 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello all!
we are hoping to take our kids skiing for the first time this coming winter. They will be aged 6 and 8. When we used to ski on our own we always went in the first couple of weeks of jan. It was quiet and cheap!
We would like to go the first week of jan 2015 as the kids wont miss as much school thanks to inset days but I'm a bit worried about it being too cold for them. Would we be better waiting until the easter hols at the end of march/beginning of April? I have never skied that late in the season. Would the conditions still be ok?
Any experience of either time of year with kids would be great to hear!
thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, I would go with late March. Never any guarantee with weather, but more likely to be pleasant, not freezing cold standing around or on chairlifts, less likely travel disruption,etc
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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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abadr, welcome to snowheads  When our kids were small we always went in one of those very first, cheap, weeks of January. It's not necessarily cold - though it certainly can be. Best to choose a resort where the skiing is not too high and you have some trees. Late March/early April you might be best advised to head a bit higher. But really, it's all a bit of a gamble!! Some of the poorest snow conditions I've experienced have been in January - in Chamonix, in Austria and in the Portes du Soleil. And some of the deepest snow, in 12 winters, was in the second half of March!
Maybe more important than when you go is where you go and, in particular, the ski school you choose for the kids. If possible go for one of the schools where you are guaranteed small groups - no more than 6. If the budget is not too tight some lessons in one of the snowdomes would be a good investment - get them used to the kit, and get them up to the snowplough turn stage, so they don't have to start absolutely from scratch.
Try to find somewhere where you are likely to have snow right outside the door of your accommodation. In my experience kids don't need a lot of packaged "entertainment" - having some snow to play in, and some toboganning, right outside the accommodation will make a big difference. The will probably not want to ski all day - especially the little one.
If your budget permits you will presumably look at one of the tour operators who specialises in families with children and will take kids to ski school, meet them afterwards, etc etc. Our budget never did permit so we did all that ourselves but it is undeniably quite hard work. Lots of people on this forum have experience of the child-friendly operators so you can rely on plenty of good advice.
The one key bit of advice I'd give is to ensure that - if you have to manage the logistics yourselves - your accommodation is in very easy reach, in ski boots, of the ski school meeting place for the kids. No long hikes, no buses. Not just for getting them to ski school in the morning but also if they are dog tired, to get them home for a rest and maybe watch a few videos and play some games, especially if the weather is crap.
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I'd agree on most of what pam w says. In short ski school, easy access to the slopes, some skiing below the tree line (in Dec/Jan), all big factors. I've skied with mine several years at Christmas and Easter. They both have their downs ups. If we could do only one (this year for example) we'd do Christmas.
You do know about the new rules on school holidays don't you?
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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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Thank you all for your replies! Some great advice here!
we have been looking at morillon which seems to have the trees suggested and is fairly low. I will do another post about the resort to see if it is the correct choice.
We are on a tight budget so will be booking everything ourselves and driving over.
By school holiday rules I assume you mean that we are not allowed any? If so, yes I know all about that. Im afraid its ignored a lot in our school. I'd rather not take them out but I'd also rather not pay double. Will have to weigh it up.
I am worried about lack of snow at either end of the season. Last years slow start is making me concerned about January and who knows what will happen by easter!
:/
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abadr, I'd say March every time. I'm pretty sure that the snow has been as good, if not better, in March than much of January for many of the last years. March is usually sunny, warm and with longer days. Our kids spent 4-8pm outside in a swimming pool every evening this year. No worries (well v few) about the kids getting cold. Definitely March for me. Also, preferably not France (in my v personal opinion). Too many people are unimpressed by the ESF. We certainly preferred the ski schools in Austria and Italy.
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Another vote for March; I’ve been going at all points in the season for about 20 yrs, the last 7 of those with kids.
