 Poster: A snowHead
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.. vs others? Any country - are there others that specialise in Austria/Italy that I haven't mentioned above?
Is it worthwhile going with someone like Directski/Thomson/Crystal/etc who don't specialise in kids' holidays but do seem to cater (and seem a few hundred £ cheaper)?
Planning holiday with 3.5 y.o. and 1.0 y.o. kids in March/April. The 3.5yo will be doing some very light lessons, hopefully. The 1yo will be in childcare, probably only 1/2 days. An indoor swimming pool for late afternoons / early evenings would be excellent.
I've had OK quotes from Esprit in Courch 1850 and St Anton (though latter has no pool).
Which would you recommend / warn against, and which resorts?
Cheers!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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boardiac, Club Med has one or two hotels/resorts in Italy, I think. May be worth checking out.
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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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boardiac, We have been going with Snowbizz for 7 years and the children love it and insist we keep going, they were 3 and 6 on our first trip. It's not particularly up-market and there is no pool but the ski school is absolutely fantastic and the nannies and kid-club stuff is great.
Puy is a lovely little resort and very easy to navigate around as everything runs back to the base.
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Ski2 in champoluc in Aosta - good selection of hotels and own crèche. We've used snowbizz - childcare is fantastic and puy is a great little resort. We've also used famille ski - ok but chalets a bit basic for price, last year and this with esprit - good childcare I think and chalet hotel in val d was basic but good food etc
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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 been to Crystal 2000 with Esprit, we went when the girls were 1 and 4. Eldest absolutely loved kids club and spritelets. Youngest was happy in nursery. The food was good, and they were happy to bring my Youngest more peas when I asked for them for her. The staff were always happy to chat with the kids even when they were doing other things. We were there for there very first week In that accomodation and they had some issues with the boiler which meant we lost hit water, they offered to heat up water in the kitchens and let us book times to have the hot water bought up to fill the bath so that we could give the girls a bath before bed. They did that cheerfully and had a joke with Ellie while doing it. The location is great really ski in ski out. The other thing I was really pleased about was all the extras that were available, a changing Mat in the room, steps in the public toilet, baby room with changing mats, microwave, bottle warmer, baby food. The high chairs, boaster seats, lidded beakers, children's bibs, cutlery, plates etc which just made life so much easier and meant we didn't need to take our stuff out.
When we landed at chambery as soon as we had our luggage we were helped with it out to the to the bus and as they didn't have trolleys there trying to manage all the baggage and two young children would have been a nightmare without that help. When we got to the hotel they was afternoon tea wAiting for us they took the bags in and up to our room, again that really helped.
For evening meals we put our girls to bed, once settled we signed them in to the baby listening service and went down for dinner which was so nice to do.
We were so impressed with them we are going again in April to Pepi Gabl in St Anton. This time the girls at 3 and 6 so both will be skiing.
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Another +1 for Snowbizz in Puy St Vincent. With kids that age you can't go wrong with Snowbizz, the childcare staff and ski school are second to none. Not to mention the personal service from the owner who is based in resort and present every morning, really hands on management.
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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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One based in Austria for you to have a look at.
http://www.familyskiholidays.com/ Ski Hillwood.
I am going with them next March, so can't comment yet, but so far we have been very impressed. I was able to get very cheap flights to Salzburg, and that knocked quite a bit off the listed price (£160 pp, IIRC). They have 2 pools in the hotel, and one is a dedicated kids pool.
All the info on the family Holidays is a bit daunting, so sorry to give you more reading.
good luck
Jon
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jonkgray78, Skied zauchensee a couple of years back - not with hillwood - great ski area - really enjoyed it - have a great hols - be interested to hear your views on hillwood too
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Has anyone gone with Ski Hillwood?
Any thoughts on Esprit in Courchevel?
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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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boardiac, NickyJ's post above was about Esprit in Courchevel 
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boardiac, apart from mine? Richard_sideways and always29 went same week as we did, I think ansta1 has been several times (see http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2145148&highlight=#2145148) and I think shoogly has been there as well and all choosen to go with Esprit again if my memory serves.
Or was there something particular you wanted to know about? Happy to answer questions.
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You know it makes sense.
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boardiac, We went twice with ski hillwood when the kids were very small - so over 20 years ago now! We were attracted to them at a ski show one year when they were running a creche.
They were good and we were very happy with them. I suspect that apart from the chappie that runs the company, that all the other staff change from year to year.
