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Suggestions for late March for beginners

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi people,

I want to take my 2 nephews (11&9) and their father for their first ski trip. Planning to go in the first week of the Easter hols (Mar 22-29). Need to go somewhere cheapish. Priorities would be:

1. Quiet slopes + small lift queues
2. Good beginner slopes
3. Decent snow given the time of year
4. Ideally some decent intermediate skiing for me
5. Reasonable English in the ski schools

Done a fair bit of trawling through reviews and Risoul and Val Cenis look like reasonable options (although some concern about the likely level of English in the ski schools). Another would be La Thuile, but I'm going to Champoluc myself earlier, so would prefer not to go to Italy again.

Be really great if anyone can comment on the suitability of the above options, or offer other suggestions.

Many thanks
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
suggul, budget will help allot. I'd be looking at somewhere that has the nursery slopes up the hill you never can tell but I'd expect spring conditions which beginners can find daunting. Cervinia may be worth a look (although Italy it's great for intermediates and the link to Zermatt should appeal).

There are quite a few but without budget it's hard to rhyme many off.
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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?
suggul, one option would be to look at private lessons for the three of them, which can be surprisingly affordable. Our local ESI in Les Saisies would charge €79 for 3 people for 2 hours - and with that age of children, whilst it's not ideal, lessons together with their Dad would be workable. There are probably similar schools in Risoul etc charging similar prices.

How are you planning to travel? Quite a lot of extra driving to Risoul.

And what sort of accommodation are you looking for? That's low season in France, so you could expect to get a decent piste-side apartment with two bedrooms for around €500 - 600 in a smaller resort. Possibly less.
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Thanks for replies guys. Was looking at spending £2000-2500 for flights, transfers, accommodation, ski rental, lift passes and instruction, Have specced Risoul, and can do all that for about £2000 staying in 4* 2 bed apartment (Antares) with group lessons. Was planning on getting private transfer there, (although that alone is £400, I'm not keen on messing about on public transport with 2 youngish kids). Went to Cervinia a couple of years ago, so (selfishly!) would rather go somewhere I haven't been.

Pam-W, I like the idea of private lessons for the family - might be able to guarantee better English that way. Good call.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Quote:

might be able to guarantee better English that way.

the thing is with private lessons, it'll be entirely in english. In Les Saisies, where most visitors are Francophone, group lessons are mostly in French, no matter how good the instructor's English. You might find that the hours available are limited, maybe in the middle of the day, though in low season you would have a bit more flexibility, probably.

£2K sounds very good for all that, for 4 of you. And £400 (if that is return) is good value for transfer - it's quite a long one, isn't it?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
suggul,
Been to both La Thuile and Val Cenis and certainly think they would suit beginners/ early intermediates for late March they hold their snow well.
English in the ski schools was adequate on our visits though these were not recent.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
That seems very early for Easter hols, I thought they started from the 5th April next year? Not that I have any kids, so i'm probably wrong! Very Happy
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Yeah, me too Handy Turnip, I'm sure Easter is well into April next year.
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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.
jocrad, but some school hols do start a lot earlier.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
We learnt to ski in Passo Tonale. It was cheap especially with the learn to ski package we booked with Crystal, the ski schools meet across the road from most of the hotels, its at 1800m so pretty snow sure and is linked with Ponte de Legno which has excellent skiing for intermediates.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Fair enough pam w, but given that Good Friday isn't until 18th April, that'd mean the kids would be having almost a month off for Easter??? if that's the case, I wish I was back at school!!
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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.
Handy turnip and Jocrad, you're absolutely right. One of the boys breaks up on 28th March, but the other is on 4th April. Don't know where I got my dates from. Just as well I'm not a parent!

May need to re-evaluate my shortlist and look for higher resorts. On the plus side, prices should be a bit lower, so may be more options. Will definitely look at Passo Tonale. Again, any other suggestions welcome.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I went to Val Thorens with my nephews (both 11) and my brother last year on the 5th April - it was such a success that we're doing exactly the same this year!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
jocrad, most boarding schools get a month for easter.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Well as a commoner, we had 2 weeks and counted ourselves lucky!!! Shock
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
What some school do (ours have anyway....) when Easter falls late, is take their 'Easter' holidays in the early part of the month and then just the Good Friday and Easter Monday off. I realise this may be unusual Very Happy
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