 Poster: A snowHead
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We're a family of 6, 2 adults, a 13yr old, 10 yr old, 7 yr old and 4 yr old. We've been skiing in Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes and fallen in love. So have decided to go for it and go on holiday. However have just costed out a cheap deal to Les Arcs with Ski Beat with no flights and its come in at 8,657. For us that's at least 2 if not 3 other holidays. So my husband has proposed beginning April. That's bought the cost down by 3 grand but how can we guarantee snow and to pay all that and not be able to ski would be just plain awful.
So.... Should I ditch Skibeat and try to find somewhere in Val dIsaire in April or give up altogether? What's late October half term like?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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April will be fine if you are above 1800 metres.
Yes. february half-term is stupidly expensive - forget it!
(I used to be a teacher, so I do know about it.)
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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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awh cheers for that. So can you recommend other companies for those of us who haven't got a clue?
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info@parksidepad.co.uk,
I have skied every early April for many years now and the snow although probably on average is worse than February it is certainly not always worse and is sometimes better than Feb. I have almost always had reasonable skiing and often very good skiing indeed. I have never had no skiing and probably only had about one poor indifferent year.
I have certainly not always gone to particularly high resorts, though I have ensured that there is always some north facing skiing at least at modrate altitude.
I wouldd say go for it.
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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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Any high resort should be ok then, e.g. val thorens, avoriaz, val d'isere, tignes. Try http://www.igluski.com/ for deals.
You should be able to find something very reasonable for April.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 6-01-14 22:53; edited 1 time in total
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As long as you go for a high level resort you will be fine, would suggest Tignes (Val Claret) rather that Val D if you are set on the Espace Killy simply because its higher. There are other ways to keep the cost down, driving is the best cost saver for a big family. Have a look at Erna Low, lots of accommodation over the half term for around 2k, choose a smaller resort to get cheaper lift passes or look at local ski schools for pass/lesson deals.
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Are Ski Beat still doing Les Arcs at Easter? I went to La Tania with Ski Beat last year and they were great, and Arc 2000 would be agreat place for a first ski holiday for you all.
If you don't mind me saying so, you will not need a great deal of snow first time out, and for the record, I have skied back to my car at Tignes in May. High is good that late.
Most companies are decent, and there should be deals around for Easter this year especially among the smaller companies. Definitely set your sights on Easter.
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We just booked a deal in the last few days to go skiing for a week in the February Term in Pra Loup/ Val d'Allos in the sothern alps, through snowtrex.
It's self catering and self drive, but for 2 adults, a 6 yr old, a 2 yr old to stay in a 4 bed apartment, 4 lift passes, ski and boot hire for 3 is coming in at less than £1k via the Snowtrex website, which we thought was excellent value for money. Never having been there, I am not in a position to recommend it or not, but it would have to be terrible to be not worth it! It's not too late to still get a good deal at half term if you go off the beaten track a little.
We previously went to the Portes du Soleil in the first week of April a few years ago and it was pretty good for snow, plus very warm in the afternoons to sit out in the sun 
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We do Les 2 Alpes at Easter, have been twice. Last winter snow all the way down to the resort all week (and a mega powder dump Tues night) the year before everything from the top of the first lifts out of the valley was open and again massive powder dump mid week. Spring skiing is nice as it is not so cold either which the kids will appreciate, on occasions last holiday my 2 (9 and 13) were skiing/bording with their jackets tied round their waists.
Even if the spring is stupid warm there is a some of the highest skiing in Europe and a glacier so something will always be open, and if you feel like it and everything is open you can start at the glacier and end up in the village having done the biggest on piste vertical drop there is, you end up almost 2km lower in altitude all on blues and greens (though you can use reds and blacks as well if you like!)
All the ski schools and hire shops are still open (and the end of season sales are on if you need kit). I'd suggest European Ski and Snowboard School but there is plenty of choice.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 6-01-14 23:24; edited 1 time in total
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I would suggest that Les Deux Alpes might be a good choice as the beginners areas are on the glacier so are snow-sure. In many resorts, the beginners areas are very low and deteriorate the quickest. On the downside, it can take a while to get all the way up there and you would also have to come down by gondola as the resort runs are difficult.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This brill, thanks everyone
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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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info@parksidepad.co.uk, although, on average, snow will be better in mid February than in early April, I'd still always go for the latter because of lower prices but mostly because half term is stupidly busy, with inevitable lift queues and crowded pistes.
