 Poster: A snowHead
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I am booking our first trip skiing in Europe. Have obtained reasonable quotes from both ski beat and esprit ski. I am checking reviews, to help me decide who to book with...can anyone share their experiences to help me decide? With skibeat the chalet is Pappilion 2 in La Rosiere, I will have my two kids (aged almost 2 and 3.5) in the crèches. I know one big difference is that ski beat doesn't hold ski school for kids under 4. So both my kids would be in the crèche together if going with Skibeat.
All feedback is well received!!! Thank you
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Toniw, I suggest you put ski beat into the Forum search function and draw your own conclusion.....
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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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Can only comment on SkiBeat in La Plagne - we seem to be ok 
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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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Do you want them both in crèche together?
I only have experience of Esprit and I couldn't fault them. When I went with them my girls were 1 and 4 so my eldest was in spritelets and snow club and absolutely loved it. My youngest was in nursery and was quite happy. If you have any particular questions please just ask. We were so pleased and impressed we are going with them again in April.
I believe Pedantica has experience of both
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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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I have experience of both. Book with Esprit.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Toniw, welcome to snowHeads 
Although a few years ago, I've used Esprit 3 times in La Ros - absolutely no complaints at all - good chalets, better than average food, great location and, most importantly, outstanding child care. Again, a forum search will throw up plenty of other views.
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We went to La Rosiere and didn't use either. We booked Les Cimes Blanches appartments in Les Eucharts with Ski collection/Peak Retreats and used the ESF resort Creche which was very good (new building, nice facilities). One of our children was 3 1/2 and she did morning ESF ski school plus lunch in the creche.
Friends of ours have stayed in the ski beat chalet you mention and it is located in the new area of La Rosiere, Les Eucharts. They were happy with their holiday but their kids were older (school age). I prefer Les Eucharts to the main village. Les Eucharts is smaller and quieter but has a few child friendly cafes. The Ski Beat chalets are well located only a few mins walk from the piste and right by the shops.
Esprit Chalets are in the main village I think (some are at the edge of the piste). It is a lot busier with more traffic in the main village. However obviously more bars/restaurants too. My only observation of the Esprit childcare was that on the one occasion we used the resort bus, the Esprit nannies were sitting on the bus with babies in pushchairs going round and round the resort. I wondered if they were hoping the babies in their care would eventually fall asleep that way? 
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Toniw, Esprit. Much more positive comments on forums than ski beat I would say
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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 have no experience of ski beat, but have had 2 holidays with our 2 children (now 7 and 11) at chalet hotel crystal 2000 with esprit. Going for a 3rd time in Feb 2013.
I think that conveys my opinon of them.
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Done 6 trips with Esprit; they ain't perfect but we've had 6 excellent holidays with them, primarily because our daughter has had a whale of a time "without" us from when she was 4 til was 8 last year
Never had any food problems; the staff just seem to always be very child friendly and trustworthy
They'll probably get our money this year as well
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Done lots of holidays with Esprit; very good; would recommend to anyone with kids
Done Ski Beat once to Plan Peisey; very good but went with a mate and no kids in chalet; some of the best food I;ve ever had in a chalet
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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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NickyJ, ooh dear, dangerous to be confused with Pandora!  (I have no experience of either company.)
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You know it makes sense.
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Bad memory on my part, sorry. My only defence is both begin with a P, but that's a poor excuse.
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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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NickyJ, don't worry, it doesn't matter.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have used both companies, half a dozen with Esprit, three with Ski Beat. Esprit have the best child care in the business. However, the standard of the accommodation has dropped noticeably in recent years. Ski Beat use much nicer chalets, better food/wine etc. I've not used Ski Beat child care.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've not been with Ski Beat but I have been with Esprit 6 times. My daughter was 3 when we first went and loved the Spritlet lessons and snow club. When the kids are young and in Spritlets Esprit sends 'Snow Rangers' out with them to help keep an eye on things which gives you piece of mind. They also do baby listening when you are having dinner. I agree with a previous poster that the quality of the accommodation has gone down hill a bit (food and wine is fine though) but I figure that I just sleep in the room and the quality of the child care more than makes up for it.
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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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Thanks for all the tips and comments....ski esprit is about 700pds more expensive....I suppose you get what you pay for? If I go with esprit ski my options are: les gets (Chalet Martine), belle Plange (chalet hotel deux Domaines) or chalet hotel cristal 2000 in Courchevel 1850? Chalet hotel Alba in Meribel along with a chalet in Val d'Isere are also available....I suppose my question is...what do people prefer to stay in a hotel chalet with large numbers of people, or something a it more personal sleeping 10-12 or so...?
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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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I stayed in the Crystal 2000, and we were very happy with the hotel and location. It was literally ski in ski out. If you are travelling down into 1850 itself then you need the bus, or often you can get a lift in the chalets mini bus. We did pay for a taxi back up (it was getting very cold and the girls were getting grumbly). The food you get a choice of starters, main and dessert there and other chalet hotels, whereas the smaller chalets you don't. You also don't get the baby listening device with the small chalets.
Personally I prefer the bigger places as there will be more children there for the girls to make friends with but it is very much personal choice.
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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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I went with Ski Beat twice last season. First trip was with my wife to Plan Peisey, first week of the season, second trip was to La Plagne with my son and his friends later on in February. Both trips were excellent, from the initial booking through to transfers, quality of chalet, the food and chalet hosts. I was particularly impressed that everything was so smooth on the first trip- first week of the season and all that. Whilst not having direct experience of child care, I was able to observe the provision for other guests with young families, who were sharing the chalets. The children who were in the care of the Childcare team all day and some evenings, had great fun, which in turn allowed the parents to have a good relaxed week.
We are looking forward to our next Ski Beat experience, this time in La Tania, in a few weeks time.
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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 know esprit have some offers on at the moment for Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 and others. examples..
http://www.espritski.com/offers/
13/01/2013 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, Family 3 £1499!
13/01/2013 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, Family 4 £1799!
13/01/2013 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, Family 5 £1999!
13/01/2013 Chalet Hotel Crystal 2000 in Courchevel 1850, Family 6 £2099!
As NickyJ, says the location really is very hard to beat unless you want to be in the centre of the village. When talking ski-in/out here, you can quite literally ski into and out of the boot room (for room see passage). The food, given the numbers they cater for is of a very good standard in my view, the accomodation is a little tired but the big plus for us (and I can't comment on ski beat) is the esprit child care. It really is very very good, even though we don't use it much now (7 and 11).
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Snowbizz, there the best with kids. It's a small family run ski holiday specialist, operating in Puy St Vincent.
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I went with skibeat last year in a slightly unconventional group to Plagne 1800. We used the childcare.
We all (including the 5 year old) had a really good time. Our only criticism is that our nanny was really keen to offer "fun" things to the 5 year old in the afternoon eg. gondola rides with hot choclate at the end, as she obvioulsy felt that ski school twice a day was too much. When we had already paid for ski school and he did enjoy it this was slightly galling and let to a bit of tension and some tears as on one day we told him he had to go to ski school.
Food / Accommodation was excellent.
I would definitely use them again. I have no experience of Espirt.
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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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Toniw, have you got something booked now?
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FAQ