When Easter is good it is absolutely fantastic for the kids – lots of snow, lots of sunshine, long days, plenty of opportunity to do things other than skiing. January can be the opposite, and don’t underestimate the effect of short days and bad weather which can make for a pretty depressing time with kids stuck in a small apartment and a challenging drive to/from the resort.
January at its best will have lots of snow and then a persistent high pressure weather system keeping the conditions bright and sunny (at its worst there will be constant blizzards and high winds!). Unfortunately, such ‘good’ conditions at that time of year tend to mean extreme cold as well. In 2013 my then 6 yr old was in double mitts with chemical hand warmers between the layers as it was the only way to keep his hands warm on the chairlifts. This is despite skiing very aggressively - no hanging around waiting for a ski school group.
Personally, I’d shoot for somewhere like Flaine at Easter – the older apartments right on the snow are very convenient, pretty cheap (c. €700/week), and there’s a lot going on (this year there was a giant inner tube slide (free!), bungee trampolines and various other kids stuff. Depending on how you drive it could be as little as 7.5hrs from Calais. If you decide to fly, Easyjet have flights to Geneva for about £30/person each way at present.
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abadr, if you are able to take the kids out of school I would also go for March. If you go to France double check when all the French school holidays finish, they can go into March sometimes. No point you taking the kids out of school and having busy pistes and ski schools. The weather in March should be more pleasant but it might be worth heading a bit higher in terms of resort at that time of year. If you can book late ish then you should see where the snow has built up in the earlier part of the season.
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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'd go for March too. You want to maximise the chance that they have fun and I think those first few days of learning are more enjoyable in warmer weather. Once you have them hooked you can go back to January. That's what we did with our kids. You could even go for April if you go high.
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Too many people are unimpressed by the ESF
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But one of the good things about France is that there is practically always a choice of ski school - absolutely no need to go with ESF and you can get good advice on specific schools here on Snowheads. But people can get too precious about ski school and kids. My 4 - nearly 5 - year old daughter learnt in a class of 12 in an Austrian ski school where she was the only non German speaker and the instructor spoke practically no English. But she survived fine and enjoyed it, not least because all the other little beginners were younger than her so she got on faster than many of them and felt good about herself. the instructor was absolutely charming and nowadays they are much more likely (as are the French instructors) to speak adequate English.
The reason we always went in January (taking the kids out of school, so could have done the same in March) is that it was far, far, cheaper. But that was in the days of package hols - long before the internet. Now, providing you miss the French school holidays (which ALWAYS stretch into March but finish usefully earlier in 2015 than in recent years) and do a DIY holiday, March should be fine. It'll be low season for French rentals and if you shop around you should be able to find a 2 bedroom apartment for not more than €700 a week.
Family lift passes can save some money too but a ski holiday is never going to be really cheap, of course!
People will tell you France is expensive but it all depends. Some resorts in France are expensive for everything, from lift passes to every cup of coffee or beer. But they are a small minority - there are plenty of smaller resorts which won't break the bank and "ski in/ski out" accommodation is easier to find than in France or Italy. If you are self-catering and have an apartment close enough to get back for lunch you will save a fortune.
Morillon could be good bet - you could get very detailed advice on it here from people who know it well. When I've visited the Grand Massif area - just day trips - I've found it expensive for eating and drinking on the slopes. But if you don't plan to do any of that (we could never afford it, with kids) it would only be the slightly higher cost of accommodation, compared to less well known French areas, which you'd have to contend with. And it's easy to drive to.
You will find that French agencies and individuals might not yet have their "planning" for next season. But there's absolutely no rush - plenty of time to research and shop around. And read all the conflicting advice you'll get on snowheads. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If you are self-catering and have an apartment close enough to get back for lunch you will save a fortune.
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Not just save a fortune - but save your sanity as well! Particularly with younger kids, as trying to find somewhere they can sit down, dump helmets and clothes etc can be a nightmare - as can getting them to the loo. An hour or so where they can relax in PJs, play, read a book etc is sooooooo much more restful for all concerned in our experience.
