 Poster: A snowHead
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Help!
My boss wants to go skiing with his family and friends and has asked me to find something suitable. His criteria is:-
- 28 Dec to 3 Jan
- 7 adults & 5 kids
- Fairly inexperienced skiers
- Picturesque resort with apres ski
- Reasonable budget
- Nice hotel close to ski lifts
- Catered
- Fly from London
He has stayed in Zell am See in Austria and Avoriaz in France and liked both of them.
I've never been skiing before so really don't have a clue!
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks guys!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Speckled Egg, Welcome to 
- Get a new boss. Totally unreasonable to ask someone who hasnt skied to 'sort him out'. Tell him he's a pompous unreasonable git from me.
- New Year is never cheap
- Send him to Les Gets --- most hotels in Town will suit
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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'm a PA, so it's my job to 'sort him out'.
I posted on here as I hoped I would find helpful people who are knowledgeable about ski resorts. There's no need to be rude.
Hopefully someone else will have something useful to say.
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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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Speckled Egg, .. didnt mean to be rude ... to you.
His request is unreasonable as you know nothing, as you say, about skiing so can have no objective judgment on anything that is written here or anything you find.
Last line did answer your question ( honestly) and if he thinks Avoriaz was OK then Les Gets ticks more of his boxes.
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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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Speckled Egg, do you have a travel agent nearby, they're very good at this type of thing 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Speckled Egg, welcome to snowHeads I'm sure we can sort you out with assistance, but first some more questions for you...
You say catered - does that mean chalet or hotel? If chalet, they are more usually found in France than Austria or Switzerland.
Is he wanting you to book all the parts of a DIY trip up for him, or would he be happy with a tour operator package?
Will the kids be skiing or is he wanting day-time child-care?
What sort of apres ski - drinking and partying or activities for the kids or nightclubs and discos?
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the key costs and requirements in order are:
flights
transfer (and transfer time as only a short break, keep it 1-1.5 hrs)
accom
ski hire
ski lessons
lift passes
spending money (resort costs)
thats the best way to cross off.
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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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Agenterre,
That'll teach you for trying humour! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Speckled Egg, does he need someone to wipe his bottom for him while he's on holiday as well as at work? Because if so he will have to reconsider his 'reasonable budget' criterion. 
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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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If I were you I would give one of the snow specialist travel people eg Iglu a ring with your list of requirements. They should be able to come up with some specific alternatives - Les Gets would fit the bill but it is fairly low so you would have to hope for good snow, although there are other higher resorts within ski bus distance that are easy to get to. As others have identified there are lots of questions you'd need answering to find the ideal place. Good luck
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what's your boss budget. his reasonable and mine may be different as its all relative to his oncome. As a rule of thumb I would say austrian and swiss resorts tend to conjure the more pictureque. Child care may be a priority in which case check out scott dunn for more upmarket or possibly ski esprit. The belle blagne ski esprit hotel was very highly praised by one of my clients who went there. ITs also a good resort for early intermediate and beginner skiers. The villages in la plagne are not the most scenic though
It sounds like your boss might like an easy life with it all done for him ratherthan trying to manage the compontent parts of a DIY holiday but DIY might be possible once we know of some suitable resorts and have a few more parameters to work with. If he is within 1-2 hours of airport a taxi transfer may suit with him being greeted at airport rather than the scrum of a tour operators requirements.
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You know it makes sense.
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Dr George, Iglu tell fibs. I wouldn't trust them.
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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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Thank you everyone
Just to clarify he wants...
- Hotel with half board
- Can be a DIY or tour operator package (whichever is easiest)
- Some children skiing/some in the creche
- Lessons for kids
- In terms of apres ski, some nice bars and restaurants where they can take the kids and maybe some additional child friendly activities (nothing too rowdy!)
- Would say budget is around the Center Parcs level (not cheap as chips budget and not top of the range if that makes sense!)
- Transfers (not hire cars)
- Ski hire
They can ski, they're just not die hard skiers that go every year!
Hope that helps.
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Poster: A snowHead
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people do need PA's Lizzard, nothing wrong with that, I have one.... Mrs Libertine
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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http://www.espritski.com try and them and price up some options. avoid st anton chamonix or val d;sere as these are more challenging resorts that won't suit child care. Get them to do the work for you and you can then put the costs to your boss. Saas Fee is pretty. Bell Plagne the accomodation is slope side. May lack pictureque or apres
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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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Lizzard - so do most agents! But lets face it if you were booking for your boss, would you go to all the trouble of trawling through flights, separate accommodation, sorting out independent transfers - or would you go for a package!
