 Poster: A snowHead
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Over the past decade we have booked our family and friends ski holidays independently but this year unfortuantely our friends cannot join us. So we are thinking of taking the plunge and booking with Ski Esprit to hopefully enable our 7 year old son to find some like minded children to enjoy the skiing/snow. Does anyone have any experience of this ski company and it's resorts- good or bad? Would appeciate any feedback before we sign on the dotted line. Many thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Been with them a couple of times - Peisey and Tignes. Accomodation varied. The food was pretty average. Talking to the cook as he was preparing dinner one night he mentioned that everyone with Esprit in the Alps would be eating the same meal that night, which gives you an idea of the corporate approach to things (if true). This isn't a criticism necessarily...
The benefit for us has been the childcare for non-skiing little kids, which has been great. For older kids you're paying quite a lot for that supervision so make sure you really want/need it. Other than that you have the normal waiting for coaches at the airport and that sort of package nonsense. If they offer ski guiding you might want to take them up on the offer if you're new to a resort.
One thing I noticed is that they can do very cheap deals around Christmas/New Year - check the special offers page of their site if you were thinking about that sort of time. Just saw a deal for a family of 3 in Courchevel for £799 on 07/01.
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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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Hi BeckyBB, we've been with Ski Esprit over Christmas or New Year for the past 2 seasons. Both times to Tignes staying in the Terril Blanc. The hotel is pretty basic but the food was good both times, the staff were great and everything seemed to be very well organised. Beth was only small on both trips so I can't comment too much on what the facilities are like for 7 year olds, but it appeared that there was an excellent programme on offer for that age group. On both trips there were lots of children of around that age and everyone seemed to mix fairly well.
We've not finalised our trips for the coming season but I think there's a very good chance we'll be using them again, probably to Tignes or Les Arcs. Just as soon as the new baby is big enough 
There's been a numerous mentions of Esprit on snowheads in the past couple of years and I think it's fair to say that it's been pretty positive.
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No experience myself, but a group of friends of mine (with kids) have been with them for 6 or 7 years and (obviously) rate them, paricularly the child care side.
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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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BeckyBB, placing your son in an environment with "some like minded children" is an excellent idea. It should work well with Esprit.
I have seen most of their chalets in la Rosiere and they seem very handy for the slopes and Nursery slopes (some are actually ON the nursery slope) and all local services. I think La Rosiere is great for kids as it tends to be a fair bit quieter thaqn some of the other large resorts.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi BeckyBB,
I haven't travelled with them myself, but have only heard positive comments, particularly with regard to childcare. Have fun!
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BeckyBB, I will be in a better position to comment after my first trip with them at half-term next year in La Rosiere... however, let me say that I only booked after research including right here on snowheads...
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BeckyBB, we are big fans. Been to Montchavin, Courchevel and Obergurgl.
Big tip - if you go to Courchevel make sure you don't get the basement family room in between the cleaning cupboard and the kitchen, with the full blast heating and excessive road noise outside...but hey it's horses for courses. You might like all those qualities 
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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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BeckyBB, I've been with them once last year to Saas Fee, and have booked again for Jan in Tignes at Terrill Blanc, I thought the childcare was well orgranised and my (very picky and tantrum prone) daughter really enjoyed herself, enough to agree to going away with just me in Jan. As child friendly goes I was impressed (but it was the first time we'd been out with my daughter to know what a base level is!). As far as the food was concerned I would agree it was average and they did seem to go by a company receipe book, whether they all cooked the same thing each night is true I don't know, it wouldn't put me off (and hasn't). Hope this helps.
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BeckyBB, we used them some years ago, actually it was a lot of years ago - about 13, but thought they were great. My kids (aged 3 and 2) had a great time and didn't miss us at all when we disappeared each morning. The nannies kept them so occupied doing fun things, and there were lots of other kids there too, which of course they loved. We went to Villars, but I think that no longer features on their list.
I assume that every year will be different as there must be a huge turnover of staff, but I certainly rated them from our experience.
We tried 3 different companies over the years and they were easily the best for us.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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BeckyBB, I went to La Rosiere with them three years ago. It was a good trip, though the "Family Room" we had wasn't really suitable for four thirty-something lads. The catering was great, with really a good chalet host, a really good rep., and a miserable-as-sin "hanger-on". We nick-named her "Chuckles" because she was always moping and never doing anything.
I should point out that, although Ski Esprit specialises in family holidays, due to a shortage of qualified nannies, they sold our chalet to grown-ups only. I suspect that's why Chuckles was a bit fed up - she was the "baby sitter".
As far as we were concerned Ski Esprit did everything right: prompt and efficient transfers, excellent food, great resort knowledge, helpful service, particularly for one of ours who snapped a ligament in his knee on the first morning. If I had young kids I'd certainly consider them as a more than capable travel company.