In France, April is low season and accommodation prices are low. For a first holiday it's easier to go with a package company but if they shove up prices because of UK school holidays you could look at arranging your own trip. Accommodation can be so cheap in April that it's even worth thinking of renting a place for two weeks then using cheap mid-week flights and maybe having a 10 day holiday.
My apartment is south facing at 1550m and the season doesn't end till 25 April. In all but one of the last 12 years (when the snow everywhere was terrible and loads of places closed early) we have been able to ski back down till the end of the season, though admittedly the snow is sometimes horrible! But elsewhere in the resort, on slopes with a different aspect, it's been absolutely fine. I have no choice, as my apartment is here, but I agree you have a better chance of good conditions if you head for a higher resort.
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info@parksidepad.co.uk A high French resort would definitely do the trick - the likes of Tignes, Val d'Isere, Val Thorens and Chamonix are open into May and can be relied on 100% for decent snow in April.
However, on a cautionary note, the French mega resorts can be eye-wateringly expensive - eg €6 (or more) for a large beer, €5 for a coffee etc. Austria can be half the cost for food and drink - as well as being generally more aesthetically pleasing in terms of chocolate box-type villages that will captivate you. However, as Austria has a lot of lower-altitude resorts, you would need to chose carefully for April.
High altitude possibilities with good snow records include Kuhtai, Obertauern, Ischgl, Obergurgl and Soelden. You'd probably love Kuhtai for a first time trip - small, pretty village, high altitude (2000m) so snow very likely at resort level and enough skiing to keep first timers happy. Any of the others would fit the bill too - Obergurgl is just gorgeous but can be expensive as it's fairly upmarket.
Most if not all of the above resorts will feature in mainstream tour operators' programmes (eg Inghams, Crystal and Tui/Thompson) - or check out an online specialist like Ski Solutions or Igluski.
Good luck  .
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You know it makes sense.
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Another vote for Les deux Alpes. Been many times at Easter for two reasons. The weather is often kinder, and we had young un's with us, and the presence of a certain instructress, aka Easiski  Never, ever had a problem with snow cover, quite the opposite in fact. Plus, you have the added advantage of the glacier anyway. Best budget option will most prob be self drive/self catered. Have a look at Easiski's website www.easiski.com where you will find an accommodation section. Also take a look at Pierre & Vacances www.pv-hoidays.com . PV run a couple of large blocks at deux Alpes, and I've used them several times, and their prices are pretty good. Don't be put off by them being a French company. Booking is a piece of cake, and the apartments are good, if a little basic. I'm also pretty sure your family size gets you some discount on lift passes, but please check. Loads of hire and instruction choice at LDA.
Also worth looking at Valmorel. Much smaller resort, and very family orientated. Not as high as LDA, so not so sure, but is is good for the kids. Some years since I last went, and all the instructors were ESF, but many spoke English and the kids got along fine. Again, look at the P&V site.
Given that you are not hauling skis, fly drive might work for you, either into Geneva, Lyon or Chambery. Car hire is still reasonable in France, and I would choose Sixt. Not always more expensive and better vehicles IMHO. I would avoid Geneva if poss, simply because its an easier drive from the other two. I leave it to you to crunch the numbers re flights/car hire.
Its all perfectly do able, and there are loads of ways to trim the budget, its all down to how much effort you are prepared to give it?
And, for what its worth....my son is running a chalet for Ski Beat in Les Arc (as is his girlfriend), and the pricing is why we wont be visiting him this 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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Not to be wet blanket, but Easter very late this year- later than many places stay open most years. From what you describe it beats february though. can you not get a better deal in italy or somewhere besides France?
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Poster: A snowHead
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The high French resorts tend to be open till the end of April anyway so Easter being late isn't a problem.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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info@parksidepad.co.uk, if you are looking to keep the holiday price as low as possible I suspect the price of beers in bars will be pretty irrelevant, especially with 4 kids under 13. If you do want a beer you are more likely to be buying it in a supermarket, I guess! If you have an apartment really close to the slopes (which is more than possible) you can go back there for lunch - buying lunch on the mountain for 6 of you for a week will be ruinous, wherever you go. When we did family holidays (with only 3 kids ) lunch on the mountain was a very rare treat.
