 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello all,
I've been a keen skier for many years, but the time has now come to bite the bullet, dig deep and take the family.
OK, so planning a trip for half term next year with 1 or 2 other family parties but we can't decide on the best resort for our needs.
Will probably hire private tuition for the newbies rather than ski school. The youngest will be 5, so no need for baby sitting services, but the following would be good:
Close to Geneva airport (<1.5hrs)
Good for beginners
Family friendly - we have 4 under 10s in our party, all new to skiing
High up - guaranteed snow and so don't have to take whole family up the mountain on cable car every morning
Bowl-like - so we can all meet for lunch
Good family accomodation - eg with pool etc
Oh and can it be picturesque too please (my wife's request)
Avoriaz seems to tick most of the boxes, but the accomodation looks very basic and it's not the prettiest resort.... 
Any other suggestions most gratefully received.
Many thanks
Sticky Bun
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Like Avoriaz, Flaine ticks all the boxes except picturesque! How about Les Carroz? Or Samoens? Both have good access to Flaine for height.
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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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I recommended someone to Flaine on another thread, and, rather worringly, they appear to have decided to go. It ticks all your boxes, I think, except the picturesque bit, which it definitley ain't. Some of the saellite resorts are considerably better, although none of them are chocolate box. I couldn't swear to hotels with pools, but there must be some.
There used to be a hotel in Flaine itself which specialised in kids, but I'm not sure that it is still functioning like that any more. Les Lindars?
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Sticky Bun, have a look at Les Saisies, considerably smaller than Flaine, about the same altitude, excellent snow record (though no guarantees...) and less crowded. Attractive village, stunning scenery. Family friendly, gentle skiing (though some challenging runs for you in lift-linked Notre Dame de Bellecombe, and some accessible off-piste). Very easy to meet in the middle for lunch, ski lessons etc. The Village des Lapons, bookable through Erna Low, has high quality self catering apartments, and a pool.
If you take them all out of their primary schools for a week the holiday will be heaps cheaper and less crowded. And it won't affect their A level scores. Half term really is a mission. However, as there are very few Brits who go to Les Saisies, the fact that the entire country will be on holiday the same week won't have as big an impact there as it would in Flaine. And with ski instructors, you'll have lift priority. The Glisse Passion independent ski school strongly recommended, rather than ESF. They have a number of instructors who speak enough English to do the job, but book miles in advance for half term (because it's peak French holiday time too).
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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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Just to give you a flavour, this is the main Les Saisies bowl, from one of the mountain restaurants.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sticky Bun - Les Gets is also a good choice. Although pam w's recommendation looks good to me.
I'd always recommend putting noobies in group lessons unless there's a compelling reason not to. It's more fun learning with other people.
Do book whatever instruction you want as early as you can.
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Yes, Les Gets is nice - we holidayed there twice, largely because of the excellent reputation of the BASS ski school. I agree with PhillipStanton that group lessons can be fun for beginners, but from that point of view Les Saisies is not so good, because all group lessons are in French - so particularly difficult for children. But we met (through a Snowheads discussion) two families who came to Les Saisies in January and, at my suggestions, booked private lessons for the 4 kids with Glisse Passion. They had a ball, and fell in love with their instructor (the best instructor in the world, said one little guy on his first ski holiday).
Les Saisies is a lot smaller than Les Gets. Your accommodation, the ski school meeting place, the top of the nursery slope, the main lift "junction" of the resort and the best chocolate and cake shop in the world are all within a few hundred metres. It is also a lot more snow sure.
But lessons with BASS are a good reason to go to Les Gets - though it is much busier at half term.
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Thanks for the suggestions.....
One of the other families had already suggested Flaine, but I can't remember why I dismissed it - possibly because it didn't tick the pretty box.
Hadn't considered either Les Saises or Les Gets - I'm off to investigate on the web right now.
A work colleague had already recommended the BASS ski instructors in Avoriaz - can see the attraction here, as I think my 5yr old would struggle if he didn't understand what the instructor was saying.
Thanks for the leads!
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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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Jeez, my eyes aren't what they used to be - just spent 5 minutes on Google looking for "ema low", "emma low" etc
Damn font - Got it now ERNA LOW - doh!
T
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Sticky Bun, BASS have a number of centres - including Les Gets - have a look at their website.
If you had private lessons in Les Saisies they'd be in English!
Les Saisies is a little over 1.5hrs from Geneva, but not much. They say 1.5 on their website, but that's if you're French!! I've never done it in less than 1h45. If it's snowy (which you hope it is!!) you can add in time for chains etc.
