ucpa holiday for me and 11 year old daughter or similar ?

A snowHead

Hi all,
I hope someone can help me ,
I have enjoyed 2 holidays with the ucpa in the last couple of years as they give excellent value for money for a single traveller.

However i am hoping to take my 11 year old daughter on a budget ski holiday around jan 2012.

It would be just myself and my daughter and i was hoping to go with the ucpa as they do the complete package with lessons etc but i am finding it difficult to source such a holiday.

Can anyone advise me on this or an alternative as i have heard you can do a similar holiday in hostells ?

location is not a major concern apart from being good for begginers.

Many thanks,
Swissbrit

A snowHead

Provided it's after 7 January you should have a fairly wide choice in France. I have come across ucpa clubs in Les Contamines, Flaine, Val Cenis and Saint-Sorlin which should all be pretty good resorts for you but don't know what those clubs are like.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Bergmeister

I am looking for a similar style holiday to what the ucpa offer ie a complete package including lessons Food etc as my daughter is too young to go on a ucpa hol with me .

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

XPeak, XPeak, but are you talking about the above 18 ucpa holidays like I have done before

You'll need to Register first of course.

swissbrit, welcome to snowheads.

UCPA does offer outstanding value - various (younger!) members of my family have enjoyed them, but if they won't give you a private room for you and your daughter (not all the centres have double rooms - Flaine is one of the ones that does) then it probably wouldn't be suitable. Why not give Flaine UCPA a ring, and ask?

Otherwise, hostel type accommodation might not be suitable - I don't think I'd want to have an 11 year old sleeping on her own in a female dorm in, say, Chamonix (though I wouldn't hesitate in an English youth hostel).

Are you going to take your daughter out of school and go mid-January (good plan......)? If so, you could probably get close to UCPA prices by doing a last minute deal. Self catering for two might be a bit lonely, but a middle sized family style chalet should work, and it's not difficult to organise lessons. If you don't want to organise travel etc yourselves, go for a TO package and just tack on the ski hre/lessons (probably NOT through the TO, though that all depends on the circumstances). A catered chalet will provide breakfast and dinner (except one evening when staff have a night off) and a substantial tea when you finish skiing, so a snack at lunchtime is all you have to get otherwise.

There are already two of you looking for this kind of holiday...... might be some others, too. With enough people the very cheapest option would be self-catering.

With a group, obviously, you'd need to book a bit earlier but with just two of you, flexible about where to go, you will definitely get a bargain mid-January.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

UCPA are more flexible about the age-limits if you deal with them direct, rather than through Action-Outdoors.

After all it is free

You could try the school trip specialists, they often do budget holidays for the 'normal' punter. This is due to the hotel being over run by teenagers but could work in your favour and a bit of quiet time as they may let her join in some activitys (bumboarding, under 18 discos, etc).
Try SkiBound and Rocket ski, but you'll still get a better deal last minute even using these (I'd recommend Alpe d'Heuz which both have hotels in and plenty of other activitys away from the skiing).

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I have been to UCPA well "over-age", but believe they have a strict rule of no under 18s mixed with the normal 18-39+ set. They do different holidays for 14-18 year old, but again not mixed with adults.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Another thought might be the French Youth Hostelling system that runs packages through the winter - I've used both La Clusaz and (now closed) Morzine. There are others at Tignes (but might be restricted on age), Val Cenis, Chamonix and others. La Clusaz definitely had a few twin rooms and did full board (including a pack lunch) , ski pass, ski hire and lessons at a very good rate.

snow reports

If your name gives your location away, you might be better off to try a diy trip.
I took my 11 year old to Combloux last year. We drove down from GVA & stayed in the Ibis at Sallanches. It was about a 15-20 minute drive up to the resort, but having the car allowed some flexibility for exploring after the skiing.
Didn't book lessons, but all in all it was a reasonably cost all in.
CW

Have a chat with Action Outdoors - they have started to arrange some hols for kids and may be able to broker something with UCPA direct with them if your dates don't fit their schedule.

You know it makes sense.

pam w,

Hi Pam,
Firstly i would like to thank you for your informative reply,much appreciated.

I actuaully stayed in UCPA Flaine in Dec 2010 wich is where i picked up a leaflet regarding 6 to 17 year olds UCPA holidays ,but after looking into it it seems that my daughter would have to go on her own wich is not what I am looking for.

I have e-mailed the UCPA directly regarding my required holiday but they replied by saying they do not mix under 18s with the type of holiday I am looking for.
I also contacted Action outdoors who gave me a similar reply.

I am looking into the Hostel type accomodation as you stated as i am a keen fan of hostels too, but as you said I would need a twin room not shared accomodation. Some hostels do this but so far I am finding them allready booked up.

I am looking to take my daughter out of school either early Jan onwards but need to book the time off work in advance so I am limited regarding leaving it to chance for a last minute booking.However If I cannot find something I will book a week off and hope for the best.

If you would'nt mind could you tell me how to find the other post that you mentioned

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

manicpb,

Thank you Manicpb, I am looking into your idea. Alpe d'Heuz is a resort i would like to try also.

A snowHead

kewhoward,

Thank you kewhoward ,I have contacted La Clusaz hostel and am awaiting a reply regarding availability, I have a slight concern that on the night time you are restricted to the hostel due to the distance to the town being a couple of miles away . Is this the case ?

A snowHead

cardweg,

Unfortunately my name Swissbrit means I live in the Uk but am half Swiss half Brit.
I would to do what you quoted

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Scampi Dellahanti,

Thank you scampi Dellahanti ,
I did have a chat with action outdoors regarding it but they said it is a new thing and they sold out in march. I need to get in earlier next time.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

I have take my daughter twice
first time was a last minute trip to Livigno costing £265 each for a studio apt
2nd time longer planned to Montgenevre in the very reasonaly price Hameau apts
you could prob get a week there for aboy £400 each through Neilson or an independent agen whose name escapes me!
we had two great weeks.
First trip daughter was acomple beginner but by the 4th afternoon (lessons are half day in Livigno) she was up the top of mountains with me cruising the long blues.
Montgenevre has lots of blues and green near resort that you could practice on outside of leeson times.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

There is a UCPA in Val d'Isere and Plagne 1800 if that's any use

Help!!

ucpa holiday for me and 11 year old daughter or similar ?

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Resort Reviews and Trip Reports