View From The Top Posted 25 March, 2011 Share Posted 25 March, 2011 My kids have expressed a desire to go on a skiing/snowboarding holiday but I've no idea where to even start looking regards a winter jolly. They would be 9, 6 & 4 next winter and ideally I was thinking of the Alps? Any sensible advice regards the wheres and hows would be really appreciated so my missus and I can look into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 25 March, 2011 Share Posted 25 March, 2011 My kids have expressed a desire to go on a skiing/snowboarding holiday but I've no idea where to even start looking regards a winter jolly. They would be 9, 6 & 4 next winter and ideally I was thinking of the Alps? Any sensible advice regards the wheres and hows would be really appreciated so my missus and I can look into it. Wengen in Switzerland. Friendly, small, good ski school for children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 25 March, 2011 Share Posted 25 March, 2011 Alp D'Huez is pretty good for kids & novices, plenty of easy runs & also some reds & blacks for the more adventurous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 25 March, 2011 Share Posted 25 March, 2011 Pila in Italy. Good beginner slopes at a reasonable altitude plus some good off-piste. A lot cheaper than Switzerland and if the weather turns bad there is a town at the bottom of the cabin (18minute trip) for a larger choice of things to do. Plus other local resorts reachable by bus (or car if you have one). I may be biased, it's my local mountain and I can see the slopes from my lounge window! Some of beginner slopes:http://pila.it/homepage.asp?l=e&s=i The home page: http://pila.it/homepage.asp?l=e&id=1&s=i Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Les Gets is pretty good IMO. A wide variety of runs and there are a couple of other resorts within a short bus ride. If you are complete beginners, I'd recommend Norway or Sweden where the snow is generally better and the slopes smaller and more gentle. Bulgaria is good for beginners too and is much cheaper than Scandinavia, but I've never been so I can't really comment on it. So in my life I've been to Geilo, Sol, Levi, Zel am Zee, Zermatt, Killington, Banff, Big White, Vail, Beaver Creek, Les Gets, Val D'Isere, Tignes, Cormayeur and Les Deux Alpes. If you want more info on any of them in particular, just ask. Only place I would NOT recommend is Zermatt. Lifts were an absolute pain in the tits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 La Plagne and Val Thorens are pretty good for families but if you can afford the flight get yourself over to the Canadian Rockies, stay at Banff and play between Lake Louise and Sunshine Village, snow is way better than the Alps and learning in the fluffy stuff instead of hardpack is way better. Aim for mid March onwards to avoid the really cold temps. Canada all the way for me, far better experience, you don't get ripped off in the resorts, accommodation way cheaper as is food and drinks, hardly any queues, more relaxed. Just had 3 days in Banff at the end of a 2 week trip and got a 1 bed condo, sleeps 4, log fireplace and kitchen for £70 a night for the whole condo. 2 bed condos not a great deal more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 26 March, 2011 Author Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Roughly, and I understand it's just a rough estimate, how much for a family of 5 at Feb' half term? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 You were going great until you said 'half term'! No idea locally, to be honest, but it's the increased transport costs that'll do you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 26 March, 2011 Author Share Posted 26 March, 2011 We'll drive Sue. Done it a few times as the kids are easy travellers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 (edited) If the Alps comes up too expensive you could always try Mont Dore/Super Besse in the Massif Central.It's not like the Alps of course and I don't think you get the same sort of nightlife either but it sure is a lot cheaper.Tends to get very crowded in the school holidays though but sometimes UK hols are a bit off the French hols which are spread over a 4 week period.The "locals" will be first next time round and the Parisians last.So locals (Clermont/Lyon/St Etienne) start on 12th Feb and the Parisians start on 26th Feb each zone for 2 weeks. The best period would be from 19th Feb onwards and the snow should still be reasonable then. Edited 26 March, 2011 by Window Cleaner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 I've been to Les orres twice and thoroughly recomend it. It's classed as intermediate but there's something for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 We'll drive Sue. Done it a few times as the kids are easy travellers. Not quite so bad then. Personally I go via Dunkirk, Belgium, Luxembourg, Metz, Nancy, Besancon, Switzerland via Lausanne and over the Great St Bernard as I avoid French tolls (but have to pay the Swiss motorway sticker which is worth my while). The alternative is via the Mt Blanc tunnel: probably faster but you burn the juice and pay the tolls. Leaving aside my own completely biaised opinion (!) Pila would actually be a good choice: the skiing starts at 1800 so is pretty reliable for snow. Cheaper accommodation and a far wider choice of eating in the valley and the new gondola makes getting up there a breeze. I sometimes pop up there for a couple of hours. With a car you can also very easily access other local resorts although with beginners that's not so important. You can even ski over into France (La Rosiere) from La Thuile and into Switzerland (Zermatt) from Cervinia, but that's probably for when you're all more experienced! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 No such thing as a cheap family skiing holiday I'm afraid. Before you even start on airfares/hotels/transfers you need to look into ski equipment hire / ski passes / ski schools plus specialised clothing (you cannot ski in jeans, rain coat and woollen mittens etc!!). If you can get past that - then YES a skiing holiday is one of the best family holidays ever from personal experience. Okay I basically live on a beach so the thought of a Torremolinos/Bonkidorm hol has never appealed so the contrast of snow with sun & sand has great appeal!! My kids have been skiing with us since about 6/7 yrs old and even now my 24 son still loves joining us and his 3 younger sisters. My choice for kids learning to ski would be Soldeu in Andorra. It used to be as cheap as anywhere could be, but with a combination of joining the euro and upmarketing itself it is no longer the ibiza of the snow!! For me (besides not having standard weights and measures meaning a Baileys on ice would sometimes be the equivelent of about 4 UK measures!!) was The Ski School was