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Original poster

We might be going skiing..... for the first time in YEARS ;-()

22 replies

PacificDogwood · 19/01/2011 20:55

I have been trying so hard not to get too excited, but it looks like this might actually happen:

my lovely mum and dad are going to come from abroad to mind our littlies so DH, myself, DS1 and DS2 can go skiing in the first week in April Grin. DSs are 8 and 7 years, have been skiing a couple of times, last time was 3 years ago though.

I used to be a very good skiier, grew up on the continent, used to go skiing for several weeks every year throughout my adolescence and early 20s.

DH learnt to ski as an adult (I made him Wink!) and he is a competent intermediate.

Right, bear with me, there IS a point to this ramble apart from my need to vent my excitement:

Are any of you prepared to share a recommendation for family-friendly skiing resort/accommodation that may still have availability this late in the season?? Ideally self-catering or catered chalet (boys+hotel=stressed parents; not good!)?

I was thinking Austria maybe, as child-friendly? Or Switzerland, as I speak German? Or France, as we've been to Courcheval/Meribel a few times in the dim and distant past?

Oh, the possiblities!
Please somebody help me focus my mind, before I bound into the local travelagent like an excited puppy and start bouncing up and down.

GrinGrinSmile

I thank you for bearing with me.

OP posts:
wem · 19/01/2011 21:02

Green Mountain Chalets self catered chalet in the Three Valleys in France. I'll admit they're family :), but the chalet's great and they are really lovely and would do anything for anyone.

orienteerer · 19/01/2011 21:02

You need to aim high so for Austria try Obergurgl or Obertauern....or perhaps Solden or Kuhtai

wem · 19/01/2011 21:03

Catered, not self catered.

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 19/01/2011 21:08

Oh, replies, thank you Smile!

wem, those chalets look lovely - it seems very much the kind of set up we have had successful family holiday with before.

Ideally, I would like to be able to ski-in/ski-out although for early April that might be a bit ambitious, I suppose....

orienteerer, thanks for those links, I will look at them in a bit more detail.

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 19/01/2011 21:13

Ooh Obertauern is lovely, went twice about 15 years ago.

La Thuile is a lovely resort (Italy), we've been twice and stayed at the Plannibel hotel which is v. child-friendly - they do have apartments in the same complex and you can still use the restaurant and pool.

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 19/01/2011 21:16

Thanks, Alibaba, that sounds like a good idea: best of both worlds.

I used to know so many places, particularly in Austria and Switzerland, but my going skiing regularly is now >20 years ago and I am sure resorts will have had the audacity to change in the meantime, how very dare they!

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0karen · 19/01/2011 23:20

Been to Livingo - have I spelt it right - in Italy beginning of April, morning and early afternoon skiing was fab then it began to get slushy as the sun was really hot and wet especially on the bottom, time for pool!

You need to organise it yourself as the tour operators stop going there end of March. On the plus side it was cheap compared with Switzerland which you can visit as it is only a short distance away, but very expensive! On the negative side it is a pain to get to.

Austria is good too been to Austria last year, although the resort we stayed in was closed, well the lifts were, nearby resorts had good snow. The buses were free but we had a hire car

squiggleywiggler · 20/01/2011 00:09

Obergurgl all the way! Stay in the Crystal Sportif - you can use all the swanky bar/spa facilities of the more expensive Crystal over the road(via a covered bridge) but stay in more traditional Austrian accommodation which is loads cheaper.

It's friendly, good Gluhwein, a range of skiing, brilliant for families and bleeding beautiful!

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 20/01/2011 11:16

Thanks again, all!

squiggley, that sounds really really good, thank, I will go and check it out.

Smile
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Original poster
PacificDogwood · 20/01/2011 11:21

There seems to be no availability for our week Sad. I might just phone them....

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 20/01/2011 14:50

Pacific - try Ski Beat or Snowline. They are chalet companies that I and my parents have used lots in the past and they often have late availability at good prices as they are trying to fill up spaces in chalets. I think they mainly cover France.

ascalu · 22/01/2011 11:44

We have just come back from here www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p89182 and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Really good value and fantastic service and accommodation.

mulranno · 24/01/2011 12:29

PacificDogWood, have a look at the French Ski Resort Vaujany,a small, authentic Alpine village with all the amenities - fly to Grenoble on Ryan Air/Easy Jet ... then if it is what you are after take a look at our chalet (rennovations finished only on fri!) search for "le Chalet aux Quat' Saisons" on FaceBook and all the chalet bumph is under "info" - 10% discount for Mumsnetters!

geordieminx · 07/02/2011 20:03

Dh and I are off to Glenshee in 2 weeks... Grin

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 08/02/2011 23:21

Have fun! Hope the weather cooperates Smile

Anybody know the best way to get to Innsbruck from Scotland?? We are now thinking of going to Hintertux...

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tammytoby · 16/02/2011 13:37

Pacific, the cheapest way is probably to get a flight to Munich and then rent a car. That's what we do, as flights to Innsbruck or Salzburg tend to be more expensive.

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 25/02/2011 22:32

Thanks, tammy, we kind of reached that conclusion.

We are back to the drawing board though, as it now seems increasingly difficult to find anything in a resort high enough for early April from Scotland Sad... not sure this trip is going to happen unless MN can save it

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geordieminx · 26/02/2011 09:49

Have you looked at Spain and Italy?

Dh is desperate to go to Banff Hmm

Have you tried snowheads.co.uk they are really helpful over there, and there is quite a lot of advice/tips?

Failing that Braehead? Grin

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 26/02/2011 21:10
Grin

We did look at going to Canada, but once the cost was in 5 figures Shock, we kind of lost interest...

And, yes, thanks, Braehead Hmm - it may well come to that.

We'd really go anywhere high enough, but the problem is getting out of Scotland.

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geordieminx · 26/02/2011 21:38

Bad times.

It's shite living up here for flights, I bloody hate Ryanair but there is no choice. grrr.

We were over at Braehead today, C was asking if he could have a shot... Which incidrntly reminds me, he asked if we were going to see you w couple of weeks ago... "the nice one...Mrs Shovels" Grin

We couldn't ski in Glenshee last Saturday as the gates were closed, too much snow.

Sunday was ok, but visibility was really poor, couldn't see the person in front of you on the POMA, also howling winds, and 20 minute queue for the lift...not so good.

geordieminx · 26/02/2011 21:39

Actually travelzoo had some offers on Canada last week, not sure of dates

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 26/02/2011 21:41

We passed Glencoe on the way to Skye weekend before last and there was NO snow.
3 days later on the return trip it was covered. Skiing in Scotland is just so unpredictable...
And potentially Very Very Cold.

Grin @ Mrs Shovels - not the worst version of my name I have heard...

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