 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey all,
Back for more advice from everyone here
We are planning a family ski holiday for the beginning of January, approx the 5th to the 15th for our extended family. There will be about 12 of us aged from 9 to 41 we are skiers and snowboarders from good intermediates to beginners. We feel it should be a French resort as a lot of my wife's family (including our Niece will be driving from Plymouth in the UK) but are open to all suggestions, the rest of us are travelling from Ireland.
As the title explains, our wonderful Niece has cerebral palsy, and is full time wheelchair bound, my wife has and is in contact with "ski to freedom" which looks promising. However we thought that maybe some personal recommendations here may suit.
So at the moment we feel, it's important that the drive from the uk is not too daunting. We are looking at something that is good value as we are on a tight enough budget.
A village that is ok if you are not skiing, some of the beginners may choose not to.
Handi ski facility is essential where we will be skiing.
We would prefer a self catering chalet, the village or chalet needs to have pool/ spa facilities.
It is not nessecary to be in a big resort but I would like to be able to catch a bus no more that 30 mins away to a large ski area (I am selfish regarding my skiing /)
Thanks as always
Stephen
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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saintstephen, there's an experienced teacher of skiing to disabled skiing who comes on snowheads and is very helpful - she'll probably be along soon. She works in an Austrian resort - but a lot of Austrian resorts are not too far to drive. Early January is a good time to choose when you're on a tight budget.
If your niece just wants a couple of "fun trips" on a handiski, with an instructor taking charge and keeping her safe, rather than being taught to ski herself, I think just about any ski resort will be able to provide that.
This gite is just over the road from my apartment. http://www.gites-de-france.com/location-vacances-Villard-sur-doron-Gite-Le-Gite-De-Bisanne-73G317117.html
It sleeps 12/14 and has been designed to incorporate disabled access, with accessible bedroom and en-suite bathroom. It's within a few yards of a blue piste but apart from a (very good) restaurant next door, there are no other facilities without a short car or ski bus ride. The main village has a pool and spa facilities and a few other things for non skiers but, as I say, that would be a car or (free) bus ride. It's a lovely gite with stupendous open views of the mountains.
Good luck with the planning. 
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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 think pam w, was talking about me  thanks Pam!
I teach skiing (alpine and adaptive) in Hochfügen in Zillertal, Austria. Hochfügen is a great place to stay if you want to ski all day every day. However, if people want something to do when they're not skiing then they usually stay in the main valley, in Fügen, Uderns, Kaltenbach, Stumm... There are plenty of villages that have a range of accommodation.
I'd be able to ski with your niece. Whether that would be a couple of rides for fun and experience, or whether she would be able to control the ski to some degree herself would depend on her mobility and strength.
Google maps tells me that it's 1000 miles from Plymouth to Fügen. It also tells me that it's 920 miles from Plymouth to La Plagne. So, there isn't a lot of difference in the distance. I compared distances to La Plagne because I know there is an adaptive ski programme there.
If you're set on going to France then talking to Catherine at Ski2Freedom is a good idea. She has a lot of contacts in France and Switzerland. If you'd like to find out more about my area you can send me a PM here or an email via my website (in my signature).
If you have any questions, I'm happy to help 
Good luck!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You might want to think about Samoens. Google maps says it's 858 miles from Plymouth.
All accom is down in town, with plenty of variety at all prices. It's a proper town, so no issue for those that choose not to ski, or not to ski all the time.
There is free parking by the lift up from town, and a wheelchair-accessible bubble to get up to the slopes. When you get out the lift there is a significant handi-ski presence. I have no idea about the tuition, but they have a small 'club-house' and at weekends it's not unusual to see a dozen or so people with instructors/helpers skiing. The beginner area is right by the lift and pretty extensive.
Samoens is linked to the Grand Massif, so you wouldn't even need to catch a bus to get your fix of a big ski area.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sorry, should have said that I am about 90% certain that the ski buses are wheelchair accessible, but best to check with the local tourist office to make 100% certain.
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saintstephen, Send a pm to Frosty the Snowman I believe he has skied with a friend who has cerebral palsy.
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genepi, Yes he ha..in Austria and la Ros I think.