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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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they sold our chalet to grown-ups only. I suspect that's why Chuckles was a bit fed up - she was the "baby sitter
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if I was a baby sitter in a chalet booked full of adults I think it would be my best week of the season! A company which prescribes the daily menu throughout the Alps would obviously not attract any decent chefs, so the food will never be fantastic, but it shouldn't be awful either, as they have a tried and tested formula.
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Hi BeckyBB
Went with esprit to Obergurgl last year and have booked again to La Rosiere this. Our 6 yo's 1st ski trip and he loved it after day 1 teething troubles. The kids love having pals and soon forget about us. Childcare was good with separate meals for the children giving the parents some rest time. Staff welcoming and the chalet was warm and comfortable
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You know it makes sense.
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We went with them a couple of years ago staying in Le Praz (Courchevel). Our chalet was nice and we had a large room at the top for 4 of us with our own bathroom which was a real bonus. I would agree with the comments about the food. I don't eat meat and I think I faired better than the meat eaters in the chalet. Plenty of wine available though.
Our children were 6 and a half and 8 and a half and we found the childcare to be excellent. They had lessons in the morning and then went to their childrens club in the afternoon which they both seemed happy with. If you haven't been on a package like this before, it's often the little things that make all the difference. By this I mean the children were collected from the Chalet in the mornings and returned at the end of the afternoon. There was no messing about with the kid's skis as they were kept in another chalet ready for lessons in the morning. This left us free to have an extra coffee before heading off in the morning which was great and didn't mean we were carrying 2 lots of skis each to the lifts in the morning which was quite a trek.
As all the comments have been so positive, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
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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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BeckyBB, Ski Esprit? Excellent choice. One bit of advice: choose a chalet with the creche in it. It can be quite daunting for both you and your child to have to march off to some strange chalet and leave them there. If the creche is in your chalet, the nannes will join you at breakfast. You just slip away while the nannies make a fuss of your child. Quite painless all round. When you return for tea and cakes your child will hardly notice you have been away. Our favourite chalet was the Mont Blanc in Montchavin.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Echo Jonpims comments about ensuring the creche is in your chalet, though with a 7 year old, that shouldn't be an issue. Have used Esprit 3 times in recent years and each has been a good experience, though La Rosiere is the only resort that we used them for. Chalets were practically ski in/out with the nursery slopes in the immediate vicinity.
Staff were all pretty good/very good. Food was OK - pretty much what you'd expect.
Would definitely recommend them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hiya Becky - used Esprit 4 years running, since kids were 4 and 7 . (Have outgrown them now, and went silverski last yr) Stayed in same chalet Le Bracconnier in La Rosiere. Perfect resort, couldn't fault the childcare as everyone else has said.
A bit pot luck with chalet standards - felt they were getting overpriced for catering on offer and chalet staff were young and somewhat inexperienced (asked whether to chill the red or white in one chalet!)
However childcare excellent, as was ski school in Ros - Evolution 2, family run with good English speaking instuctors.
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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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BeckyBB
We have been twice with Ski Esprit, once when children were 2 and 4 in Montchavin - good food, good chalet, childcare worked well, and last year went to La Rosiere - fantastic chalet (Amelia, ski-in ski out, with big terrace and balcony to watch the children tobagganing after lift had closed). Children who were 7 and 9 loved Evolution 2 ski school, the older one managed a red run by end of week. Food not so good, I thought, that time, as they are now working to the same menu everywhere. Would agree re young and inexperienced chalet staff in terms of catering, but childcare was brilliant, the children loved all the childcare staff who seemed genuinedly jolly and keen to ensure the children enjoyed themselves. They supervised children's tea so we could go off and have baths/go out for a drink etc, and then took children off to cocoa club so we got a peaceful grown up dinner. Its good to be with a TO where there are lots of kids because if yours play up, there's almost sure to be some others that are worse! Downside - they changed our flight time 2 weeks before departure to a much earlier time meaning middle of night start to get to airport. Also, outside SKi Esprit's control, but the staff were young and didn't seem to know how to deal with the situation (ie keeping us informed, arranging refreshments etc), we had a 3 hour wait on arrival in the cattle shed at Geneva when our luggage went missing - not much fun when there are no seats/refreshments and hordes of hungry children who have all been up since the crack of dawn! Make sure you take snacks and drinks for journey, just in case! In general, though, would recommend them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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BeckyBB, going with Esprit to Peisey for Chrimbo, the chalets look nice in the brochure,hot tub etc. Hope the foods good as one of our party ( my brother in law )is French and is a fairly well known chef (as well as being a ski instructor in Peisey many moons ago)!
As we have always needed child care we've been with Mark Warner (good) Snowline (excellant) and Crystal (poor) over the last three years.
I will report back after our trip.
Ps we are thinking on going on a second trip in March to north America can anyone reccommend a suitable company and resort were the kids will be looked after without fussing parents around them.Both ski, my 5 (6 in march)year old has 2 holidays worth of skiing experience and my 9 year old skis pretty well.
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