Went on our first ski trip as a family. Myself and my husband board and the kids (beginners) 10,8,6 all went to ski school in the mornings. The resort ticked a lot of boxes especially for convenience and the apartments were super (le roc noir) but am looking to book for next year (Jan) and would like to try someplace new. Can fly into Milan bergamo handiest but can access most airports (except chambery) . Would like accommodation close to lifts and ski school as a priority, ideally would love to go to group lessons too but this wasn't possible in la ros as boarding group lessons were in the afternoon.. Is this standard? Would also like a little bit more going on in the resort and a shorter / cheaper transfer if possible. Need to keep costs down so doesn't have to be a massive ski area. Prefer blues and easy reds. Thanks in advance for help!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Les Saisies might suit you as a resort - not clear on what the problem was with the lessons. But it's quite a small resort. Has a good public pool/leisure centre, "Mountain Twister" which kids like, and several of the more upmarket apartment blocks have pools. There are the usual sort of restaurants etc but not sure what you'd like to be "going on" in the resort, which is very French.
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?
Lol.. I'm not sure what I want to be 'going on' either with 3 young kids but it just felt very very quiet everywhere in the evenings. The lessons just didn't work for me as we wanted the kids up and out to their ski lessons in the morning and they didn't do snowboarding group lessons in the morning and I didn't want to be gone in the afternoon when they were free so ideally if we could all head off for lessons in the morning that would be perfect. I'll check les saisies out. Thankyou for the recommendation... Appreciated
@piggeris, for January I'd look at ski areas with a reasonable amount of sheltered skiing / trees, as there's a higher chance of stormy / snowy weather at that time of year. If you're not fixed to a particular week, I'd also suggest going in late January, since snow conditions tend to improve through the month.
From Bergamo you could look at Aprica. It would probably be cheapest to hire a car (usually very inexpensive in Italy). Not sure I'd recommend any of the other nearby ski areas for your level and that time of year.
As you say, going to a smallish ski area will keep costs down.
From Geneva, you could look at Les Saisies, Combloux, Samoens, Le Grand Bornand, Morzine, Les Gets, Praz de Lys...
Lots of other options from other airports too.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
With three kids I would have thought private lessons might be good value - and if you are outside peak times there's some flexibility in timing. I've just fixed private ski lessons for 2 kids in Les Saisies, first week in April. They offered 9am or 12 or later in the afternoon. I've gone for 12, as 0900 is a bit early at time of year, and pistes likely to be frozen. There are some tree-lined pistes in Les Saisies and plenty down in the linked Arly Valley, but you're unlikely to get over there with beginner snowboarders. The Espace Diamant is a fair bit bigger than the combined La Ros/La Thuile area but there are some challenging drag lifts in the Arly Valley!
If you are looking at Italy, and wanting to avoid hiring a car, then think you might struggle with meeting your transfer requirements.
From Bergamo either Passo Tonale or Madesimo are likely to be your best bet but think transfers to either will be problematic.
Madonna di Campiglio is a really nice town & the ski area would suit your need for good reds & blues, but it's a very long (though reasonably priced) transfer from either Milan or Verona. Transfer is probably 3hrs+.
Sella Ronda resorts are going to be a longish transfer as well from Verona or Venice 2.5hrs+.
The exception is probably Turin, from there you can get towards Champoluc ( http://www.champoluctransfer.com/en/shared-transfers-monterosa-shuttle/ ), Cervinia, Bardonecchia or Sestriere. All are worth a look. There used to be a shuttle towards the French resorts of Montgenevre and Serre Chevalier, unfortunately the shuttle seems to be a victim of covid. https://www.linkbus-alps.com/en/turin-airport/ - but it's worth keeping an eye out in case they do start it up for next season.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
One of the Austrian resorts might be a good shout.
Transfer is about 1.5hrs from Salzburg to Saalbach/ Hinterglemm for instance, Hinterglemm has a large beginners that's well kitted out for children, plenty of lively bars and a wide range of slopes once you're up the mountain.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Rauris in Austria is a small resort that's a short transfer from Salzburg. Just over an hour by train or car.