We went to Hopfgarten, which I wouldn't particularly recommend (from a skiing perspective).
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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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Ski famille, have made ski holidays with children brilliant, they enjoyed it, we enjoyed it and cannot recommend them enough. I went with Esprit once an it was fine, except it was a chalet Hotel so 4 in a room, not two bedrooms, as I have always had with Skifamille. Its also worth going to their premium/ Reberty chalets, as the beer is free before dinner.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We went with Esprit when the kids were younger, once to Val D'Isere and twice to Alba in Meribel. The latter I'd highly recommend, good food, pretty good standard of accomodation and 1st class location.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks all. Sorry nickyj I was being a bit daft about Crystal 2000 being in courchevel ...
Looking at some old threads now. Lots of good reviews... May just take the non-DIY plunge this year!
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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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boardiac,
mrs ansta1 had many a ski holiday without children, we went with groups of friends with crystal, family groups with supertravel, some diy and others. We have diy'd and gone with crystal since children.
We havent gone with mw or some of the other child friendly companies and our first trip with Esprit was in 2011 i think, staying in the chalet hotel crystal 2000 in courchevel.
So confession time first. We had spent many weeks in the 3 valleys before children and with childrern before esprit, so we had the benefit of knowing the area pretty well.
In terms of booking and getting there Esprit were pretty good on the general scale. You get on a small coach which takes you to your hotel, not a big coach which stops at 13 hotels on the way. The staff are in my view always helpful and will generally go out of their way. I do think they really pick people who enjoy working with children.
The child care is really the major selling point, I never got the impression that any of the staff were unhappy or just following the company policy (though i have to say i wouldnt have blamed them sometimes).
We have only stayed in the hotel crystal 2000 with Esprit and as i have said before this is a little tired accomodation wise, but cant be beat in terms of location.
Based on our holidays with esprit, if I went back 7 years, knowing what i know now i would be booking with esprit.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hmmmm.....
We have been with Esprit twice - once just with our daughter when she was 18 months, and once last season with two children. First time to La Ros, second time to Selva. First trip - no complaints, everything brilliant, fab time had by all. Childcare great Second time..... not so good. Creche was in a tiny, tiny room, staff a bit meh, food was pretty dire in the chalet, and our chalet host overslept on one occasion and so we had no breakfast on that day. Snow Club for older daughter was good though. Esprit have been bought by a large operator now so who knows, that might have had something to do with it. Or maybe it was chance. And blimey, they're expensive. THe childcare, particularly for older children, is £££ - £400 for ski club and morning/ afternoon non-skiing activity club.
Were we not taking the Grandparents this year, I was tempted by Skifamille just because their office was super-efficient and I had read fab reviews of them. Also snowbizz sounded great but we wanted catered.... I do like my holiday hotel breakfasts Ski2 in Champoluc are supposed to be great and I can't imagine anything better than a ski holiday with kids in Italia - total fawning over and spoiling your little ones guaranteed.
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robertsnerys, Where did you stay in Selva I did look at some of your properties there as I particuarly like Selva and would like to return at some point soon. Certainly quite worrying to hear.
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robertsnerys,
i think inghms group bought them a couple of years ago. I also remember seeing a couple of negative reviews of esprit and other related hols specifically chalet and not chalet hotels. I guess its easier to cock it up if you are 2 people cooking for 8 guests.
but good to see balance in terms of reviews.
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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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We stayed in a tiny chalet, Silvia, in Selva. Chalet itself was fine, if a bit of a schlep from the lifts. My main beef was with the teeny nursery which I think was based in the hotel Marta.
It could well be we just had bad luck. Our first Esprit holiday was brilliant. I think the chalet hotel theory ansta mentions is probably about right...also, come to think of it, that first holiday was the very first week of the season - I guess the staff were full of beans and enthusiasm. Selva week was mid-March and they were probably all knackered
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robertsnerys, more often the opposite is true. Chaos in the first week or two of the season. Management send home those not up to scratch before Xmas and things settle down in jan.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Another vote for Snowbizz - we went for the first time last year with five-year-old and three-year-old. They absolutely loved it and haven't stopped talking about it all year. They both skiied, loved the ski school and the creche. We're booked to go again first week in January and counting down. Can't rate them highly enough. It's a small company so they sort out every detail, the owner Michel is in resort and wandering about all day every day. The accommodation isn't upmarket but has everything you need, and plenty of room, and everything is on the doorstep – and I mean on the doorstep - one minute walk to creche, lifts, ski school meeting etc. We've been to other places with our two and had a disastrous week with an ESF ski school, and for the time being we won't go anywhere other than Snowbizz while the kids are young. If you want to be going skiing with kids every year, and foster a love of it, the worst thing you can do is try to save a bit of money and put them off skiing for life with inadequate lessons etc.
