice to ski with others etc
6/ Afternoon cake and tea usually included
7 FREE WINE
Often works out cheaper than doing it yourself.
We've been with a lot of companies over the years
Ski olympic
Equity
Ski Esprit
Neilson
Ski Miquel
But 'Silver Ski' have been consistantly best and cheapest, worth checking out. Only fly from Gatwick now tho which is a spoiler for us
eta just seen your choice of airport, not so good for you either.
Try Ski Amis. I went with them in February and it was a brilliant holiday.
Didn't book until 2 weeks before we went so got fully catered chalet for £240 in La Tania, which links to Courchevel very easily. We drove so that price didn't include transfers or flights.
We stayed in Chalet Christine, there were 3 of us in our group and there were 18 in the chalet. Chalet was pretty basic but comfortable, with excellent food and wine. Can't recommend Ski Amis enough.
Right on the slope, next to the main ski lift. LOADS to do in Courchevel, too. The toboggan run is brilliant. It was bloody cold when we went at the beginning of February (-30 and colder at night) but the chalet was lovely and warm, especially with the wood burners cranked up!
Three Valleys has a great snow record, but they also have chalets in the Paradiski ski area - also in France.
http://www.skiamis.com/chalets/chalet-christine.ht...
Didn't book until 2 weeks before we went so got fully catered chalet for £240 in La Tania, which links to Courchevel very easily. We drove so that price didn't include transfers or flights.
We stayed in Chalet Christine, there were 3 of us in our group and there were 18 in the chalet. Chalet was pretty basic but comfortable, with excellent food and wine. Can't recommend Ski Amis enough.
Right on the slope, next to the main ski lift. LOADS to do in Courchevel, too. The toboggan run is brilliant. It was bloody cold when we went at the beginning of February (-30 and colder at night) but the chalet was lovely and warm, especially with the wood burners cranked up!
Three Valleys has a great snow record, but they also have chalets in the Paradiski ski area - also in France.
http://www.skiamis.com/chalets/chalet-christine.ht...
hi, I have three kids 12, 8 and six, we have skied every year for the last 8 years or so in Meribel and la tania. We have taken catered chalets with ski beat or ski Amis. The reason we return year on year? The kids ski school, Magic in motion. they are great, English school, who take young kids for four hours a day and older kids for two afternoons as well, the kids love it and we get a decent time to hit the slopes,
if you have younger kids there's a lady there who organises Nannys/childminders in your own chalet.
In la tania it's ski in/out and there is a nice village atmosphere, but linked to a huge ski area.
We have booked next year and looking forward to it already!
if you have younger kids there's a lady there who organises Nannys/childminders in your own chalet.
In la tania it's ski in/out and there is a nice village atmosphere, but linked to a huge ski area.
We have booked next year and looking forward to it already!
bompey said:
Try using Esprit ski, they are great for families. Some resorts give free lift passes to the kids which is worth checking out, and from an adults perspective you don't need to go to a huge ski area as you probably will come back to the kids at lunch time meaning you can't get the full benefit from the 3 valleys.
But as you're going at easter go high up, 1500m +.
We have always found Courcheval 1850 great with the kids. Last couple of years we've gone to an amazing ski in - ski out chalet/hotel with Esprit just under the Altiport. Perfect for the children and good fun for the grown-ups, particularly if there's a group of you. If you do go to CourchevalBut as you're going at easter go high up, 1500m +.
Fly to Chambrey not Lyon or Geneve - the transfer is much more civilised. PM me if you'd like to know more.
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