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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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Looking again at the thread title, I'd make it mid-March, not late March, especially to somewhere fairly low. I think the French hols end on 7 March next year but check, don't take my word for it.
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Boris,
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Not just save a fortune - but save your sanity as well! Particularly with younger kids, as trying to find somewhere they can sit down, dump helmets and clothes etc can be a nightmare - as can getting them to the loo. An hour or so where they can relax in PJs, play, read a book etc is sooooooo much more restful for all concerned in our experience.
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It rather depends how old the children are. An hour spent sitting in the sun outside a mountain restaurant eating omelette & frites washed down with Orangina or whatever, followed by playing in the snow on the edge of the piste is what our children lived for. Flogging back down to the bottom of the mountain, on what might be slushy snow at mid-day in March, only to sit in a dingy apartment with all the faff of lugging skis about and getting undressed/dressed is not my kids idea of fun. You are right in that it will save a lot of money, but otherwise it sounds pretty grim for all but the very smallest of children.
Three years ago we did a ClubMed in Peisey Vallandry. It was great in some ways, but we hated the fact that we were, effectively, compelled to come back to the hotel every lunch time and sit indoors.
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You know it makes sense.
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Kids are 13 and 11 and the apartments we always book in Vallandry are ski in/out so very little faff getting back - certainly never felt I have to flog back. Dump skis outside and one flight of stairs to our, far from dingy, apartment. The kids prefernce is to let the ski stuff air for a while and indulge in 7Up, fresh bread, cheese, salad etc then they can chill out for a bit - they save their playing/sledging for the evening.
I'll ask them if they think it's grim, but I'm pretty confident they'll say it is fine by them.
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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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Boris, I wasn't implying your apartment was dingy, just that too many of them are. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Not too grim. Lunch on the terrace whilst mum and dad go off for a precious couple of hours skiing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Then give the dolls their bath. April 2014 - at 1550m. Very warm, just grass and sunshine outside the apartment, but the snowy piste and chairlift just about 60m away. Most of the season - and often in April too - it's snow play outside.
Even for adults, it's not remotely grim enjoying a good lunch with a bottle of wine for a small fraction of the cost of omelettes and chips and drinks in a mountain restaurant.
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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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| jedster wrote: |
| I'd go for March too. You want to maximise the chance that they have fun and I think those first few days of learning are more enjoyable in warmer weather. Once you have them hooked you can go back to January. That's what we did with our kids. You could even go for April if you go high. |
I like the sound of this solution. Am pondering myself what to do this season. Will be taking son out of school this time. Am schmoozing with the PTA and making lots of effort for the school...will also be applying for authorised leave to due to work requirements...ie. going out there to research future opportunities and do product sales whilst there.
But anyway, the idea of taking early March when warmer sounds good to me. Not sure I'll manage til then. May need to sneak in a long weekend.
I guess one of my questions relates to how many kids there will be in resorts out of holidays? Being with boring old mum for the whole time and no siblings makes it very boring!
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@alyefs, probably not that many (English-speaking) kids in resort unless you go for a resort popular with UK skiers - took my kids out of school one year (admittedly in January) and not many English speaking kids in LDA. I'd agree that March is better than Jan. from the point of view of them wanting to do it again......After a couple of years they won't want to be with boring old mum on the ground that you can't keep up with them/won't do the jumps/rails/skiing through the trees (apologies if you are a really good skier.....)
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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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@dobby, oh goodness no I'm intermediate, to upper I guess. I've already nearly come a cropper in the forest runs. It was my son's first trip February last.... and having not spent more than a few days in CF he did incredibly well! Those tiny little skis sure can race around bends and up and down the ditches!
