 Poster: A snowHead
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So, the dreaded question, where to go skiing for Half Term 2027. There are many threads on where to go and no clear view but here we go...
So I'm a confident skier (can do most of the Chatel PLJ sector in a morning on my own happily), now have kids who are learning. I've genrally skied PDS from Chatel but for a couple of reasons am looking to change.
I will have a 6 and 4 year old, the 6 year old has ESF Flocon, the 4 year old will be putting on skis for the first time.
6 year old has had private lessons with ESI in Chatel and this year ESF. Wasn't overly impressed with the ESF approach this year and the ESI private lesson times were not convenient, will probably move him into group lessons from here on it. So a big ask is for choice of ski schools, I like the look of Oxygene, Evolution 2 etc as they seem to focus on the fun not the 'ESF way'. I'm aiming for the kids to be competent skiers who have fun, not to be future world champions.
My wife doesn't ski, so having things to do / an interesting town is a must. Also ideally ski school dorp off / pick up at the bottom of lifts not the top without long bus rides (this is one of the reasons Chatel isn't working so well, its either up to Super Chatel and ESF or over to PLJ on the packed bus).
We have to do half term and normally drive from UK with an overnight stop, so not massively increasing the drive from Calais compared to Chatel would be good as we normally manage to make the Sat at the start / end ski days. We have travelled a lot in Europe by train so would consider that, ideally would not fly.
We are not set on France, although without lengthening the drive a lot that seems most likely, but where else might be possible to drive?
We like to stay in self catering accomodation and were middle of the market in Chatel.
So... Where should I be going next year?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Imvho, chatel is ok for beginners if you do the super chatel area and chappel d'abondannce areas, everywhere else is a bit harder and from our experience busy even out of half term.
My suggestion would be trying st Gervais les bain, its quicker to get to than chatel as although its a tiny bit longer its virtually all motorway rather than the road through annemasse . Its also much better for non skiers , there is a spa in St fayet which you can get to via a free new lift, its not an aerial one if heights are a problem.but fixed to the cliff and very short, you can walk down to it via either the side of the tram route, the main road or through the trees, she can also take the train to Chamonix for a day out, it was free with a pass from your accommodation but that might have changed, there are more shops there and also a bigger spa with more rooms etc, a sports centre too. St Gervais has a swimming pool and ice rink, you might be lucky and have hockey game to watch if they are playing, there is a lovely lake at Passy which you can access by bus or your car very easily, its a lovely walk round it, we have often taking a picnic down and read our books there even in January, rarely snow at that level these days and very unlikely in half term, if she likes walking there are lots on marked and leveled routes especially in les houches which can be accessed via the cog railway, right under mont blanc . Its only an hour from Geneva by car or the train from le fayet. It would be harder to find a better spot for a non skier
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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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Happy to endorse St Gervais as a place, but the question is whether it fits @sonicdafisch.
The village is low and you need to go up the gondola to get to the ski school meeting place, which is a "prefer not" feature. And I don't know anyone with personal experience of how the various ski schools work out for 4 and 6 year olds. The ideal is to be in a class of like-minded kids who have fun as well as learn. You would look for self-catered accommodation near to the gondola station, which is a 10 minute walk from the village centre.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Three of our grandkids learnt to ski in St Gervais, the two girls were 8 and 5 and had esf. The boy was 7 and had a private lesson via esf with his mother who had never skied, she dropped out as she had just discovered she was pregnant and suffered awful morning sickness, the teacher was great with him and I was taking him down a couple of the easier reds by the end of the week. While the mum would need a lift pass the beginner runs are accessible by the betex gondolas so she could watch and meet them for dinner
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