 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi to you all,
everyone seems to know about the best resorts so I was hoping you could help us.
my husband and I are hoping to take our first skiing holiday next year in March and I was hoping someone could give me a few pointers.
We have a daughter who will be 17 months however I have not found childcare that I thought was appropriate and am actually for the first time considering leaving her with her grandparents and my husband and I having a week on our own - although actually leaving her will be another matter!
We would like to go to France or Austria and are both complete beginners. We have stayed for 2 nights in Whistler, although during the summer and I would like a ski resort that has that sort of feel and village size as we were just able to walk from our hotel in the village everywhere we needed to go and the choice was good.
I don't want to spend too much money as I'm sure we'll spend most of the week sitting down but would like to try and be assured of snow.
I think I would prefer a hotel on b&b or half board as I think the annonymitiy of it would suit us better than a small chalet.
Any ideas?
Christie
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi christiek0310, and welcome to  .
the thing about 'Best Resorts' is that there are as many opinions as there are snow-lovers!
You are hoping to go in March .. so sun and snow will be what you should get in Europe so really your choice is anywhere.
Have you looked at LesGets and 'Ski-famille' ? .. they are a childcare specialist. I went as a total beginner with our friends kids and it worked ( youngest was 12 months old at the time).
You are right , anonymity and hotels is easier to arrange .. so if that is what you like. somewhere like La Marmotte might fit the bill .. but not the cheapest in town.
Others will have lots of other commendations but the little one need not be left at home !
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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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christiek0310, welcome to snowHeads
Putting aside taking your daughter for the moment, you could do worse than look at Andorra. It tends to be less expensive, has plenty of English and English speaking instructors and is well-known for catering to newbies. I've only been to Arinsal and my SO was taking to the slopes for the first time. She was very positive about the experience. Snow wise, the last 2 seasons haven't been the best possibly, but there has been plenty to ski on.
Re childcare, have you looked at Ski Esprit? Personally have always found them to be good. La Rosiere is a resort they go to and it could well suit you as beginners. Maybe worth considering getting some dry-slope or snow-dome lessons here in the UK first before comitting to the costs of someone like Esprit. Obviously childcare will add to the price fairly significantly.
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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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christiek0310,
Welcome to
You will get a lot of different opinions but most will not be contradictory just a different take on the idea.
My own opinion is that Austrian hotels and B&B's are as a generalisation significantly better than French ones at the same price level.
The main drawback with Austrian resorts for what you appear to want is that fewer have the skiing right on their doorstep and most are smaller than Whistler.
Gargellen is a lovely little area with doorstep skiing but is a lot smaller village.
Galtur has a very attractive small area but the skiing is a short bus trip away.
Obergurgl is highly recommended though I have never been.
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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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christiek0310, welcome to . Just to add to the mix - you need to look at the availability of top quality ski instruction. This will make much more difference to your holiday than having an extra 50m to walk to the slopes
Another point - in France, avoid the first week in March, which is still peak French holiday time. The second week would be ideal.
Les Gets would probably suit you very well, and there is a ski school called BASS (British Alpine Ski School) which is very good, with small classes (max 6 when I last used them) and top qualified native English speaking instructors. Not cheap, but it's far more important than having a few extra beers. Les Gets is a nice little town, nothing is far from anything else. And it rains a lot less there than it does in Whistler village!
As for the baby - you have a tough choice. Best answer is probably to take grandparents with you and rent a comfortable apartment for you all. 
For accommodation, there are some chalets which have maybe 12 - 20 guests where you don't have to be too cosy, but don't feel too anonymous either. It can also be a considerably cheaper option than a hotel, where all the added "extras" like coffees and drinks can add up to a lot of money.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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christiek0310, Difficult one, in terms of leaving your daughter or taking her with you. I have been skiing since I was 21/22 (now 37) but had an 8 year gap when our kids started arriving. Took them on their 1st ski trip 3 years ago and haven't looked back. Our youngest was just over 2 at the time (the older ones being 5 and  . We stayed in Belle Plagne and had our youngest in Crystal creche - can't say that I enjoyed putting him in creche (as we did the following year too). we always said that we should have left him with his gran first time round. Kids at that age are quite a lot of work in the snow and this adds to the stress factor of your holiday - gloves falling off, cold hands etc...She will love the snow, but probably only in short bursts.
If it were me I would leave your daughter at home, tough though it may be. Nobody can look after your kids better than bood as far as I'm concerned. Would it not be nice getting a wee week to yoursleves anyway? Hard doing it first time but trust me you'll love it, as will your daughter and grandparents.