predominantely English speaking instructors and learners. Many French resorts you'll find Benz zee knees is about the limit - ok harsh maybe - but these guys/gals spoke perfect English and could explain exactly what you were doing right or wrong. Not been there for about 6 years but let me know if you need any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightysaints Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Avoriaz is a great family ski resort but as others have said skiing as a family 1st time is not cheap but always very good fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 26 March, 2011 Author Share Posted 26 March, 2011 My wife priced a few up this afternoon. Eye wateringly expensive. A day and the Snowdome instead should do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 26 March, 2011 Share Posted 26 March, 2011 Going. No, not I am going, but Going Am Wilden Kaiser in Austria. Fairly easy drive down, done it twice, not a huge village and a whole bunch of Fruhstuck Pensions (B&B's) when I went there when Austria was still ruled by the Hapsburgs Good Ski School and it is connected to a much larger ski area for grown ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 We go every half term and next year we have got a catered chalet for eight hundred quid each - flights food and drink included. Ski lifts will be about six hundred and ski hire about four hundred. Not cheap but brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyLove Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Just got back form Ski'ing. These guy's are amazing and the prices are excellent. They take families and the resort is perfect for all skiers. Quiet as well we ended up in the middle of the French holidays and the longest I queued for a lift was 2 minutes. Excellent snow. http://www.burasnow.co.uk They really do go out of their way to make sure you have a great holiday. We paid £609 for Saturday-Saturday each which included Airport Transfers from and to Geneva Airport Resort Ski-Lift Pass Ski-In-Out Accommodation Breakfast Afternoon Tea, Coffee & Cake Dinner Unlimited Wine (Really unlimited if you wanted to just drink the wine for the whole holiday there is no problem with that unlike some who take it away after dinner) The only time you need to sort your self out is a Thursday as thats when the resort staff have off but they organise a restaurant for you and that also has amazing food and at a decent price as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 My daughter goes here http://www.chaletmorillon.co.uk/ She's a very advanced skier but some in her party were beginners, so all levels are catered for. She loved the arrangements for children and plans to go back next year with her son, who will be 3. She said the catering was so good, she put on two pounds for every pound she lost skiing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 For a family holiday Dubai Phil has it bang on with Going ..... Or Elmau. Austria, is probably the least expensive and more geared towards families. Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_saint Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Is this a first skiing holiday for you all? If it is i wouldnt bother looking at the big french or swiss resorts as you'll be paying upto £200 for a lift pass that you wont be taking full advantage of. Somewhere like Rauris is Austria could be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 27 March, 2011 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Is this a first skiing holiday for you all? Yes, it would be. Eldest and middle child fancy it but the cost for a week at 1/2 term is crazy and his unlikely to get past the wife's veto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_saint Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Have a look at Rauris in Austra with Crystal. They do a ski+ deal where the deal includes tuition, lift pass and equipment. The other option to keep the costs down is to drive across to France and find a small resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Red Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Try http://www.snowfocus.com for a great family chalet holiday where all mix with their own and the children are very well looked after when off the slopes. Based in Chatel, Porte du Soleil, a large linked area on the French / Swiss border south of Lake Geneva, 40 minutes from Geneva Airport from where you will be collected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 27 March, 2011 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2011 Have a look at Rauris in Austra with Crystal. They do a ski+ deal where the deal includes tuition, lift pass and equipment. I have had a look and it would come in north of £4k! I can go motorhoming in Canada for two weeks for less than that! Wife has said no so that's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 27 March, 2011 Share Posted 27 March, 2011 I thought there was cheap skiing these days in eastern Europe - has anyone done any of these places recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightysaints Posted 28 March, 2011 Share Posted 28 March, 2011 Bansko in Bulgaria is very good, ignore the snobs that say Bulgaria is backwards. I have skied all over Europe and America. For the money you can't beat Bansko. Very good lift system apart from the one Gondola to get up to the main base as that can get very busy but if you get to the lift early enough theres no problem. You can always drive up the short mountain road and park for free instead.The pistes are bashed very well. Good for all grades of skiers, off piste is very good if you know where to go. Beer and food approx 50% cheaper than France (I just returned from Flaine and it was costing me 7 euros for a beer). The ski pass is approx £150. The area is big enough to last 5 days. Get a flight to Sofia via BA and drive approx 2.5hrs to the resort. They have built a new road paid for by the EU that has made a great diffrence to the transfer. Bansko Ski school is well recommended If its your 1st time get lessons on the dry slope at Southampton to get the hang of things. Don't bother with the other Bulgarian ski resorts as they are not worth it and the snow is not reliable, saying that its not been too good anywhere in Europe this year. If you need more info contact Glynis at the Devonshire Lodge. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g318870-d659343-Reviews-Devonshire_Lodge-Bansko_Blagoevgrad.html Also have a look at the Snowheads forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 28 March, 2011 Share Posted 28 March, 2011 9,6 and 4 is a bit young for a ski trip. Wait 4 years, save up and go to Banff. Well worth it. Just don't break your shoulder like I did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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