I think if we're to weigh up the costs against fewer kids... I'll go for fewer kids. My son made friends with a French boy last time and I'm very happy in French company being fluent in the lingo. We'd do ski school too. ESF were fab in La Rosiere, aiming to return. Evolution ski school do a 3 half day deal.... Might do that instead. ESF only have the 6 day option. All good stuff for socialising
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We used to take our kids out of school and really liked the first week of Jan but it can be cold. Have also done late March and have had brilliant snow conditions or quite warm and a bit slushy. Given the choice - I would go mid march ( French school hols end 7th March - so avoid first week of March.
Our biggest factor in deciding where to go was Ski school for the kids - we wanted it to be small classes and English speaking. In general, we have not been impressed with ESF except for in La Rosiere a few years ago which was good and limited class numbers to 8 ( except for in school hols). Not as impressed with Evolution in La Plagne
I would look at ski schools first and then work backwards - happy kids make happy parents. You really don't want your 6 year old crying about going to ski school ( I have seen it - although thankfully never my own kids).
I would highly recommend Parallel Lines in Meribel ( British run ski school) and also Magic in Motion In Meribel and La Tania. Both run lesson for 4 hours a day and Magic also do one full day. Classes are limited to 8 children - but off season, expect it will be less than that. New Generation are also fantastic but usually only run kids lessons in the school hols.
There will be other British run ski schools in other resorts - just keep googling!
If your budget stretches to it then there are 2 great family ski companies in La Tania - Family Friendly Skiing or SKi Magic. We have used both and on the past they have done good deals on kids prices for the weeks you are looking at. They also can provide childcare so you could have your children collected from ski school and given lunch back at the chalet. You can collect them after lunch or pay for afternoon childcare. Kids are given a seperate tea at around 6pm and you get adult dinner with wine later on. Definately worth you looking at the prices that both these companies are offering for the weeks you are looking at - they certainly make for a relaxing ski hol and we have found lower priced than esprit or Mark Warner ( and better!). Skiing with young kids is quite hard work the first time !
Sadly those catered chaker days are now gone for us as with a 14 year old we are well and truely tied to school hols now and prices for a catered chalet for us and 3 kids in school hols are beyond budget
If the wallet doesn't stretch that far and you decide on self catering we have a 2 bed apartment in Brides les Bains which is good value and has a gondola to take you into Meribel - or you can drive up and park in an underground car park just by the ski school meet point. You can Pm me for details or see prices, availibilty and guest reviews on owners direct property FR18878 ( we are already booked for first week on Jan but have availibilty in March.).
Hope you find something that suits 
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I hope you find a time to suit, I would pick late march, longer days, warmer days, softer snow, etc. I love spring skiing,
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Hello,
Whilst jetting off to my ski trip one year I was reading the inflight magazine and there was a very nice article written by a guy that said that the best time for skiing is later on in the season because its warmer, you'll get lucky with the weather, the days are longer and the corn snow is really good to learn to ski on. Plus you'll be able to observe your surroundings a bit better too.
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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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| Quote: |
you'll get lucky with the weather
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that's just the daft sort of thing the say in inflight articles, isn't it? You can get lucky or unlucky with the weather every week, every time of year. 
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Another vote for mid March, we went at this time for the first few years when our son was learning, there's no guarantee on the weather but standing in low sunlight or shade waiting around in ski school will put them off, there's less chance it will be like that in mid March. If the weathers good you can have a picnic lunch on the mountain, for me there's nothing better than finding a quiet spot on the mountain in the sun and enjoying the views whilst having a bite to eat. Kit them out with hp thin layers rather than one big one so you can dress them accordingly for each a days conditions, a thin fleece balaclava is great for them on cold days, our son also likes to use a buff around his neck, keeps him warm without having to zip up unless it's really cold.
Morillon and Flaine are good options if you choose the right apartments, but if your looking at keeping costs down, have a look at some of less popular resorts with Sunweb, they have a good selection of SC deals that include lift pass to many areas in France.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My kids first trip was Christmas in Andorra. They loved it and now my daughter is doing a season with Ski Magic in La Tania. My son and I are going to visit her in January. The main requirement is to just make it as much fun as you can.
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