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Bit of a Grump at Esprit Ski (Officaly Un-Grumped!)

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I know lot's of you guys are still skiing but I started on the quest for next year with a quick call to Ski Esprit to find out the availability for me and my daughter next Jan (wife doesn't ski) and was told that they didn't have any single parent and child deals like last year - i.e. Hannah going for "free". The woman I spoke to didn't even recoginize that they did this in the past. I'll try again with the old brochure in hand in a few days and see if I get any further. As I'll be skiing with Hannah in an afternoon next year, has anybody got any other suggestions as to child friendly (£££) ski companies that might offer a similar deal. I'll be looking at Le Ski in La Tania and maybe Ski Family in Morizine as alternatives. Requirements Jan 11/12 (sanity after Chrismas), keeping price realtively low so I can can go for a boys trip later in the season (appx £1000 all in inc childcare, lessons and ski kit for Hannah but not lift passes).

Thanks for the help.

Amended Title 28/04/08 after better booking experience - see below!


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 28-04-08 20:02; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
stevew, if you're looking to keep cost down, is a DIY approach and self-catering an option?

Can usually get a reasonable apartment through links from Tourist Office or Chalet Finder etc
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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?
stevew, Agree with Boris, you should be able to get a studio around that time for about €350, taxi transfers €140 for two return, sort out your own flights. If an over riding concern is cost do not expect too much from the operator. Bear in mind that in budget type operations the customer is not always right, eg Ryanair and Aer Lingus!!!!

It should be very easy to come in under your budget at that time of year, either SC or with a little more difficulty chalet board (but this will have to be last minute which is not practical when considering the family situation). I would do the SC option and at least have peace of mind that you had booked and got it sorted!
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You could get some good hotel deals at that time of year if you DIY, assuming that your daughter is prepared to share a room with you.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
stevew, if you plan on skiing with your daughter, childcare is an extra expense you can do without. You just need a decent ski school for her.
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stevew, Friends DIY ski regularly in Austria, where many hotels have family rooms where younger children go free, and prices seem cheaper than UK tour operators. Easy to book direct & organise your own flights/transfers on the web, rather than "rip off Britain" tour operator prices.
If you're interested, I'll find out some details...
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thanks for the feedback so far. One of the advantages of the likes of Ski Esprit is that you get a chalet full of kids and then the children have a chance to play and bond together - and this is one of things that Hannah likes. If I went down a DIY route then we'd probably miss that opportunity.

PS Self catering not an option - too much like hard work and I'm getting soft in my old age Very Happy

Hannah will be 7 next season.


Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sat 19-04-08 10:34; edited 1 time in total
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
stevew, I have noted that esprit usually do special offers near the departure date with some good deals (including 1 parent/1 child). As you are planning to go during possibly the quietest period of the season, I would hold out and see what they are offering near the time.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Having an apartment does not necessarily mean you need to self-cater though. A local company delivers breakfast packs, and even evening meals, but I can see your point that you want some company for your daughter.
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stevew, If you are getting soft in your old age .........! But seriously you have to work out what you want, a holiday with Hannah being the centre of it or the cost on your wallet! Spend the extra and get what you both want, her happiness.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
stevew, I sympathize; it's much easier with some other kids around to play with. Self catering would not be much fun with just the two of you. But I would agree with the suggestion that Hannah does ski school in the morning and you ski together in the afternoon. If you went somewhere with a good ski school maybe you could do school in the morning too - it can be a much more productive time to spend the time than just swanning round on your own.

If I were you I think I'd wait for a last minute deal; should be plenty for that time, and you won't get any good bargains booking this far in advance.
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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.
http://www.familyfriendlyskiing.com/


Nowt to do with the company, just a happy, repeat punter Smile
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 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
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
I spoke to someone sensible on Monday and found out they still do do there "single parent" offers. After having looked at the brochure again got back to them today and booked for La Rosiere, in their Chalet Arnica, on the 11th Jan 2009. Never been to La Ros before but I wanted to pick something the is going to provide lots of child friendly (easyish) skiing for the pair of us to tackle in the afternoons when Hannah's not in ski school.

Thanks for all the advice above and if anybodies got any feedback to the chalet or La Ros (waiting for a cascade of stuff now Very Happy ) I'd be grateful.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
stevew, La Rosiere should be ideal for you. We had a brilliant time there when our kids were younger.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
stevew, Good choice. Have been to La Ros for 3 trips - very family friendly and small enough for Hannah to spot her mates when out and about. Good skiing and enough for you to both to enjoy. She might like the torchlight descent - the kids in the chalet I stayed in loved it. Know I've heard of Chalet Arnica, but can't remember where it is and haven't stayed there, so can't help on that front.

And rumour has it that the snowfalls there are greater than anywhere else Toofy Grin
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Well done stevew, I have just returned from a week with Esprit in Plan Peisey with my son ( 4.5 ) while Mrs Timberwolf stayed at home with the 18 month old Timberpup. I cannot tell you what a FAB week we had. The Chalet, Ski School, Childcare were all absolutely top notch. You'll have a ball !!! All a bit academic now for you given that you have booked, but I waited and waited, and then waited a bit more until it was too late in terms of getting a complete package, BUT, I did end up with a steal 'accommodation only' deal, then sorted some low cost flights into Lyon and simply hired a car and drove up to resort myself. Esprit are an absolutely tip top operator ( IME ), well worth the premium !
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Timberwolf, Was Jake the childcare manager still and Ed 'resort' manager?
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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?
he certainly was thefatcontroller, friend/acquaintance of yours ?
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I got a good deal in San Cassiano (Alta Badia, connected to the Sella Ronda) in '06 with Mountain Sun. They had a room which is normally sold as a single, but is actually bunks. So son#1 came at a very good price in the 'extra' bed. Jude from Mountain Sun is a snowHead

http://www.mountainsunltd.com/italian.html

[Note we had to arrange our own transport from the airport as our flight didn't tie in with their transfers.]
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Timberwolf wrote:
he certainly was thefatcontroller, friend/acquaintance of yours ?


