Easter 2016, with family

A snowHead

Having just returned from an excellent long weekend trip with 'the lads', thoughts turning to taking my young family next year.

We've been before, with Esprit, when we had just the one, then two boys. Now we have 3 boys, and we've hung back going for a few years till the youngest is old enough to get on skis as well.

Two oldest are in school, so we are looking at an Easter trip.

Looking for inspiration from the Snowheads community... Family of 5 seems 'awkward' as it doesn't fit the normal occupancy model, it seems. I had hoped to head to Les Arcs 2000, plenty of snow sure slopes, and loads of easy blue to help the boys gain their ski legs - plus I know the resort well, which seems a benefit if you have kids in tow.

alp D'Huez seems an alternative with an Esprit Chalet Hotel which may make it easier for a family of 5.

Esprit have always been good, but price is an issue... For the ease of using them I am willing to put up with the cost for a few more years till all kids can ski and are old enough to have lessons in the morning than afternoons on the slopes with us. but maybe their are other options...

Any way, lacking in further inspiration, I throw myself at the whim of the Snowheads community, and see if any others have ideas to share.

A snowHead

Not huge amounts to add - only that we normally go away at Easter (diy job with a big self catering apartment) and it's a fantastic time to go away. Even more so next year as Easter is a bit earlier.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

We have booked Gressoney for next Easter with Esprit. Going for the 2nd April the cost is sort of acceptable.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Easter is really early next year, towards the end of March. Alpe D'Huez is largely south facing and can suffer late season, however I went in late March a few years ago and it was fine.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Another option for similar operator to Esprit is Mark Warner their L2A place is reasonable (ish) price wise. We went with them mid-April last season. The main thing i missed from Esprit was the baby listening service. Our youngest was 4 at the time and we found that although they had a snuggle club with camp beds for younger ones to sleep in - as it was in the same room as older ones watching a video she didn't sleep. So we ended up rushing our dinner to get them up to bed ASAP then we were stuck in the room unable to socialise.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Richie_S, Family friendly skiing in La tania might be able to help, they have at least 1 room in the telemark that has room for 5 as we stayed in it last season (1 double, 1 bunk and 1 single). Rooms are basic though, but food was excellent and nanny service is good too.

After all it is free

Most of the ski famille chalets are set up for families of 5; usually 2 interconnecting rooms with a bathroom. They have chalets in Plagne 1800 and Reberty, both of which should be snow sure enough.
They do amazing deals for people who can go out of holiday time (look at their current offers page and drool), but holiday times prices are similar to the higher end of Esprit.

Thanks for the messages so far. I'll look into the options.

i have every intent of diy/self catering in years to come, when we are less reliant on childcare, as it shouldn't be hard to do and apartment prices generally look acceptable.

Eurostar or drive to bourg, then whip
up to Les Arcs on the funi - can even avoid driving up the hill if the roads are bad into the hills.

couple of years away from that thou. So am prepared to invest a little extra to make life easier for the next couple of trips and just ensure the family 'gets the bug'... then frankly, we'll accept anywhere that has a bed near the slopes and we can feed ourselves on bread and water!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

(one advantage of 3 boys is that all the investment in ski wear gets a good return)

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@Richie_S, oh another thing I liked about Gressony was it is a Saturday flght which means you have a day to get sorted before kids go back to school and we go back to work

snow reports

Since there refurbishment, Pepi Gabl in St Anton also has several suites which sleep 5 (we are staying in one when we go out on the 12 April this year). Research suggests the area is relatively snow sure for April. My fingers are firmly crossed that it will be good when we go.

@Richie_S, We have self catered since our youngest was 3 (using resort childcare until age 4) and often travelled by Eurostar. Have a look at Ski Collection who have apartments in Arc 2000 and 1950 and will also book Eurostar, ski school etc for you. Their prices are usually cheaper if you book early and use the early booking discounts. They don't offer childcare but you could book your youngest into the Caribou club in Arc 1950. Eurostar is a good option if you have an under 4 yr old as they travel free. Arc 1950 is a lovely place to stay with children and there are a few indoor and outdoor pools to choose from at the end of the days skiing, plus further activities run by the Tourist Office.

You know it makes sense.

Snowymum, thanks. That's certainly interesting, I'll have a good look. 1950 is certainly more appealing than 2000.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A few of my friends used Snowbizz, and someone else used the Family Ski Co.. All seemed very happy with their choices.

A snowHead

We've been with Esprit the last 5 years and am sure their place in Val d'Isere (where we've been for last 2 years) has rooms / suites for 5 - might well be worth giving them a ring and getting them to trawl through their availability.

@Little Martin, and apologies for nicking the thread a bit @Richie_S, we're off with FFS at Easter to the Telemark - having only used Esprit before, what's their childcare like? We've got our two booked in for ski school pick up / lunch / afternoon although hoping as the week progresses, we'll ski with them some afternoons too.,

A snowHead

No problems with the nannies, they usually have things to do with the kids, like bum-boarding, building snow men, trips to the soft play in 1850, playing in small park in the middle of la tania to indoor stuff, baking, painting etc.

They usually give you the option of taking the children to ski school, picking them up from ski school, we usually drop off and let the nanny pick up, although we try to get to the end of the lesson anyway just to see how our daughter is doing.

FFS in general are good, rarely do you hear no from them if you ask them to do something for you e.g. Fresh milk instead of uht for the children

We are back there in March which will be our 4th time with them, they must be doing something right Smile

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thanks @Little Martin, that's really helpful. We're there 28th March for the first week of the Easter holidays, looking forward to it hugely. Second week of the season for us, which is a first with kids and hoping to make it a habit!

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Its just our preference but we prefer the chalet over the hotel. Slightly limits resorts but still several options. Used Esprit 3 times at NY but recently booked Easter 2016. Switched to Easter as our local schools start the Easter break earlier than most of UK so the price is loads cheaper.

Help!!

Easter 2016, with family

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