 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi Snowheads,
Taking the girls skiing for the first time, where's best
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I would heartily recommend a very small resort called Berwang. Check it out. You and they will love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Roughneck,
Loadsa places depneds on budget etc. Puy St Vincent has a strong folowing here and is a very pleasant small resort Kappl is not so well known but also very child friendly with a decent small/medium sized ski area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Trying to go 27th Feb about £3.5k-£4k. What's Esprit like or snowbiz?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I wouldn't recommend France for that date - French school hols. Austria probably a better bet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Casting my mind back to when mine were that age:
A village with the nursery slopes right in the middle of the resort (i.e. not up the mountain) is a huge advantage, as is ease of access back to the village from the ski area for you to meet this kids at lunchtime and after ski school.
Traffic-free is also a big plus.
Obviously you need a ski-school with a good reputation too.
Went to a place called Filzmoos in Austria that might fit the bill. Pam is right about France - and most of Switzerland too - will be very busy at half-term. I'd normally recommend Wengen (it ticks all the family boxes) but it's just too busy at half-term these days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roughneck, Plenty of family friendly resorts to choose all over the place. As stated Austria is a good safe bet and should not be as busy as France that week.
Resorts that come to mind are Serfus/Fliss near to Innsbruck and any of the resorts in the Salzburger Ski Amadé region. I'm not sure if Esprit do these resorts though. you could look at the brochures and then shortlist some places and come back and ask again. Mark Warner chalets also get good write-ups for being small child friendly.
On the other hand if you want to DIY it, think of a region and then ask for recommendations. With that budget you will have no problems. In Austria by the way the chances are that the 4 year old will get a free ski pass and in some resorts the 6 year old too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
northantsred, I agree with Berwang, just been there for a week with our 2 kids and really (really) enjoyed it. Much more skiing is avaialble in other Zugspitz areas (Lermoss/Ehrwald etc) on the same ski pass (just a bus ride away) if the skiing within Berwang/Bichelbach is too limiting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
What's St Anton or Obergurgl like?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roughneck, not really the right places at that time for young kids or beginners! They will both be very busy and St Anton is not really brilliant for low beginners any way. The blue runs home in the afternoon are more like roller derby stretches, especially when you think that some of the Apres beginning on the mountain.
You would be paying for a lot of things you could not possibly use for your girls. Are you intending to put them in ski school for the whole time, while you ski away to your heart's content? If you are then perhaps you are looking more for yourself and less for your girls 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Roughneck,
Obergurgl might be ok actually. Nursery slopes are right in the village and there's no though traffic. St Anton not really suitable for kids - busy, boozy ski town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
If you are thinking of esprit I think you would be fine in La rosiere that week. We went to la rosiere (not esprit) for New year a couple of years ago which is supposed to be a busy time and the runs were not that crowded (almost empty when we skiied over to la thuile). We have also been to puy st vincent with snow bizz and I'd recommend that too. Their ski school/childcare is excellent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Obergurgl has very little in the way of piste markers and some pistes eg. towards the top of Hochgurgl can be dangerous when the light is very flat. Also the approach to grooming is different to France and Italy and the pistes are starting to get churned up by late morning - this can be a bonus for competent skiers who might otherwise find it all a bit too easy but it's not ideal for beginners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Roughneck, with it being half term it will be a question of choosing from what is available, bearing in mind that will be a bit limited. Just need a list of the best TO's, tell them what you are after and work on that. I don't use TO's so can't provide that list. But I am sure others can.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Layne
27th Feb is not half term (assuming that is the start date). I think half term for most UK schools is the week before. 27th feb does fall in french school hols which run for a month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Roughneck, For young kids why not consider Easter. Much warmer, lighter and quieter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
snowymum, oh bug, you're right. Apologies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
having taken our boy skiing every year from 9mnths, with him skiing for the last 3 years ( he is coming up on 7 ) heres my 2 pence worth
we have had him in ski scholl at the following
scheffau - ski kindergarten at the top of the main gondola from town ( with Esprit) - good experience, here although he did not go out of the protected area much
- well organised though as they had food hot drinks in the main resturant as well. they did get the 6 year olds out onto the blue there as well - ok resort for kids
Alp Dhuez - With crystal - OK - skiing for kids seemed to be on one of two blues - which were not too taxing but plenty of scope for different runs to be used
st anton - taught in the little area at the bottom, and on the main blue at the top of the gondola ( we were on the Neiderau edge of town) - sking here not suitable for beginners if they need to get on a slope - with esprit again - good childcare - ski lessons hard for little ones ( let alone beginner adults)
flaine - this turned out to be a gem, good slopes over the three tennis courts in the main area, meant that there was easy areas to learn, also the ski school got themon the blues from the main gondola - this seeemed to be an OK run for beginners - good experience here - with crystal - take advantage of free child placed & free child care
Claviere ( last week) - they were taken up the lower chair onto the 91 blue, and spent most of the time coming down that ( about the only blue that was easy to get to ) - good run - but tended to get busy ( he was wiped out by a kid of 12 on one occasion) - during ski school the run was basically full of the kids so it was OK for them , its fairly long to learn on so plenty of time to practise turns with also the chance for a bit of a run, they were also taken onto a red and a further blue ( 100) which was a bit narrow ( ok for those little skis tho) - good experience here - with crystal - take advantage of free child placed & free child care.
t
th
Have t
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
northantsred, how did you discover Berwang, I am sure we were the only Brits in the resort (another plus point!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
we stayed in Lermoos for the week and had a car so visited all the resorts in the Zugspitz Arena and really liked the area on the whole. Berwang just stands out so vivdly in my memory that if and when I ever have Grandchildren that is the place I will take them to learn to ski. I just fell in love with the village and it was so sunny when we were there that obviously puts a prettier perspective on views... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roughneck, definitely recommend Puy Saint Vincent with Snowbizz for that age. It is just so convenient once you are there and that is worth a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
definitely not st anton. "the nursery slopes" there are the one place i've been sent flying-the blue at the top f the main gondola. There aren't many nursery /beginner slopes and they are busy. sorry after that I've only experience of the main resrts in france that you might want to avoid at that time of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I've been skiing with Esprit about ten times now and they're fine, probably not as good as Mark Warner but the childcare is good, food is normally OK and the chalets have definetly improved in the last 10 years. We went to La Rosiere last year and stayed in Chalet Arnica, its a nice smallish resort. I'd have thought it was good for beginners, plenty of nice blues and was ski in/ski out. If you want a bigger area to explore while kids are in ski school you can easily take the drag over to Italy and ski that side of the mountain as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roughneck, like binkacat, I've also used Esprit on 3 occasions when my daughter was a similar age, without any problems at all, in La Rosiere. I'd echo the above. I think the company does offer alternatives in Austria (and other French resorts).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Having done 5 esprit and 2 snowbizz, I certainly rate the flexibility of staff of snowbizz above those of esprit. Also another one to consider is sainte foy by premier neige as they also have a creche and nursery slopes are in the middle of resort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
We went the Esprit for the first time in December (our children are 1 and 4). The four year old was in the Spritelets and loved it. I have every intention of going with them again.
We went to Courchevel - Crystal 2000 Hotel and I would highly recommend it.
I have put a bit of review here:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=65285
Still intending to a more detailed on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Had a good holiday with youngsters a few years ago at Bad Hofgastein. Nice practice area at Angertal.
Stayed in Hotel Paracelsus on a last minute deal.
The village has a large pool/spa and ice skating too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| NickyJ wrote: |
| We went to Courchevel - Crystal 2000 Hotel and I would highly recommend it. |
Good to hear - We're off there in two weeks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
