 Poster: A snowHead
|
My brother's family (2 kids 10 & 7) and I are looking at going to St Anton possibly with Mark Warners around christmas and new year.
Has anyone used them and what did they think. Child care being critical according to me sister-in-law!
The kids have skied a couple of times, and they seem to love it. Have heard good and bad. Any comments would be much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
If you're talking about their Chalet/hotel Rosanna, it's brilliantly situated and nice to stay in. The food, when I stayed there years ago, was the best I've eaten in a chalet.
That said, St Anton is not a great place to take kids skiing, IMO. It's too busy, manic and therefore magnificent for advanced skiers and nightlife lovers. I didn't feel particularly comfortable with my kids there, and the ski school didn't have great slopes to work on.
Look at the Hotel Cachette, Les Arcs 1600. Kids ski school run from the premises, superb childcare with a special creche in the hotel, brilliant food, big family rooms. You can take the kids there on the Eurostar and couchette ski train from Paris, or the overnight couchette snowtrain from Dover/Calais. Kids love it. Try Erna Low for details (they are really knowledgeable), or you can book direct.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Thanks for that David, I shall pass on the message. Never heard of Erna Low, but shall look them up.
I had a feeling that St Anton might be a bit too much for the kids, but it seems fine for me!
Any other resorts you could recommend? Did Baqueira at Christmas and New Year and was very good. Great snow, it dumped 2m in three days over Chrimbo Eve. It seems from other posting from here and SCGB that people just had bad luck when they went.
Powder was great. Can't ski it, but tried in vein.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Welcome Steve - you could check out the Crystal Club Hotel Turquoise in Belle Plagne. Very friendly, Brit managed, family-oriented hotel. Not gourmet food but kids seemed happy with what was provided. Right on the pistes. Very close to ski school assembly points (for ESF). Loads of scope for beginners and intermediates in La Plagne and if you want more reds and blacks you can link over to Les Arcs.
Belle Plagne is at 2000m so should have reasonable snow for Xmas / Hogmanay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
SteveG, half the reason 90 per cent of British skiers seem to go to Val d'Isere (slight exaggeration) is that it works so well for so many people, including families. The place is a bit of a zoo now, the slopes get crowded, but you can have a lovely day skiing with kids over at Le Fornet where not so many people go.
I always take the family at Easter (second week of school hols) to high resorts like this, where the snow is almost guaranteed that late in the season.
If you want to try Austria, I'd rate Saalbach above St Anton for families. If you want to try Switzerland, take a serious look at Graechen. A high resort, very little known to Brits, good local skiing, very geared up to families, great scenery and charm, with the big bonus of day trips to nearby Zermatt if you really want to go for it.
You'd probably have to book accom. in a place like this direct, but independent travel to Switzerland is v. easy. You buy the Swiss rail transfer ticket in the UK (free for kids), which is about £54 return, and take the plane or train to the Swiss border or Lausanne.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| David Goldsmith wrote: |
SteveG, half the reason 90 per cent of British skiers seem to go to Val d'Isere (slight exaggeration) is that it works so well for so many people, including families. The place is a bit of a zoo now, the slopes get crowded, but you can have a lovely day skiing with kids over at Le Fornet where not so many people go.
I always take the family at Easter (second week of school hols) to high resorts like this, where the snow is almost guaranteed that late in the season.
|
I agree, but that's just our opinion  A more useful opinion si from my then 4 year old neice on her second trip a few years back, she rated Val very highly and particularly recommends the excellent choice of cake shops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Steve,
We took our two kids to Thomsons Club Hotel St. Louis in C1850 this year. really freindly staff, great food, and excellent slopes for the kids. It was about 100m from the piste and you could ski to the meeting points in about 5 minutes. really enjoyed it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi SteveG - there are two Mark warner hotels in St Anton, the Rosanna and the Schweizerhof. The Rosanna is adults only (although it may accept kids during certain holiday weeks), and the Schweizerhof is just oustide St Anton proper in the hamlet of Nasserein (sp?). I stayed in the Rosanna in March - the Mark Warner 'concept' is ok, but not quite as unique as they seem to think it is. However by all accounts child-care, where offered, is excellent (though I don't have any personal experience).
I would echo David's comments about St Anton not being the best place for families - it really doesn't cater for kids as well as so many other resorts do, and I don't recall seeing many kids or familes either on the slopes or around town. It struck me as being a real 'skiers' resort - lots of testosterone and beer! It does offer some fantastic skiing, but I think there are other resorts I'd go back to first. If your kids aren't that experienced I'd leave it a few years!
Have you looked at the Mark Warner hotel Christina in La Plagne or the Mariandre in Alpe D'Huez? - these might suit better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Thanks for all the info. Looks like a bit more research is needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SteveG, it may be worth having a look at Ski Espirit (based in Fleet, Hants). They run ski clubs for children up to the age of 12, I believe. They also do video clubs in the evenings and in most resorts have a tie up with a ski school as part of the deal if you so wish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Mark, have you used them before? or heard any feedback from others?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Steve G - visited La Plagne at Easter staying in the gorgeous little village of Montchavin in the Chalet Mont Blanc via Ski Esprit.
Great for kids, good snow, well located for La Plagne and Les Arcs and a chairlift about 25 metres from the door.
Skiing is varied for different standards, but nightlife non-existant in Montchavin - one pub, 2/3 restaurants, 2 ski shops.
Childcare, schools were excellent.
Worth checking out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SteveG I have used Ski Esprit a number of time and cannot recomend them highly enough.
They escort kids to and from ski school and will entertain them if they only want to ski for the morning. The chalets do resemble feeding time at the zoo at kids tea time and the chalets are not quite as luxurious as Warner. However the way they look after kids is second to none. Courcheval 1300 is a good location
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
SteveG, used them twice and both times they were excellent. As for the quality of chalets, they can be varied in terms of interior, but I would be very surprised if you were disappointed. In fact the first one we stayed at was excellent and ski in/out.
As michael mentions, the child care is very good indeed. They're also quite flexible which is great if you or your children want to change daily plans for any reason.
On both occassions we were out in La Rosiere which has a good snow record, is quite charming and is a top resort for families, although the skiing won't challenge advanced intermediates much. That said, La Thuille is very accessible through a link and there's greater variety there. As for the evenings, there are enough bars to keep one entertained well enough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