There are two ski schools in Rauris; Adventure Rauris and Maier.
We have used both, and both were excellent. They both do snowboarding lessons in the mornings, however they have a minimum age of 8 for group lessons, which will scupper your youngest, unless you can convince them to take then based on them not being complete novices.
The resort is made up predominantly of blues, with only one black, plus a handful of reds. Some of the blues are a bit challenging, so will give you something to get your teeth into.
It's a small town, so there's not loads going on, but they have a horse drawn carriage ride once a week that takes you through the town and back to the main lift, and on a Thursday they have a huge sledge that rides down the nursery slope. It's pulled to the top by a tractor and then flies down, guided by a driver. Tilly the Owl (the mascot) sits at the front of the sledge. All free.
There's a 2km long toboggan run too if you fancy something a bit different.
Lots of restaurants in the town if you wanted to get out in the evening, and a few places have pools if yours like that.
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.
Nendaz Switzerland, train/bus to village but reasonable transfer. https://www.interhome.co.uk/switzerland/valais/nendaz/apartment-victoria-1-b1-ch1961.379.2/ literally on the side of home run to village, walk out and ski down to lift in morning (piste 50mtrs from door) with good mix of evening places dotted around village. Good ski school and facilities too. Very good piste in that sector with its own lift pass if you don’t need wider area.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Recently taken snapshot of Flaine for piste more than anything, illustrative of blue/red type there.
Doh! That'll teach me not to read your OP properly. I've given advice based on the children snowboarding, and have realised it's you that wants lessons, not them!
Let's try again.
Rauris, Austria. See above for transfers and things going on.
Lessons!
There are two ski schools in Rauris; Adventure Rauris and Maier.
We have used both, and both were excellent.
Maier do morning lessons, but if both you and your husband want them, you could share private tuition. Mr. O and I did similar the first time we went to Rauris. We shared a private instructor and had 3 mornings of lessons (2 hours each time). The cost was similar to that of 6 full days of group lessons, but we liked having the focused tuition, so progressed faster, and the flexibility of having our afternoons to ourselves. Just costed it up and group lessons for adults are 135E each for the week, or 280E for the two of you to share a private instructor for 2 mornings. That was Maier, Adventure are afternoon group lessons only (beginners in the morning) but charge 252E for private for 2 people/2 mornings.
Both Maier and Adventure offer a ski or snowboard package, where you hire with them too. We found that to be excellent value when we've used them.
Austria children's group lessons are usually done over the full day. You meet at 0930 to drop them off. Then meet wherever the instructors tell you to be at 12 (several restaurants on the mountain). Hand them back at 1pm (Adventure) or 1.30pm (Maier), then collect them at 3pm (Adventure) or 3.30 (Maier).
Ours loved being in for the full day. The first time we went SmallestOwl was 6, and he requested a morning off on the Thursday as he was tired. No problem, I let the instructor know when I dropped BiggestOwl off, and Small joined back in after lunch. He spent the morning chilling in the apartment with Mr.O.
As they'd be in all day, you'd have more flexibility to join the afternoon lessons if you wanted to.
Accommodation in Rauris.
We stayed here at Christmas https://www.booking.com/Share-nQjGuZ which was absolutely spectacular, and incredibly convenient for ski school and the lift (Adventure directly outside, Maier a 30 second walk, lift in the middle). But won't help with trying to keep costs down. Smallest loved the Kids Room for evening socialising, and there's a fabulous pool and spa.
We stayed in a privately owned apartment booked via Vrbo the first time, which was much cheaper in Schönblick Mountain Resort.This one is coming in at £918 for a January week Check out this Vrbo rental:
https://t.vrbo.io/IOvyGGkmkxb. This is about an 8 minute walk away and has a pool and spa.
There's also lots of Pensions in the town.
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.
Wow.. Thankyou for all the advice. I've been through most of the resorts suggested and Flaine and Madonna di Campiglio appeal. Just to figure out some accommodation in both and do the costings with flights etc...
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Poster: A snowHead