In terms of where to go, I would probably go to Austria or Switzerland if you're looking for somewhere with a nice village feel to it. Saalbach/Hinterglemm are nice Autrian villages with good skiing into village (although only been in summer, but my brother in law used to be a regular visitor and loves it, until we discovered St Anton - which is not for you guys). My personal favourite is Oberlech, but not if you're wanting to keep to a budget (unless of course your budget is £1500 per head per week). Rauris gets a good rep as do some of the resorts around Kitzbuhel (although probably not Kitzbuhel for beginners). Would recommend that you try to get a hotel close to ski school because as a 1st timer, walking in ski boots can be tiring after a days skiing.
Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll love skiing.
Good luck
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Hi,
you have all given me so much to think about. I am definately leaning towards leaving our little one at home just as soon as I can get over the "bad mother" feeling! DH and I def could do with a week away together and I am thinking about dep on 7th March as it incorporates his birthday.
As it is just the two of us am I better to leave it until Feb time and see what offers are around for march or book something now at brochure prices? I see crystal are doing a £199 for a week in Rauris Guest Houses B&B on 31st Jan but I'm assumng that it will be really basic and on the edge of the area?
Christie
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christiek0310, as a beginner probably the most important aspect of your first holiday will the the ski school experience. Whatever resort you choose should have recommendations for a good ski school. I think Courchevel is a really good choice for beginners (either Courchevel 1650 or Courchevel 1850). They are not the cheapest of resorts, but they have some excellent ski schools (New Generation and Supreme Ski, for example) and lots of terrain including extensive nursery slopes and some lovely easy terrain for beginners to graduate to later on in their first week.
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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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christiek0310, A chap I know has gone to Rauris for last 2 years with wife and kids (teenage) for their first 2 ski holidays and loved it. That's a cracking deal and I think there is a discussion about that deal on this site. For example I'm paying £275 just for flights alone from Edinburgh to Innsbruck (times 5!!!) To be honest even if it is basic, it will be clean and comfy as the standards in Austria are high. Don't think Rauris is that big but would definitely investigate that one, especially since it's your first trip.
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christiek0310,
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As it is just the two of us am I better to leave it until Feb time and see what offers are around for march or book something now at brochure prices?
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Providing you do not have to fly from a small provincial airport outside the peak season ther are usually good reductions for people booking at tthe last minute. If it is just two people this is usually straightforward.
It gives the added advantage that you can see where the best snow is although in early March you would be most unlucky to get poor snow booking in advance.
The price you qote if there are not toomany extras seems very reasonable to me, I have never been to the area. My own experience with Austrian B&B's has been satisfactory throughout the price range.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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christiek0310, one of the things about planning a ski holiday is that the "brochure price" is just a small fraction of what you'll actually spend, especially if you go for B & B! What kind of budget do you have for the trip as a whole? And have you definitely decided on March? If price is a big consideration (as it always was for us!) you will find a good choice of last minute possibilities in mid January. March is more expensive.
You can get some "cheap and cheerful" beginner deals, but you might find yourselves in a big group moving at the pace of the slowest. If you're quite fast learners you could get very bored. If you want to get a "head start" (and have a bit of fun) you could do a "learn to ski in a day" course at one of the artificial snow slopes. They're expensive, though they should enable you to start ski school one class up, and cover a lot more ground during the week. On the other hand, learning in a group where you are all complete beginners can be a good laugh.
Get your little one practising now by spending nights at grandma's. I know, I'm a grandma...... The first time my grand-daughter spent a night with us, on her own, she woke up in the middle of the night and was a bit traumatised to find Mummy not there (though it had all been explained to her before she went to bed, of course). She came into our bed and was so determined that we shouldn't disappear too that she spent the rest of the night with a little arm firmly clamped round both of our necks, sobbing quietly to herself every now and then! She was fine next morning, though and it doesn't seem to have scarred her for life.
rob@rar's suggestion of Courchevel is a very good one. Be very careful about location of your accommodation - some of the brochures are a bit misleading. And some resorts which have good nursery slopes provide very little in the way of very easy slopes to progress to.
Do you have a budget, or is that a silly question????
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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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Hi
It might or might not be of interest to you but I am helping organise an inexpensive trip in March to Les Deux Alpes (just over an hour from Grenoble). It is billed as being for older or more cautious beginners or improvers. There is a complete beginner group 7-14th March that has two spaces on it. The accommodation is a well recommended budget hotel right in the resort centre. The cost is 500 euros per person, to include B&B, 6x2-hour lesssons in classes of 4 people and your lift pass. We have managed to find a good flight out from Birmingham with Ryanair. The extras money-wise would be the transfer from the airport, lunches & evening meals, equipment hire and spending money. If you are interested let me know (more details in the link below).
