 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all, looking at taking the family skiing in Feb next year, got three young ones (9,8, and 4) who have barely even seen snow before given we live in the desert. In terms of travel somewhere near Geneva is probably the best option for us, and so far I have been looking at Chamonix or Avoriaz.
Can anyone give me their thoughts on which would suit a young beginner family more? Maybe somewhere else entirely?
Will probably put the kids into a ski school in the mornings, so somewhere with a good kids program, and available accommodation not too far from it would be great.
Cheers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Avoriaz 100%. With three kids that haven't skied, ski in ski out of Avoriaz is perfect. Chamonix would be way too much faffing. Also look at Flane. Someone will complain at the ugliness of the purpose built French resorts, but minimum faffing and possibility to return to the accommodation etc trumps everything else for me.
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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 say that Verbier isn't bad for mixed family and mixed ability. The learner slope is quite reasonably-sized and fairly central and en route home if you're meeting up with them after you ski the higher pistes. It has a good conveyor-belt to the top of the slope. Train from Geneva Airport is 2h22m to Le Chable, where you'd transfer to the télécabine up to Verbier, which the children would probably love. Or a hire car from GVA and drive would be about 2h10m to central Verbier.
No doubt lots of people will have suggestions for more child-friendly reports that adults would still enjoy, within a couple of hours of Geneva. I'm not sure that this is what Chamonix would do best.
I'd also recommend an apartment rather than a hotel, or ideally an Apart'hotel. Apartments give you plenty of space to spread-out, while Apart'hotels have on-site facilities for dining, childcare etc like a hotel but with your own space.
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@soggyville, welcome to Snowheads!
Avoriaz without a shadow of a doubt! It's a bit of a weird place but in terms of convenience for a family with three kids it would be hard to beat! All accommodation is really convenient. There's a very nice indoor fun pool complex. Plus the fact that you have a huge choice of really great Brit run English speaking ski schools for the kids. Ticks a lot of boxes IMO! There are of course other good places. Chamonix would not be on my list with three young beginner kids of mixed ages.
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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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@soggyville, of these resorts, Avoriaz. Others to consider, dependent on when you're going are Les Gets, Morillon, Les Carroz, maybe St Gervais. If NONE of you have skied, you can also consider smaller resorts which can often cost less such as Praz de Lys. You don't need a huge ski area.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Add in Samoens and Flaine as well. Quite a lot of places have good pools/aquatic centres which is a good break for beginner kids esp if they are not used to cold as you can underestimate how debilitating that can be to morale especially if kit is not unto the task. You will be surprised at hoe much they feel the cold!
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Cheers guys, thanks for your responses. I will get on with the homework! I have skied before, but only once since the kids were born, and I've noticed the body doesn't seem to react the same way it did 10yrs ago:). Never been skiing in Europe, only the extremely average slopes of Victoria, Australia. So I suspect anything is going to be jaw dropping awesomeness!
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@soggyville, you have a PM (top right, Send/Read Messages) - welcome to Snowheads by the way 
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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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From 4 Feb is peak time in French resorts. If you could go the week ending 4 Feb it would be much better; cheaper and far less busy. I'd write off Chamonix for beginner family holiday. Budget? If you could do a holiday with a family specialist firm such as Esprit it'd be 100%_easier.
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+1 to Esprit recommendation. We have been with them since my girls were 1 & 4 until last season when they were 6 & 9 except one season with Mark Warner. Previously we went with family when we just had our eldest.
By going with a family specialist your children will have lots of children their own age to play with in the hotel which they will then be in ski lessons with. They honestly make live so much easier and thoroughly enjoyably for the children.
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