 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm looking for some really small resorts in France or Germany - the type that you tend to see in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine etc. A small mountain/hill with a few runs as I'm taking my 6 year old shortly and will be driving down but don't want a resort that will overwhelm her! Any advice?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, you've left it a bit late for small French resorts most of whom will shut immediately after easter or by end of March at the latest. With poor snow below 1700m some have shut already.
This is probably the year of big, high altitude resorts.
Certainly don't look below 1200m at the moment. Last weekend I was at Hirmentaz, Pras-Lys-Sommand and la Grande Terche. All would suit your requirement and all still had reasonable conditions. There is reasonable snow in the Jura above 1200m - Crozet might fit the bill but some of the lifts are a bit violent.
Remember the small resorts will largely mean drag lifts.
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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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an alternate suggestion might be a small area of a larger ski domain eg monetier from serre chevalier, os en oisans from alpe d' huez, courchevel 1650 and stick that to area - at least you ahve access to the higher areas of necessary
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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MattyNeth, You mention France or Germany, but Courmayeur and Pila on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc tunnel could fit the bill. Both are relatively small, and very friendly. 
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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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Never been to New England so don't know how the comparison works. There are quite a number of small French resorts. One thing I would be a little cautious about is the amount of English spoken in group lessons if this is your plan.
The Maurienne valley has a lot Termignon looks pleasant, Bonneval is very attractive and snow sure and small but the pistes are not great for a beginner. Val Cenis is somewhat bigger but not overwhelming with good easy skiing and English speaking lessons.
Further south Puy St Vincent is a child friendly medium small resort that has a following amongst snowHeads with an English speaking ski school that sounds good. There are several other small resorts nearby such as St Veran that I have never tried.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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MattyNeth, when were you planning to go?
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MattyNeth, Having skied with kids of that age, they tend to look no further than the end of their nose. The size of resort is not important IMHO, but quiet and suitable terrain is.
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Timing is key here.
In Northern Germany, the Wurmberg in Braunlage http://www.wurmberg-seilbahn.de/ looks set to open this weekend. That'll depend on snow, as will how long it remains open. Farther west, Winterberg is open http://www.winterberg.de/, and in the Black Forrest there is skiing on the Feldberg http://www.liftverbund-feldberg.de/ until 13 April. These places are low (and not in the alps), and the snow will not last long if it gets warm. These places can also get mobbed on weekends as they are the closest skiing to a lot of major population centers (like the whole of Northern Germany and the Netherlands).
In German alps and foothills, you have lots of options. http://www.bergfex.com/deutschland/ is a good resource for locating ski areas. They are all pretty small and low key, with Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf being the largest. Apart from the Zugspitze (the glacier at Garmisch-Partenkirchen), I imagine Oberstdorf will have the longest season.
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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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I would agree with the comments of Davidof, but if the snows good and its open then Bernex is good for children
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MattyNeth, Les Saisies is open in until 25 April, though part of the area will close the week before. It's not that small, but it is very unintimidating and friendly. I can't imagine you're looking for group lessons in English, if you want a small French resort! (If you do, you'd be out of luck, but there are instructors who speak enough English for private lessons, which are good value).
If you were thinking of early to mid April, it should be fine. Have a look at the website lessaisies.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Should have said, Les Saisies is at 1650m.
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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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MattyNeth, Why would your child be overwhelmed? and even so why would this be a problem?
if its because you want quiet slopes fair enough. But other than that I dont understand why larger resorts are a problem?
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Loads of little ones down here in the Pyrenees - Pereygudes, Ax les thermes, Luz St Sauveur (Ardiden), Gourette, Pierre st Martin, Bareges (a large resort), Gavarnie, les Angles....... check out the French tourist office websites for the French resorts for good unbiassed info. Just type the resort name and "Office Tourisme" after as a search term to find them.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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MattyNeth, you said in your initial post France or Germany, would you extend that to include Austria as well?
If so there's 322 resorts listed here to keep you busy 
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