Food will cost you more than at home, because resort shops are expensive. But it needn't cost hugely more, especially if you are canny about taking some essential items from home and planning meals in advance so you don't find yourself, for example, having to buy a whole pack of stock cubes just to make one casserole.
When are your school holidays? You would need to get out to the Alps as soon as possible. My daughter and son in law (both teachers) are coming to stay with me, with two small children, in the first half of April - and our resort, which tops out at 2000m, is open till 25 April. An apartment like mine, which sleeps 6 (2 bedrooms, 2 on a sofa bed) is only €430 a week in April. I wouldn't recommend it - best to go for higher altitude, which will be a bit more expensive, but just an indication that it needn't cost an arm and a leg. You should get something acceptable for €600 a week and with 6 of you flying you will probably find it cheaper to book an apartment for 2 weeks and fly mid week - though the Easter 2014 prices are now getting very expensive.
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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 have to second the advice of mountainaddict, . France, certainly in the big stations, has become very expensive! And, from painful experience, kids can be very demanding...esp at the sight of spag bol and coke  Obviously, I don't know your family eating habits; but be aware that lunch for 6, at a mega resort, will make your wallet squeal 
There is no denying that Austria, generally, is better value...if you avoid places like St Anton, Lech etc. Plenty of choice with TO's...but direct booking is the way to go. Not so simple as France perhaps, but its there if you look. I am off to the Ski Welt during Feb half term...at about half of the cost of booking with a TO Self drive, and a direct booking with the hotel. Half term charges are an English thing; avoid the English TO's and you avoid their ludicrous added costs!!
I wouldn't worry too much about Austria being generally lower. Most areas seem to hold the snow cover pretty well, and it would take a very early spring to ruin all but the lowest of resorts. There are a number on here who know Austria very well...hopefully they may offer some advice.
Best of luck. Put the effort in and you will get what you want
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info@parksidepad.co.uk, SkiBeat is now one of the most expensive chalet operators around. You can do it yourself much cheaper if you are prepared to drive and self cater. The ferries increase their prices by about £100 and 500 euro on a one bed apartment (that will sleep 6), but fuel, autoroute tolls, food prices, lift passes, ski hire etc. stay pretty much the same. The only real problem is that the resorts are reported to be very crowded.
On the other hand April is really a transition month. For the first part you are highly likely to have excellent snow (in the high French resorts at least) and since the clocks have gone forward it stays light late into the evening. Towards the end of the month it can be slushy and the snow thin. You will need tons of factor 50 sun cream.
Easter is so late this year that I am actually not going skiing over Easter. I will try and get a long weekend in over one or other of the early weekends instead.
Personally I would look at Tignes and Arc 2000 rather than Val d'Isere for a first ski trip. Or Arc 1600 if you want a really friendly resort.
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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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Take the kids out of school
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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For a first ski trip in April, at a sensible price, Livigno may be worth considering. Village is at 1800m, with skiing up to about 3000m. Their season runs until the first weekend in May. Season before last we got a two bedroom apartment for 4 adults, including 4 x 6 day lift passes for less than €700 - that was the third week of April, and we had fresh powder every morning!
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Let's remember the OP was wanting to go to Les Arcs (great choice) and fancied chalet so maybe suggestions to go to Deux Alpes (the ultimate Marmite resort) or to do self-drive self-catering are not too helpful to her.
I think you would be able to get a nice chalet deal in Les Arcs for sensible money at Easter (even mid-April) and that the snow would be fine then still. Ifthe OP is asking for alternative suggestions, then fine, but she hasn't!
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Chris Bish, agreed, we have had such a deal in Les Arcs in the past at Easter. Had a great time.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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1) Late Oct half term (since the OP asked) is typically rubbish. Very few places open and very poor snow cover.
