first family skiing trip march/april recommendations please

A snowHead

We are planning to take our kids for their first skiing holiday next year () and trying to avoid overcrowded mid February break so are thinking about end of March/begining of April school holiday. We are not very experienced skiers and would like somewhere suitable for beginners with good ski schools for children and gentle slops where we can all have a go together. I know it is a bit late in the season so obviously somewhere with good chance of snow. We are open to suggestions as long as it is not very expensive. Thank you in advance!

A snowHead

@senca, welcome to SHs. The first week of the Easter holidays next year will be a great time for a first family ski holiday.

If you've done ski holidays before you might consider a DIY holiday - booking accommodation and travel separately, rather than a package. Probably cheaper in school holidays but can be easier to leave transfers etc to a tour operator, who can also book ski schools etc. the "family" operators can provide child care, help with getting them to and from lessons etc, but are more expensive, naturally.

I'm sure you'll get lots of specific resort suggestions but it's useful to have some general ideas first. Lots of resorts would fit the bill and with Easter early you shouldn't need to go up to one of the high (and usually expensive) resorts like Tignes or Obergurgl.

Do you have any preferences as to accommodation? Budget?

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Thanks so much for your reply! We would like it not too expensive (one of the reasons we are leaving it for late in the season) but would prefer not to compromise too much on the quality of ski schools, slopes etc. I would like accommodation to be close to the slopes and would prefer a resort where we can do things together as a family rather than leaving children in the daycare all day long. Ski school for adults too would be good and some gentle slopes for all of us to do together after the lessons (my husband and I are not very experienced skiers). So basically smaller resort suitable for beginners and families and (snow in April Smile

Accommodation - maybe chalet type with breakfast/dinner..Thank you!

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@senca,

You might look into Passo Tonale in Italy. Town itself not the prettiest resort but an excellent late season choice and inexpensive. Skiing is very good, with the views making up for the fairly ordinary town below and very suitable for beginners/early intermediates. Beginner slopes close to resort and some lovely long cruisy blues which the kids will be well able for before week is out.
It being Italy, food is excellent on and off the mountain. Even at Christmas or half term, never as crowded as French or other Italian resorts
Only downside for family is there is a 2.5-3 hour transfer from the airport which may be a bit long for young kids (don't forget the books,tablet,ps3, etc.)

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

To tick all your boxes won't come cheap,especially in school holidays. You might want to prioritise your requirements or dig a bit deeper into your pockets. Having said that tho, I think apr 4th - 11th is classed as low season by some tour operators so there maybe some value around then. Les arcs 1950 is worth looking at for that 2nd week in easter, snow cover is reliable at that time, and all amenities are extremely convenient.

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Paul, Thank you for your reply. Will definitely look into it. I am so glad I found this forum as I didn't know where to begin! Spoke to somebody who just came back from overcrowded (and overpriced) resort in Switzerland and was thinking I don't want that for the first and inexperienced children! Long cruisy blue runs and not very busy is just what we need. There is always a compromise so probably worth putting up with long transfers! Thanks so much for your recommendation!

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

@senca, we went on our first ski trip to Zell am See in Austria! This is a very reasonably priced resort and the there was an excellent nursery slope right outside our hotel (Alpine resort hotel). The ski instructors for the adults were great! showed them all the best lunch spots and bars, also taught them key essentials for future skiing. While the kids also loved their ski group! Their ability came on so much over the week! would 100% recommend Zell Am See as the best place for your holiday

After all it is free

ok - adding Zell am See to my list too! Thanks very much, sound very nice!

For me there is only one place, where my kids went first.
I spent a lot of time trying to find the right place..

Very easy access to the slopes from the hotel.
Small un crowded resort.
Not overly prices.
Easy access to airport.

Zauchensee in Austria.

We went with these guys, http://www.familyskiholidays.com/

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Thanks Bob - this also sound like exactly what we need!

