 Poster: A snowHead
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@Grizwald, even though all zones straddle Easter this year I don’t think school holidays will be a problem. It is only the very keen French families that go skiing during the spring holidays. Most are looking towards the beach.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Grizwald wrote: |
| I'm sure the school holidays usually straddle Easter weekend, i.e. it's in the middle. |
No. It varies. Basically because Easter weekend itself varies. IME schools will want Easter w/e to be part of the 2 weeks off. So if Easter is "late" like this year they will start the school break on the first w/e in April but if it's "early" they will start the school break on the last w/e of March.
Either way it's usually the quietist of the school holiday skiing options.
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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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Having done this with kids a few years back at similar ages, ours were 6 and 8 at the time and we went to Val D'isere. Not an obvious choice for learning but the facilities are great now and moved on lots and there is something for everyone. Ski Schools are plenty, lots of choice and options. I guarantee the children will be all over the mountain by the end of the week so don't worry too much about types of runs if you are your wife are good skiers. Mine were not phased at all by the 'greens' plus you want a big enough area to keep you and your wife occupied. Can recommend New Gen and Progression (longer lessons) and TDC if you want to go the private route but they get booked up early. We now just do 2/3 private lessons and ski with the kids the whole week but now a bit older.
Lift pass 6 days I think includes 2 entries to the pool which is great , its also discounted for families, plus shops and restaurants are good (possibly the best bakery in the Alps for croissants and bread). There is sledging and other stuff to do as well.
Down side with Val - its becoming very expensive(went to la plagne as well last year and it felt about 15ish % cheaper on the whole but felt congested in a lot of places so dont think we will go back) but can still do it reasonably. There are mountain restaurants that don't charge the earth but lots that do! plenty of info on here where the good ones are.
Get accommodation near the snow front where the ski schools are or next to a bus stop (generally very good and often easier than walking) and will be fine, we always managed 3/4 hrs skiing when kids were at ski school. First time we were a little to far and i ended up carrying 3 sets of skis with tired kids and that wasnt fun for anyone. Also, dont put them in all day, you will miss out, its a lot of fun skiing as a family and the best holidays we have done. Website is actually pretty good for accommodation
My tips for first ski trip with kids - dont scrimp on gloves for the kids and take spares, get lots of snacks, hot choc on standby. Dont be afraid to call it early and dont expect to be out all day every day.
I have also done self catering and hotel and chalet and generally found when they were younger self catering apt near the ski school meet point worked best, can get out easy in the morning, then go back after if needed for a chill out/lunch then get a couple more hours later on if they are up for it.
Tignes also great possibly slightly cheaper (i havent noticed a significant difference when i priced it all) but Val is better to look at if that is important and its got a nice boulangerie.
We have tried other places and keep going back to Val D'isere (heading there the same week this year as you actually) it just covers everything well though dont expect it to be a budget holiday (not that any ski hols are really).
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| Quote: |
self catering apt near the ski school meet point worked best, can get out easy in the morning, then go back after if needed for a chill out/lunch
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This works well and if you have a few child-favourite basics in stock it will save you a fortune!
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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 first two years we took our children skiing (slightly younger than yours will be), we went to Aussois in the Maurienne Valley. It was perfect, ski in ski out self catering accommodation with swimming pool. Much, much cheaper lift passes, ski hire and restaurants. We drove but booked the accommodation, hire and passes through Peak Retreats. Most of the ski area at Aussois is in a ski bowl quite a bit higher than the resort itself and the conditions were good both Easters we went. We were warned that the runs down to resort may close if really warm, but they make every effort to keep them open and we could ski back to accommodation easily both years.
Since then we've been to:
La Thuile (mega snowy week at Easter). My wife and daughter were less keen on the steep runs into resort.
Avoriaz (5 times) - that tells it own story - it's a great, car free, family resort. If there was one tip for skiing with a young family - go ski in/ski out near the ski school meeting points. You do not want to do ski buses.
Warth, Austria (quiet resort, part of Lech and St Anton ski area) - fab and v snowy last Easter.
This year - Cervinia - my eldest will be in Asia travelling so the budget is only split 3 ways - flying and staying in a nice hotel on the slopes, half board!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ster wrote: |
Nope, you dont need to go high.
As we are doing, go to Trysil, book the Raddison Blu (pool and spa and bowling in house and other non ski actiivities are also around) , nursery slopes are just outside the hotel ski room door. Usually very good snow late on, we have been twice in mid late-April, last year they has so much they could have easily stayed open for another month after their late April closing date.
Very faimly friendly hotel, relaxed skiing, lots of easy slopes, excellent English instruction to be had. |
Seconding Trysil (or maybe Hemsedal as it's slightly colder than Trysil but is smaller). Valle the Snowman comes to visit the kids in ski school and they have the opportunity to ski with him which the little people in our group always love 
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We went to Obertauern at Easter 2023. We stayed in Das Kohlmayr - it's a fantastic hotel and would tick all your boxes. Conditions were perfect.
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As an update, lots of searching but still nothing booked. My wife is a bit worried if they don't take to the skiing if there's not much to keep them entertained. So now looking at....... Levi. It becomes more of a pain to get to from the UK after Feb as you need a connecting flight in Helsinki. The ski area is not the Alps but it's still skiing.....