2) A big determinant of cost is ski pass, and with 4 kids, the places with family friendly deals will work best. Off the top of my head I can only think of Chamonix (tho' I'm sure there are others; Cham isn't necessarily ideal for your situation!) where you pay for 2 adults + 1 child, and up to 3 more children are free. In April, a 6 day family ski pass for ALL of you combined would be <€700 in Chamonix.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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info@parksidepad.co.uk, Have a look at Baqueira in the Pyrenees for half term or Easter. I doubt there will be any issues with snow and it's much more affordable than the traditional Brit biased resorts.
Last time we did 1/2 term it cost is about £1600 for two of us based on driving down. Let me know if you need any contacts.
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Hi last year skiing in La Plagne second week in April I have never skiied in better piste conditions- snow in most evenings and lots of it and 4 days of Sunshine without ever getting too warm (some years it can be too warm). The possible downside is that in a warm year the snow gets very heavy in the afternoon. Stay high in a resort with North Facing slopes and you will be fine. Could I suggest that if you are going to the ALps for the first time that you avoid Val d' sere this time. Great resort but a tricky resort for relative beginners. I haven't checked to see when Easter falls but if that first week in April is not an Easter week, I would be tempted to go for last minute availability if you want to save money.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Hi last year skiing in La Plagne second week in April I have never skiied in better piste conditions-
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I'm a fan of late season skiing but last season was exceptional - not known conditions like that in 12 years and it probably won't happen twice in a row.
I think many resorts do family passes - and in many the 4 year old would be free anyway.
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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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| dan100 wrote: |
| Hi last year skiing in La Plagne second week in April I have never skiied in better piste conditions- snow in most evenings and lots of it and 4 days of Sunshine without ever getting too warm (some years it can be too warm). The possible downside is that in a warm year the snow gets very heavy in the afternoon. Stay high in a resort with North Facing slopes and you will be fine. Could I suggest that if you are going to the ALps for the first time that you avoid Val d' sere this time. Great resort but a tricky resort for relative beginners. I haven't checked to see when Easter falls but if that first week in April is not an Easter week, I would be tempted to go for last minute availability if you want to save money. |
Last year was exceptionally good for Easter, two years before that was exceptionally bad. That is the risk you take. Saying that for the reason of cost we are taking that same risk again this year and going to L2A , last year we were in Belle Plagne.
I am trying to decide what to do next season, may end up being Easter again maybe St Anton where we had originally booked for last season but got moved to Belle Plagne, bit still not decided.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Last year we were in Les Arcs at Easter and actually drove round to Val D'Isere one day as we were a bit fed up with the poor snow & crowds - and found the snow there to be better and the pistes clearer. If you can get away late March, better still.
If not, do not fear, there is still lots of snow in high resorts right through April (above 2000m I'd say) and it's far less busy than half term. And sunny.
The lower slopes at La Plagne are very porridgy when the sun shines, but soft to fall on!
I'd drive as it's more comfortable for the kids (you have 2 drivers?) and cheaper than flying for 6. Get a self catering apt, and splash out on a couple of lovely dinners (or lunches) and check out the snow clubs for the smaller ones. Or try Esprit, will cost more but easier all round with built in childcare.
I have never heard of anyone skiing in October except on Glaciers. Les Arcs, for example, opens mid December.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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info@parksidepad.co.uk, actually April is better with very small kids than February- it ain't cold… which the little ones struggle with.
Val Dispair is open until May and we have often been there foe the last 2 weeks of Arpil- and have always had no problem at all with snow, except for the slush and pools down at the bottom of la Daille and le Breviere.
We often ski in April in Peisey which so far has been OK. Chamonix is fine in April- but you can expect quite a bit to be closed - if you are happy to ski Argentirere only then no probe - but possibly not your scene.
Val Thorons will be more than good.
As you say the prices are hugely different- we have found that the last 2 weeks in April in Val D'Isere are about 2/3rds the price of 1 week Feb half term.
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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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Always go @ Easter for a week. When Easter is early (up to 1st week in April) we go to Les Arc. When it is later, either Tignes or Val Thorens. Drive out, and self cater in really nice apartments. www.cgh-residences.co.uk Usually do the whole thing for about £2.5K for family of four.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Interesting this thread has switched to Easter skiing when info@parksidepad.co.uk's original post refers to "beginning April"
| Quote: |
| So my husband has proposed beginning April |
Easter is late this year (Easter Sunday April 20), but early April should be fine.
