 Poster: A snowHead
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Bit of a noob here, so apologies in advance if this is on the wrong thread.
I'm looking to take my 17 year old skiing for a few days after Christmas. I'm intermediate and she's a beginner with a few lessons under her belt. Any one got any thoughts of somewhere in the Eurozone that has a good mix of routes and a tour operator or group that specialises in single parents with teenagers...?
Cheers
Robin
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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've seen lots of Russian fathers on holiday with their teenage daughters 
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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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Err, not quite the reply I was hoping for!
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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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Can't help with Tour Operators as I tend to self cater and go independently, arranging my own flights and car hire. If you are looking for "a few days" then I suspect that you will be better trying to book independently. If you are going for a week, either book it NOW or probably better, wait until literally a few days before you are due to leave and get a last minute offer, if there are any for the week you intend to go. If you intend to go over New Year, it is a popular time and you may not get a good choice / much choice at all.
In your shoes I would pick the resort first. Something to entertain a 17 year old with not too difficult slopes. Mayrhofen perhaps. Or Soll. Ellmau has the Kaiserbad leisure centre and a couple of evening entertainment spots but is quieter.
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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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@Robin_C, just after Christmas is possibly the busiest (or 2nd busiest) week of the year. Therefore many places won't offer trips for just a few days but you will get a more expensive trip for the whole week.
If you can go before Christmas you probably would have more choice to arrange less than a week away.
You could get a Snowcoach trip for a few days though. They don't specialise in single parent trips, but there were plenty of children/teens when we went and you are mixed with others to eat in the evening. http://www.snowcoach.co.uk/prices.html Alternatively a catered chalet could be a good option as there tends to be a ready made social group (if you get a good bunch!).
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@Robin_C, welcome to snowheads.
If a few days after xmas is the new year then it's a poor time to go. It's very busy and expensive. If you can push it to the first week of Jan. As for places, go for a high intermediate resort for best snow and value. I'll have a think about resorts, have you a country in mind?
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From experience, tour operators will probably be viewed as two adults due to your daughters age. Sadly the period you are looking at is (as everyone has indicated) 'peak', so prices tend to be high. Hinterglemm gives good access to nursery slopes from accommodation, plenty of pistes, good ski schools. sits at about 1000m so snow should be ok by the end of the year, most UK operators will have access.
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@Robin_C, is there another dad+daughter combination that you could go with? Ideally a friend of hers? It wouldn't matter if they were single parents or not.
I have had discussions with a friend of mine about us doing a dads and daughters trip for ages, all parties involved (including wives) think it a good idea, but one way or another it has just not materialised.
It is always possible to arrange a DIY trip in that period. Use one of the hotel booking sites (booking.com, expedia etc) and choose flights that fit. A car hire gives greatest flexibility.
I'd choose a bigger resort where there was a bit of life after the slopes shut.
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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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@Robin_C, Welcome to snowHeads.
Think you need to clarify when and how long, plus whether you're thinking of tour operator package or DIY.
The week commencing 26th is "NewYear" so just about as busy and expensive as it gets.
@musher, not helpful or good taste.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Robin_C, What about Andorra? Arinsal in particular has lovely hotels (the Princesa/ Diana Parc) is great and the cost of private lessons there is much lower - easier to get her confidence up and both of you get some nice skiing in.
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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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@Robin_C, Welcome aboard - I suppose the question is is your daughter willing to share a room with her dad now shes 17? If the answer is 'yes' then someone like Silverski do plenty of twin room layouts in their chalets, but then most do. If she'll want her own room then you're into the realm of Single Supplements and so on, and thats going to cost a pretty penny.
As an Intermediate and a Beginner, I'd not fret too much about area at that time of year there'll be snow everywhere and pretty much any of the resorts out there will cater for you and your daughters ski requirements.
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@Robin_C, DIY Self-drive or fly/ hire car to Austria and book 2 x single rooms in a Pension. Austria single rooms are very popular. Tour operators will rip you off for single rooms.
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You know it makes sense.
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@musher, i thought that quite funny. C'mon now "not in good taste" really...
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@Belch, @musher, Had me laughing too......ski bunnies
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Easiest way is it look for a one bed apartment that's sleeps 4 then daughter can have the bedroom and you the sofa bed. As others have said the week after Christmas is probably the busiest of the year other than Feb half term and the most expensive. As for where to go La Rosiere would fit the bill ski train to Bourg St Maurice and then a bus to resort or Samoens which is a flight to Geneva and a short transfer. Both have good slopes for beginners and bars and restaurants for food in the evening.
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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'd just like to make a quick apology to @adithorp, for laughing out loud at @musher, 's quip. I really am ashamed of myself. 
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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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I don't have a daughter but if I was going with my son, who's about the same age, I'd probably go for a chalet hotel where you're going to meet some other people. I can highly recommend Auberge sur la montagne http://www.auberge-montagne.com/ which is very close to Sainte Foy Tarentaise resort. New Year week will be long-since booked but if you can go back to first week of Jan they're likely to have some availability.
