Poster: A snowHead
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Hey,
Looking for some advice... looking to take my daughter away Skiing... (she is 9) we have both done a few lessons at chillfactor and both really enjoyed it... just have no idea or clue where would be best for us to go for lessons and good snow of course...
I am looking at Easter (early April) and don't want to spend the earth... somebody mentioned Bulgaria to me but again no clue...
Any advice would be good for a newbie!
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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I would suggest somewhere in the higher altitude for early april, in either france or Austria. you will be picking a lovely time of year to ski, so sunshine and blue skies will perhaps fill your days, and the snow will be good on the higher altitudes. I haven't been to Bulgaria in a very long time, and won't be either.
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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 doubt you'll find much support for Bulgaria on SH's especially later in the season so for me I'd box that off as a no right now.
Ideally you probably will benefit from something snow sure and relatively ski in ski out. For your first trip the less hassle you have getting to and from the slopes the more you will enjoy it. Ski school choice is important too. I can recommend Oxygene out of either La Plagne Centre or Belle Plagne. These would be good locations to start your ski experience as they are high and therefore better guaranteed to have decent snow and better conditions to learn in. There are plenty of easy blue runs and a large green to start on and the ski school is excellent. It's relatively easy to get to from Chambery, Grenoble and Geneva airports. It is a very large ski area but you won't need the whole Paradiski pass on your first trip. There are plenty of tree lined runs down from Centre to Montchavin etc which are good it weather is bad with poor viz.
There will be many other suggestions in due course from experienced SH's but for now do some research around my suggestion and even if you don't go for it, it will give you a good idea.
The forum search facility above is very good once you start getting some suggestions as you can find ski trip reports and other threads from people who have encountered exactly your current conundrum.
Best of luck and welcome to SH's
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I'd work out your likely budget first and foremost as this may limit Your choice of resort, accomodation (hotel, s/c, chalet, ski in/out).
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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 lived in Bulgaria for 4 years and spent most winter weekends at Borovets (plus a few trips to Bansko and Pamporovo). The resorts are not high so Bulgaria is not recommended for early or late season. I would not recommend booking in advance for April, but you could pop over for a last minute weekend if there is a snow dump.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Learning to ski in borovets is very cheap compared to France/Austria for a week ski pass, hire, lessons will be less than 200 Euro all in! I Would probably recommend googling bobby's bar borovets... Kas is a lady who runs a few restaurants and bars there and her husband bobby is a ski instructor and ex ski jumper taught me a few things... Cant stress last minute enough there though as the conditions are not reliable at all... If you get the conditions though there is more than enough to get you going...
Andorra prob be the next best low cost option but wont be as cheap as boro...
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@UKTowny, if your budget will stretch I personally would suggest looking to go with a specialist family tour operator such as Ski Esprit (4 trips with them and highly recommend all) or Ski Famile / Mark Warner etc etc
Your daughter will have ready made ski pals, you will have other parents to socialise with (I did one trip with Esprit to Val D-Isere leaving wife and youngest at home, and always had someone to dine / ski with), and with it being your first trip going with an organised tour operator will take much of the stress and uncertainty out of the trip for you.
Granted it will not be as cheap as Bulgaria etc, but if you can stretch I would definitely recommend.
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And you can pick up very good deals at the last minute with esprit, especially for 1 parent and 1 child.
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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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Thanks for the advise.... Will check out the companies mentioned
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