Not first time Skiing - Where to go?

[GreigR]

Hello

After some advice please, myself and partner have been to Canada the past few years but this year will be the first with our daughter who is 7 so we're sticking to Europe.

I have no idea where to begin but it must be a good all round resort with beginner, inter and advanced runs, kids ski school and kids club. We found the prices in Canada were pretty good once away from the resort restaurants. How do the prices compare between France, Austria and Italy?

How does Bulgaria compare to the places mentioned?

Looking to go 7-10 days from mid January.

Thanks

[Ranger 6]

I've been to Andorra and enjoyed it but didn't have the family back then and found it limited. I imagine in the years since it's improved.

We've used La Clusaz for years now as both kids have an instructor they like and get on with. We book lessons through ESF so the kids get some straight 1:1 tuition and last year that equated to a massive £47 over the group lessons (yes for both kids for the week). Daughter started at 4/5 and is now 10 lookiing at doing her ESF Gold this year. Son is 3 stages behind (he's 3 years younger).

We have never used kids clubs/group lessons as I feel they're just an excuse to 'lose' the children for a while so you can ski yourself. However your intentions may be different so excuse me if I've misinterpreted. We take them to their lessons and pick them up afterwards and our skiing has suffered as a result for the last few years. I would say though that now daughter is good enough we go out together and that's far more rewarding as I can see her coming on and provide encouragement at the right time.

[Ranger 6]

I imagine it has, we were in Pal-Arinsal area.

[maser_spyder]

The best place in Europe for looking after your children in ski school is Austria.

They might be a little abrupt in their manner (although the Tyrol is a bit like Cornwall is to the UK), but two things they take very seriously are food, and children.

Food is cheap, and children are very well looked after.

France/Italy ski school is shocking compared to Austria.

[Silver993tt]

I lived in Austria for many years and there are lots of lovely ski areas. My recommendations are:

Soelden
Ischgl (has good kids/beginners area attop of main gondolas from village)
Serfaus/Fiss/Ladis
Zillertal/Mayrhofen
Sallbach
St Anton (nice but oeverrun by Brits if you want to get away from that kind of thing)
Stuben (nice small village linked to St Anton area)
Flachau/Wagrain
Plus lots of smaller ski areas which are very nice but not so extensive.

[maser_spyder]

If you do consider Austria, I would add Westendorf to that list.

[IanMorewood]

Tempting though Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia may be due to the exchange rate at the moment you will find the skiing somewhat limited. Good tuition and cheap beer/wine though but thats probably not top of the list for your 7 year old.

[taffyracer]

Bugaria is truly awful, avoid, its cheap and nasty at its worse, as suggested i'd go to Austria, stunning country, great heritage, nice people, great food, great skiing ......ideal for families

[chip*]

I am fan of Austria too. Most medium and upward sized hotels will usually have swimming pool + spa/sauna facilities too which is good for a chill out at the end of the day (Just be ready to whip off those shorts in the sauna when the local arrives or you get a telling off ) Plus we find the mountain restaurants are so much better and better value for money i.e. why pay Euro8-12 for a crappy toasted ham & cheese sandwich or spagbol in the French resorts when you can get a decent meal AND a drink in Austria for the same price? And another thing which bugs me with French ski resorts, all the toilets are the pits!!! Our group who ski/board annually all favours Austria and would only go to France at the last resort.

[IanMorewood]

Trouble with most of Austria though is the lack of vertical which can mean poor/no snow and some fairly short runs with lots of time spent sat on a chair lift trying to gain height again.

[maser_spyder]

IanMorewood said:

Trouble with most of Austria though is the lack of vertical which can mean poor/no snow and some fairly short runs with lots of time spent sat on a chair lift trying to gain height again.

Depends on the place (the same as most of Europe).

Snow in the past couple of years has been very good, 2008 was a particularly bad year, but seems to be a one-off, as 09/10 and the start of 11 looks excellent.

Westendorf, at around 700m, opens this weekend, ahead of schedule, and it's one of the lower resorts. Actually, for a small resort, it's excellent (with a good guide) for experienced as well as beginners. The runs are all very good quality, so it's easy to spend a lot of time there, good nursery slopes for beginners, nice village, and a huge extended ski area if you get bored, right up to Pass Thurn, and the area pass (allstar card) even covers the Kaprun glacier.

Mayrhofen is also good for skiing, although the resort/mountain layout isn't the best. You can stay up the road in Lanersbach and ski to the door, but still get the best of the Mayrhofen area if you like. Only a small village, but again, good for beginners/families.

[evolution666]

+1 for Bulgaria being truly awful. Dont even consider it unless you have to go skiing on a budget, then if you must my advice would be to same some more and go to Scotland.

Austria, resort, Myerhoffen. Great resort, i learnt there as a child and returned for a few years after that, in fact thats where i won my 1st race and whooped a load of locals (must have let me win lol)

Something at the resort for everyone.


2nd to there i would be going to Zell am See, great resort, fantastic ski region and if for what ever reason the snow levels arent great, you have the glacier @ Kaprun which is snow sure, and again, another great resort.