Incidentally, you will get cheaper accommodation prices booking through local agencies than through UK based outfits. In Les Saisies there are only 3 places with pools. Village des Lapons - in the main village, Le Hameau du Beaufortain - well outside, but a very easy ski down to the village for all but complete beginners. And the Hotel Calgary. 3*, Pricey, but very conveniently located.
If you like the look of it, I could give you more specific info; I shall be there from Thursday till the end of the season!
If you speak absolutely zero French, you might find Les Saisies a bit of a challenge; the locals are slowly waking up to the need to train staff in English, as there are more English families there every year (some of them because of my evangelizing zeal; I should really shut up as I like it as it is). A particularly linguistically challenged friend of mine failed utterly to book dinner for 5 in one of the local restaurants and eventually retreated in embarassment.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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***BUMP***
Hello all,
OK, we have our flights booked to Geneva for 14th Feb 2009 returning on 21st Feb (ie UK half term). Now I need to get on and choose a resort, then book some accomodation and ski tuition for the beginners  .
Les Saisies is top of my list at the moment (thanks to Pam W), but at >£1500 for a Village des Lapons s/c apartment for 4 it seems expensive. Are all resorts going to be this price because it's half term?
Can anyone suggest any other accomodation?
Any advice greatly received.
Regards
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| Sticky Bun wrote: |
Les Saisies is top of my list at the moment (thanks to Pam W), but at >£1500 for a Village des Lapons s/c apartment for 4 it seems expensive. Are all resorts going to be this price because it's half term?
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Prices are much higher in half-term, unfortunately, but even so that price seems to be much more than I'd expect to pay for a high quality self-catering apartment.
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You know it makes sense.
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Sticky Bun, went to Lest Gets at Easter. I thought it was a great resort for families and not too busy. Would definitely go back and if you get some time to yourself you can ski far and wide. We went with Alpine Elements 5 minutes walk (downhill  ) from the ski school meeting place,\main lifts and the pub for apres ski. Oh and ice rink for the kids too.
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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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Halfhand
How did you 'find' alpine elements? Were you in the hotel chamois( if yes, how was it)?
Cheers
Mitch
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sticky Bun, Went to Praz sur Arly last year early season - it is one of the Espace Diamant resorts linked to Les Saises. We were very impressed by the snow cover {it seems to have some sort of local climate that gives it great snow cover despite the lower level). Can't comment on the half term price (no kids) except to say that it was considerably lower than its near neighbour Megeve when we went at Xmas! Worth investigating as an altenative base?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Sticky Bun wrote: |
| Les Saisies is top of my list at the moment (thanks to Pam W), but at >£1500 for a Village des Lapons s/c apartment for 4 it seems expensive. Are all resorts going to be this price because it's half term? |
Where are you looking for apartments ?
I found some 6 bed ones in the same place for less than 1100 Euro.
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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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| rjs wrote: |
| Sticky Bun wrote: |
| Les Saisies is top of my list at the moment (thanks to Pam W), but at >£1500 for a Village des Lapons s/c apartment for 4 it seems expensive. Are all resorts going to be this price because it's half term? |
Where are you looking for apartments ?
I found some 6 bed ones in the same place for less than 1100 Euro. |
I was looking on www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk and specifiying
"2 PIECES 6 PERSONNES CABINE" = £1592.22
"3 PIECES 6 PERSONNES" = £1734.00
Where were you looking?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Sticky Bun wrote: |
| Where were you looking? |
On the resort website. The ones I found were with the Agence du Grand Mont.
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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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Wow thanks rjs for that pointer - that's a lot more "reasonable" in the grand scheme of things.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sticky Bun, although not high, Les Gets was amazing in March when I went and it really did tick all the boxes when it came to a nice, family-friendly resort. Yes, the link to Avoriaz is a bit of a grueller to get onto the higher runs over that side, but the 100km+ that are in Les Gets and Morzine are briilliant. Plsu, it's about 80 mins from Geneva and it's a really pretty resort.
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| Specialman wrote: |
| Sticky Bun, although not high, Les Gets was amazing in March when I went and it really did tick all the boxes when it came to a nice, family-friendly resort. Yes, the link to Avoriaz is a bit of a grueller to get onto the higher runs over that side, but the 100km+ that are in Les Gets and Morzine are briilliant. Plsu, it's about 80 mins from Geneva and it's a really pretty resort. |
I agree with that, athlough the day I arrived there at the start of March the snow conditions were much worse in Les Gets than they were in Les Arcs because the lower altitude. Happily it snowed the following day and conditions were good for the rest of the trip. It really was very family friendly skiing on the Les Gets side, and the village was much nicer on the eye than purpose built resorts.
