 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I'm considering our very first skiing holiday. We're both in our 40s, and our twins will be 4 at Christmas. We want to start a regular routine of static caravan in the summer (yay...) and skiing in the winter, preferably over Christmas (kids dob is 27th Dec).
So, none of us have EVER skied. We're looking for a nice resort (preferably in Austria), where we can all learn to ski, where we can access kids clubs, where we can get all the kit and passes etc, and all for £2k (flights from Gat/Lut included!!!)
All input will be gratefully received.
Michael
St Albans
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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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marodo2712, Welcome to SH.
You're two are the same age as our eldest. We use Espirit, who are the pass-masters of kids and skiing, but I doubt they'll be in your price bracket.
I think you'll have to expand your budget a bit - your ski passes alone will probably eat at least fifth of your budget. Add on your own lessons and childcare. The Christmas/NYE week is traditionally one of the premium weeks too. Better off looking in early December or into January, avoiding the holidays.
Maybe look for cheaper areas like Bulgaria, rather than Austria.
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Thanks for the info, I'll have a look at esprit.
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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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marodo2712, if you can risk it, Esprit often have some good discounts for unfilled places nearer the time of departure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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IIRC our trip to Val D'isere this year is weighing in at £2300 for me, the wife and 2 kids (4 and 2) with 5% repeat booking discount.
On top of that is lift passes, although Espirit are doing a buy one get one half price if you buy through them, plus €30 or so for ski hire for eldest.
ansta1 is right, you can often pull a good deal out if you wait to the last minute and don't mind too much about where or when you go, particularly late season.
Espirit aren't cheap, but you can be sure that the kids are being looked after well while you're away from them, and you're not forever watching the clock to have to get back for a 3rd party childcare pickup.
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marodo2712, I would definitely get a few lessons in a ski dome if you have one near you. It just builds up your confidence and makes things so much easier for when you get to resort. As you haven't skied before probably your best option is to put your twins in for all-day childcare or as mentioned before book with a family specialist where childcare is included. Until you get confident yourselves you wouldn't enjoy trying to chase a 4-year-old around.
Also there is no point going to a big resort, you can save a lot of money by going to a nice, quiet one that maybe has enough to do off the slopes 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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marodo2712,
£2000 will be a bit tight for Christmas or New Year - these are high season in most of Europe, with lift pass prices and accommodation priced accordingly. Unless you score a last-minute deal, I think you'll struggle to hit the budget.
As the children are only just 4, they are presumably not yet at school, so this is your chance to take a week out of season, when the slopes are less crowded, prices are lower and things are just a bit less hurried. If you can wait until Jan 4th, you should be able to do it for £2,500, including lift passes, ski school etc. The things to look out for are resorts that offer free lift passes for small children (e.g. Saalbach has free passes for children born after 2008), ski school deals that include tuition and equipment and so on.
From St Albans, you can easily reach the snow centres at Hemel or Milton Keynes - both do 'ski in a day' sessions for beginners as well as weekly lessons if you want to have a go before committing yourselves.
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marodo2712, welcome to Snowheads  Not Austria but look at www.snowbizz.co.uk absolutely fantastic, lots of SHs have been with them and recommend them, they are cheaper than Esprit and service is much more personalised though accommodation is more basic.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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marodo2712, the suggestion of snowbizz is a good one - Esprit won't come in your budget at Christmas. Waiting till mid January is also a good suggestion, things will be much cheaper and quieter.
Yet another good suggestion is lessons in a snowdome, but they are quite expensive - if they have to come out of the holiday budget I'd be inclined to wait until you get to the real mountains.
The cheapest way of having a ski holiday is to rent an apartment and cater for yourselves, but as complete beginners with little kids to sort out that will be pretty difficult - just getting everybody equipped, and in the right place at the right time for lessons, can be quite a challenge, even for more experienced skiers.
Don't be hung up on going to any particular country - there are good places for beginner families (and much less good ones) in all the ski countries. Bulgaria is certainly cheaper but there are some mixed reports here on Snowheads about it - France or Austria would probably give you a better experience, if you find the right resort and - probably equally important - the right company to travel with.
