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Trip to Alps with young family - Advice

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi, this is a bit of a plea for information, any ideas suggestions or advice on the following would be most welcome. Thank you in advance for replying.

The main advice I need is on where to go for a Family winter trip next season (10/11) I want to go to the Alps, probably driving as we have a young family and need to take loads of associated stuff.

The criterior is -

fairly easy to get too by car (as easy as it can be for a circa 800 - 1000 mile drive)
Lots to do for non skiers as my wife is a non skier and my youngest will be under 3 and she wont want to put her in a chreche all day
Good for Beginner/intermediate terrain for myself
Good childrens teaching and facilities for my eldest who will be nearly 6 and not skied before, so English speaking is essential.
Our budget is fairly limited so will have to be fairly inexpensive

Any advice on where to go, how to get there, places to stay, how to save money etc would be most welcome. I realise fullfulling all my criteria will be a big ask.
Part of the reason for driving is so we could get about on our own with the kids for a the odd day or visit non skiing related so my wife doesn't get totally bored! Also she will take a fair bit of persuading to go for this!! Very Happy
Also general advice on a family winter holiday with little ones would be much appreciated.

Cheers, DAVID
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
DRHOSKING, I'm sure others will come along with other advice ..... but if I had that many challenges, I would look at a catered Chalet with www.skifamille.co.uk in Les gets who have their own specialist staff .....
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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?
DRHOSKING, I'd agree with Agenterre - you'll need an extra pair of hands if your wife is not to spend all her time fetching and carrying, meeting your daughter from ski school etc. BASS (British Alpine Ski School) have a base in Les Gets, and might be your best bet for a small, English speaking, ski school (6 is the perfect age!).

But the most important advice of all is NOT to go at New Year or Half Term, when everything will be hugely expensive and crowded and you might find the journey a trial. If it has to be a school holiday (for example if your daughter is sitting her A levels next year;-) ) then make it Easter - though you might then need to re-think the resort, as Les Gets is a bit too low for Easter. Cold, dark, snowy, days can be a trial for young beginners and the longer, lighter, warmer days of spring would be much more pleasant for your wife and the 3 year old, too.
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Thanks for that, unfortunately that kind of option is outside my budget by a fair way. I think in all seriousness we will have to look for a nice guest house or small local hotel or even a British owned chalet for the week. To be honest im looking to spend about £500 - £600 for a weeks accomodation for all of us, so either a cheep chalet or guesthouse with a family room we could all get in would be good
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
DRHOSKING, Is your wife not open to learning to ski? Creche for a few hours in the morning each day....? Might surprise her how much she enjoys it?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Quote:

To be honest im looking to spend about £500 - £600 for a weeks accomodation for all of us


jeez thats tight - probably best to look at self catering apartments for that sort of money I reckon.

For non-skiers I guess somewhere like morzine might be ok - its fairy large with other facilities and good beginner slopes etc. although as said above later season the snow is limited to higher up and a bit less convenient. Bit further to drive but les arcs is a good area with a funicular down to bourgs st maurice - again a small town rather than just a ski resort. or some of the areas around Flaine probably one of the closest to drive to) - samoens, morillon, les carroz etc - again lovely french towns rather than just ski resorts but link into larger areas - not sure about beginner slopes etc

Other option if you are all basically begiiner/low intemed standard is too look off the beaten track - smaller french resorts, even away from the alps - maybe the jura mountains or vosges - small areas but snow usually ok in winter (feb/early march) and much cheaper than the main alps resorts (and closer too).

good luck!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
DRHOSKING; yours is the dilemma of Snowheads everywhere with young children. Puzzled We have two children aged 4 and 2 and have been going skiing every year (last year 3 times) with them despite this (!!!). The problem is that to replicate your pre-child skiing memories you sadly have to pay for some child care otherwise one of you doesn't have a holiday. Look at childcare like this - you cannot take a room full of fun toys, paint, dolls houses, forts, play doh, slides etc in your suitcase. Throw in a couple of little friends and nannies who dote on your little ones plus a couple of sledges and suddenly being in a room with parents isn't sooo appealing. Our family beat us up for going on holiday and leaving our children in a creche for the mornings/day, but the children had the time of their lives, so I would try to cajole your wife into taking some time out and have a go?