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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: |
I've seen lots of Russian fathers on holiday with their teenage daughters
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Oh....I was told that they were their nieces, silly me
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| francium. wrote: |
| Easiest way is it look for a one bed apartment that's sleeps 4 then daughter can have the bedroom and you the sofa bed. |
Is that a 'tactical' sleeping arrangement ? Depends which one of you sneaking in late night i guess 
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I didn't say it wasn't funny or I didn't laugh at it and if it was a reply to a regular, fair enough. Just didn't think it was a great first reply to someones first post on snowHeads.
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@adithorp, +1
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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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These are really helpful replies, thanks. I'll look into Austria and Andorra and really appreciate the tips. Thanks
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@Robin_C, Re Austria, suggest you log onto the Tourist Office site for chosen ski area and they'll have an accommodation listing for each town and you will be able to select by your criteria then send an email to a few properties.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@adithorp, +2
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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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@Robin_C, I used a site called Snowtrex.com for a couple of the trips I have been on.
They do a variety of durations for the trip from a day to a couple of weeks, and in a fair few resorts.
Worth a look.
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@Robin_C, if you were to consider the Snowcoach 3 day post Christmas/pre New Year trip then Valmeinier would probably be a pretty good place for an intermediate and a beginner. Most of the runs are blue/greens on that side of the mountain.
We went there over a half term (British and French) and it wasn't actually too busy.
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You know it makes sense.
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A big plus for Andorra is the good quality coaching from English speaking coaches.... Private lessons would be my choice for your daughter.... Apartments can be quite reasonably priced too!
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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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I've taken trips on my own with both my teenage daughters at different times and it is a great bonding exercise, however they could both ski by then. However not in the few days after Christmas and between then and NY.
I would imagine it is very possible using sites like Home Away and booking.com to find accommodation - but I have to be honest, you will be setting yourself a challenge using a company and that way it could be costly.
A couple of times I drove down and we had a giggle on the way - the drive isn't that bad to the Maurienne and Tarentaise.
Resorts I used for trips like this were ones near Bourg St Maurice and Moutiers - Valmorel, La Rosiere and Les Arcs - all have a surfeit of reasonably priced self catering accommodation.
Valmorel and La Roz also have decent branches of the ESF - with good beginners lessons. and decent progression.
La Rosiere is a good resort for you and a 17 year old as whilst basically quiet, it does have one really good bar with a pick of bands/djs and some good restaurants that your 17 year old would enjoy with you.
I love my bonding weeks with my daughters.
This year I'm off to Alpe D'Huez with my now 21 year old and her boyfriend - self catering apartment where they have their own room for some privacy but otherwise we a blast together all week.
Hope you find something and if you'd like some more ideas please say
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Robin_C,
My advice would be to look for a catered chalet with some spaces left in it. I wouldn't worry about which resort. Try a few of the chalet operators and see if they have a part booked chalet with some teenagers in it already. Quite often you will get a group with a family and a couple of add ons that haven't managed to fill the whole place
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Am I allowed to suggest my apartment in Samoens admin? Click my profile name and you should see the link.
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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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@Freestyle, On a slightly different note, do you rent out for long weekends?
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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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Hello - it depends when and what other bookings we have - my husband deals with bookings but you can phone him via the Owner's direct website to ask. 😊
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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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| Robin_C wrote: |
| Err, not quite the reply I was hoping for! |
Yes but bloody funny...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm heading to Val Thorens end of Jan with son, 12 and daughter 16 1/2. Son and I can ski well but daughter has a week 5 years ago under her belt but nothing since. I have been skiing with just my son and I for the last 4 years always with a normal tour operator. Last year was at westendorf, he had a fantastic week at the ski school and I met loads of different people during the day. We always met for lunch and skied together in the afternoon.
In VT the 3 of us are staying S/C in an apt, booked with crystal and we're not sweatting it, just going with the flow, they will go to school in the morning, I'll buzz around on my own or with whomever I meet up with and we'll all ski together in the afternoon regardless of different abilities. I can't wait. All I would say just organize it, most resorts cater well for beginners, go onto www.wtss.co.uk to get the resort reviews that will highlight which ones are good.
I don't think you need to look for an operator that specializes in single parents with teenagers, you get all sorts on ski holidays and everyone is always in good form and happy to help along. You will have a great time. I have one or 2 ski holidays a year and there is always an option to go with mates but I wouldn't miss the holiday with the kids for anything so some years that's the only one.
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Me (single parent dad) and the kids (girls aged 11 and 16) love Les 2 Alpes.
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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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Try the ski esprit web site and look at their 'offers' or call them. They often have deals for adult + 1 in catered chalets. Good quality and mix of kids etc.good luck.
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FAQ
. . .brilliant, made me choke on my tea.
