 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi SnowHeads brains trust,
A friend asked for a recommendation of operator and resort. I suggested Ski Esprit and go high. Any pearls of wisdom out there from those who've done this?
Kids are 5 and 10 first timers. Parents are intermediates. Looking for a resort with good range of skiing and a bit of charm.
Many thanks in advance,
Bob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Esprit, Arc 2000 and there's a pool....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@BobinCH, Esprit or Mark Warner. Difficult to get childcare, high altitude and 'charm'. Two out of three ain't bad?
If booking well in advance, personally I'd go La Plagne, Courchevel, Tignes. Not much charm, but good for those child beginners and adult intermediates, likely to have decent snow, lift systems cope with holiday crowds quite well.
If charm is more important, Obergurgl might be suitable.
All expensive. But with beginner kids and if restricted to school holidays, Easter with a childcare specialist TO makes sense. 
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Buttons for the End of Season Bash are still live. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@BobinCH, we have done Easter school holiday trips last several years and will be going 3 weeks today (yay!), the resorts we have gone to have been Belle plagne, Les Deux Alpes, St Anton, Gressoney and this year will be Val d'Isere. Pre-children we also did Courchevel at Easter.
We weren't that happy with ESF in Belle Plagne with our youngest (who had been 3 then). However were happy with them for the eldest and in Courchevel with our eldest (when she was 4). Esprit don't use ESF in Val d'Isere.
We have used Mark Warner (once) and Esprit rest of the time. We found Esprit better in our opinion with respect to the child care (MW don't have baby listening service).
I would also consider Oburgugl as well.
Looking at Easter school holiday prices with Esprit for 2018, they are significantly more expensive than we paid for this year.
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Thanks for the replies. Any favorite resorts/hotels out of those visited?
Obergurgl looks interesting!
Thinking resort above 1800m better to avoid the inevitable afternoon slushfest on way home? Ruling out St Anton and Gressoney?
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Club Med in Les Arcs/Peisey Vallandry perhaps? That's what we did and it worked pretty well.
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@BobinCH, we were out in Gressobey first week of April. We were able to ski back to the hotel, yes at the end of the day, it was getting slushy but when I did that run just before lunch (call from Esprit that eldest wasn't well  ) and it was really lovely to ski at that time. It also dumped with snow on our last night there. The nursery slope opposite hotel wasn't open but they used mini bus to take them to a different area.
With St anton it was ~12th April. The nursery slope behind was still good for skiing. So I wouldn't rule them out.
I will report back in 3-4weeks. But nice top up last night in Val d'Isere.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@BobinCH, of those we used, I'd rate Esprit's Hotel des Deux Domaines in Belle Plagne best. Closely followed by Crystal 2000 just above Courchevel 1850. Corniche in Tignes also pretty good and a convenient location. I also think Aiguille Percee with Mark Warner in Tignes is a very good hotel in convenient location but can't comment on their childcare.
I note @NickyJ, views on ESF in Belle Plagne. I've found ESF very hit and miss over the years, so much depending on the individual instructor.
Esprit Chalet Hotel Alba in Meribel also very good. Likewise MWs Hotel Tarentaise in Mottaret. Snow conditions early April riskier. Meribel valley not so good for complete beginner children IMO.
A less expensive option might be La Rosiere? Resort at 1850m. Good for beginners and plenty of intermediate skiing, with links across to La Thuile in Italy.
I wouldn't recommend St Anton, as much as I love it, for that group.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@BobinCH, where are they travelling from? Scandinavia would be good for Easter and good for first timers.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Themasterpiece, where do you like in Scandinavia ?
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@poppyb, haven't been to as many places as I'd want... but we like Åre. It's the largest ski area, and has something for everyone.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Themasterpiece, interesting, we tend not to think of Scandinavia. Does it have enough varied pistes to keep intermediates happy? How might overall costs for the family of 4 compare with those pricier resorts mentioned above?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We have booked flights for half term 2018 to Oslo and a hire car with intention to drive over to Salen in Sweden. We are expecting it to all come in at £2700 excluding food, drink and fuel. That includes ski school (half days only) for two children. The flights were £504... Though same flights have now gone up to £1226!!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| intermediate wrote: |
| @Themasterpiece, interesting, we tend not to think of Scandinavia. Does it have enough varied pistes to keep intermediates happy? How might overall costs for the family of 4 compare with those pricier resorts mentioned above? |
Intermediate and advanced skiers would be happy at many Scandinavian resorts, especially if you like cross country skiing or ski touring. For Sweden, assuming you avoid peak half term weeks 7-10, I think its very reasonable cost wise. You need to DIY, but very straightforward. For Åre, Easyjet fly to Are Ostersund and Norwegian fly to Trondheim direct from the UK. There are airport buses. Or hire a car. Everything else can be booked through www.skistar.se. I picked a random week, 21-28 Jan 2018, and costs for a family of 4 (assuming children are 7 and 10 years old) would be:
Flights £326 Easyjet inc checked bag and seat reservation
Transfer bus £160
Ski + boot hire £290 (intermediate package, £93 adults, £68 youth 8-15 years, £36 child 0-7 years)
Lift passes £524 (£188 adults, £148 youth 8-15 years, free child 0-7 years)
Accommodation, self-catering, as cheap as £200, but lets say £520 for a nice 2 bedroom apartment in Åre by village
Total £1820 + food for the week
Ski school, 90 minute group lessons, 5 days, £103 each (same price for adults and children)
Lunch on the mountain probably going to be about £45 for the family, or you can bring your own in the warm huts, or grills.
A very reasonable ski holiday! Cost for food in the supermarket is more expensive than the UK, but not extortionately so. Restaurants are defiantly more expensive, especially if consuming alcohol.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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used these guys for many years and would recommend. Took our kids from age 3 to about 10 I think, lots of north facing slopes and the home run seems to stay open until the end of season.
http://familyfriendlyskiing.com/
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Another +1 for @Themasterpiece's suggestion of a Scandinavian resort. You could have a look at Trysil - I've not skied there myself, but looks to have a reasonable variety of runs
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We are off to Trysil this Easter en famille (6 & 10 years old) and will do a report so watch out for it. Happy to look at any specific aspects/questions you have.
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Thanks all. He plumped for La Rosière with Esprit with Obergurgl a close second!
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@BobinCH, solid choice I think. A year to look forward to and save up!
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