Is budget family skiing possible?

A snowHead

Yep, definitely different weight distribution. In fact, other than the longer strides, it is quite different to the trained eye. i.e. the hockey blade doesn't have a toe rake, so the whole blade can be used, a lot of gliding by figure skaters and continuous skating in hockey.

Figure skaters don't initiate a turn by leaning forward on to the outside boot, inside edge. They'll face plant due to toe rakes.

As for slalom it looks similar, but again this is done on skates middle to heel, ski's is from middle to toe.

Power skating is something that both figure and hockey learn, it's learning to use your edges for optimum speed and using the least energy. This again in the main stride is mid to heel, the mid to toe of the skate blade is used for acceleration.

But this would all come down to the level of ability. For someone who skated everyday for 20yrs+(figure or hockey), skiing is the opposite of instinctual reaction.

Based on this I would say that basic skating would probably help, but pro level in either figure or hockey wouldn't, due to natural instinct. So, a hindrance to me and apparently to a few friends who still teach figure skating (1 of them Austrian) and those still involved in pro hockey. It is different, but will click when when you stop the instinctual reactions from skating.

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Grizwald, it depends how you do it. Cheapest ferry is Dover - Dunquerque or similar. But we've also done Hull - Zeebrugge and Newcastle - Amsterdam. More expensive ferry but includes a cabin so saves on a Travelodge. It's worth it is you fill the car. Also we have take. An extra day out in Ypres and / or Bruges. Taken the kids round the WWI battlefields. An experience.

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Yep, definitely different weight distribution. In fact, other than the longer strides, it is quite different to the trained eye. i.e. the hockey blade doesn't have a toe rake, so the whole blade can be used, a lot of gliding by figure skaters and continuous skating in hockey.

Figure skaters don't initiate a turn by leaning forward on to the outside boot, inside edge. They'll face plant due to toe rakes.

As for slalom it looks similar, but again this is done on skates middle to heel, ski's is from middle to toe.

Power skating is something that both figure and hockey learn, it's learning to use your edges for optimum speed and using the least energy. This again in the main stride is mid to heel, the mid to toe of the skate blade is used for acceleration.

But this would all come down to the level of ability. For someone who skated everyday for 20yrs+(figure or hockey), skiing is the opposite of instinctual reaction.

Based on this I would say that basic skating would probably help, but pro level in either figure or hockey wouldn't, due to natural instinct. So, a hindrance to me and apparently to a few friends who still teach figure skating (1 of them Austrian) and those still involved in pro hockey. It is different, but will click when when you stop the instinctual reactions from skating.

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JohnHSmith, No doubt we'll revert to using the car once we have kiddies. I skied Raise (next to Ulswater) a couple of years ago when we had that really long cold snap over Xmas and new year. Got some pics somewhere, nice to be able to say I've skied 25 mins from home! Can't see it this year, can't believe how mild and wet it's been. I get north of the border a bit if conditions are right only really 3ish hours from Carlisle.

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Grizwald, Not done Raise (but friends have) although have done Yad Moss a few times. If driving, we found the best way was to make the journey a part of the holiday (stop off at Ypres or Rheims or anywhere) and get a portable DVD player to keep the kids entertained. We also manage the odd day trip to Glenshee

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In 2012, driving from Holmfirth to Termignon (towards the top end of the Maurienne valley) and back, our car covered 1918 miles using 233.11 litres of fuel at a sterling equivalent cost of £329.11. That’s 37.4 mpg and a cost per mile of just over 17p. The total cost of french tolls was €169.10. Total cost of holiday was £617 each including half-board accommodation:
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2027068

With self-catering and careful planning I reckon £500 each is easily achievable EXCLUDING gear and lessons. I'd book a taster session or even a learn-to-ski-in-a-day session at a local fridge to see if you're hooked first.

After all it is free

Didn't get it for under £1500, but close enough..... £1,650 for three of us to Pas de la Casa, travel, HB meals, 3 star hotel, lift pass, equipment and lessons. First week of an Easter school holiday too. It was 3 years ago though.

Check out anywhere that is offering free kids places (crystal and inghams do, not sure on others), also check out resorts that are offering BOGOF list passes and it may be possible.

Just did a search for Slovenia mid March with Crystal. HB hotel and travel for less than £1,000, add in first time ski packs for you and your 12yo it comes to £1,391. The issue seems to be with the 4 yo, they don't seem to have a ski package available for them, might be worth a call to see what they offer (the ski pack for kids is £164).

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I don't know if budget family skiing is possible if you are stuck to School Holidays, and have kids who want to ski a bit but not all day.

I suppose it depends what you class as Budget, and what you value in a ski holiday.

I have just been quoted the best part of £5000 (2 adults 2 kids) to go to La Plagne over New Year 2013/14, with Crystal, staying at their club Hotel the Terra Nova.

