 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all
My mate wants to take his family skiing for the first time. The kids are 3yrs and 5yrs old. Happy to go either self catering or half board.
Happy to consider Austria, France, Italy or Switzerland. Price is a factor as he wants to do a summer holiday that year as well.
Time of year I would say December January or February. I think what's key for him is a family orientated resort and good ski schools for the kids.
Thanks for the suggestions in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Go with a family specialist like Esprit. They have it all organised. The 3 year old won't do much more than play and will get tired quickly and the parents presumably don't want to have to look after the children during the day time. The first week of January is cheapest but i would always go in early March when it's warmer. I recommend La Rosiere. But it will not be cheap.
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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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We went with Esprit when my girls were 4 and 1 to Courchevel in Crystal 2000. They were brilliant and the girls had a great time and loved the snow clubs and spritelets.
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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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matt23, Think a lot will depend on how much they want the kids to ski / how much the kids want to ski and how old they are at the time of travel. Many/most three year olds will not be up to doing much skiing and a ski/play park is a more realistic proposition. By the time they are four some will be more up to lessons.
Personally I found the Austrian places pretty good and cheaper than France or Switzerland generally, though it varies a lot form resort to resort. Kids are a llot older now and my experiences may be dated. I didn't bother with Tour operators but Esprit have a good reputation as do Snowbizz for value down in Puy St Vincent which is a lot more reasonably priced than the large French resorts and a great family reosrt though expect it to be very crowded in the French holidays.
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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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matt23, is he tied to school holidays? If not, La Tania would be a good choice - very family-friendly, excellent ski schools and the nursery slopes are in the village which is traffic-free. Most accommodation is a short walk from anywhere. The 3 year old can join the ski kindergarten which is 'an introduction to sliding' and is available a.m. or p.m. Our properties are too big for your friend (other than one which is fully catered) but if you want to PM me, I can give you some contacts to try for smaller s/c accommodation which would be in the village itself.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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matt23 I'd also recommend Ski Esprit with kids of that age. Good range of resorts in the 4 countries you mention. Choice of airports. Great childcare. Other children for them to play with. Low season holidays (eg January) can often be booked late with good reductions. High season holidays best to book very early, May at the latest, to get best discounts and choice. Been with Esprit over 10 times and always good. They do summer activity holidays in the Alps too. BTW I have no commercial connection with Esprit. Others are fine too, eg Mark Warner, but more expensive.
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matt23, tell him to look at www.snowbizz.co.uk Ticks his boxes for kids of 3 & 5 - superb for that age group; self catered or half board - he can choose either or do a combination; good value as price is a factor; very much a family oriented resort and has an excellent ski school.
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matt23, a key decision is whether the 5 year old (who will presumably be in school) can be taken out for a ski holiday. If so, there are loads of choices and it's all very possible. If not, the options become fewer and the prices higher. Your mate needs to avoid, above all, taking a week out of an English school term only to find he is on holiday the same time as loads of French (or Austrian) families. Advice on which resort to choose depends crucially on the exact week. And, of course, on his budget. Esprit do, indeed, sound ideal but when our kids were small we never got near affording anything like their level of hand-holding/spoon feeding.
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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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Les Arcs, France, in Feb.
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Italy with Esprit.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks guys for the Espirt and snowbizz recommendations. Also good to know about the 3 year old.
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