 Poster: A snowHead
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My husband and I have skiied before (although not for a few years!). We have 3 daughters 11,13 & 14 who have all skiied with school once, and loved it! We have declined school trips this year in favour of a family ski holiday. I have been looking at Feb half term, but it is looking prohibitively expensive, and because of the 1 week window of opportunity (shared by 1/2 of europe it seems!), availability is not good.
The other option would be the 1st week of Easter hols, term ends Friday 3rd April.
Any recommendations, words of advice greatly appreciated. I am really looking forward to dusting down my boots......
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kittykat, welcome to snowHeads 
I would say go twice and then you save having to make that difficult decision on which holiday to use.
As a family we have opted for Easter for the last 3 years. It is cheaper, the weather is much more pleasant, the days are longer, the snow is every bit as good (if not better) and because of the 2 week Easter break, there isn't the rushed effect like half-term.
Have a look at this thread that gave some answers for that week. http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1004561#1004561
On the negative side, you will find that your daughters will probably be faster than you!!
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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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kittykat, is N.America an option? We have had fantastic hols in Canada at Easter - great snow, no queues.
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Another vote for North America.
If that's a bit far, how about Scandinavia? I've been to Geilo in Norway a couple of times, it really is very family friendly with excellent tuition for the kids. Snow record is excellent, and queues (in my experience) were virtually non-existant.
However, it's only a small resort, so if you and your husband are advanced skiers it might not be very exciting.
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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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kittykat, welcome to Snowheads. You'd be better going for Easter, for the reasons Ray Zorro has set out, preferably immediately the schools break up. There should be plenty of choices - and a family holiday will be great. Tell us a bit more about where you've been before, and what sort of place you're looking for - and whether you like hotels, catered chalets or self catering.
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It definitely seems like Easter is the better option - and yes my daughters will be significantly faster than me (and if I win the lottery we will be going twice!)
I have quite a lot (nearly 300,000) Virgin airmiles to use, but it is really hard to find airmiles flights in the school holidays - but if I could N America would be an option - eldest daughter skiied Winter Parks last December and somehow Europe is sounding less exciting to her, but apparently she will still come witho us!
We have both skiied a lot in Austria before, and Bulgaria. We are not looking for extensive advanced skiing because it is a while since we both went, and we want to ski with the girls in the afternoon after 'school'!
We would quite like a catered chalet or hotel if possible - we have been looking at France - but open to other suggestions, particularly if we can find a competively priced American or Canadian adventure.
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kittykat, N.America isn't generally big on chalets or other than room only (or sometimes B&B) board, although everything is available somewhere. I haven't looked seriously at N.America TO prices recently, but when we last went it offered great value for a 2 week hol in comfortable accomodation. Our last trip there was with United Vacations, about 10 days in Breckenridge (in a '1 room apartment', basically a hotel room with a full kitchen, handy for brekkers and snacks) and a few days in New York on the way back, great hol, excellent value.
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kittykat, welcome to snowheads!!
Fantastic idea to go skiing with kids! They will love it- but perhaps your bank manager might raise an eyebrow!
We have 2 kids and another on the way ( due 3 days before our 2 week trip beginning of April 2009- oh well there goes the deposit) they are 4 and 6 - but we have skied every year since the first came along- trying lots of different ways of doing it; DIY trip (easyjet/rental car/granny/hotel), full service (Mark Warner etc- charter flight...) owner run chalet...booked a year ahead...booked last minute.
My advice to you as a returner to skiing with kids tied to school holidays;
1. be brave- don't book ahead. For the last 2 years I have gone skiing at Febraury half term with my oldest son (then aged 5 and 6) we booked last minute- a fortnight or so before departure- this was not a problem and saved a lot of money. Each time we went with Ski Espirit. This company specialises in family ski holidays- with lots of kids, nannies, helpers for kids/kids meals and most importantly lots of other kids. They have lots of last minute avaliability including at peak times. Each trip we did at Feb half term we were entirely with other families who came last minute- in Chalets of upto 16 occupancy.
2. Go to a catered chalet / chalet hotel- this will be grteat for the kids social lives- and yours.
3. At your experience I really wouldn't worry too much about exactly where you go. North America will be really quite expensive- especially the flights- you will not get deals. But will get fuel surcharges. France/ switzerland/ Italy all great. We have had very good trips to Peisey th equiet bit in lesArcs near the link to la Plagne- a very good ESF ski school and a pretty village.
4. Alternatively if you have just been made redundant from Merril Lynch, Bear Stern or Lehmans forget all that and go to Vail.
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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'm not sure that I'd recommend a last minute booking - in my experience, tour operators often find a family of five very difficult to accommodate and there might be nothing available. A few years back, our family was turned down by several major tour operators as they had no suitable accommodation 2 months before we travelled.
If you have the cash and the time to travel, North America would be a fabulous place to learn because the quality of instruction is so high in most resorts over there. One great advantage for families is that most North American ski schools sell affordable group instruction by the half day, so you're not tied into a week-long group session; that's perfect if you want to alternate days of family skiing with lessons. Another huge benefit is that oversized classes are almost unheard of over there.
Many North American resorts suit beginners because they're small and uncrowded. You don't need a large resort as a beginner, and crowds are threatening when you're feeling a little wobbly on your skis. If you do go across the pond, I'd avoid the big names like Vail and Whistler for just that reason - visit them when you can take advantage of what they have to offer.
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Is New Year not an option, then as another poster said, you can go again at Easter?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Jonny Jones, I agree, accommodation will be much harder to find this February, as the whole of the UK has the same half-term week.
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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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and even if you do find a place at half term the crowds will be bad. Easter will be quieter (though NY is also busy).
