 Poster: A snowHead
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Peter Hardy, editor of the Good Skiing Guide (sadly not published this year) and the Telegraph's ski correspondent for many years, makes his choice of resorts for families with children, and skiing novices (link to article below):
Alpbach, Austria
Cervinia, Italy
Les Gets, France
Megève, France
Soldeu, Andorra
Saas Fee, Switzerland
Vaujany, France
Westendorf, Austria
Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado
Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Here's the article. Any comments/reactions/further suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We learnt to ski in Westendorf and would definitely recommend it as a good place to start. We stayed once at the Hotel Theresianna, which he mentions - it's a good value place. The nursery slope is pretty much in the village. When we were there a few years ago the lift serving the nursery slope was a bit prone to getting busy because it fed the uplift for the whole mountain - I believe they've re-jigged the Pistes so that you can return to the bottom of the main gondola more easily. We're returning in Janury so will report back properly on our return.
Saas Fee we have visited once, the nursery slopes there are excellent and the village is really pretty. As beginners, turning up in the midst of 13 4000m peaks is a bit disturbing. The link from the mid-station back to the village is a bit tricky. This was my report.
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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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What about Flaine? Snow sure, ski in ski out, not too bleak or exposed down in the bowl itself. Also a few varied nursery slopes. 3 or 4 free lifts for beginners etc.
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Alpbach?? Oh, what fun getting on and off busses with all the gear and two tired kids. I'd disagree with Vail and Sun Peaks also... why haul the whole family transatlantic when you really don't need to, temperatures (esp in Sun Peaks) often aren't child-friendly either. Likewise novices really don't need to go that far or spend that much to be sure they love the sport...
Then, why Westendorf with its hordes of drunken Dutch teenagers? Surely Soll or Ellmau fits the bill better in the SkiWelt... more terrain, better gradients etc
I sometimes wonder if these lists are their top ten freebies!
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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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A huge suprise to see Vaujany featured by Peter - I really don't know what Ski Peak do for him but he manages to write a whole page in the Telegraph every winter on the place without mentioning ADH!! Whilst I do think that the resort is very pretty etc etc... I wish he wouldn't write about it each season!! 
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sarah@alpedhuez, this is very true. It is an odd list, I'm sure we can do better.
Ian Hopkinson, they were a-fighting in the streets last time I was there - probably a one-off but it does colour your view of a place. Soll, meantime, has long lost all the rowdies that gave it that reputation. Ellmau is still best bet for families I'd say.
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I would definitely agree with Les Gets. So much so I have had a summer holiday there as well
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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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Another vote for the Grand Massif - though I favour Morillon over Flaine (not that I've yet ventured to Flaine) - Close to Geneva so short transfer or a doddle to drive, pretty village at 700 - easy to stay near Gondola- though not bursting with Apres ski I grant you (a plus for families, maybe not necessarily for novices?) Loads of easy skiing including long green 'Marvel' and no suprises blues above 1100 yet enough to keep everyone else happy too. I reckon it's pretty good value for money as well....not yet cost us more than £500 per person all in at Feb Half term.
Would count Cervinia out unless kids can manage 3 bis(?) short icy reverse camber red linking the village drag to the gondola. The trudge up the hill to the lift station is horrible - long time since I've been there so maybe things have changed.
Friends went to Vaujany as novices with kids and loved it
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Annie, I too love Vaujany and whenever I get the chance will often ski over there as the scenery is beautiful and would not hesitate recommending the resort to friends with chidren
... but I think Telegrapgh readers know all there is to know on the place by now...I'm certain there are other resorts which could benefit from a little 'plug'!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Seems a reasonable list. Not every resort listed would be agreeable with everyone, but it does give variety, and isn't the typical limited list that you see.
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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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As a skiing dad, I find this family resort thing mystifying. A family holiday's more important.
The things your kids need vary with age but most of the important stuff doesn't come from the resort itself. I'd rate suitable accommation close to the slopes, integrated childcare and high-quality english language instruction as some of my top priorities. You can get those things almost anywhere; and you can fail to get them almost anywhere, too. The resort's not really a very relevant factor.
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| Jonny Jones wrote: |
As a skiing dad, I find this family resort thing mystifying. A family holiday's more important.
The things your kids need vary with age but most of the important stuff doesn't come from the resort itself. I'd rate suitable accommation close to the slopes, integrated childcare and high-quality english language instruction as some of my top priorities. You can get those things almost anywhere; and you can fail to get them almost anywhere, too. The resort's not really a very relevant factor. |
You say that suitable accommodation close to the slopes is important, which rules out a significant number of resorts. Having to catch a ski bus or gondola to the main skiing area is very inconvenient for meeting up after ski school or meeting up with non-skiers. So I'll always (whislt I have a young family) go to a resort with a Front de Neige close to the centre of the resort. 
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You know it makes sense.
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I like reading Peter Hardy, he certainly gets around a bit. Maybe he has favourites like everyone else but I think he has creditable knowledge
on the circuit because he skis so many places. But I do take the point that the real gems that I like the look of, Pitzal and Grimentz have been
'discoverd' by other writers whose names escape me. I think I still have the articles tho' and plan to visit them myself
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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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Without wishing to ban the drum, I can't understand how La Rosiere isn't at the top of the pile never mind not even in it. It is so family orientated. Nuff said.
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Poster: A snowHead
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For size, accessibility and the lack of crowds we found Puy St Vincent ideal for our first family holiday on snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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martyngb, I've never been but heard that it is a really pretty resort and great for families - crazy that we've not yet visted - we get free ski days there on our ADH lift pass!
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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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Sarah, we went a small operator called snowbiz who were excellent. It was our first time skiing (all 4 of us!) and they had their own instructors, creche and obligatory kiwi with a camera following you about. Super people and I'd recommend them to any families and/or beginners. We went to ADH the following year but the weather was rubbish and my knee fell apart so didn't explore it as much as I'd have liked.
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martyngb, My first "proper" ski trip was with snowbizz to Puy and I had a fantastic time. It probably helped that it was a very last minute Xmas trip for £250 for everything apart from food and drink! I actually had the best Apres Ski here because there were only two bars so you usually met someone from your ski lesson etc and there was a really nice atmosphere. The coach transfer was pretty horendous IIRC!
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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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big up psv and the snowbizz crew, it really has everything for a great family ski holiday and very few if any bad points.Will be back en famille again over new year ___cant wait
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I definately have plans to check out PSV this winter on the ADH lift pass.....not sure that it would have enough to draw me for a whole week but think its great that the ADH pass allows you to spead time checking out a few smaller resorts just for a day here and there.
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