 Poster: A snowHead
|
This is such a positive thread - the family that skis together, stays together, perhaps..... At least as long as you continue to pay for their holidays. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
We actually used one of those last time.
In fairness to them, it was outside of British school holidays in a resort that's not especially Anglocentric, and it was just as people were starting to get twitchy about Covid, so probably not representative of a normal week. But, after we'd paid extra and minibus'd him over to the neighbouring village every morning, he ended up as the only English-speaking kid in a class with three older French kids and a slightly grumpy instructor. He still enjoyed it, and the instructor from the same company that I did a couple of refresher lessons with was excellent, but I got the impression he would have had a very similar experience if we'd dropped him off at ESF, 100 yards away from the chalet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Personally I'd go as a family (drive or train) but go to a resort that caters well for non skiers. Then split your time with your son - you can have slope time and wife can have snow play time. The money you will save by not doing Esprit etc can be thrown at treats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@ChrisP71, I think both Esprit and La Rosiere would be a great choice for you and your beginner 7 year old son. Chambery flights, so shorter transfer. Not too difficult an area ski challenge wise. Beginner friendly slopes. Tends to be less crowded than some of the mega French resort areas. It's the over-aspirational parents you might need to watch for, rather than most of the kids, in my experience 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Another vote for Esprit. I don't think they existed when I started skiing with my children then aged 8 and 6, but they have both used Esprit many times with their children. I'm looking forward to going again with Esprit to Tignes in February, probably skiing with the grandchildren while my son snowboards (he wanted a fresh challenge!). They do generally manage things well to minimise hassle and maximise enjoyment for both children and adults. I will save money by hiring skis independently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Jehu, +1...they've heavily reduced their resort and accommodation options in recent years, it seems? Plan Peisey, La Plagne, Courchevel 1850, Meribel, St Anton, big reduction of accommodation in Tignes, by the looks of their website.
If you've been to Tignes recently, did you stay in Chalet Corniche? if so, what's it like these days? I know location is excellent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| kettonskimum wrote: |
| Personally I'd go as a family (drive or train) but go to a resort that caters well for non skiers. Then split your time with your son - you can have slope time and wife can have snow play time. The money you will save by not doing Esprit etc can be thrown at treats. |
It's a tricky one. Having looked at their prices, my budget is right at the bottom end of the range for companies like Esprit, and the money would doubtlessly go further elsewhere. On the other hand, I've never taken him on holiday on my own before, so there's going to be a lot to think about. Basic stuff like knowing there's someone to walk him back to the chalet if I'm five minutes late for ski school pick up would be worth the extra outlay, I reckon.
| PeakyA wrote: |
| @ChrisP71, I think both Esprit and La Rosiere would be a great choice for you and your beginner 7 year old son. Chambery flights, so shorter transfer. Not too difficult an area ski challenge wise. Beginner friendly slopes. Tends to be less crowded than some of the mega French resort areas. It's the over-aspirational parents you might need to watch for, rather than most of the kids, in my experience |
Yeah, my only slight reservation is that it sounds like it's all above the tree line? Last time we went to Serre Chevalier and the lower slopes through the trees gave us something to ski on days when the wind would probably have stopped the lifts somewhere mroe exposed like Tignes. If I was going on my own I'd probably want a bigger ski area too, but it looks like it'd be more than big enough between ski school drop off and pick up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Practically anywhere is big enough between ski school drop off and pick up, @ChrisP71. You'll probably want to be around the ski school drop off for at least the first few days, so he has a familiar face to make a fuss of him. If you can possibly afford it, the Esprit back up does sound good - we never could afford it, but we had two parents!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I would move to a more popular resort if possible and a chalet or hotel but keep the dates the same. We took ours to Obergurgl outside of school holiday dates at that age and there were plenty of English speaking children around (Brits, Dutch and Swedish I seem to remember!). They had fabulous English speaking instructors too.
I'd quite like to turn back the clock and take one of mine at that age 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@ChrisP71, when we were regular customers we used to book early for early booking discount, time our weeks to make good use of free child places and took our kids out of school once or twwice when they were much younger (our first holiday with them we had a 4 & 1yr old), and that was just about affordable.
They often sent last minute offers through with 1 adult 1 child regularly featuring. Everything has changed in our economic climate since and they look like they have scaled back offering hence my suggesting that if you can be flexible with exact week and take a chance. You are very late for making use of the early booking discount but too early for last minute. However as there is only 2 of you, odds are pretty good I would have thought. If not one from Esprit then Crystal and Neilson also used to have kids clubs in a some hotels as a fall back on top of Mark Warner also mentioned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| NickyJ wrote: |
@ChrisP71, when we were regular customers we used to book early for early booking discount, time our weeks to make good use of free child places and took our kids out of school once or twwice when they were much younger (our first holiday with them we had a 4 & 1yr old), and that was just about affordable.
They often sent last minute offers through with 1 adult 1 child regularly featuring. Everything has changed in our economic climate since and they look like they have scaled back offering hence my suggesting that if you can be flexible with exact week and take a chance. You are very late for making use of the early booking discount but too early for last minute. However as there is only 2 of you, odds are pretty good I would have thought. If not one from Esprit then Crystal and Neilson also used to have kids clubs in a some hotels as a fall back on top of Mark Warner also mentioned. |
Alas, it looks like kids are charged at full price for the one I looked at.
On the upside, there's only one adult to pay for, and the school has just confirmed that we won't be fined if we take him out for one week during term time. That gives us a bit more budget to play with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@ChrisP71, if Esprit too expensive and/or restricted resort choice, take a look at Belambra Clubs maybe? I would not say they are as good a quality as Esprit, but they may be good enough and better value?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ChrisP71 wrote: |
On the upside, there's only one adult to pay for, and the school has just confirmed that we won't be fined if we take him out for one week during term time. That gives us a bit more budget to play with. |
That will help massively give you a lot more availability with the TO's I'd guess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Took my son alone from age of 5 to 8 (partner disliked skiing). I recall it seemed easy, certainly easier than now when 4 of us go & the resort has to be non skier friendly!
First couple holidays were crystal then self booked, to Alpbach.
Travel easy, super light as I did the packing.
Ski school with meeting point up the mountain for both every day, morning & afternoon. Met at lunch, skied before and after school.
Evenings out for dinner. In a smaller resort you’ll likely find your not the only adult alone & If you’re lessons you’ll perhaps find groups of singles: so drink / social opportunities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@ChrisP71, if something like Esprit is out, and you want tree lined, then I’d go for something like Les gets on a week that is outside half term (U.K. and French).
Go for something like an apart-hotel close to the lifts. Sure you’ll have to cook, but that will save you a lot of £££. If you choose one with a pool then you’ll have something else to do in the afternoon/evening.
There’s also at least 2 dedicated british ski schools there who meet half way up the mountain too, so you don’t get caught in the ESF scrum at the beginning and end of the lessons.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