It does include their full day childcare x 2 (including lessons)
Lift passes
skis & boots
Flights, Transfers and HB accom.

Is that good value?

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james75, you have chosen a very expensive week to go so therefore the concept of 'value' is hard to achieve.

james75, having used Crystal's childcare over New Year week and staying in the hotel that hosts it in the past I'm guessing that just the childcare part is around £350-400 per child for the week? So taking that out of the equation just over £1k per person for a New Year trip (including lessons) isn't too bad.

If you can go a week earlier for Christmas you'll save quite a lot, or go at Easter you'd save even more. There are then also cheaper resorts/hotels/chalets that you could look at - there tends to be a slight premium on the hotel that is hosting the childcare as it's more convenient.

We save no end now that Jnr is beyond childcare age and can happily ski easily all day.

You know it makes sense.

I know that it's one of the most expensive weeks of the year but being tied to school holidays its difficult to see how to do it cheaper whilst the kids are at this age. Having no grandparents to take with us we have no other way of having a good ski ourselves, knowing that the kids are being well looked after.

Easter Holidays are April 15th during the 2013/14 season, and I don't want to risk going that late.

The same holiday over Christmas week is only £300 cheaper (can't go that week anyway!).

The childcare comes to 450 per child, including their lessons, ski hire and all day care. I consider that to be reasonable as it allows us adults to ski all day knowing that the kids are being well looked after.

I llok forward to the time when the kids are old enough to not need childcare which hopefully will make holidays a lot cheaper.

On the plus side, I've got a week in Schladming with my eldest daughter, going by Coach, for £1100 total during our Easter Holidays this year.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

james75, round our way 2014 Easter school holidays start on 5th April only a week later than this year - with Easter itself loaded at the end of the school holidays. We've been away a few times then and it's been fine (but that's no guarantee!). But as gatecrasher, says there are cheaper resorts than La Plagne (hefty savings can be made on just the lift passes).

Interested in who the Schladming trip is with as it's somewhere that appeals to me at Easter (as does the price!).

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JohnHSmith, As coincidence would have it I'll soon find out what it' like to travel to the Alps by road from Cumbria. My mate is doing a weeks instructing in Italy and asked if I fancied tagging along so will be going a week on Saturday snowHead

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sherry_d, we did similar to Kel, and tried Bulgaria and borrowed some gear for the first time until we were sure we'd like it. As it turned out that we did we went back to Bulgaria several times until we moved on and try new resorts every time now.

One of the most expensive week's I've had was a DIY week for 4 in a shoebox in Val Thorens, where we got stung for absolutely everything. Whereas one of the least expensive was a late March last minute bargain with Rocket Ski in La Deux Alpes with their own 2 for 1 ski hire when there was only about 6 guests sharing with a full hotel school party. We even did Ski-weekends by coach to keep costs down for extra ski time, but I recommend being able to ski before you try this as it's quite a tiring few days.

I'd be surprised if you can't get it for less than £1500 with Balkan, especially low season or last minute, as we did a New Year week in Pamporovo a few years back for about £500 each for everything, flts, Tx, 4 * HB, lift pass, ski hire and lessons. Having a look now they have 13 Jan for £279 plus £120 full learn to ski pack, so £399 each for two but they might be able to squeeze in another child bed if you speak to them. I saw a board outside Thomas Cook yesterday offering Soldeu* appartments for £186 with Gatwick flts based on 4 sharing, but with the additional supplement it would work out £248 each...

But avoiding mega resorts and going last minute should make it possible, and as mentioned above you could economise there by not skiing every day or using free lifts. But you might find this impossible to resist when you try it...

Try Decathelon, TK Maxx, Lidl or Aldi, for reasonably priced base layers, gloves and socks.

(*edit- oops Soldeu not Solden - slightly different places)

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For a real tight budget i would look to Eastern Europe Jasna, Slovakia or Bansko Bulgaria. I have been to Jasna 4 times and it is good, they have invested heavily in the lift systems over the past few years which has opened up the mountain alot. Prices are still cheap in resort. It was unbelievably cheap before the Euro, 20p a pint! Shocked

more like a euro now. Food is cheap, lift pass is reasonable but has increased over time with the investment they have made. Bansko i hav not been to myself but a few friends have, all of which preferred Jasna. Jasna/Liptovsky Mikulas (which is the town) also has indoor go karting, thermal spa.

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Can be done! We've just sorted out flights + car hire + apartment + decent quality ski hire + all day lessons for our two daughters (Oxygene) + lift passes; for Belle Plagne, 6th April for £2100 for the fours of us, the lot. Doesn't include food of course but we reckoned we'd have to eat at home anyway so didn't include that. Skiing's never going to be cheap but you can work at it to make it cheaper. We managed the same last Easter in a Skiworld chalet in Val d'Isere by booking the day before we left-but this wasn't planned.