Of course you may prefer to be on your own and being a parent I do understand that , though mine are rather older now. It's so hard the first time you leave them and you then want to get every ounce out of the trip!
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christiek0310, the recommendation of the beginners and improvers week in Les Deuz Alps includes instruction from an excellent instructor that a number of us on the forum have been taught by. A group size of four is smaller than any other group lesson that you are likely to have, so represents very good value for money.
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You know it makes sense.
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Pam W - I don't have an exact budget (obviously the cheaper the better!) but was looking at around £500 pp for flights, hotel and half board and then £250pp for equipment, lessons and ski lifts. Not too sure how possible this is so need to do more research.
We are totally flexible for dates so end Jan could be fine if makes a big price difference.
Butterfly - I just looked at your link and it looks great but I think that we would want to be a bit more independant if we are going to make the most of the week and will probably be flying from Belfast so for the first time I think I would like the reassurance of a package (which is not like me lol!) Hope you have a wonderful time.
I'll just keep looking and see what come up - seems like Crystal are the only ones to fly from Belfast so I'll keep an eye out!
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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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Butterfly,
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The cost is 500 euros per person, to include B&B, 6x2-hour lesssons in classes of 4 people and your lift pass. We have managed to find a good flight out from Birmingham with Ryanair. The extras money-wise would be the transfer from the airport, lunches & evening meals, equipment hire and spending money.
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Just so I can explain to DH when he comes home - 500 euro is for B&B, lessons and lift pass? Then we need flights, transfers, equipment hire and meals etc..?
We are 27 and 29 and total beginners - would this be ok for your group and does everyone already know each other?
Just trying to think what he might ask as I will def run it past him.
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Poster: A snowHead
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christiek0310, welcome to s.
It might be useful to PM (private message) Butterfly by clicking on the Send/Receive Messages button at the top of the page underneath the Snowheads banner. The message will sit in your Outbox until Butterfly reads it.
You have already had a lot of excellent advice above - my only piece of advice is that if you are both fairly athletic, private lessons instead of group might be an idea - advantage is that you will make quicker progress, disadvantage is that you may miss out on the social side.
Also, consider a chalet - obviously the rest of the occupants will be complete strangers at the beginning of the week, but definitely not by the end and it may give you others to ski with as you improve towards the end of the week.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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christiek0310, mid January will be markedly cheaper and less crowded but probably colder and possibly with less snow cover than mid March. We're all eager to help - maybe if you give us a bit more info about your priorities for the holiday, how much preparation you'll have the time, money and/or energy to do (eg ski-specific exercises to get legs in trim, maybe lessons on a dry ski slope), what sort of "apres ski" you're after, etc we can be more specific. There are a lot of considerations with a ski holiday - and always compromises to make. Hence the need to decide what's most important for you. Some "first timers" want to spend maximum time skiing, are not discouraged by the inevitable tumbles, or by cold weather and poor conditions, stay on the slopes practising after their lessons and can get round the easy runs in a resort quite well by the end of their first week. For that sort of person, being in a beginner group lesson with rather slow learners can be deeply frustrating - small, high quality groups - or private lessons - are much better. Others want a more relaxed week, are not too bothered about the skiing, certainly want to run for cover if it starts to snow or visibility closes in, want plenty of good food and drink and are happy just to potter around on the nursery slope.
The problem with Snowheads is that most of us are fanatics - hence the emphasis on lessons, which many of us are still taking after half a century of skiing. Plenty of people manage to enjoy their ski holiday without taking it all so seriously!
I don't think any posts above have yet warned you of the danger of becoming addicted to one of the most expensive holidays around. It's easy to drift into the addiction, telling yourself you can stop any time you want.....
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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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christiek0310, any age is fine. Yes you'd probably be the youngest but you could spend as much or as little time with the group as you wanted. Some of the group know each other and some don't. The emphasis is on getting some really good confidence building tuition, some cameradie and fun and not spending too much!! And yes, the money is as you say - I am looking at Ben's Bus for transfers which is something like £35-40 each I think - not sure yet. I think we have others from Ireland somewhere, but I don't know their travel arrangements - have a look through the thread. The hotel is called Lutins. It is something like about 100-200 yds from the main lift and there is a free bus to get all round the resort which is (unusually in my limited experience ),mostly flat.
More detailed local info can be got from Easiski, but she is currently likely to be offline for a day or two as she's driving back to LDA from the UK tomorrow I think.
Snowcover is certainly no problem at all in LDA - there is skiing for all levels from beginner onwards up on the glacier even in mid summer!
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