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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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Mitchell, I thought they were 'ok'. Not as good as SilverSki say but not as bad as the horror stories I'd read before the trip made out. We stayed in Chalet La Seigneurie which although advertised as sleeping up to 17 it was a bit cramped for 8 adults and 9 kids .
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| richmond wrote: |
I recommended someone to Flaine on another thread, and, rather worringly, they appear to have decided to go. It ticks all your boxes, I think, except the picturesque bit, which it definitley ain't. Some of the saellite resorts are considerably better, although none of them are chocolate box. I couldn't swear to hotels with pools, but there must be some.
There used to be a hotel in Flaine itself which specialised in kids, but I'm not sure that it is still functioning like that any more. Les Lindars? |
We took our kids and ourselves on our first ever ski trip to Flaine, and stayed in Les Lindars, we returned the following year, and it had been taken over by ClubMed or something similar. It was still good (in fact the food was better). It was ideal for our first time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sticky Bun, Have you booked yet - if not hurry up as we only have 2 studios left now out of 22 properties for 14th February 2009 - there has been a mad rush in the last week - so get your skates on!
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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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Flaine has got a new development about a km before you get to the Flaine Foret turn off. I stayed there last month for a night and although it doesn't make Flaine any prettier (only a demolition squad could do that) the development itself is a marked improvement of the concrete down in the bowl. It is called Flaine Montsoleil and has been done by Intrawest, the same company that developed Arcs 1950. There is a heated outdoor pool, leisure complex, sauna, steamroom and underground parking. I have been assured that the ski in ski out will be ready for this winter - they are putting in a new piste down to the development and a new lift taking you from the back of the property. If you look at http://www.grand-massif.com/panoramaofthefuture/ you will see the new chair. Erna Low and Thomson have it in their brochures (and I'm sure there are others too). I have to declare an interest - I own one of the apartments. If you want more details PM me - mine is not available at half term but others are.
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| rjs wrote: |
| Sticky Bun wrote: |
| Where were you looking? |
On the resort website. The ones I found were with the Agence du Grand Mont. |
Apparently the apartments on the Grand Mont site are not available. Village Des Lapons is definitely >£1500 for half term week.
T
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You know it makes sense.
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Sticky Bun, Did you try the website for individual apartment owners here.
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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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Hmm. Very little left for that week on that website - some very small apartments in the village itself (eg in building Chardon) but Hauteluce, where there are several bigger places, is not practical for beginners without a car and it's a trek up to Saisies.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you want to go to Les Saisies it looks as though you'll have to pay the big prices with Erna Low or similar, if you want a good quality apartment in the centre (though they probably won't be available much longer) or stay a bit further out in Bisanne 1500 - only practicable for beginners if you have a car because although there's a ski bus they're not very frequent and with kids you don't want to be hanging around. It would take a few days even for quite quick learners to be able to ski back down to Bisanne 1500, it's a nice gentle confident-boosting run (most of it green rather than blue) but very long.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chris Mason,
Hi Chris, I know the GM well and i am really interested in visiting Montsoleil in March however, i have one concern how long do you think it would take to walk to and from the centre of flaine for resteraunts or bars?
We have a three year old so even in the day would it be a struggle to get to and from Flaine "proper".
I am more than capable of skiing while carrying my little one so should be okay in the day with the new lift and runs they are putting in behind the development.
Any further info would be much appreciated.
P.S. i am so jealous of you having that place.
Thanks, Ian.
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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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the resort i would recommend for a family holiday close to geneva airport would definetely be Les Gets. The transfer is just over an hour - heaven when you travel fom Scotland with two small children. Les gets is very picturesque with an ice rink in the centre and low level chalets rather than high rise apartment blocks of flaine or les Arcs La plagne etc. everyone in the resort is VERY child friendly even the ski lift operators help get small children off and on every skilift. The only concern is its altitude which means it is best to book last minute. The local runs are plenty for a weeks entertainment on the slopes when we have been we had great snow conditions with lots of deep snow at the sides if the piste which kept better skiers entertained. avoriaz offers higher and more challenging terrain and the rest of the portes du soliel is endless if a little disjointed in places. Mountain restaurants are also great. I have been with ski famille which offer an excellent and very flexible service at the time we went with another couple - 4 adults and 4 children all under four years! I have since been with Mark Warner and this year am going with Esprit but am not sure if either compare more favourably than ski famille - just different.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Yup, Les Gets would be a good choice.
If you can wait and book nearer the time just to keep an eye on the snow level etc I wouldn't look past LG for a family holiday.
With the current financial climate you should get something even during half term.
The sking is good and you can adventure over to Morzine and get up to Avoriaz pretty quickly.
I have done 2 seasons in Morzine and I love the port ski area, its just a bit low down in Morzine, but when good snow the area is epic!
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FAQ