Don't forget that most holiday prices exclude all the ski stuff - passes, hire of equipment and lessons, which tends to come in at £350-ish for an adult.
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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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Crystal are pretty good. Their childcare is good (used them 3 times: Alpe duez, Claviere, Flaine ) and kids loved it. Their whizzclusive is a good combo of am lessons and pm childcare. Crystal staff will drop them at ski school, pick them up ( invaluable especially as it's your first time) feed them and then look after them all afternoon. Also includes a pyjama club which our kids loved and allowed us to have a meal at the normal meal times. They're not cheap, but cheaper than esprit. I've never used esprit so can't really compare.
New Year in La Plagne is a shade under 5k for 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 kids 7 & 4 which is ridiculously expensive, but includes everything. Xmas week was about £600 cheaper but couldn't make that week.
Crystal's club hotel in Claviere would be an excellent choice for your first time. They have the complete range of childcare, and at 4 kids could have some lessons (i believe 4 is the age in Italy). It's all inclusive, with free beer & wine during the evenings. Plus the transfer is quite short from Turin.
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You know it makes sense.
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marodo2712,
What sort of holiday do you want? Kids whisked away from 9 till 5 or more of a family affair?
You can go the Esprit type route, but that can be expensive, just depends what you actually want. If you want more of your own skiing time then that is probably the way to go.
I like skiing with the kids for half an hour before school starts, they have supervised lunch with the school (in Austria), then I get them back at 4 until the lifts close. Trouble is the little bugs normally want to go straight to an apres bar after skiing and start on the hot chocolate etc.
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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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Can recommend Crystal childcare.
As they are 4 they can do ski lessons in Austria (Which can be all day Drop off at 10 and collect at 3-3.30). This allows you to do your lessons.
My little one loved the lessons but was totally shattered. Can do half day lessons but price for all day is hardly anymore.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
Thanks for all of your replies, and sorry for not getting back to you all.
We're going on Saturday 4th Jan, a week in Saalbach-Hinterglemm Austria. Everything's been paid for with the exception of food, drink, and lift passes. Everything else (flights, accommodation, transfers, ski schools for four, equipment hire, ski insurance for 4 and all clothing and equipment (ex skis, boots, and poles)) comes in at about £2,500, add another £400 for 2 lift passes (kids lift free) and we'll call it £3,000 + food and drink, so maybe £3,500. It's a lot of money, but I think we'll enjoy it - I'm even starting to daydream about the huge Hinterglemm blue run (I've never skied). 
Thanks again for your help, and especially to Quinton who answered a million PM questions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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marodo2712, glad you got something sorted out - that sounds good. Is that self-catering?
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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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Have fun! though resign your self to the fact that by the end of the week the kids will be better than you by a long way and the gap will keep growing!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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By the way. I booked al the elements separately.
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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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Yes Pam, that's SC.
davkt, normally I'd take your word for it, but my daughter Robin isn't just kak handed, she's kak bodied, so, the only way she'll be whizzing past is if she's on her ar*e
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| marodo2712 wrote: |
| davkt, normally I'd take your word for it, but my daughter Robin isn't just kak handed, she's kak bodied, so, the only way she'll be whizzing past is if she's on her ar*e |
Don't underestimate just how fast that can be!! (And how much easier than skiing it is sometimes  )
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| marodo2712 wrote: |
Hi,
I'm considering our very first skiing holiday. We're both in our 40s, and our twins will be 4 at Christmas. We want to start a regular routine of static caravan in the summer (yay...) and skiing in the winter, preferably over Christmas (kids dob is 27th Dec).
So, none of us have EVER skied. We're looking for a nice resort (preferably in Austria), where we can all learn to ski, where we can access kids clubs, where we can get all the kit and passes etc, and all for £2k (flights from Gat/Lut included!!!)
All input will be gratefully received.
Michael
St Albans |
Alpbach in AT, no need for TO, beginers slope (free) is perferct for first timers, ski schools are OK, native EN instructors are available.
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marodo2712, not really a lot to add, but as a father of twins myself, good luck!
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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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Best advice i can give is leave it late....VERY late and you should be able to get a good deal. I looked a week before xmas out of interest and there were some good prices to be had.
