Smaller children.

A snowHead

I would like to go off for a weeks skiing, however I have 2 children in tow along with the other half who snowboards, anyways, one of my children is 9years old and skis. However one is just 3 years old and doesnt ski yet.

I was wondering what do other people that have small children do? I looked into Esprit holidays, but at £4000 for a holiday, they are totally out of price range.

Is there anything else out there at all?

A snowHead

mistral_ski, welcome to snowheads. Esprit provides food and child care. I could never afford them with small kids, either. If you rent an apartment, make your own food and look after your own children, it costs quite a bit less. wink

But it's hard work. Have you skied before? When are you planning to go? If it's school holidays, prices will rocket, unfortunately but inevitably.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I would like to ski though, this is the issue, I am even considering taking an additional person for the week like my sister to do some child care, so I can ski in the mornings or afternoons, and do other activities with all the children.

I have skiied before, planning to go in january. Smile

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Oh - should have said. brochure prices usually cover flights, transfers and accommodation/food. Skiing - passes, equipment hire and lessons, is a lot more on top.

It's a horribly expensive business, skiing with kids. When our kids were small we did ski quite often, but that was our main paid-for holiday - instead of a summer trip. It's a wonderful family holiday but yes, 3 is too young to do much skiing though there are "ski kindergartens" where they do a little bit of skiing, a little bit of playing in the snow, and playing inside if it's very cold, so you can have a few hours off.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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hahaha maybe if there is, I'll stick my name down.

however Looks like it might end up being a week at disney land at £600.

Are there any other companies that cater for 3 year olds other then Esprit?

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mistral_ski, yep, Mark Warner, Crystal do in a few places, Neilson in one or two places, Ski Famille, Snow Bizz....

If you are looking at Jan I am surprised at the prices you are quoting for Esprit? Are you sure about that?

After all it is free

It was £3600 for January. Rang them myself. Sad

Thank you nicki, just had a look £2250 is a much better price! Smile

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mistral_ski, i skied with my kids a lot when they were tiny - they both started at 2 and a half and skied mornings 10-12 in ski school - then a long lunch and a sleep and then some skiing with me until 4ish. This gave me quite a bit on time on the hill. And now they are both excellent, keen skiers. The key thing was good tuition, and we developed a strong link with Swiss Mountain Sports in Crans Montana, who have an amazing approach to skiing with tiny kids - it's something they specialise in. If you drive from the UK, then you can get a ferry (120gbp) then tolls (80gbp there and back) fuel (two tanks for us) - then self catering in a chalet (we now have our own in Crans Montana but you can hire them in the surrounding villages for a surprisingly small amount - just google apartment a louer Mollens, Bluche, Iconge, or Aminona) and then book in with Yves at SMS. This will be loads less than an all in. If you need to hire kit then SMS has am agreement with One-way in Crans Montana, which does good equipment at a very reasonable price. CMA is a great place to learn - an excellent beginners' area in a bowl up the hill - trees, magic carpets, big traditional restaurant etc. Hope you find something which works. Feel free to mail me if you want to know more, or if you book with Yves mention Tim from Cambridge.

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mistral_ski, On a positive note............... I've seen the Esprit operation in St Anton................... rather good! (Although I panned the sister company for the in-resort chalet quality)................... My advice............ b*llocks to the school beaurocrats, wait for a damn good deal in the new year, either pay the fine, or denounce your school on Facebook, score zero points on the OFSTED quality-control/parental-response option, and let the LEA suffer a consumer backlash.

Enjoy lambasting the Head/Deputies/HoY's!

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I have just had a read of the other post, and said its a £60 fine here so worth a term time holiday. Smile

Its actually the only week till march that I can get off work.