With this group size I would be ringing round a few agents, finding out what's still available for a peak week then going back to boss with a few suggestions. I think it may well be the case that lots of the early deals for the New Year week will have already gone (the free kids places etc) so you will just have to see what is still available. Again if you want creche/childcare options then a package is going to cater for these better than trying to DIY. Have been with Esprit and Crystal and both have their benefits/downsides. With Esprit particularly the quality of chalets seemed to vary a lot in even just one resort. Had good experience of Crystal hotel - but have heard the opposite from others. Then have a trawl on the internet for reviews of the various resorts - this will give you an idea of transfer times etc.
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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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Speckled Egg, I would definitely use a Tour Operator if I were you, but for that period you will have to go Sat/Sat or Sun/Sun.
Mark Warner is a name often bandied about here and may be a possibility for your boss, though I have no first hand experience of them.
Why don't you try skiing/snowboarding yourself?
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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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Dr George, I'd book a package, just not through an agent.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Speckled Egg, Welcome to Snowheads.
If going DIY I would recommend a small resort called Chamrousse quite close to Grenoble. http://www.chamrousse.com/Chamrousse0708_UK.pdf It's fairly french (not many tour operators = not too much hooray henry or lager louts). It's well known among the french for being a family resort. At new year you don't want to send him to any resort that is known for it's nightlife when it's a family trip. Restaurants and family friendly are normal in france. Good nursery slopes, but I have no idea about the child care facilities. Perhaps he should think about taking a granny/au pair or someone? Unless you book with a tour operator then it's hard to get child care in resorts.
If they don't want to hire a car at the airport (Chambery would be best for there, followed by Grenoble, Geneva and Lyon) there are probably regular taxis and buses, but I don't know the details of those.
I hope this helps.
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Thanks chaps
It is a bit too complicated for me to sort out on my own so I'll go to the specialist travel agent as suggested.
I don't know what some of you lot do for a living but wise businessmen do let other people look after the smaller details of their life. He must be doing something right. In our second year of trading we turned over £150m with just 17 staff. Money is no object for my boss but it is an issue for his travelling companions. He's a very nice guy and not a pompous git!
Thank you to all the nice posters!
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Speckled Egg, Arranging a ski holiday in one of the 2 busiest weeks of the year, with those criteria, is NOT a smaller detail of life. For us obsessives on here it is the most important decision of the year
Those with the smallest budget could arrange it as new year is just about the costliest week.
I would go for a uk tour operator e.g Neilson's and see what they can come up with. Perhaps come back to us with the options and we can kick them about a bit. You will need info such as : Ages of kids, how many people per room, etc etc. Have you broached the option of a nice chalet that would take just their party?
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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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| Speckled Egg wrote: |
Money is no object for my boss but it is an issue for his travelling companions.
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booking a ski holiday where money is no object is wee wee easy, so maybe suggest one of his less well heeled companions get involved in the donkey work, leaving you free to help increase that turnover ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I can would suggest simplyski (www.simplyski.com) with private nanny, or premier neige again with a private nanny (www.premier-neige.com) or if he is trulywealthy and likes the finer things in lide descent (www.descent.co.uk).
Sainte foy (premier neige) is very picturesque but not very lively although there are some top notch restaurants.
Hope this helps
P.S. If he is very wealthy esprit holidays may not suit as the accomodation can be fairly basic in some resorts, but the childcare is fabulous. Mark Warner does the same kind of thing. Ski beat and ski famille are also good bets. However alot of the popular weeks (xmas new year and feb half term)with these companies are already fully booked!
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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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Speckled Egg, Welcome. Would agree with above and put your boss's requests in the hands of a specailist tour operator or get the members of the group who are watching their budget to book the holiday. It's quite something to ask a PA (who has never skied) to do IMO and I don't know any skiers/snowboarders who would gladly hand this task over!
Les Gets is my recommendation, but only if he is as nice as you say and not a hooray henry as I'll be there at the same time 
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Wed 20-08-08 22:29; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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easiski, ...and mine!
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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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Speckled Egg, if you are still looking drop me a personal message. I may have an option that would work well for your boss' group in Les Gets (one of the resorts mentioned in the posts above). Caterd chalet with childcare included and, whilst not cheap, unquestionably good value for money!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Speckled Egg, We went to Les Gets with Ski Famille the company mentioned in ctskifam, post above and can certainly recommend them as they met most of the requirements we had which were very similar to your bosses.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Send him to La Grave.
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