 Poster: A snowHead
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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'd avoid minibussing anywhere. I don't know La Plagne well but plenty of people do - maybe edit your thread title to make it clear you want info about beginner ski lessons in La Plagne.
As for ski lessons, unless money is no object I'd put them all into groups, whatever is recommended by the ski school. Even an 8 and a 5 year old will learn at different paces. I had a grandchild aged 5 in a group lesson at Christmas. She did really well, made huge progress, and got a "bronze mouse" badge (ESI). I have booked an 8 year old into a beginners class for Easter and their target is a silver Thingummy - one stage above.
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| I'd avoid minibussing anywhere. |
Hear what you say.
To be honest it is more of a "shuttle" service to the lifts/skischool offered to guests so they don't have to walk or use the resorts skibus.
Which I have to admit might ease the getting them all to skischool on some level !!
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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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Delilahdaff, tricky choice. I assume you've spent hours and hours and don't want suggestions of other places.
I know Montchavin quite will - went there with kids with Ski Eprit for many years - have popped down to Montalbert a few times, driven past Bettex, don't know Chatel at all.
I would go with Montchavin (which company?).
It is small place and easy to get to Skischool meet from anywhere.
Lots of nearby runs for mum&dad within easy reach around Dos Rond, even across the Vanoise if feeling adventurous.
Have used both ESF and Evolution 2 - like all ski schools, the experience is very personal and depends a lot on the teacher. If Evolution guarantee small class sizes then go with them.
Montchavin is a lovely village with lots of good restaurants and bars, and lots of safe areas for kids to play in (snowball fights, sledges, buidling igloos, whatever)
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
To be honest it is more of a "shuttle" service to the lifts/skischool offered to guests so they don't have to walk or use the resorts skibus.
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But that probably means it's a bit of a distance, or they wouldn't be offering that service.
Montchavin sounds good! Hope you sort out some good ski school options. Smaller groups will cost more but worth it for their first holiday, perhaps?
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@Delilahdaff, Montchavin has a great ski school for children - Evo2. Most of the chalets are very close to the lifts (there are not so many chalets). Usually the snow is fine at that time of year, though I am not sure what it has been like this year - of course the higher up slopes will be fine, and the Montchavin slopes are north facing. There are reports on here of both Montchavin/Les Coches at Easter and of the Evo2 ski school.
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Montchavin is a nice place and Paradiski has a good snow record at Easter. However bear in mind that whilst the kids are in 2.5 hr lessons you might not get that far across the la plagne ski area as you are at one edge of it. It would probably be worth buying the full pass including Les Arcs for yourselves. Montchavin is also at quite a low altitude so whilst the snow will probably be fine a few hundred metres higher up the run back to the village might be quite slushy if the weather turns mild.
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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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I know you want catered and have some specific villages in mind, but here's my TR from Plagnes Villages last Easter:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2715867&highlight=#2715867
We used Oxygene ski school which met in Plagne Centre - plenty of great runs locally to do while the kids are in ski school. Great thing about going at Easter is that there'll be other English children in the lessons too, which can help.
Anyway, possibly another option to consider but I sympathise with the amount of research you have obviously done!
I'm sure you'll have a great holiday wherever you choose to go.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
whilst the snow will probably be fine a few hundred metres higher up the run back to the village might be quite slushy if the weather turns mild.
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is there a lift alternative?
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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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@pam w, yes, you can download in the gondola.
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No problem then! @Delilahdaff, once you've decided on your accommodation book all the ski lessons right away.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Gämsbock, Evo 2 fully booked for the week available with that accomodation.....already checked 
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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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That's a shame. We've had quite a few posts this year about people who booked accommodation for half term ages ago then found, having left it till the last minute, that they couldn't get ski lessons.
What about ESF? Don't stress too much about language, especially for the youngest. My 5 year old grand-daughter was in an entirely French speaking group at Christmas, with an instructor who spoke 6 words of English (snowplough, hands on knees, very good!) and was fine. She's shy anyway and might well not have spoken to the others even if they'd all been Anglophone.
They cope!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Delilahdaff, I wouldn't think you would have a problem booking with ESF for that week, it is a relatively quiet time in La Plagne as the French aren't on holiday then. The Easter weekend can be busier but it is classed as low season out here.
Also the ESF run some courses entirely in English, it's worth looking on their website. I think they call it the ski world ski class, it is probably worth giving them a call to check it is available rather than just seeing what is shown online.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you everyone.
I have spent the day searching for deals and it is now a definite toss up between two;
Les Menuires- Le Bettaix - Chalet Isabelle with Silver Lining Chalets
or
Chatel - Chalet Les 2 Vallees with Mountain Air Holidays
Will start a new thread asking for anyone's experience of these !!
Cheers
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