Valais2 thank you for the tip, I guess If I drive I can take my own equipement also. Love the idea you have there thank you. Smile

You know it makes sense.

mistral_ski, the cheapest weeks I have found in the last is the week before Christmas or week after April (ie beginning and end of season, though saying that this year Easter is quite late.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

mistral_ski, driving may seem daunting but we arrive in calais at 10pm, drive an hour and stay in a formule 1 or b&b hotel (excellent chain they have 4 bed rooms) and then drive the next day arriving in resort around 4pm. None of the long queues that you get in France, and DVDs in the car are a good thing - our kids actually look forward to the journey, listening to story CDs and then watching DVDs. total drive time is 10-11 hours at 70mph from Calais to Crans Montana

A snowHead

We have almost always taken our kids to Soldeu Andorra, the Guarderia (kindergarten) is halfway up the mountain, at the top of the main gondola, right next to the ski school, we drop them off just before 10 am, the littlies instructor (if they are skiing) is based in the guarderia and takes the kids out for their lesson, brings them back and we pick them up later in the day. Our youngest started there aged 2, was on skis next year and by 4 she was skiing down the mountain, we sadly missed last season but she is desperate to go back there this season.
Soldeu may not be the most challenging resort but the kids are happy there and we go self catering and eat out most nights without breaking the bank.
We once took the kids to Les Menuires, 3V huge ski area but lousy (French) child care, v unhappy kids, awful holiday.

A snowHead

mistral_ski, Teach the 3 year old to ski. You will be amazed.

tangowaggon, We did Arinsal in Andorra when the kids were very small. We thought they would just be faffing around, but similarly, they were skiing properly at 5 and 3. The 3 year old is now 12 and I am looking for a less challenging partner for next year Toofy Grin

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

We paid £3500 for a week in early April (Easter holidays) this year. That's three children 6, 4 and 2. One had full time creche care, another had ski school in the morning, creche in the afternoon (the creche got her to and from ski school) and the six year old had ski school in the morning and skied with us in the afternoon. That price also included the ski and boot hire plus lift passes for all four of who who were skiing, and we picked the top options for everything too. That was self catering in La Plagne with Crystal, who, for this holiday, were brilliant. So I am sure you can find it cheaper in January with one fewer child than us!

DIY would be even cheaper. We are thinking of driving next time to save on flight costs as well, and also we all have our own boots (and some of us our own skis) now.

Plenty of ski schools take 3 year olds! That's our plan for our 2 year old next time we go as he will be 3 by then - cheaper than private lessons at Hemel as they don't do group ones until 4 years (cost of ski holiday excepted, but you know what I mean!) La Plagne 1800 ESF where we were took 3 year olds.

Have fun!!

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I love the sound of DIY holiday, but hadnt really thought of it, as not really clued up on what im looking for, but now im thinking tomorrow I will be sitting down and working some stuff out.

Thornyhill do you mean teach her when I get there? i want her to get some experience here, but they wont let her on till shes 4 years old on the dry slope.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

mistral_ski, We only have a tiny dry slope in Northern Ireland. If you can stand up and ski backwards very slowly teach her there. I was a relative beginner (2 weeks) when we took the kids. Once they can stop and steer, hand them over to to ski school. DIY is brilliant. We have never paid more than 2k for a week including lessons, hire and passes

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The first time we took junior Mrs M skied in the mornings and I skied in the afternoons. Not ideal but it works, and the childcare is pretty good Toofy Grin

You don't need to go on Esprit holidays to get childcare thrown in - many better hotels do it in Austria. Our favourite will look after them all day till about 7 in the evening except one day at the weekend when it is only about half the day. This is included in the (not extortionate) price.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

musher, Where is that? Thanks

After all it is free

mistral_ski, just so you can see that switzerland is NOT as terrifyingly expensive as people think, these places are available for around 500gbp per week:

http://www.belvilla.co.uk/holiday-home/switzerland/mollens-4-persons-CH-3974-01
http://www.belvilla.co.uk/holiday-home/switzerland/randogne-5-persons-CH-3975-03
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p521696#rates

these are all ten minutes' drive from Crans Montana - there are loads of things for a non-skier to do - the town itself has good restaurants, an ice rink, excellent winter walking trails, and 45mins away there are thermal baths at leukerbad - outside lazing in steaming pools as the snow comes down.

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ClubMed is another place with child care, all inclusive (booze too) that can be good value for money

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I think Snowbizz would be a good option for you particularly if you can go out of school hols. Your 3 year old would be able to do their Totons class for an hour each day and then be looked after by their nannies. They also have an evening children's club which your nine year old might enjoy. It is a few years since we went with Snowbizz but we have very happy memories of that holiday. My youngest who did the Totons in Puy St Vincent is now about to do her ESF Bronze star!

