 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
Looking for a cheap last minute break for us and our 3 year old (will turn 4 on day we return). We are swaying between Pila and Bardoneccia. Been to Pila as a couple already and loved it. Our main holiday this year was to Morzine with some friends. It was our sons 1st ski holiday and the downsides we found were : we had a bit of a walk each morning to his Piou Piou club, we hadn't been to the area before so didn't know the mountain. As it is so huge and we didn't know it at all, we were afraid to venture too far in the mornings incase we didn't make it back in time to pick him up. So our deduction from this, is in future to either go to a small resort / ski area or one that we know well.
So this along with a cheap price leads us to some options in Pila and Bardoneccia. Pila is in the Etoile de Neige hotel which I know will be fine for us to get to the slopes, but still unsure where sons ski school will be and the logistics of getting him to them each morning. He passed Piou Piou and could move onto Ourson which I believe are still in the snowgarden in France, so I am assuming the same type of lesson in Italy. Anyone know where he will have his lessons in Pila and how we get him to them (how easy?)
The Bardoneccia holiday is in the Rive Campo Smith Apartments which I see are on the slopes, but that is about all I know, so any help appreciated here.
The Pila holiday is half board, and we were really hoping for an apartment, as easier to put wee one to bed in the evening and still be able to sit up with a few beers, but it does look a nice hotel, good reviews on the hotel & food (stayed in Pila 2000 before and ended up eating out every night!). The other plus side of an apartment is that the half board option is £400 more than the apartment, (in total for the 3 of us) and if we have lunch on the mountain, we're not really bothered about a large meal at night and the wee one tends to not eat much on holiday for some reason. The main draw to Pila is that we've been before, love it and know it is small so no worries about not getting back for end of his lesson, but if Bardoneccia is quite a small area then it should be fine, would just like some more info.
Thanks
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 7-03-11 18:56; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Bardonecchia is a great resort and would say it is even better than Pila the area is small enough so that you can get back for the ski school finish and has a bit more variation than Pila. The town itself is a lot nicer than Pila a real Italian town with some shops and bars but nothing crazy. We have a lot of snow the last 2 weeks and the conditions are great. The ski school meeting point is on the slopes in front of the appartments. Would say the only thing to be careful of in both resorts would be the lack of group childrens ski school this late in the season.
Etoile de Niege is also a very good hotel and the food used to be very good when I repped there and would see no reason why it has changed. I am in Bardonecchia at the moment so message me if you want any more info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Richiavo, Thanks for the info, would be a bit worried that there would be no ski school as it's the main reason we are going away again, trying to make the most of sons skiing while he is still not at school and therefore don't have to take him out. Would maybe look at some private lessons if need be and they weren't as expensive as ESF were.
leeacarroll, Thanks, I had a look at Passo Tonale as suggested, but there are no holidays out of Glasgow.
Now other half has also found deals in Val Thoren, Flaine and La Plagne. Been to VT once but only a short break so don't know it that well. Don't know anything about Flaine and La Plagne, although I did look into LP before as it is seemingly good for families. LP is expensive for lift pass as it is in a large area, which we won't get the use of, would need to look into a local pass.
Still keen on Bardoneccia...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
problem could be lack of british children or any children in the resort, if you are ok with him mixing with italians that should be fine. I suggest emailing the schools before booking to check Spazio and Neve is the one that we use but there are others check out www.bardonecchiaski.com they have links to all of them. Privates are quite cheap Italy and your son could get so much more out of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Gilly28 wrote: |
Still keen on Bardoneccia... |
Was in Bardoneccia last season and had a great week. Really liked both the town and the skiing. We were in a hotel just across the street from the Campo Smith apartments and at the time thought they (the apartments) were wonderfully placed.
We had ski school with Spazio Neve (excuse spelling) and can highly recommend Amanda. She has kids of her own and teaches the younger members of one of the local ski clubs. She was great with our two and I'd have no hesitation in booking her again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richiavo, Thanks I did check out that website, trouble is all of the schools websites are in Italian. I have emailed Spazio Neve to ask about ski classes. He was in the Piou Piou ski school in Morzine early Feb and was the only English speaking kid in his group and he was fine, so not too worried about that, as long as the instructor can speak English when speaking directly to him. Another question, I noticed the apartments are quite low level 1300, is there usually snow at that level late March?
snowlamb, Did you book private lessons with Amanda? I suppose if we booked a ski school it would just be pot luck who his teacher would be.
Argh can't decide!! Good problem to have though I suppose! I've emailed the ski school in Pila also. Their baby group lessons from 3 to 4 years have a max of 5 children so that would be good, although need a min 3 which perhaps they may not get if it is a quiet week? Trouble is they are only for 2 hours but cost more than the norm group lessons of 3 hours, but he should learn a lot with such a small class.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gilly28 wrote: |
snowlamb, Did you book private lessons with Amanda? I suppose if we booked a ski school it would just be pot luck who his teacher would be.
|
We didn't - we booked lessons through the tour operator and just lucked out, but I'm pretty sure it is possible to request private lessons with the instructor of your choice, I know that she had some private clients once she'd finished the group lesson.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
