Poster: A snowHead
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Looking to do ski holiday next year, 2 families with kids aged 7 and 5. No idea where to go. Preferred airport Genova
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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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Rolles71 With kids that age we found SkiEsprit were excellent. It also helps you tend to get a lot of similar ages so the find others to play with.
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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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Yes Geneva. We are flexible, we are flexible on accomodation but an apartment hotel or chalet would be good . Would prefer ski in ski out accomodation.
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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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Rolles71, Having visited Pila this year I would say that it was a superb beginner resort and good for kids. It is also North facfing so holds its snow well during the day. Ski schools also have a good reputation.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I suggest this company, in La Tania, http://familyfriendlyskiing.com/
Took my kids 6 years running at similiar ages to yours, good skiing for kids, great company, food and will look after the kids if you want over lunch, all day, half day etc etc
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Get yourself a Ski Esprit brochure and choose a resort which has skiing at a height above 1800m. You will want the nursery slopes to be in reasonable condition. And get then learning on a dry slope in the summer holidays - most do kids lessons.
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I would also third the recommendations for Esprit. They are especially good if you would like the easy option as they have snow clubs and lessons which is all very seemless. Also the fact there are lots of other families with children then your children are likely to make friends. We went with them to Courchevel in Crystal 2000 in dec 2010 (at the time my girls were 1 and 4) and we have booked to go with them again next April (14th) to St Anton staying in Pepi Gabl. Another thing I like with them is they have a number of rooms which are suites giving your children there own room which mean that you don't disturb the when you go to bed and mean you aren't sitting on the bathroom floor after they have gone to bed as you want a light on to read. There offerings are all catered chalets or chalet hotels.
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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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I'd add the Family Ski Company into the mix - we went with them 2nd week of April this year to Ardent (first ski trip for my wife and 7 year old daughter). The lessons/lunch/snow club set-up worked brilliantly, especially getting feedback from the Family Ski helpers (mostly qualified ski instructors) who skiied with the children in lessons - far easier than trying to find the right ESF instructor to find out what's going on. Not quite ski-in, ski-out but less than 50m to the lift. There were 9 kids in our chalet, age range 4-12, and it was very easy and very sociable. We haven't tried a chalet hotel, but we liked being in a chalet where we knew everybody, and our daughter was just downstairs in the evenings - no problems with baby monitors, or constant checking.
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In the Esprit Chalet hotels they have free baby listening service, where
you have somebody on each floor listening out and checking on your children, you sign in with them before going down let them know your preferences like having them going in and checking or just listening at the door and if need be they will come and get you. We found this worked really nicely
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Forget Genova, go to Selva with Esprit (Innsbruck or Verona), you'll love it. We did it when the kids were tiny and have been going back every year since.
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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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What kind of prices can you expect for this time of year? Thanks for all tips have ordered brochure from esprit. Stayedvin la Tanya before and liked it too so will investigate that one.
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Are you looking at the 31st march -7th April or 7th - 14th? The second of those weeks is a lot cheaper than the first. The week going out the 14th is a lot cheaper still. One thing that makes quite a difference is the childrens discounts if you could go on the 14th your first child is free and you get 40% off brochure price for the second child. For the week beginning the 7th you get 50% of brochure price for first child and 15% of second child. Going out on the 31st march you only get 20% of brochur price for first child and 10% of second that coupled with the basic price being cheaper the later you can go makes a massive difference in holiday price. We are paying £2781 for accomadation (2 room suite) flights transfer catered basis snow club including lunch and lessons for the girls lift passes and insurance. The only thing not in there is ski hire and our lunches.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks again that is a good shout re 2nd week in April as we are flexible inthink
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Rolles71, Though it's not near Geneva, it might be worth checking out some DIY hotel bookings in Austria. Friends used to go there a lot with their kids as a lot of hotels do packages where kids go for free; family rooms; kids-club; kids-meals etc. Austria's much better value these days than France in general, though not sure what the situation will be like next winter re the Euro.
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