With Esprit in Peisey in Jan, our 3rd time with them. Jake had been in Montchavin the year before and we had met him there. The kids loved him (and the ladies Toofy Grin ). Great guy, good chalets but personally I didn't like Peisey in particular the road outside the chalet. Too many fast cars. Mad
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stevew, I was in La Tania recently and there was a whole load of chalet operators I'd never heard of. We were using Family Friendly Skiing, Ski-azzle, Ski-Magic.

FFS are the obvious ones.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
thefatcontroller, Yes, Jake and his team provided top notch childcare - it struck me that they were there to do a good job first which enabled them to ski, rather than some seasonaires who are there to ski first, and then apply themselves poorly to the job which enables them to be there. Going back to the orginal post, I think Esprit need to do a little bit of work with their front of house staff in the UK ie the booking/admin people - but once in resort, I found the staff to be professional, helpful, and knowledgeable as all in all, I had a very positive experience.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Timberwolf, We just did our first holiday with Crystal. Cheap but a shock after Espirt. You summed it up brilliantly. Esprit are definitely there to serve you first and ski second. Crystal are there sot ski first, second, third and serve you if you shout at them.

It was aways fun to watch the housewives when Jake came to talk at dinner Toofy Grin . How attentive they became Laughing
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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.
thefatcontroller, you're right - he definitely had the boy band looks - although I have to say, the ladies in our Chalet were perkier at around 18.15 when Ed dropped round for his daily chat Laughing
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Timberwolf, Ed Shocked Shocked . Nice guy but so square Laughing . Wierd women Confused
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
stevew wrote:
I spoke to someone sensible on Monday and found out they still do do there "single parent" offers. After having looked at the brochure again got back to them today and booked for La Rosiere, in their Chalet Arnica, on the 11th Jan 2009. Never been to La Ros before but I wanted to pick something the is going to provide lots of child friendly (easyish) skiing for the pair of us to tackle in the afternoons when Hannah's not in ski school.

Thanks for all the advice above and if anybodies got any feedback to the chalet or La Ros (waiting for a cascade of stuff now Very Happy ) I'd be grateful.


The Family Snowplough stayed in the Chalet Arnica in La Ros this year. The chalet is in a top location. You can ski right to the back door if the snow is OK!

There are some good green runs, including one through the trees, which has some kid friendly jumps and bumps.

One of the highlights for us was the chalet full of playmates for the kids, plus not having to cook. Esprit is not cheap, but you get good grub and Esprit customers tend to be very civilised. Our latest night was 11pm - knockout "charades"! - and there was never any pressure to stay up partying later than you wanted to, even if you went to bed at 9pm - as we did on one occasion!
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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.
The Flying Snowplough, thanks for the reassurance that we've booked something good.

How far do the kids have to walkn in the morning to their ski classes? - This was Hannah's biggest whinge of Tignes!
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 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
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
Hmmm, interesting. We're looking at taking our nephew next year - he'll be 6 in march. I've been tempted by the excellent prices and flight times to Passo Tonale with Crystal, but going with a childcare specialist does seem to make sense
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
stevew, the walk to the lessons from Arnica is about as short as you could realistically hope for. You congregate in the Arnica's garage and then walk for about a minute to the warm up area above the lower nursery slope drag lift. Elder Little Snowplough (age 5, but built like a 7 year old) can, and regularly does, moan that the sky is the wrong colour, but she never complained about the walking involved, even though to get from the top of the lower nursery drag to the bottom of the upper nursery drag involved a fair bit of walking / side-stepping.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Hi all.

We've been busy reading the reviews on this site finding them very helpful and are now hoping to book our first family skiing holiday (for 2009). Narrowed it down to La Rosiere with Esprit.

We can't decide between the chalets and suites/rooms i.e. arnica or camelia others. Are the suites all about the same size?. Also would you recommend a chalet on ground or other level?

Our kids are aged 8 & 11. We can't wait to go (next year). Thanks.

Please excuse if posted in wrong forum, as it's our fist post!
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
snowflakes, Welcome to Snowheads snowHead
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
snowflakes, Another welcome to snowheads. As you can see it's also going to our first time in La Ros, so sorry can't really help on details of the chalets.
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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?
we will book again with esprit for 2009. the childcare sells it the two times we have gone with them
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Snowflakes - The rooms within the chalets do vary in size. Rooms aren't necessarily bigger than "suites". (An Esprit suite is simply where there is a door between parents and kids room. The brochure info isn't enough to work out exactly what you're going to get. That said, no-one we skied with had any major complaints about their Esprit logdings - you pay a lot, but the accommodation is good.

We were on the ground floor. The only time this was an issue was on "chucking out" day, when there was a steady stream of heavy shoes clomping around upstairs and down the stairs from the wee small hours.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks for the warm welcome and for getting back with useful information. Very Happy

Well, we've booked our holiday and going in 2009, staying in the Camelia chalet (Top Floor). We'll try to remember to be quite on "chucking out day" Little Angel . I must agree with others, that Esprit (Uk?) call center say different things depending on who you speak to. Just having a floor plan would have been useful, but guess we're asking too much Confused We get quick and better answers from froum members.

Thanks again everyone. I'll keep popping in from time to time, especially to sort out best places to get kitted out and get advise on where to hire from........

SnowFlake & family
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snowflakes, which week are you going? We're going to be there 11th Jan.
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