 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I need your advice. I am looking for somewhere in the Alps where 2 Adults and 3 Children (10yrs-13yrs old) can go for their first family Ski holiday during Feb half term.
Ideally they need the following...
* Catered accommodation
* Nice resort for beginners of all ages
* Good ski school for children
* Accommodation that offers childrens activities in the evenings (games consoles, tv, evenings out...)
Austria would be ideal because it tends to be better value for money when in the resort. However if somewhere in France is recommended that ticks all the boxes it will be considered too.
Any advice will be very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Chris
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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I've had countless requests for half-term despite being booked up long ago. Original booking cancelled, and the dates were rebooked within 2 days.
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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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For my lot (6, 10 and 14) a tiring day of learning to ski was just what they needed to set themselves up for an evening of ice skating and tobogganing! Any particular reason you are saying the Alps blondends? Plenty of places in Eastern Europe and other western European mountain ranges (e.g. Andorra) would tick all your boxes but location and probably cost less than the Alps.
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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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blondends, a lot of places are already booked - don't delay finding somewhere. Most of the specialist ski schools where you get small groups are in France - for example the British Alpine Ski School. If you do group lessons, in any country, it's a bit of a lottery and you are likely to be in big groups. Can still be absolutely fine - depends how important that aspect is for you. If they're gutsy kids, and sociable, they'll have no problem.
The bigger "chalet hotels" can be fun for kids, more chance of company their own age. the kids in our party (from 8 - 15) enjoyed this place, which is at the budget end of things. http://www.snowcoach.co.uk/page.php?id=38&pid=4&mpg=greatplacestostay
Velmeinier is tiny - but the hotel is right at the base of the slope. Our two youngest did ski school with ESF - no complaints. The older ones went dashing round the whole of the resort with other teenagers. Valmeinier is linked (not desperately conveniently) to Valloire which has loads of skiing and is quieter at half term than quite a lot of places. Are you already skiers? If so, Valloire would give you plenty of scope. if not, you'd have more than enough on the Valmeinier side. It's high, so should be good for snow.
Les Gets is a good resort for families and beginners - if you can find the right accommodation there. Very good ski school (BASS Les Gets).
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When you say "catered" accommodation, do you want a chalet or a hotel? If a hotel, then I'd say Austria would be a better bet if a catered chalet, then Frnce. There are heaps of resorts suitable for beginners. the "evening entertainment" aspect is probably best provided through a Tour Operator who will organise things like toboganning evenings.
At this stage you will have limited choice for that week, so if you find something that looks like it might be good, get some advice and be prepared to book it pronto.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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blondends, As Hells Bells, says, Half Term for us is booked almost as soon as the previous one is over, and we could then sell it many times over. If you have specific requirements and a tight budget, you'll struggle now, but if you are prepared to compromise on some requirements and for the fact that it's the most expensive week of the year, you should still find something good. The 'organised activities' thing does tend to be more of a TO feature as pam w, says, but most resorts will have something like a tobogganing slope (in La Tania for example, it's the village centre nursery slope, once the lifts close), or perhaps a pool. Many family-friendly apres ski bars will have a table football type of thing too.
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blondends, as mentioned, many places may well be booked. You could have a look at Ski Esprit - they specialise in family ski holidays. May be worth considering Alpe D'Huez or La Rosiere (Ski Esprit's most popular resort). Both suit beginners very well - some of the accommodation is ski in and/or ski out which is a bonus.
I'm pretty sure there are evening activities in some accommodations for children of your age - there certainly was 6-7 years ago when I last used the company several times.
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can confirm ski-esprit as a good choice but they are getting a little popular & pricey
as our little man has got older we have started to go more with Crystal as they seem to be
a bit keener priced, and a bit more suitable for older kids ( under 5 you could not drag me away from esprit
as they are totally geared up for keeping younger kids happy - maybe try crystal
we had a good time last year in le totem at flaine (much underrated - tons of skiing for all abilities)
that club hotel was a bit basic but had just been taken over but its was fully catered, and the kids facilities were great
it had an outdoor ice ring outside the hotel, there was a pool in resort.
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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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Thanks everyone for you comments so far - I will start looking in to each over this weekend.
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I'd agree that Esprit are great, and we travelled with them for our first five years skiing with children. However they concentrate on yougsters, and I think they only cater for children up to age 12. After that the clubs, lessons, etc stop, and although older children can still go they are not explicitly catered for.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I don't think many teenagers are too keen on having stuff organised for them - the important thing is to go somewhere where there are likely to be kids their own age, then let them get on with it (within reason.....)
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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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Agree that Esprit for youngsters - ours found them too babyish at 7 & 8! Have been with Crystal to their larger clubhotels with good stuff in the evening for kids of a much wider age range - wii tournaments, the obligatory disco, games etc. Wasn't so much the organised entertainment the kids liked, with other kids their own age they sorted out their own entertainment and the clubhotels catering for families at half term are likely to give them plenty of others to gang up with.
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