 Poster: A snowHead
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Have a one-off chance to go skiing in mid December for up to 10 days. Question is where? Family of 4 with 2 young kids who have both skiied before but are still beginners.
Happy to cross the pond to North America as don't usually have that many days to go skiing, but would want to have as little journey time (flight and transfer) as possible. Plus the greatest chance of early snow.
Any ideas / thoughts welcome
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Welcome to Snowheads AJhoops 
A Load of us are going to Tignes. Im not much help am afraid.
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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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AJhoops, How young are the kids?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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6 and 4
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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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You neeed to make it easy for yourself then at that age - i.e. accommodation close to slopes, no need to get on buses, don't want to be near big roads etc. In terms of france then val thorens is probably the most snow-sure but and ticks the no slopes / no roads bit but can be a bit 'windswept' plus at 2300m some kids don't like the altitude. A lot of the 'classic' french resorts paradiski, courcchevel aren't opening til 14th dec, so might be a little late for you.
Austria can give you the requirements, and bits can be 'chocolate box pretty' so allow me to suggest Lech which opens in theory on 28/11 and if there's enough snow then oberlech would be fantastic. Out wed 10th Dec with easyjet to innsbruck return friday 19th. £135 for an adult. Transfers via train to Langen or St. Anton and then taxi, or get a private transfer via http://www.airportbus.at/finished_v3/index.php or http://www.innsbruck-taxi.com/en/index.php for around 200 eur alternatively hire a car and it's 130k drive (but a bit pointless when you're there). It also looks pretty good too - http://www.skiarlberg.at/west/english/services/files/oberlech800x600.jpg
Accomodation - there is stacks and stacks on the resort website (in english) - http://www.lech-zuers.at choose what you want and away you go.
Othe recommendations for family in Austria here - http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1043556&highlight=family+austria#1043556 and http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1037650&highlight=family+austria#1037650
I have no particular affiliation to lech - I've just been there 2x on day trips from st anton, and really really enjoyed it - I think it's great for mixed abillity groups and guess it ticks most boxes for families too, and the whole arlberg region seems to gear itself up more easily than some places to variable duration trips. Only downside is it's not the cheapest of places, but then if you were talking about going across the pond then...
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AJhoops, if you can afford it, Lech sounds great. I've always fancied going there. The Espace Killy will have plenty of skiing open but it's not that user-friendly, especially for small kids. At least, I don't think so - though lots will disagree. It's pretty dark, in mid-winter, down in Val D'Isere. If you decide on the EK, I'd go for Tignes.
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Thanks everyone for the ideas, I will have a look through
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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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AJhoops, Would agree with Bertie basset on this one. Oberlech is a fantastic base. Took the kids this year (4 7 and 10 at the time) and they loved it. I had been previous year with wife and other couple and like Bertie Basset ski at Lech etc when in St Anton, so I knew in advance that it would be great. Oberlech has great slopes for beginners and intermediates and snow record is second to none in Alps (check last months Daily Mail Ski mag to confirm - Warth the one that actually one first spot is visable from Oberlech). www.oberlech.com good interactive map for finding hotels. We have stayed at Hotel Montana last 2 years and the location is right outside ski school and on the slopes, got the best food I have ever tasted and almost at the start of the toboggan run down to Lech, which your kids will love just as much, if not more, than the skiing. Cheaper alternatives to Montana is the Sporthotel Crest or Hotel Igla/Ilga (?), which are equally good in terms of location. Here is the current webcam view of Hotel Monata http://www.lech-zuers.at/xxl/_lang/en/_season/at2/_area/585621/_subArea/585774/_camID/5810/_inc/live-camera/index.html
In addition if you stay in Oberlech the kids can use the creche/play area free of charge, which could allow you both some time to yourselves.
Lech/Oberlech can be dear to get to, but once there is cheaper than say La Plagne etc..honest.
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The US offers a lot of ski resorts that are very family oriented. From things like child care (babysit your kids skiing so you can go ski on the more advanced hills), to things like carnival rides and games.
If you are looking at something more along those lines, then the US is definitely a great place to start. Vermont has some good ones (closest to Europe), or you can go further in to Colorado.
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