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Thanks Bob - this also sound like exactly what we need!

snow reports

LDon Keebles, Thanks for your message, is Les arcs 1950 suitable for beginners?

We would suggest La Rosiere (France) as we've always had great family (and friends) trips there.
Its not a big resort, we've always found it family friendly. Links to La Thuile in italy (though this can be a chore) to further the skiing.
We've used Evolution2 ski school but there is also ESF (but tbo I would advise against them in the holidays as we have often seen streams of up to 18 kids behind ESF instructors in peak weeks). both have 'kinder garden' slopes for the little uns

You know it makes sense.

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

A snowHead

don't try to home in on a resort too soon - you will get loads of people exhorting you to go to their favourite and just be totally confused. Yes, La Rosiere, for example, is great for families - had two holidays there, both January. But there are reports of some slushy conditions later in the season, despite the high altitude, because slopes mostly face south and get battered by the sun. Similarly, Zell am See - beautiful place - wouldn't be everybody's choice for an Easter holiday. Yes, there's higher skiing nearby but shlepping off somewhere is not ideal with kids.

Easter is low season for accommodation costs (and other costs, such as ski schools) in much of France and Austria, despite it being high season for British TOs. Which means that a DIY holiday (either driving or booking flights as soon as they appear and then hiring a car or getting a bus transfer) can be the cheapest way of doing it.

Self catering is worth looking at, to keep costs down. Especially if your kids are fussy eaters. Doesn't mean slaving over a hot stove all day. But especially for lunches, if you have an apartment near the slopes a frozen pizza and bag of salad together with some soft drinks and beers from the supermarket will cost very little.

For evenings, if you don't want to cook, you'd have a choice of restaurants, take aways or something nicely prepared by the "traiteur" who lurks in most resorts and provides a half way house between the cost of a restaurant and cooking for yourselves. Meanwhile the endless cups of tea, coffee, cokes, Ribena, etc cost you no more than they do at home. And my kids, and now my grand children, like nothing better than sitting round in thermals or onesies.

I like the catered chalet option but it's more expensive and limits your choice of resort quite severely (most of them are in France). It can be a good option with children though as you can sit around with adult company and a drink, later in the evening when the kids are asleep (often difficult in hotels where you wouldn't want to be too far from their bedrooms).

Look at this year's brochures - will give you a good idea of what the tour operators have to offer and you might see something so remarkable that you won't want to wait till 2016!

Finally, if the budget will allow, if your kids had some lessons in one of the indoor snow domes they could skip the first level of ski school - and be more able to ski with you as a family after lessons.

A snowHead

Dear Senca, my kids who are now 16, 14 and 12 have been going to 1950 since they were 6, 4 and 2! It is very suited to beginners and families and once you see how convenient everything is, especially with small kids in tow, you'll be glad u made the choice. Driving there is a cheaper option as the whole place is built on a 2-story car park, it's just if your kids can watch their tablets for 8 hours on the journey...i know mine can! I don't even wear a coat to go out in the evening as the restaurants, bars...and night club are all within 50-100 yards of each other. The 5 ski-hire shops, lift pass office, supermarket, bakery, coffee shop, waffle shop, toy shop and cashpoint are all within 1-2 minutes walk (all pedestrianised) of each other, literally. One criticism of the place is that it looks a bit disney but i don't mind that, and now I can't get the kids to go anywhere else because if i try....they just ski off into the distance.

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Pam, Thanks so much for the extensive info! I already feel a bit overwhelmed. But getting advise from here is great as looking at the brochures I find more confusing. Where is Edelweiss? I like the look of Passo Tonale as looks good for beginners, not too expensive and not too busy! + almost guaranteed snow. I think we would be fine in either hotel or self catering (eating take aways/restaurants) as I don't think we will have stamina for staying up late and socialising after skiing/ spending time with children! more like reading few pages before bed time!

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first family skiing trip march/april recommendations please

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