Poster: A snowHead
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I keep reading that Smugglers Notch in Vermont is the best place to take kids to learn to ski. I committed some time ago to taking my daughter there when she is five which will be next winter. However, we have since had another daughter who will be around 18 months if we go next year.
I have to say I really don't fancy the flight with an under 2 on my lap. I'm assuming my wife wouldn't enjoy it either but its cheaper with an under two than an over two.
has anybody done this sort of trip? is it a nightmare?
is this resort as good for the family as it is cracked up to be?
are the disadvantages of the journey made up for with better english speaking and fun tuition?
As a bit more background we are going to La Tania in March where oldest daughter will be in ski school for a couple of hours each morning. She has had some lessons on the dry slope at home where she enjoyed going very fast, didn't fall over but was not interested in snow ploughing or turning becasue as she said in her own words " why bother turning or slowing down when I can stop at the bottom" - Father and daughter both like going very fast and don't like making unecessary effort She is now four and a half, has just started school is pretyt strong and big for her age but is quite sensitive and a little clumsy (the latter she gets from her mother both are regualry coverd in bruises due to doors, walls and other things they haven't seen and are truly nothing to do with me).
thanks for your wise words
ash
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We've twice done transatlantic ski trips with a baby on the lap and how tolerable it is depends who you go with! We went both times with BA who have designated seats where a shelf drops down from the bulkhead and onto this they strap a carry cot or 'car' seat, which means apart from the actual take-off and landing, baby isn't on your lap.
Other airlines may do similar, but it's not something we've seen on KLM, Northwest or Air Canada (the only other scheduled carriers I've used for transatlantic flights). However KLM via Amsterdam did on one occasion work out cheaper than BA even after we paid for a seat for baby.
Can't comment on Smugglers Notch. But IME Big White and Silver Star in British Colombia are excellent for kids skiing - they both have dedicated kids centres - but it's much farther to go.
You may be better checking out some of the British chalet operators you specialise in children: Ski Espirit always seem to get good reports and looked well organised and popular when we saw them in La Rosiere before Christmas: http://www.esprit-holidays.co.uk/
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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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RobW, isn't the drop down "bassinette" cot-thingy for <1 year olds? I don't think they are usually big enough for 18 month olds are they?
ashton parker, I went to La Tania with my 18 month old in January. We were lucky and had a spare seat next to us on the way out, but on the way back he was on my lap the whole way. I was going insane by the end of the flight, but he does fidgit a lot.
As well as the flight don't forget the coach transfer - if they have no plane seat the chances are they will be on your lap on the coach as well.
I've not been to Smuggs and it does have a good rep, but it is not as if there are no english-speaking instructors in the Alps. The mainstream French resorts are teeming with them nowadays.
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I'm a parent with 2 young children and the idea of a transatlantic flight puts me off. Go to a resort with a british ski school. Chances are if you go in march to France you will have warmer weather. Cold much more of a problem with younger children. If you go to the US is it really worth going to an East Coast resort compared to European given the extra costs- am not sure but sceptical
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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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the ice perv wrote: |
RobW, isn't the drop down "bassinette" cot-thingy for <1 year olds? I don't think they are usually big enough for 18 month olds are they?
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The basinettes are too small for an 18month old. But at least three years ago they introduced the 'car' seats I mentioned:
http://www.hotelfun4kids.com/travelnews/air-rail/britishair.htm
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dan100, ashton parker, there are no doubt others who have oodles more East Coast experience that me, but my answer would be ABSOLUTELY NOT - unless you've got a masochistic compulsion to spend your life slithering around on solid ice. I'd never seen moguls you could see through before until I had a day in upstate NY. The local I went with offered me the use of the edge sharpener he always carried with him before we went out - and after one run I realised how big a mistake it was not to have accepted.
There is almost certainly better skiing in Vermont than that I found, and I know nothing of Smugglers Notch, but the thigh-deep champagne power all these US addicts rave about doesn't really make it past Colorado and Alberta! I would certainly stick with the Alps unless you can go much further west.
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Just come back from winter park colorado with my 5 1/2 year old daughter. Went thomson which was ok ish, flight was not too bad, apart from inedible food (and some very foul mouthed passengers, however airline staff sorted that very impressively). One idea we did that really worked well was a portable DVD and the collection of free kids dvds out of the daily mail. Kept her very entertained. On other trips we have also used ba car seats before and they work really well. Winter park has an excellent childrens programme, and my daughter loved it. Now skiing down blues, and was pleading to do more in the evenings (then falling fast to sleep as she was so exhausted!), that was so different from France, esf never ever again, howver evolution 2 were very good, but she never has pleaded to do more before! Have been to quebec before, it was good but the snow and also the extreme cold was not that wonderful. Go colorado, but scheduled not charter.
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The BA flight to Denver uses Boing 777s which have individual seatback TVs.
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Thanks guys - good input there. we're pretty experienced alpine travellers having been to La Tania for the past five years - always in March for the warmth and extra daylight. We generally get an extra seat somewhere on the plane for the under two and older one has had a portable DVD player for some time now. In fact sometimes she complains when we arrive because the film hasn't finished.
I remember the basinets thingys from five years ago and seeing people use them but haven't seen the carseats before. My big fear would be that at 18 months she won't fit (we run big in our family - four year old is in 8 year old clothes) or those "special" seats will be taken up.
It looks like we should have gone this year and will now have to another couple of years and take the hit to the pocket. Granny may take the baby for a week but I'm not sure Mrs P will allow it.
I'm a big fan of American enthusiasm and organisation for children and ideally I want my daughters to have a holiday experience like your daughter Carroz so Winter park may now be on the agenda. What was the sliding like for adults? I'm a strong intermediate free riding boarder with no interest in the park Mrs P is an equally strong skier.
Thanks guys
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ashton parker, We went to winter park for 2 weeks, and were pleasantly surprised. There is more terrain than i thought there would be. It does get very busy at the weekend (friday, very busy saturday, and less so sunday afternoon), but in the week it is empty, some runs i was totally on my own .The terrain is quite segmented into lots of wide groomed blue cruisers (read blue to stiffish red in europe) and lots of soft bump runs, from steepish to very steep. There is also a lot quite wide spaced trees that are fun, and a wide open bowl you get to from the timberline lift. Mary Jane is a wonderful bump mountain, but the lift queue is long at the weekend.
We purchased very early on in april season passes as they were only 229 dollars and you get lesson discounts with them as we did quite a number of lessons. All day for my daughter in a class of 5 was $101 less $20 for season pass, 1/2 day lessons for adults was $52 less $20 for season pass. I had some class sizes of 2, so really good value and the teaching was great.
Try to stay at the ski area, unless you like buses! and waiting for them. Tour ops cheap option The winter park mountain lodge is across the highway from the ski area and you still need a bus.
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