Next year i am not booking anything other than time off work until a week before.
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Folks, he's already booked!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Corduroy, you booked late with young kids? Isn't that a bit of a risky strategy - we traditionally book as early as possible to make sure we get the room arrangements we want.
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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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Out of interest, who did you book with in the end. I have friends who use ski famille which is very good but also very expensive. We now tend to book everything ourselves and drive to France. Not sure if that's cheaper than doing a package.
Have a good time.
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marodo2712, well done and I hope you have a great time, but as others have said whilst skiing with the kids is great (ours have been skiing since they were 3 or 4) expect a little trauma at times and the odd tear. Be mindful that they will get worn out and go downhill very quickly at times and also factor in a little longer in the morning to get ready. Someone will forget something or there will be moans and trauma about kit (boots too tight, too loose, too hot, too cold). Carry some some chocolate or sweets and at the first sign of them getting stressed feed them and head for a hot chocolate break.
The first couple of days I can pretty much guarantee the odd strop or teary moment but after a couple of days as Davkt says they will be blasting past you, even if they are a little clumsy as it's so much easier with their low CoG and lack of general fear.
As an aside Esprit and appreciate you have already booked are currently offering the following late bargains...
05/01/2014 Chalet Le Braconnier in La Rosière, Family 4 £1599!
05/01/2014 Chalet Pepi Gabl in St Anton, Family 4 £999!
12/01/2014 Chalet Alpenblume in Obergurgl, in New Wing Suites Family 4 £1099 or Family 5 £1199 or Family 6 £1299!
12/01/2014 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, in Suite Family 4 £1499 or in Interconnecting Rooms Family 4 £1499 or Family 5 £1599 or Family 6 £1799!
The last one in particular is a bargain and is perfect for families with young children. Sure there are ski passes, ski hire, lessons and childcare on top but Crystal 2000 is (in my view) just about the perfect place for a family. Location is truly ski in/out and there are 2 drag lifts outside the hotel for little ones and beginners to play about on, particularly near the end of the day as you are only ever 5 minutes from a nice warm hot chocolate and cake stop (or drinks for the adults).
Have a great time and let us know how you get on.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Corduroy, you booked late with young kids? Isn't that a bit of a risky strategy - we traditionally book as early as possible to make sure we get the room arrangements we want. |
+1
Have you been looking at preview brochure as well? I am disappointed to see they are charging for cocoa club next season.
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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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| ansta1 wrote: |
marodo2712,
12/01/2014 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, in Suite Family 4 £1499 or in Interconnecting Rooms Family 4 £1499 or Family 5 £1599 or Family 6 £1799!
The last one in particular is a bargain and is perfect for families with young children. Sure there are ski passes, ski hire, lessons and childcare on top but Crystal 2000 is (in my view) just about the perfect place for a family. Location is truly ski in/out and there are 2 drag lifts outside the hotel for little ones and beginners to play about on, particularly near the end of the day as you are only ever 5 minutes from a nice warm hot chocolate and cake stop (or drinks for the adults).
Have a great time and let us know how you get on. |
+1 to this as well. Especially the interconnecting rooms offer. We stayed in these in Dec 2010 - gives you plenty of space and 2 toilets which is very helpful with young children.
If it wasn't for the issue of taking Our eldest out of school I would be leaping at it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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and (though the OP has been sorted) it is worth mentioning that if booking late with Esprit they often have rooms etc available but no more space in the kids ski lessons (so it's very important to check before booking that your little ones will actually be able to ski (with their chalet friends)).
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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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I booked everything months ago 
I had my heart set on Austria for my first skiing trip, and Saalbach has 200km of piste which is a lot. The pistes go around in a big circle so it's not a case of up and down to the same town all day, you can travel around the whole area on a combination of lifts and skiing before returning home hours later - though i'll be in the ski school.
The kids are at ski school as well, so any tantrums they have will be dealt with by the staff there.
As for cheap last minute deals, I saw a week beginning 4th/01 in Les Arcs: flights, sc accom, ski school, equipment, and lifts for just over £2000 for a family of 4.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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FAQ
I'm 45 and have been skiing since 11 myself 