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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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| mellyski wrote: |
| Another vote for Snowbizz - we went for the first time last year with five-year-old and three-year-old. They absolutely loved it and haven't stopped talking about it all year. They both skiied, loved the ski school and the creche. We're booked to go again first week in January and counting down. Can't rate them highly enough. It's a small company so they sort out every detail, the owner Michel is in resort and wandering about all day every day. The accommodation isn't upmarket but has everything you need, and plenty of room, and everything is on the doorstep – and I mean on the doorstep - one minute walk to creche, lifts, ski school meeting etc. We've been to other places with our two and had a disastrous week with an ESF ski school, and for the time being we won't go anywhere other than Snowbizz while the kids are young. If you want to be going skiing with kids every year, and foster a love of it, the worst thing you can do is try to save a bit of money and put them off skiing for life with inadequate lessons etc. |
Well said, sums up my view of Snowbizz. The main differentiator between Snowbizz and the others in my opinion is the truly personal service you get from them and the fact that they own/control the ESI ski school there (it is exclusive to Snowbizz clients every morning). Michel will not be content until you have a happy skiing child, he really does care that much. He personally goes out with little ones lessons on occasion. Top bloke. None of the others can compete on this.
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As NickyJ has pointed out, we have been with esprit to courchevel. Since then we've booked another 3 holidays with them. Enough said I think. The location at 1850 can't be beaten... I'd say go for it.
I posted a TR after that first trip with them called Courchevel Rocks. Might be worth a search.
Whoever you go with, don't over analyse it
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You know it makes sense.
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Skied with Ski Hillwood in Zauchensee -can't fault them -but that was when €1.46=£1 -out of my price range now sadly.
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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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We have holidayed with Ewsprit in Selva, Les Arcs 2000, Tignes and Selva again (last time we had no need of childcare, just happened to be a cheap package at Easter). Always had a good experience, child care always been spot on and food good. TBH we haven't had a bad experience with any TO other than staying at L'Hermitage in Alpe d'Huez (never again).
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Poster: A snowHead
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robertsnerys, we're off to selva in jan staying in silvia with esprit so good to hear your thoughts - the Marta is no longer in their brochure - the childcare is now based in chalet weissenhein - so hopefully they've heeded the message and things are better!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Had my fourth trip with esprit this year (returned today). kids are now addicted to skiing (9 and 6) so i am already looking at next year. I will not go with esprit again, have to say the childcare has been outstanding on so many levels and the kids love every second but I just feel that the food and quality of the chalets are just not what I want anymore. The childcare used to be 90% of the decision for me but now the kids are capable skiers it is not such a decision breaker for me.
The first time i went I was surprised to be looked after by a 19 year old but was also impressed by the food, the chalet was small and underground so no view and nowhere to hang wet clothes at night. La Rosier had a much bigger chalet but it was slightly grotty and the food was hit and miss. The third was to peisey and the chalet was by far and away the biggest and best and the lounge chairs were quite comfy. Again the food was very hit and miss and there was food all over the floor and in the cracks of the table and the general cleaning up was really not that great.
This year in les gets and I again found so many things familiar to other years, very uncomfortable lounge chairs, those horrid wooden things where the cushions slide off when you sit down and you slowly make you way to the floor. The dining chairs again dug into your back and you just can not find anywhere to relax unless you go to your very sparse bedroom and lie down. When we arrived my son crawled straight under the bed and went he appeared he literally had dust smothered all over him like the fluff you get out of a spin dryer. I put up with all this in the past because all I cared about was the quality of the skiing and the happiness of the kids.
Having seen my fourth kitchen with a rather unpleasant smell coming from the sink and food blocking it, cookers that under-perform and make it hard for the students to cook and nowhere to go to get comfy at night I just feel like i want a bit more now.
They have served a purpose admirably but now I just want a bit more cleanliness, wine that is drinkable, slightly nicer food and somewhere comfy to sit, however I would recommend them to anyone with kids and that part is absolutely spot on.
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