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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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Hi my daughter has cerebral palsy and we regularly go dry slope skiing with a disability ski group I. Outs wales and we have skied abroad once in la platen, belle biplane with that group. I can semi confidently bucket ride her down the mountain. May be worth seeing if there in an adaptive ski group in Ireland that can help you ski with your niece and perhaps learn to ski together . My daughter now insists on skiing with me even if one of the teenage boys is back from uni The oxygen ski school in la plague has a good reputation. I also saw a lot of sit skiers and instructors in serre chevalier. If i was taking my family I'd be tempted with the zillertal.
Check out whether you can get any subsidy on your lift pass and whether you need to take blue badge. I think you need it in some resorts.
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Thank you everyone for all the help and advice 
It is now also an option to fly, so just a couple more Qs...
pam w, .... we have been in touch with the owner of the gite looks great !!! How snow sure is the area for early January ?
SaraJ, .... is there any accomodation that you think may be suitable for about 12 people ?
Again, thanks !!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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saintstephen, the gite is at about 1550m - south (sunny) facing but normally fine in early January. Never known it not to be skiable down to the bottom of the chairlift at 1500, though of course there is always a first time! The area as a whole is pretty snowsure. If you decide on going there and want an intro to a ski instructor sympa to take your niece for some exciting rides, let me know.
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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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saintstephen, What kind of accommodation are you looking for? Catered, not catered? Hotel, apartment? Would you prefer to be right next to the snow for the skiers or further away for the non-skiers? Off the top of my head I'm struggling to think of individual places that would sleep 12. There are plenty of hotels and also places where you could rent 2 (or 3) apartments in the same building. Let me know your preferences and I'll have a think.
Or, you could try searching on www.zillertal.at For the accommodation search on the website Hochfügen/Fügen are in the "Erste Ferienregion im Zillertal" or send an inquiry request via the same website. If you find somewhere that you like the look of but you're not sure if it would be suitable (location, accessibility etc.) ask me.
Good luck with your search
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Sorry for not replying sooner, busy couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone for the help and advice esp SaraJ & pam w
I'm delighted, as we are booked up to go to les Saisies, in the Espace Diamont. Turned out the hardest part was finding suitable accomodation and thanks to Pam we found it !! Looks like a beautiful area, looking forward to researching, planning and trying to get a little bit fitter
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Great news you had a nice time was that 12 hours sit ski with instruction for 402 euros. Sounds a good deal if so.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@dan100, the OP might be along soon but the"handiski" sessions for his niece were just whizzing round the mountain, not instruction, I think.
But private lessons in our area are very good value - it's a myth that France is always super-expensive. A 2 hour private lesson for up to 3 people, out of school holiday time, is €70.
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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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It must be great to be able to zoom around the mountain, if you are normally confined to a wheelchair. A lad in my family who had broken his ankle shortly before the family ski holiday had a session - the instructor/driver only really had time for 2 goes up the long chairlift but fitted in a third, which required descending at warp speed. Much to young Nathan's delight, as his Dad, vainly trying to follow on his snowboard, disappeared into a big snowdrift.
Most of the people I see in sit skis are not being "instructed" - they are just being taken for a wonderfully exciting ride. But we saw a substantial group of blind skiers with guides in the Dolomites last week - that is a seriously brave thing to do!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We saw the sit skiers in one of the restaurants at lunch @Hells Bells. They were hopping around at the most amazing speed. One of the staff was trying to give one of them his leg back, which seemed to be stored in a cupboard there but he didn't seem to want it. TBH, judging by the speed he hopped around without it I'm not surprised he didn't consider it necessary.
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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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With my daughter its also being ridden around the mountain. Still a great price. The added cost is something I'm very conscious of if we do a family trip as unless you are a pro you either need two people to get on chairs and safety or you need to hire an instructor to ride her around. Very much hoping the disability ski group we ski with will go again next Easter. I suspect this time as my skills with a sit ski have developed I will be riding her around. Good job there are lots of blues in la plagne  I did see lots of sit skiers in sere chevalier last year.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Still a great price
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yes it is - €33 an hour, which at the present state of the euro, really is a bargain, for a well qualified, top skier. But private lessons are cheap too - similar price for 12 hours, up to 3 people.
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FAQ
And to access the apartments on the other two levels you have to negotiate quite difficult (for a wheelchair) stairs, some of which get snowy after a fresh fall. It's definitely not accommodation I would recommend to a wheelchair user yet I expect that accessibility was one of the "selling points" when MGM put the apartments on the market. Even in the apartments which can be accessed on the level it would often be a long, difficult push and once inside there are no concessions to accessibility (e.g. small bathrooms and toilets).