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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.
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What greater entertainment is there in Levi?
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| Origen wrote: |
| What greater entertainment is there in Levi? |
Snow mobiles safaris, snow tubing, husky rides, pony trekking, Water world, ten pin bowling laser tag, northen lights. The skiing is pretty good too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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From my experience of small kids in ski resorts I'd say the MOST important thing is small group ski lessons where they keep moving and have a sense of mastery from the beginning (and being comfortably dressed when they're at it, though kids are far more tolerant, often, than adults). Second most important is snow to play in - which means staying up there where the snow is. They don't need fancy equipment for this - simple beach-style buckets and spades are fine, and preferably some sort of snowy incline to slide down on their bottoms (sledges optional). Some kids will make good use of a pool, some not so keen - but that's something a lot of them do at home, so nothing "special". For what's left of the time, whatever they do at home - books, TV, screens - I don't think any special entertainment is called for.
Depending on the kids, sitting up late-ish for long restaurant-style meals in hotels might be a positive, or might be judged "boring". A quick, early, meal of something familiar then lounging in front of a screen of some kind before an early bed time might go down better. And you can't easily put kids to bed in an hotel if adults are sitting up eating and drinking in a hotel restaurant and bar.
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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.
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In two generations of kids and grandkids I've not yet had one that doesn't "take to skiing" though some have been apprehensive - not all gung ho by any means. Just don't insist on that "one last run" - stop when they still want one more.
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……
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Wed 15-01-25 22:15; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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| Origen wrote: |
| In two generations of kids and grandkids I've not yet had one that doesn't "take to skiing" though some have been apprehensive - not all gung ho by any means. Just don't insist on that "one last run" - stop when they still want one more. |
You're preaching to the choir. I think it's just his age but my lad isn't in to anything yet. He went to swimming lessons and we got asked if had issues with his hearing (which he doesnt). It's more a case if he's interested he's interested if he's not he just tunes out. My wife is worried she'll end up walking around a ski resort for a weeks playing in patches of snow. In some ways it would be better if we were all starting from square one and could get a group private lesson.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Grizwald, I second what @Origen says and is very much my experience (kids now 17 & 19).
But then we did camping holidays, always insisted they do a couple of activities per week, didn't take them to McDonalds. That's not a dig, I've no idea what you do with your kids. Just that it maybe suited, or was in keeping with our way of parenting, for better or worse.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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But to add, I think skiing holidays can get very complicated if you allow it to. Again, no offence meant.
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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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| Quote: |
My wife is worried she'll end up walking around a ski resort for a weeks playing in patches of snow.
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Maybe if she knows it would be she walking round playing in patches of snow her fears about the holiday are well-grounded? 
If your two had private lessons together, rather than being in separate group lessons, would that be better for the little one?
Some of the activities you list in Levi would be available in French resorts - certainly swimming (with water slides etc), ten pin bowling, "Mountain Twister" pony rides, snowmobiles, fat tyre bikes and dog sledding are available even in Les Saisies, which is quite a small resort. At a cost!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I’m sure someone will come on to tell me I’m wrong, but in my experience it’s unusual for a child not to take to skiing and refuse, especially when one parent or other can ski reasonably well already. But you do need to be robust about encouraging them into the lessons (we found it was easier if dad dropped off instead of mum in the earlier years).
I second the recommendation of Val d’Isere as in our case there was plenty for a good skier to do as well as ample options for beginners. I think your wife is likely overthinking it unless your kids have form for rejecting group activities etc (one of mine does and we still managed tbh)
Also I’d look at Val Thorens when you are considering to go.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 16-01-25 10:26; edited 1 time in total
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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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| Grizwald wrote: |
| Origen wrote: |
| What greater entertainment is there in Levi? |
Snow mobiles safaris, snow tubing, husky rides, pony trekking, Water world, ten pin bowling laser tag, northen lights. The skiing is pretty good too. |
Waste of a good ski holiday if you ask me 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Im pretty sure most kids just get involved, they are usually pretty versatile but obviously we dont know your kids.
We tested the water with ours in a snow dome they had a few lessons to get a feel for it , loved it and that was that. Also first time in the mountains our lessons didn't start till the Monday the first year, so got them a private lesson on the Sunday just to settle them which helped massively as one was a bit nervous.
I would try and get them in ski school for the first few trips if you can, they make friends and the herd of kids keeps them motivated.
We now spend the equivalent on private lessons approx 3 private lessons = 1 week of ski school, but they are now competent enough to ski with us so don't want them in ski school all week anyway.
I wouldn't worry about having loads to do - a day in the mountains goes very quickly, by the time you pick up at lunchtime from lessons , have lunch, maybe do a little more skiing or play in snow, most kids are done by 3ish, family apres-hot chocolate (beer) and a crepe, its back home then dinner and bed most days when young. We always take an afternoon off midweek as a break and do sledging, shopping, swimming or something else that is going on.
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My wife is a bit worried if they don't take to the skiing
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Have them adopted at this point and ski in peace
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