Agree totally with Pam w - steer clear of school hols and you are on a winner.

We have been with Esprit who do some great late deals. The food is utterly dire but we have found that take out pizza more than made up for the excellent child care. That said, you could try Vaujany (great creche) and go independent, although the drive is further than Morzine. There is a creches in Meribel les allues but that it really pricey.

Good luck!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
If this suits your budget it is perfect for your requirements (except it is a rather long drive - easier to fly and get transfer to resort)! www.mountainsunltd.com/chalet/albergo-frohsinn
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Go somewhere with a creche!! Invaluable if you want to actually ski. It's a long week if you've got the kids all day every day. Yes it can be costly, but well worth it. Crystal do a snuggle club from 7:30 - 9:30pm and this was also invaluable. We stayed in a club hotel in Claviere and found the childcare was first class. Kids (a 3yr old and a 1 yr old) loved it and couldn't wait to go. Some people question why we should go on a skiing holiday with such young kids, but why shouldn't we? Having kids doesn't stop your life, they don't stop you doing anything. It's just a different holiday with little ones in tow. My wife and I were on the first lift every morning (excellent conditions over new year) and skiied a solid 4 hrs before picking the kids up from creche, and then spent the afternoon sledging & bumboarding. It was a long week, very tiring, but well worth it. As teachers, we are limited to school holidays, so the cost is quite phenomenal, (the following week would have been half the price), Crystal also charge a bit extra at peak times for childcare. Feb half term is too expensive, and at Easter I'm on the school trip to Flachau! so New Year's was th only option. Loved it!!!
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I have just returned from my first ski trip with my 15 month old daughter. I would recommend the crèche option for the mornings and family time in the afternoon. We had loads of fun in the snow together.

You can read my initial request for help here-
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=47266&highlight=

However, your budget is limited unless you are prepared to gamble on a late booking. I will write a full report on my trip soon.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Can recommend Les Gets/Morzine for families and also there's quite a bit to do for non-skiers. Certainly as others have said go outside school holidays - early Jan often has some good deals but it can be cold, cold cold for youngsters so take plenty of layers.

If you're prepared to go last minute then you can get some good package deals - which can work out cheaper than trying to do it youreelf.

Self-catering will be cheaper and gives you more flexibility with young kids - for further info on young children and skiing hols then there are plenty of related threads.
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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.
DRHOSKING, what dates are you looking at? You could rent a nice family apartment for less than your budget, outside school holidays, but you have little or no chance of catered accommodation for that sort of money (and British owned chalets are not necessarily cheaper than others!). Your dates also influence our advice about resorts - I wouldn't want to go as low as Morzine at Easter - yes, you can travel up to Avoriaz but that takes time and you'll need somewhere you can pop out for an hour or two's skiing without a big hassle.

Is your wife OK with self-catering?

Or do you have a chalet-maid style grandparent who might like a holiday in the mountains, with cooking duties punctuated by dropping off and picking up 6 year old from ski school? (They do exist, I was exactly that over Christmas....along with doing several private limo transfers from Geneva airport and skiing round with no gloves on taking videos of 6 year old triumphantly doing her first trip up a chairlift!)
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
DRHOSKING, try the Les Gets web site, where you can book (or at this stage, budget) self-catering accomodation in the price range you're looking for.

Then, the following season when your wife wants to join you on the slopes, book with skifamille and you can all have a holiday. Not wishing to sound like an advert (or a shareholder) but after more a dozen or so holidays with them, I can assure you you won't regret it.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
u is makins biggy mistayke man u wan a punani u needs leave famly at home. u has a skunk then a skank wiv arok in pants 4 babe
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