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| Ghost Dog wrote: |
| Is New Year not an option, then as another poster said, you can go again at Easter? |
new year is a possibility - but only an outside one because I am not sure my stepdaughter's mother will let her out of sight at that time of year..... it is looking like Easter is the best option, and Europe because flights to the US are just too expensive.
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You know it makes sense.
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kittykat, welcome to
we are going at Easter, for the full two weeks, with other families, and have done so for the past three years. 1/2 term: you pay double for it, you queue twice as long, and there are twice as many people on the piste. Go figure...
Europe is fine for the offspring, despite not appearing to be so exciting when telling the stories back at school, and will give them a chance to practice their French / German / Italian ( delete as applicable) thus getting them into favour with school, and hence potentially offering you leverage for "take out" weeks later in life.
And you know that while you are paying for it, despite the odd whinge, they are not going to turn it down!!
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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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| JimW wrote: |
kittykat, welcome to
we are going at Easter, for the full two weeks, with other families, and have done so for the past three years. 1/2 term: you pay double for it, you queue twice as long, and there are twice as many people on the piste. Go figure...
Europe is fine for the offspring, despite not appearing to be so exciting when telling the stories back at school, and will give them a chance to practice their French / German / Italian ( delete as applicable) thus getting them into favour with school, and hence potentially offering you leverage for "take out" weeks later in life.
And you know that while you are paying for it, despite the odd whinge, they are not going to turn it down!! |
That is my mind just about made up - 1/2 term it is not!
Easter it is. They can practice French, German, Spanish (but probably not much call for Latin!) They will not turn it down, in fact i think they will just be glad to get skiing again this year having been told the school trips are off limits (at £1200 for 10 days in Winter Parks X 3 children!)
Which is the best resort in your opinion to offer something for us all?
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Poster: A snowHead
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kittykat, What sort of thing would your ideal resort contain - with regards to type of skiing, accommodation and apres?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Ray Zorro wrote: |
| kittykat, What sort of thing would your ideal resort contain - with regards to type of skiing, accommodation and apres? |
Close to slopes for this time, I don't mind a walk - but would prefer no bus. Accommodation - either catered chalet, or chaet-hotel - because the 2 eldest count as adults at 13 & 14 we really need 2 rooms. Apres - a bit of fun for the kids, but not over-lively. We really just want a fairly relaxed time, with some reasonable skiing for us all to enjoy together.
Does this help?
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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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kittykat, I was thinking Tignes might be a good choice for you with a superb range of skiing. In Le Lac there is a bowling alley and an ice skating on the lake which my girls enjoyed. I think it is mainly hotels though you might find a chalet on sites like this http://www.chaletsdirect.com/search/default.asp
Val Thorens would be good too, no-where is far from the slopes there and of course you have access to the whole 3V. There is a pool in the sports centre there.
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edsilva, agree with Johnny Jones - just try making a booking for 5 now for a test and see how difficult it is. We basically go independent nowadays as UK operators simply do not cater for a family of 5. We took our 3 (4 7 and 10 at the time) to Oberlech this year . Our kids absolutely loved Oberlech and was far superior to our experiences with them to Belle Plagne and Claviere (although Glenshee is probably better than Claviere). You will find that booking direct with hotel opens up rooms that can take 5, whereas the same hotels through UK operator only take 4 max. Snow should still be excellent at that time of year. Due to our budget decreasing this time round we're going to Stuben which is halfway between St Anton and Lech, but a fraction of the price and almost as convenient as Oberlech. Oberlech has this great toboggan run down to Lech which our kids loved just as much as the skiing, and in fairness some of the adults in the group did too. www.oberlech.com is good for finding rooms right on the slopes. Can highly recommend Hotel Montana, having stayed there twice. Sporthotel Cresta is a 3 star hotel ideally placed right on slopes, beside ski school and start of toboggan run.
Fly to Innsbruck, Friedrichshafen (ryanair) or Zurich
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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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kittykat, If you would be happy with Austria, in April 2007 we went with our 3 daughters to Obertauern and stayed here http://www.schneider.at/englisch/index.html A lovely hotel with pool, internet facilities and other teen activities. The food was exceptional in terms of quality and quantity. The skiing is from the hotel doorstep and there is plenty to keep everyone happy. We booked a couple of private lessons and the instructors came to the hotel. Obertauern has one of the best snow records in Austria.
DIY is dead easy, a flight to Salzburg with BA or Ryanair and then the shuttle bus that can be booked via the resort website or directly here http://www.reisen-habersatter.at/transfer-en.php
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It's seriously worth grabbing a copy of Where to Ski and Snowboard or at least trawling through their website (wtss.co.uk). The downside of skiing at Easter is that the lower runs in many resorts will be in poor condition or even closed. As a beginner you'll be particularly dependent on those lower runs, as they're usually easier and closer to home than the upper mountain pistes.
At Easter, unless you really know what you're doing,I personally wouldn't consider any resort that WTSS awards less that 4 stars for snow reliability. I'd also avoid any resort where the beginner runs face South - it's much harder learning to ski on South facing slopes in late season as they're rock-hard in the morning and slushy in the afternoon. Even for the more reliable resorts, you need some research to make sure that the reliable runs aren't all reds and blacks on a remote glacier area. But, apart from these general principles, I'm not going to recommend a particular resort - most of my experience is on the wrong (or right!) side of the Atlantic.
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I am really grateful for all of the advice received so far - my research is taking me to places I did not know existed! If I could find airmiles flights for easter I would be across the Atlantic without a doubt - but with the 2 eldest girls counted as adults by almost all airlines it is looking prohibitively expensive at the moment!
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