 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm planning to take my two boys (5 & 11 years old) skiing for the first time next February half-term.
I quite fancy one of the above as a break from "mainstream" resorts & was wondering which is most suited to total beginners, especially with regard to ski school & ease/convenience of nursey slopes.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ssnowman, I have skied St Luc and Grimentz. Not Zinal, this year as it was very icy, whilst were in Val D'Anniviers. St Luc and Grimentz have either gondola or funicular access to nursery slopes in the main skiing area. Zinal has a cable car. Grimentz/St Luc have restaurant and meet up areas adjoining the nursery slopes. St Luc is almost all T bar's, Grimentz has a mix of chairs/buttons/T bars. Very little English is spoken in Grimentz, you will need to approach the ski schools directly to obtain tuition in the correct language. A free skibus runs between Grimentz and Zinal. In Grimentz ski school meets at the top of the gondola.
Here is the link to the tourism website.
http://www.grimentz.ch/index.cfm?&Langue=en
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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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ssnowman, I'm a beginner too . I learnt in the PdS but went to 4 Vallees for the first time this year ( when my daughter learnt to ski) - this was a mistake IMHO for her - skiing in Switzerland and particularly learning there seems a little more 'difficult' . I mean that in the sense of a ) slopes b) Lift systems c) Kindred spirits and d) Slope access. Note this generalisation only applies to the 4 Vallees unless others agree.
snowbunny, and ise will undoubtedly be able to give 'expert' comparisons as mine are very limited. There must be loads of different weird and wonderful resorts that are not talked about everyday. I went to Valberg this weekend and I would be amazed if there are many better locations to learn ( subject to the standard of instruction) and more than enough slopes for weeks 0-3 skiers for a week.
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eEvans, I certainly would not want to give an "expert" opinion on anything. ise, has skied Zinal though, which I missed out on. He may also know of other resorts which could also fit ssnowman's, criteria.
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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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snowbunny, what I meant was ( for ssnowman, 's benefit) that you both have been to and experienced a) Lots more resorts generally and b) know Val d'Anniviers 
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Sorry if my initial post was confusing, I'm not a beginner but my children are.
What I'm looking for is a ski resort in Northern alps that I can drive to, that is a decent altitude, not purpose built, not too busy at half-term and somewhere that the kids will enjoy enough to want to go skiing again.
In other words, the perfect resort!
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ssnowman, Not in the north, but what about Chamrousse? I hear it's lovely, very family friendly, and there are some instructors who speak very good english too. No Tos there either.
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ssnowman, I wrote a report in the trip report section that you may find useful from a visit last year. I am not sure that anyone of them would be ideal for your circumstances. Speaking to an instructor the resorts can get quite busy in Feb peak season he mentioned long queues for the access Cable car at Zinal. The areas were very quiet when we went at the beginning of March though.
You may find the children feel a little isolated in ski school if none of the other children speak the same language and there were virtually no British voices around when we went.
Having said that the area is a lovely one and if you are tempted I would suggest St Luc from what I saw as it is a bit sunnier which is nice for beginners and there are plenty of gentle runs there.
If you are looking for other suggestions La Thuile is said to be uncrowded at half term is a very attractive area and attracts a few fellow anglophones without being stowed out by them, and is reasonably easy to get to through the Mont Blanc tunnel.
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