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Grizwald, I drive to the alps from Newcastle every year, it's honestly not that bad but we do overnight in Reims Very Happy

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We used to Ski whilst the kids were in the snowschool then when they finished (shock! Horror!) Ski as a family Toofy Grin

After all it is free

Massive difference between April 5th and New Year, and a big cost for us is the childcare which is close to £1000 for the 2 kids. We will ski as a family for a few hours each afternoon but the childcare gives you that bit of extra time to do the high stuff each day. Best of both worlds really. Obviously you pay for the convenience, and for me that's worth a fair bit.

Fair enough James. How old our the kids? I dare say go in term time - just like the school governors do with there kids wink

Well they do here!

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Many thanks, I have scanned your replies but will look into them a bit deeper and the places you recommend. I contacted Oakhall over the weekend and they have come back to me as I forgot to include which resort I was after, I am a Christian so their policies are fine.

I am also considering other places recommended earlier like Ski Amade and it looks like I can get reasonable flight from Gatwick and they have a free skii passes for kids after the 16th of March. The accomodiation still seem a little pricey so if I go for this option I will probably just get flight and hold tight and book accomodiation last minute. I am getting quite excited, it looks like we really can do this on budget. I will look into the other places suggested including Bulgaria

I have looked into driving as we are in Kent but huh the distances are all in excess of 8 hours driving plus fuel and tolls. That will be a bit much, flights are working out much cheaper including parking and driving to the airport.

By the way will indoor skiing be cost effective just so we don't need many lessons when we get there? One of the groups we belong to have lessons at Chatham skii slopes starting this Fridays and its £9 each for 45mins. That's £27 a pop for 45 mins for the three of us. I was thinking of doing 6 sessions till half term which will cost around £170. Is that a good deal or it better for us to just door lessons when we get there. I would have loved to just do one lesson just to get a feel and also know what to wear and how to but for this we need to commit the 6 weeks to get the discount.

Many thanks for your help again

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sherry_d, I would always recommend lessons on the dry slopes (or indoor if you can do it). The more you do before the holiday, the better prepared you will be. Not only will you learn the rudiments of skiing, but you will find out where your fitness needs to improve.

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Agree with Ray Zorro, do as much as you can beforehand, but I'd also recommend not skimping on lessons while out there too if you are able to. It's a very different thing trying to ski on the side of a mountain when there are lots of people around who know what they're doing.

You know it makes sense.

sherry_d, I agree that preparation on a dry slope before you go will pay dividends in terms of your enjoyment and progress. BUT probably not in terms of saving money. The most economical way of doing it is a week's group lessons - you won't save much, if anything, by not doing the whole week. And until you can ski a bit, time spent pottering around on your own might not be nearly so enjoyable. For your first holiday, I'd strongly recommend a week's ski school for you all, even if you have managed to get some dry slope lessons in beforehand.

Ski school is pretty cheap compared to other aspects of a ski holiday.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Snowtrex (yes, I know they're implausibly cheap looking) have deals for under £200 a head including ski pass. Won't be the biggest or most fashionable resort, but if you're beginners, you won't need it. Add in £50 of ski hire, then that's a total of £1,000. Driving will cost you £300-500, but it means the food won't cost you anything (as you'd have to eat if you were at home, anyway).

BEWARE: in future years your children will get very good, and they'll be pestering you to go to the bigger resorts; that will cost...

A snowHead

Sub £1500 well do-able but without lessons IMO

A snowHead

Beware going in the final week of the season after the schools have gone back - it can be very cheap then, but if you combine that with a small resort to make it even cheaper you could well find you have no snow.

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I'm delighted to hear that Oak Hall are still in business. I learned to ski with them and travelled with them several times a couple of decades ago before I had enough cash to pay for a little more luxury.

In many ways their budget ethos actually adds to the holiday provided you're a bit adaptable. The coach travel, shared sleeping arrangements and evening services mean that they tend to attract a very outward-looking clientele who aren't remotely up themselves. There are few better places to meet a bunch of interesting people than an Oak Hall holiday and, given that skiing is at its best when it's a social affair, that's definitely a Good Thing.

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sherry_d, my 2p's worth..

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Grizwald, Drove to 3V from NW Cumbria last year - let's just say took an aeroplane this year !

sherry_d, Our holiday this year for 2 Adults 1 child in Valmorel last week:

petrol /carpark £60
Flights Liverpool - Grenoble £210 (with luggage)
Transfers £260 (Bens bus + Local bus Moutiers - resort)
Self catering accom. £300 (Maeva)
Ski-Hire £120
Lift passes through accom. providers £380
Insurance £60
£400 spends

Worked out about £600 each but no ski school - (One of our friends who comes with us is a ski instructor which does help Very Happy

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Is budget family skiing possible?

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