Agree April last year was exceptional, but we've gone out skiing late March/early April for over 20 years (mainly Nendaz and La Plagne) and never had a bad time. More sun, less crowds, longer days. Much better than February.
And as info@parksidepad.co.uk notes: its 3 grand cheaper.
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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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I assume the OP was referring to Easter school holidays when he mentioned the beginning of April. I'm off to Val Thorens with my brother and nephews on the 5th April at the start of their school hols - last year it was perfect snow. 2 adults 2 kids, all for about £2k
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Jonpim wrote: |
Interesting this thread has switched to Easter skiing when info@parksidepad.co.uk's original post refers to "beginning April"
| Quote: |
| So my husband has proposed beginning April |
Easter is late this year (Easter Sunday April 20), but early April should be fine.
Agree April last year was exceptional, but we've gone out skiing late March/early April for over 20 years (mainly Nendaz and La Plagne) and never had a bad time. More sun, less crowds, longer days. Much better than February.
And as info@parksidepad.co.uk notes: its 3 grand cheaper. |
While Easter itself is late most schools seem to be finishing around 4th April and returning on the Tuesday after Easter. I suspect the OP is looking to go in the school holidays hence why most are saying "Easter Skiing" in the context of Easter school holidays.
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I'd have a good look around at Austria, France and Italy.
If you can go in the first week of April, then most resorts might be 'ok', although the higher the better is a good rule (above 2000m in france) and ideally some north facing slopes that will hold snow better. A resort with a glacier can be a good bet (Alp d'huez, Mayrhofen, Tignes/Val d'Isere, Solden).
One Easter I was skiing in 20 degrees C, and while this meant that snow on the lower slopes was slushy by 3pm (far from ideal), I had loads of fun, falling over didnt hurt too much (soft landing) although a little wet and I got a tan! An cool after ski drink on a warm sunny terrace is such a wonderful experience. I'm not saying I'd pick these conditions as such, but I love the amazing scenery of the mountains and skiing them, so very little will 'ruin' my holiday.
www.wtss.co.uk has a useful 'resorts' section about pros and cons of numerous resorts - so worth having a look at specific resorts once a few more suggestions have come along and see which ones appeal to you.
I've been to Mayrhofen in April and had warm, t-shirt skiing and then a fresh dump of snow. There is a glacier too, so good options if snow lower down is poor. Probably not especially family friendly resort though. Big area but not many easy blues that are beginner friendly, other than the Ahorn mountain.
I have skied in via lattea in the first week of April for the last few years and although some lower slopes are suffering by then (bare patches, etc) you can still ski back to resort and the upper slopes are fine. Particularly Montgenevre might be good for a beginner family, although only in the first week of April, after this date they starts reducing amount of terrain open/some lifts shut.
I've also been to Les Carroz/ Flaine over Easter when it was early April, and again we had plentyto ski on. Very spring like snow (hard inthe morning after freezing over night, lovely in the middle of the day and slushy/heavy going by late afternoon). Lovely sunny days, great views and fun skiing means you don't mind if there area few pistes with thinning snow. You can still ski! Although not especially high, Flaine is close to Mont Blanc, so tends to get better snow that you might expect.
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I can certainly recommend April skiing - been the last few years and have had excellent snow .... including last year which fely more like January in chamonix !
Longer days, warmer weather .... awesome. And loads cheaper.
My Boys are now past the half term stage than goodness - but it still costs if you want them to go on Uni ski trips and family April trips !!
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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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I know the snow was good last year but we were also in La Plagne early April last year - had several fresh dumps and it was perfect! Pretty much everything was open except for maybe right down the very bottom (where we never managed to get to anyway)
We paid around £3500 to Crystal for five of us, including full time childcare for our then nearly 2 year old, ski lessons for the two older ones and afternoon creche for our then 4 year old. Also included all lift passes and ski/boot hire for four at the top end. That was self-catering however. The cost at half term would have been eye-wateringly more.
I'm currently expecting our fourth in March so no holiday this year, but looking ahead to next season we may well drive just because of the sheer cost of flying with six!
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sparklies, and not enough grownups to carry the luggage, hold hands....much easier to drive! Good luck with the baby.
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FAQ
