First family ski trip

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RunnerBean
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First family ski trip

Postby RunnerBean » Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:30 pm

Hi,
We’re hoping to take our primary school aged kids on their first ski trip - either Feb half term or early April. I’ve looked at the usual Mark Warner, Club Med, Neilson and Ski Famille and there is still some availability although all have pros and cons. Does anyone have any recommendations within these or other companies to try where there is some form of childcare solution to help with getting kids to & from ski lessons and potentially lunch for them etc in a chalet set up with other families so they’ll meet some others to play with.
Thanks in advance!
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FlightCentreNat
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby FlightCentreNat » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:00 am

Yes Esprit! Been with them three times and childcare is fabulous, kids loved the ski school and all round great family holiday. It’s not the highest standard of accommodation but everything else works well.
Feel free to call me if you want me to help arrange at all 07969974008.
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dudette
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby dudette » Mon Aug 15, 2022 10:58 am

If you going in February half term then another vote for Esprit. I used them years ago and was very impressed. Powder Byrne were also good but much pricier. If you go at Easter you could do a lot worse than going to Whistler in Canada which is the biggest ski area in North America and has a brilliant kids ski programme where you drop them off at 8.30 and pick them up at 3.30 and they have a fantastic time. The instructors are largely native English speakers. You’ll love it too - it’s a fabulous resort.
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Moonlightdawn
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby Moonlightdawn » Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:27 am

Hi

I’d try Obergurgl in Austria for your first ski trip. It’s easy to reach and very well set up for families with young children. There’s also plenty of snow over Easter.

The ski school is wonderful and there’s also the option of having private lessons for your children (more expensive obviously but they learn more quickly).

I’d also recommend finding a hotel that has a creche or a kids’ club in case one of your kids doesn’t take to skiing straight away. This happened with our five-year old at the time who wasn’t enjoying it. We were so pleased and relieved to have the hotel’s kids’ club which had an amazing, caring nanny with loads of toys, activities, things to play with, etc.

Whistler is fantastic but it is a long flight to Vancouver and then the jet lag on top. I wouldn’t recommend it as a first-time family ski trip. Try somewhere in Europe first.
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dudette
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby dudette » Mon Aug 15, 2022 12:35 pm

Moonlightdawn wrote: Mon Aug 15, 2022 11:27 am Hi

I’d try Obergurgl in Austria for your first ski trip. It’s easy to reach and very well set up for families with young children. There’s also plenty of snow over Easter.

The ski school is wonderful and there’s also the option of having private lessons for your children (more expensive obviously but they learn more quickly).

I’d also recommend finding a hotel that has a creche or a kids’ club in case one of your kids doesn’t take to skiing straight away. This happened with our five-year old at the time who wasn’t enjoying it. We were so pleased and relieved to have the hotel’s kids’ club which had an amazing, caring nanny with loads of toys, activities, things to play with, etc.

Whistler is fantastic but it is a long flight to Vancouver and then the jet lag on top. I wouldn’t recommend it as a first-time family ski trip. Try somewhere in Europe first.

We went to Whistler for our first ski trip when my daughter was three and my son in the crèche and we’ve been going there pretty much every year since. Yes the jet lag isn’t great but it’s only a short and very scenic transfer from Vancouver and the kids facilities are by far the best we’ve ever had. Obergurgl is lovely too but the ski school isn’t as good as the Whistler one. I also think the skiing is better - longer runs, more variety, better snow (usually!) and better visibility as most is the runs are in the tree line whereas in Europe you’re usually above it where the lack of shadows on a cloudy day can be a bit disorientating.
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SW13twinsmum
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby SW13twinsmum » Wed Aug 17, 2022 4:51 pm

We have skied with Scott Dunn, Family Ski, and most recently Ski Scandinavia.

With Norway, we were travelling with two kids plus a young toddler, and the 40min transfer from the airport (Scandinavian Mountains Resort > Trysil) was very appealing. They have a fantastic beginners area with lots of green slopes and button lifts, including tree runs. They had entertainment for the kids both on the slopes and at the hotel. Only thing is there was a break for lunch which you had to get back down the mountain for. Afternoons were then either kids club, the hotel spa, or skiing with the kids ourselves. Nice choice if you are looking for something different.

If you want full day cover where they pick your kids up from ski school, Scott Dunn or Family Ski would be better. Family Ski operates out of smaller resorts within a wider ski area so we stayed in Les Coches which connects to Paradis Ski area and Reberty which is part of Three Valleys.

Whistler is amazing. I did a ski season there 20yrs ago and even then the childcare and overall service in the resort was outstanding, but not sure I'd do the long flight and jetlag for a ski trip with young kids.
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juliantenniscoach
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby juliantenniscoach » Wed Aug 24, 2022 2:43 pm

Hi there,

I worked 10 winter seasons, mainly in the French Alps.  When I became a parent, we went with Ski Espirit twice to the Italian Dolomites.  I have only praise for their wraparound childcare, whether they be in ski school or are younger and need a mix of creche and snow activities.

Their price point is favourable too.  The only point I would make is that the second time we went, the food wasn't as good as the first.  However, that really is hit and miss with the structure of a chalet holiday.

Good luck!

Julian
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szerma
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Re: First family ski trip

Postby szerma » Tue Aug 30, 2022 7:47 am

I don't know if you have already found a solution, but we have done chalets with childcare and we have also done DIY - most French and Austrian resorts have great "wrap around" childcare around ski schools (in France, it's ESF). If you would like any advice on where we have been, feel free to ping me. This year, we are heading back to Alpe d'Huez as we loved it as a resort (flights to Grenoble) for half term. Happy to share tips and / or meet up with our primary age children :)
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