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Gosh there is so many options out there, I hadnt realised most hotels offer the child care services.

Im am going to spend all week selecting.

I would rather not go up the mountain on my own, as I have only been on snow many many years ago with the school..... just in case.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

mistral_ski, this might sound a bit radical, but it would also work to leave the little one with Grandma/relative for the week. We used to go with esprit, but as you say very expensive, so when I won a holiday (yes really!) when our children were 8 & 4, we left them at home with each set of Grandparents doing 3 days each...worked well, the elder one didn't miss school, the younger one kept on going to nursery, playgroup etc and the Grandparents did the household chores when they didn't have any kids about...they said that to have them for just 3 days was fine and changed shift half way through the week. I had childcare set up as I was working 3 days per week then.
Lots of hotels have creches, lots of resorts have nurseries, but make sure you book ahead. Tour Operators are famous for saying Yes the childcare is available and then it isn't/they haven't booked it..
Do you have any snowsporty friends with similarly aged kids? Double up and then you can leave 1 adult at home to babysit all of them and the other has someone to ski with, and shift change can be half day, full day etc.

A snowHead

mistral_ski, this might sound a bit radical, but it would also work to leave the little one with Grandma/relative for the week. We used to go with esprit, but as you say very expensive, so when I won a holiday (yes really!) when our children were 8 & 4, we left them at home with each set of Grandparents doing 3 days each...worked well, the elder one didn't miss school, the younger one kept on going to nursery, playgroup etc and the Grandparents did the household chores when they didn't have any kids about...they said that to have them for just 3 days was fine and changed shift half way through the week. I had childcare set up as I was working 3 days per week then.
Lots of hotels have creches, lots of resorts have nurseries, but make sure you book ahead. Tour Operators are famous for saying Yes the childcare is available and then it isn't/they haven't booked it..
Do you have any snowsporty friends with similarly aged kids? Double up and then you can leave 1 adult at home to babysit all of them and the other has someone to ski with, and shift change can be half day, full day etc.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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Not read the thread, just the OP. both my girls started at 3, booked in with ESF. Both just had morning lessons/childcare. Then we had family time in the afternoon. Make sure they have a wee before going, put a little choccy bar in their pocket for a snack and life's a gud un!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Shimmy Alcott,

In Sauze the instructors were dishing out so many sweets you didn't need to send the kids with any. Juniors instructor (Fabio) took them for a hot chocolate most days as well.

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musher, Thanks for that. I am planning on DIY ing for 2015, but still tossing uP between self caters apartment and hotel, so much appreciate the recommendation. The attraction to hotel is if one with kids clubs,mthe girls are more likely to find friends but advantage Of apartment is easier to get girls their own bedrOom seperate from ours.

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NickyJ, I find pros and cons with both so I actually don't think one way is better than another. I do like cooking though and plan ahead so I make easy evening meals if self catering. The hassle of cooking/washing dishes is offset by not having to scrub up for dinner, as you'd need to in a hotel. My kids love stripping down to their thermals after a day in the snow and just chilling with their Nintendos/books/drawing etc

After all it is free

mistral_ski, I know what you mean re dry slope not teaching till 4, but are you near any of the indoor places? I know we had the same problem, but xscape did lessons from 3.

Our son was 3.5years when he started lessons at xscape. Did enough to get the basics, then we went to Morzine (3 yr 9 month) and he did ESF Piou Piou, enjoyed this ok, and I wouldn't rule it out, but sounds like others have some good/better suggestions. In Morzine we would take him out in afternoon, nothing major, but we were with a group, so also used a training rein thing so we could access some restaurants that he wouldn't be able to ski to. This worked well, and he loved it. Now 6 and skis pretty well, (but he only wants to do jumps Skullie

) Next step in his ski lesson (per his instructor) is short turns and blacks! Eek! That's my baby!!

Last I checked (a few months back) Hemel does private lessons from 3 years, group lessons from 4 years. It is significantly cheaper (understatement!) to do group lessons, but obviously progress won't be as quick.

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Last I checked (a few months back) Hemel does private lessons from 3 years, group lessons from 4 years. It is significantly cheaper (understatement!) to do group lessons, but obviously progress won't be as quick.

Help!!

Smaller children.

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