 Poster: A snowHead
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We're taking the kids (7 & 9) for their first ski holiday at the start of April. I've been looking for suitable sensibly priced accommodation for that time and haven't focused as much on the resort but think this might be putting the cart before the horse. So rather than look for accommodation first that suits and then making the resort work for us I'm hoping you nice folks could recommend some suitable resorts for us to visit. I'll then endeavour to locate suitable budget accommodation there. Our criteria for a resort are:
- high enough to guarantee (as much as poss.) that they'll be some snow in April
- plenty of wide green and blues and no (or limited) narrow transitions
- has plenty of stuff to do for the kids after the slopes i.e. skating, tobogganing, swimming, restaurants
- Ski in/out would be ideal if poss.
Does anyone have any resort suggestions? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@JuJitsoup, I would suggest looking at Arc 1950, Montgenevre and Val Cenis for this Easter. Montgenevre is my favourite all round and is excellent for beginners.
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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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Risoul would be worth considering, if you can get accommodation with a pool.
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Anywhere really, we've struggled to have a bad holiday over Easter, conditions have generally good if a little heavy going at times. If you are skiing to a budget then look at areas that offer free children's skiing when an adult pass is bought. Off the top of my head Ski Amade, Skiwelt, Paradiski amd Serre Chevalier offer this most Easters (age dependant). I'm sure there are a few others that offer it too.
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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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Lovely, thank you all for the great info. Gives me a great starting point.
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@JuJitsoup, have a look at Vallandry, is linked to Arc area, so plenty of snow sure slopes for Easter, but runs above Vallandry are ideal for beginners. As it's a satellite resort, is cheaper than main Arc resorts but still easy to get to sk areas
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La Plagne would suit your brief
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You could do a lot worse than Sainte foy.
Lift passes cheap, good snow retention, there is accommodation with pool. Etolie des cimes was really reasonable price when we stayed there. Peak retreats is a U.K. agent for it
Great safe resort for kids......
Good luck
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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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Ski2 operate out of Champoluc in Italy which is great resort and Ski2 really look after you and the kids. I've skied for 30 years and we're going back for the third time having only found it 4 years ago.
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Obertauern in Austria and you will probably get free ski passes for the children as well. About an hour south of Salzburg and only the last 5 or 6 kilometres could be called mountain roads. The rest of the journey is motorway and A road along the valleys
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Assuming the children are going to a ski school then finding somewhere with a good one would be a top priority.
You may need the off slope stuff less than you think. After a full days skiing, chilling, eating, board games are often enough (I have children of the same age).
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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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Useful thread. Was about to start my own on the self same topic.
We are limited to places within a reasonable drive of Lyon and I was erring toward Les Arcs/ Peisey-Vallandry so good to see those mentioned on here.
Jujutsoup did you decide on anywhere?
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Risoul
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You know it makes sense.
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Is Risoul snow-sure, then? Had a quick look and it really does look quite appealing.
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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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Risoul - It's high but southern Alps. Took my family for their first time. They loved it. Lovely yogurt pot lift up to easy slopes down. They all went from the top of the mountain by the end of the week.
Wonderful sweet shop on the main street. Great sledging run at the bottom of the slopes. Nice ski over to Vars. Very charming little place for a high altitude resort. I've done most of the other French high resorts but would take a young family to Risoul every time
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks cameron. I think we have ruled it out on the basis of difficulty of access, though. We have to go into Lyon for complicated reasons ...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Les Deux Alpes would work OK from Lyon.
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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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The problem with Risoul is acccess - We drove form Turin. The advantage, however is the lack of crowds which you will get in resorts near to major cities at holiday times. If you have to go to Lyon I guess the obvious answer is to head out towards the big French resorts. La PLagne is mostly north facing. Couchevel is also pretty much north facing with the bonus of being able to get over to VT where the snow is always good.
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I would agree with. Les Deux Alpes. Guaranteed skiing and plenty to do in the town. We drove down last Easter and are planning to repeat this year.
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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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| Quote: |
The advantage, however is the lack of crowds which you will get in resorts near to major cities at holiday times.
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in most French resorts Easter isn't crowded, and it's low season for accommodation costs. Maybe some of the resorts where lots of British package tourists go are busy, but most aren't because the French have mostly given up skiing by then.
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| pam w wrote: |
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The advantage, however is the lack of crowds which you will get in resorts near to major cities at holiday times.
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in most French resorts Easter isn't crowded, and it's low season for accommodation costs. Maybe some of the resorts where lots of British package tourists go are busy, but most aren't because the French have mostly given up skiing by then. |
I've wasted fair too much time waiting for the lift up the Bellecote glacier or the big cable car up to Salluire at Courchevel at Easter over the years......
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Oh I loathe busy slopes, we usually go to italy for that very reason 
From the amount of accommodation on offer, it really would seem to be off-peak.
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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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@robertsnerys, you are right. I understand that access to Risoul is a bit difficult if you're not starting from the Italian/Turin side. Great resort for family, though. @JuJitsoup, I've heard great things about Montgenevre from friends.
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@cameronphillips2000, yeah, well, if you go to the 3 Valleys in UK school hols, you expect queues and crowds.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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In fact I've stood in lift queues in the 3 Valleys in the middle of January.
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FAQ
, 5th most expensive in the Alps. I was hoping their cost would be graduated, as we won't be heading too far afield as the kids are beginners but not so. From the looks of it though it's not cheap skiing anywhere in France.